Partner, EY, Cyber security

Sourabh Issar

I have been passionate about cybersecurity since way before it became famous (the late 90s). And went through 2 life-changing moves in its pursuit. 

Graduated from assembling own computers in the 286/386 days to managing security for multiple SMBs and later on for IIM Calcutta as well. 

After postgrad, joined the core team building the first Insurance back-office product out of India. Took it to the global market, roamed the world with it. 

Landed in the US, spent 10 years there, working with some of the largest companies in the world, mainly in the infrastructure/ cybersecurity space.  Cybersecurity had become a big deal by then. 

And then, left a well-settled, comfortable life in the US, came back to Bangalore, and spent the next few years first developing and then globally selling an ML-based automation platform for infra/ security with an IT services company. Still warms my heart to see it going strong.

4 years later, jumped into startup world. Joined Cloudsek, an ML driven cybersecurity product company and lead a team of some of the best minds in the areas of ML, security, and coding. In 4 years, experienced hypergrowth (4 to 120+ customers, 6 to 110 employees ), COVID, fundraising (2 rounds with $9.1MM+), Global GTM, and so on.

And now, on to the next challenge.

Partner

CloudSek is an artificial intelligence technology-based risk management enterprise, which focuses on customized, intelligent security monitors.

Head the business acquisition group across applications, infrastructure and operations services with a focus on Cybersecurity and automation. Responsibilities include sales, offering development, pre-sales, marketing, social media strategy, alliances and advisor/ analyst relations. 

In the past, was responsible for the infrastructure services business in Europe and Asia Pacific.

Vice President

Led the sales and client relationship team focused on IT, infrastructure and BPO services for insurance carriers (life and P&C).

Head of Sales, Insurance (North America)

Focused on the Fortune 500 insurance companies in US across life and property & casualty.

Extensive sales and account management experience in prospecting, progressing and closing deals with new logo accounts. Successfully grew these accounts to multi-million dollar revenues per year.

RevenueStorm consultative selling coach

Business Development - Senior Manager

Jan 2004 - 2007 (US based)
- Took Elixir to US
- Worked with 12 of the top 20 US life insurance companies 
- Represented Mastek at events by Loma, ACORD, NAVA, Celent, Gartner, SOA and LIMRA
- Lead multiple landscape studies/ operational assessment workshops

May 2002 - Dec 2004 (India Based)
- Part of the core team building Elixir, probably the first Insurance Policy Admin Platform out of India
- Was a hands on Java Developer/ Business Analyst/ Technical Architect/ Module Leader
- Travelled/ lived in Malaysia/ Singapore/ UK to support in acquiring the charter customers, requirement gathering/ customizations/ deployments/ etc, till go live

Insurance Practice Lead

Ran a successful computer training and services business across multiple locations. Right from distributing fliers outside schools, setting up tables during college fests, sitting on front desk to handle enquiries, troubleshooting the network when it went down, helping design the courseware, teaching basic courses, conducting exams to managing the setting up of new centers, handling the book of accounts, taxes, etc. Started as a summer project before graduation, continued as a side hustle during it, and became a full time job for an year after graduation.

Best part: Still get ex-students, who are now IT professionals, popping up on LinkedIn remembering that the first time they worked on a computer was in one of our labs.