✦   AI SECURITY · RESEARCH · LEADERSHIP

Ishita Thanki

BUILDING TRUST.
IN A WORLD
OF INTELLIGENCE.

Exploring the intersection of AI, security, and the people who bring technology to life.

Ishita Thanki smiling in front of an Earth display
THE PERSON BEHIND THE IDEASCuriosity, with purpose.

A QUESTION WORTH EXPLORING

How do we build smarter systems
that people can truly trust?

The future of technology is as much about trust as it is about intelligence.

Ishita Thanki is a Senior Technical Program Manager at Cisco, with over 15 years of experience in the technology industry. She is a graduate of Stanford Graduate School of Business. She specializes in driving large-scale, cross-functional programs that leverage AI, cloud computing, and automation to deliver business impact. Ishita is passionate about transforming complex technical challenges into scalable solutions, fostering innovation, and enabling high-performing teams.

At Cisco, she leads initiatives that improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies.

A strong advocate for women in technology, Ishita is committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders and promoting diversity in tech. At the World AI Gov Summit, she will share insights on the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology governance, and the future of responsible innovation.

Meet Ishita · AI Gov World speaker ↗

COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP

Podcast Feature.

Ishita Thanki with Matt Abrahams at Stanford Graduate School of Business
Ishita Thanki with Matt Abrahams at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

THINK FAST, TALK SMART · EPISODE 150

The power of a thoughtful pause

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Ishita’s communication insight on the power of silence was featured in the 150th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, hosted by Matt Abrahams. The episode, Communication Tips from the Classroom and Around the World, brings together practical advice on communicating more effectively.

Her contribution explores how intentional pauses can create space for understanding, more thoughtful responses, and better decisions. In fast-moving technology teams, a moment of silence can support innovation, strengthen connections, and encourage more effective collaboration.

The feature reflects Ishita’s commitment to continuous learning and to the small changes in communication that help people work better together.

LEARNING & COMMUNITY

Speaking & Conferences

Upcoming · Speaker

AI Governance World Conference 2026

–
Las Vegas

View conference speakers ↗

FEATURED SESSION

Beyond the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: Governing Vulnerabilities in Enterprise Products Powered by Frontier AI

AI is advancing faster than many organizations can govern it, with significant implications for cybersecurity. Ishita’s session will explore how enterprise leaders can embrace the speed and potential of frontier AI while maintaining security, accountability, and trust across their products.

The discussion brings together the perspectives of executives, product leaders, engineers, cybersecurity teams, risk professionals, and policymakers. It examines how responsible AI governance can give organizations the confidence to scale innovation.

Ishita looks forward to exchanging ideas with fellow leaders, practitioners, and innovators—and connecting with attendees in Las Vegas.

  • AI governance
  • Cybersecurity
  • Frontier AI
  • Responsible AI
  • Enterprise AI

AI · GOVERNANCE · PRIVACY · SECURITY

Speaker · 2025

AI World & InfoGov World 2025

San Diego, California

–

Ishita spoke at AI World & InfoGov World 2025, sharing insights on the intersection of artificial intelligence, governance, privacy, and security from her perspective as a Senior Technical Program Manager at Cisco Networking.

The conference brought together professionals to explore the challenges and opportunities of AI and discuss how to build a more secure and responsible AI future.

Topics
Artificial intelligence, governance, privacy, and security.

DESIGN · RESEARCH · CREATIVITY

Speaker

dzone

Cisco’s Annual UX Design Conference

Ishita spoke at Cisco’s dzone conference, an annual internal event for UX design, research, and creativity. Built by Cisco’s creative community, dzone brings together industry experts and voices from across the company for thought-provoking keynotes, discussions, and shared learning.

Over eight years, the event has grown into a global conference, connecting more than 1,000 participants through Cisco offices and watch parties worldwide.

Community & learning
Building connections, sharing tools and experiments, developing skills, and inspiring collaboration across design and cross-functional teams.
Focus areas
Design at the intersection of AI, design operations, and customer experience storytelling—including Cisco AI Canvas, Webex AI Agent Studio, and human-like voice experiences.

CYBERSECURITY · GOVERNANCE · INCLUSION

Speaker

CWiCS Summit 2024

Cisco Women in Cybersecurity

Attended the Cisco Women in Cybersecurity Summit with a focus on Cyber Governance and Compliance. The summit brings together cybersecurity professionals to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and strengthen professional skills.

Through mentorship and opportunities to develop speaking skills, the event supports Cisco speakers preparing for external events and helps nurture the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

Topic
Cyber Governance and Compliance
Community & inclusion
Encouraging participation from diverse backgrounds and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the cybersecurity community.
Patent

Patents and applications

US patent US 12,659,174 B2 View publication record View USPTO record

Tracking network devices in a circular economy with green passports

A Cisco Technology, Inc. patent for a networking device and sustainability management logic that can receive a URI from an electronic device and download a corresponding green passport data file containing end-of-life disposal information.

Inventor Ishita Maheshkumar Thanki
Assignee Cisco Technology, Inc.
Filed Jul 10, 2023
Issued Jun 16, 2026
US Patent US 12,732,539 B2 View publication record View USPTO record

AI-based honeypot to mitigate social engineering cyberattack

Social engineering attacks use psychological manipulation to trick people into revealing sensitive information. Because they exploit human behavior, these attacks can be more difficult to counter than traditional cyberattacks, such as malware or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

Traditional honeypots lure attackers toward decoy systems, diverting them from legitimate targets. This invention extends that approach by using generative AI to simulate human targets, analyze attacker interactions, and prolong engagement, helping divert attackers’ attention and resources away from real users.

Inventor Ishita Maheshkumar Thanki
Assignee Cisco Technology, Inc.
Filed Jul 27, 2023
Issued Sept 8, 2026
Media

Media Features

Trade Brains
01

Bridging Technical and Non-Technical Teams

A profile of Ishita's program management approach: translating complex technical ideas, aligning engineering, product, UX, and executive stakeholders, and keeping teams focused on customer-centric outcomes.

Program Management Communication Cisco SD-WAN
Read article
TechBullion
02

From Frameworks to Fulfillment

Coverage of Ishita's federal cybersecurity compliance work across FISMA, NIST 800-53, SSDF, FedRAMP, CMMC, AI-powered compliance dashboards, and operational security programs.

Cybersecurity FedRAMP AI Compliance
Read article
inkl
03

Mentoring the Next Generation

An Inkl profile on Ishita's leadership in security infrastructure and compliance using generative AI, including mentorship, AI-powered dashboards, compliance risk prediction, and next-generation security training.

Mentorship Generative AI Security Compliance
Read article
Research

Research Publications

Mar 2024

Biometric Privacy and Policy Orchestration for Multi-VR/AR Systems

Technical disclosure on supporting biometric privacy and policy orchestration across multi-VR/AR environments.

Read article
Feb 2024

Secure Zero-Touch Access Control for IoT Devices

Technical disclosure introducing MUD-based access controls for IoT devices before network connection.

Read article
Jun 2023

Passport Immigration Control for Digital Citizens Travelling Between Metaverses

Framework concepts for checkpoints, identity assessment, and standards for digital citizens moving between metaverse environments.

Read article
Mar 2016

EasyAuth – Implementation of a Multi-Factor Authentication Scheme based on Sound, Fingerprint and One Time Passwords (OTP)

Conference paper presenting an Android application that combines voice/sound, fingerprint, and one-time password authentication to strengthen the Twitter login process, with options for selecting and randomly varying authentication methods.

Read article
Dec 2013

An Approach to a Streamlined SCMIS for Better Inventory Management, Logistics Planning and Sales Forecasting

Article examining supply-chain information systems and the operational flow of inventory across suppliers, warehouses, distribution, and sales.

Read article
Apr 2013

Digitalization of Conventional Rejection Analysis System of MSMEs by using ASP.NET

Article focused on data collection, rejection analysis, and CAPA-driven quality improvement in medium-scale manufacturing.

Read article
Apr 2013

Calculation of Rejection from On-line Customer Feedback Mechanism for Rejection Analysis and Quality Improvements in MSMEs

Article exploring online feedback mechanisms for rejection analysis and continuous quality improvement workflows.

Read article

KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING

Good ideas grow
through connection.

Explore the work, follow the research, or say hello.