Sharanya Prasad is a dynamic and customer-obsessed Senior Product Manager known for her trailblazing work in security, cloud computing, SD-WAN, networking, and wireless technologies. With a passion for solving complex problems, she has led the development of enterprise and consumer tech solutions. Her leadership has driven billion-dollar growth and shaped how businesses adopt secure, scalable digital infrastructures.
Sharanya blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, seamlessly translating customer pain points into market-ready products. Her approach is rooted in deep listening and an unwavering commitment to delivering value. She is a recognized thought leader, often speaking at industry events on product strategy and innovation.
Early Life and Academic Foundation
Sharanya’s academic journey began in Bangalore, India, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication from VTU. She later completed her Master’s in Telecommunication at the University of Maryland, College Park. These years equipped her with deep expertise in communication technologies and systems engineering.
Even during her studies, Sharanya demonstrated an inclination for interdisciplinary problem-solving, combining software, hardware, and user-centric thinking. Her academic experiences helped cultivate a global outlook, enhancing her ability to build products that resonate with diverse markets.
Research Experience
Early in her career, Sharanya contributed to a Text-to-Speech Synthesis system for Indian languages at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). This research initiative improved accessibility and fueled her passion for inclusive technology. Her work demonstrated early promise in building scalable, multilingual digital solutions and served as a launchpad for her broader interests in user-first innovation.
Professional Journey
Sharanya began her corporate career at Cisco Systems as a Systems Test Engineer, validating network systems and providing deployment recommendations for Cisco’s Catalyst Nexus 9k series.
At Aruba Networks (HPE), she rose from Product Specialist to Product Manager. Her impact was both broad and deep:
- Spearheading the launch of Instant On, generating $17M in its first year
- Creating a Customer Advisory Council that influenced over $100M in annual revenue
- Supporting deployments across 10,000+ branch locations
- Leading the sunset of legacy products with zero disruption
- Collaborating on packaging strategies that boosted sales by 50%
Today, at Cisco, Sharanya leads product strategy for SD-WAN security and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge). Her leadership in dual-vendor integrations with Zscaler, Netskope, and Palo Alto Networks has contributed to over $1B in revenue. She also pioneered AI/ML-powered SecOps dashboards, improving usability and accelerating adoption.
Her work exemplifies full-spectrum product ownership—from performance optimization and UX to go-to-market strategies—solidifying lasting enterprise relationships.
Leadership and Innovation
Sharanya leads with empathy, clarity, and a sharp customer focus. She unites cross-functional teams across engineering, marketing, QA, and UI/UX to drive shared outcomes. Her ability to forecast trends and execute with discipline has made her a sought-after leader.
She thrives in ambiguity, consistently launching first-of-their-kind initiatives—whether it was Aruba’s first SMB product or Cisco’s cloud-native SASE transformation. Her leadership promotes user-centric design and fosters inclusive, high-performing environments. Through mentorship and intentional team rituals, she cultivates creativity, collaboration, and purpose.
Notable Achievements
- $1B+ revenue growth through Cisco’s SASE transformation
- Launched Instant On, with over 100K units sold
- Achieved 50% higher conversion with AI-powered dashboards
- Contributed to $200M+ in Aruba revenue
- Secured two industry awards and represented her firms at 20+ conferences
- Simplified deployment architectures for Fortune 500 clients
- Enhanced system efficiency through automation, reducing errors and improving uptime
Academic Contributions
Sharanya’s early research at IISc in Text-to-Speech systems helped pioneer multilingual tech solutions. She secured funding and presented to expert panels. Her ongoing certifications from Google Cloud, AWS, Aruba, and Cisco reflect a commitment to lifelong learning.
Sharanya is also a dedicated mentor, helping early-career professionals bridge the gap between theory and application. She’s currently exploring academic partnerships in AI and cybersecurity, participating in university tech forums, and publishing thought leadership pieces to foster the next wave of innovation.
Future Vision and Impact
Sharanya continues to shape the future of secure, cloud-first enterprise technologies. At Cisco, she is driving the development of resilient, AI-powered infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of global businesses.
As the demand for zero-trust architectures accelerates, her focus remains on building scalable, democratized security solutions. Her legacy is one of thoughtful innovation, inclusive leadership, and a vision to embed intelligent security into every layer of the digital enterprise.
