CyberWire Daily Episode Summary: Anisha Patel on Program Management and Career Insights

Release Date: July 20, 2025
Host/Author: N2K Networks
Guest: Anisha Patel, Associate Director at Raytheon Intelligence and Space

Introduction to Anisha Patel

In this episode of CyberWire Daily, host Anisha Patel shares her inspiring career journey and insights into program management within the cybersecurity landscape. As an Associate Director at Raytheon Intelligence and Space, based in Washington D.C., Patel offers a candid look into her professional experiences, the evolution of STEM fields, and the importance of diversity in technology sectors.

Early Influences and Educational Background

Patel begins by reflecting on her upbringing as a first-generation American in an Asian household, where emphasis was placed on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. This foundational focus steered her away from non-STEM fields, particularly medicine, and towards engineering—a decision influenced both by personal interest and familial expectations.

"Our focus was always mostly on STEM related type of topics. So the choices of things we had to do in life always centered around science, technology, engineering and math."
[01:55]

Her passion for mathematics naturally led her to pursue electrical engineering, aligning with her parents' backgrounds and the pragmatic approach they favored—choosing established, reliable career paths over more unconventional ones.

Academic and Early Career Path

Anisha Patel attended a large university that offered flexibility in major selections, allowing her the option to switch disciplines if necessary. She majored in electrical engineering with a strong emphasis on mathematics, a decision that provided her with robust analytical skills essential for her future roles.

Upon graduation, Patel entered the workforce but soon realized the value of advanced education. She opted to attend graduate school at Georgia Tech, where she earned her master's degree in electrical engineering. Her time at Georgia Tech was pivotal, as it led to her recruitment by Raytheon’s legacy company, E Systems.

"Raytheon came down to campus to recruit... I interviewed with them and ultimately was given an offer to join E Systems in Falls Church, Virginia as a hardware engineer."
[03:30]

Transition to Program Management

Patel's career at E Systems began with a focus on hardware engineering, specifically working on building ground stations for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. She credits her growth to the informal mentorship she received, which guided her into various programs and highlighted her innate skill set.

Desiring to broaden her expertise beyond engineering, Patel pursued a rotational assignment in program management in 2007. This transition was driven by her interest in understanding the financial aspects of engineering projects, a move that has significantly shaped her career trajectory.

"I got requested to do a rotational assignment in program management because I wanted to basically round out the engineers to understand the finance side."
[04:45]

Insights into Program Management

As a program manager, Patel discusses the multifaceted responsibilities that come with the role. She highlights that program managers are perpetually "worrying about everything," from recruiting talented individuals to ensuring compliance with ethics training and preparing for critical customer meetings.

"Program managers worry about everything... you're always looking into the future as well as the present."
[06:10]

The dynamic nature of cybersecurity, especially in the context of ongoing challenges like COVID-19 and emerging mandates, requires program managers to be adaptable and forward-thinking. Patel emphasizes the necessity of balancing immediate tasks with long-term strategic planning to maintain operational excellence.

Evolution of STEM and Diversity in Cybersecurity

Patel observes that STEM fields have significantly broadened over the years. Unlike the narrow confines of engineering or mathematics during her early education, today's STEM encompasses areas like cybersecurity and cloud architectures, providing more diverse entry points for professionals.

"STEM has definitely increased its breadth of topics... include things like cybersecurity and cloud architectures."
[07:15]

This expansion has led to a more varied pool of candidates, not limited to traditional degrees but also including certifications and diverse career paths. Patel notes a positive trend in increasing female participation in STEM, both in academic settings and the workforce.

"I see a lot more females in through the non traditional path, which is good... more of the females are picking STEM careers as well."
[07:50]

Advocacy for Blind Recruitment Practices

One of Patel's passionate advocacies is the implementation of blind recruitment processes. She envisions a hiring landscape where candidates are evaluated solely based on their experience and skills, devoid of personal identifiers that could introduce bias.

"In my ideal world, you would never even see the name of the candidate. We'd just be reviewing the experience portion of resumes and then deciding whether to interview."
[08:20]

This approach, according to Patel, fosters a more equitable and diverse workforce, enabling organizations to harness a wide range of perspectives and talents.

Personal Philosophy and Leadership

Patel concludes by sharing her leadership philosophy, which centers on driving teams to peak performance while maintaining high personal standards. She rejects the typical "do as I say, not as I do" mentality, instead opting to collaborate closely with her team to achieve collective success.

"I was right along with them, achieving the best of me as well as the best of them."
[08:50]

This collaborative approach has not only propelled her teams to excel but also reinforced her commitment to personal and professional growth alongside her colleagues.

Conclusion

Anisha Patel's journey from a mathematics enthusiast to a program management leader at Raytheon Intelligence and Space exemplifies the evolving landscape of STEM careers and the critical role of diversity and inclusive practices in cybersecurity. Her insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring professionals and industry leaders alike, underscoring the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and equitable hiring practices in building resilient and innovative teams.

Note: This summary focuses solely on the content delivered by Anisha Patel between timestamps [01:55] and [08:55], excluding all advertisements and non-content segments as per the provided instructions.