Perennial Power-ista: Padmasree Warrior

The Vijaywada-born, San Jose-based Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Cisco Systems, USA, believes that tech is all about building human connections. In 2013, she received the World of Difference Award from the International Alliance for Women. In the past 15 months she has led Cisco through 15 acquisitions, the latest being Ubiquisys, a privately held British company that builds miniature power stations that helps wireless providers bring service to difficult locations.

Success Mantra : ‘Understand and leverage your core competencies.’

Big Idea: ‘Can you imagine life…when 99 per cent of the world wakes up and gets connected?’