Tech Ascension Awards Announces 2025 Leadership & CEO Award Winners – Honoring Visionary Leaders Driving Innovation and Impact

The Tech Ascension Awards are proud to announce the 2025 Leadership & CEO Award winners, recognizing executives whose vision, innovation, and leadership have redefined technology’s role in business and society. These award winners exemplify the leadership required to steer organizations through disruption, growth, and transformation in the age of AI and digital innovation.

“These leaders represent the highest standard of innovation and impact,” said David Campbell, CEO of the Tech Ascension Awards. “Their achievements demonstrate how great leadership not only advances technology but uplifts people, fosters inclusion, and builds a culture of excellence that propels entire industries forward.”

2025 Tech Ascension Awards Leadership & CEO Category Winners

Woman in Tech Leader of the Year – Linda Yao, VP and GM of Hybrid Cloud and AI Solutions, Lenovo

Linda Yao has been instrumental in advancing Lenovo’s leadership in hybrid cloud and AI infrastructure. She has championed diversity and innovation across Lenovo’s ecosystem, helping organizations harness intelligent infrastructure for sustainable, scalable digital transformation. Yao’s leadership reflects a rare blend of technical excellence, strategic foresight, and dedication to empowering the next generation of women in tech.

CEO of the Year – Owen Ryan, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, BlackLine

Owen Ryan has led BlackLine through a period of remarkable growth and innovation, redefining financial automation for the enterprise era. Under his leadership, BlackLine has expanded its AI-driven capabilities, strengthened global partnerships, and advanced a company culture rooted in integrity, performance, and inclusion. Ryan’s strategic vision continues to drive transformation in accounting automation and enterprise finance. Women in Cyber Leader of the Year – Kirsty Paine, Strategic Advisor, EMEA, Splunk (a Cisco Company) Kirsty Paine is a globally recognized cybersecurity strategist whose work at Splunk has helped government and enterprise organizations navigate today’s evolving digital threat landscape. She has been a vocal advocate for cyber resilience, diversity in security, and responsible AI. Paine’s thought leadership and mentorship continue to shape the future of cybersecurity across the EMEA region and beyond.

Industry Innovator of the Year – Jason Lancaster, Senior Vice President of Investigations, SpyCloud

Jason Lancaster has revolutionized the way enterprises approach identity protection and cybercrime intelligence. Through his leadership, SpyCloud has advanced its cyber threat intelligence platform, empowering organizations to detect and neutralize criminal activity faster than ever. Lancaster’s technical expertise and relentless pursuit of innovation have set new standards for security intelligence and digital identity defense.

The Tech Ascension Awards continue to celebrate leaders who inspire innovation, cultivate trust, and build a more inclusive, secure, and forward-thinking technology ecosystem.

How Best Managed Services Provider Award Winner Hughes is Redefining Enterprise Security with Managed SASE

Hughes Network Systems was recently recognized as Best Managed Services Provider by the 2025 Tech Ascension Awards for its Hughes Managed SASE solution. In a market crowded with point products and rising complexity, Hughes is helping enterprises take a smarter, phased approach to Zero Trust and SASE adoption. By unifying networking and security capabilities into a single managed platform, Hughes is giving IT teams the ability to simplify operations, strengthen protection, and scale confidently in the face of today’s cyber threats.

We sat down with Colleen Caruso, VP of Enterprise Managed Services at Hughes, to discuss how Hughes is redefining managed services, what sets its Managed SASE offering apart, and how enterprises are achieving real-world outcomes with the solution.

How does Hughes define its role as a managed services provider, and what does that mean for enterprise customers navigating today’s cybersecurity landscape—especially for those who may not be ready for a full transformation but are looking for the right place to start?

At Hughes, we define our role not just as technology providers, but as an extension of our customers’ IT and security teams, working right alongside them. Many enterprises are not ready to overhaul everything at once, so we meet them where they are in their journey. That might mean starting with a single capability, like a Zero Trust implementation, and then expanding into a fully integrated Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework as their needs evolve. This step-by-step approach allows organizations to strengthen protection without overextending budgets or resources. Our broader suite of managed services extends this philosophy, helping customers simplify network operations, improve performance, reduce vendor count, and enhance security across every stage of their digital journey.

Cybersecurity threats are evolving rapidly. How does Hughes Managed SASE help enterprises stay ahead of modern risks?

Hughes Managed SASE consolidates multiple security functions—including Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs), secure web gateways (SWGs), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Firewall-as-a-Service (FaaS), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)—into a unified cloud-based platform built on Zero Trust principles. Every access request is continuously validated, helping prevent unauthorized behavior in real time. With our 24/7 monitoring and adaptive security posture, customers gain proactive protection against sophisticated and constantly changing threats. 

Beyond threat prevention, this unified approach eliminates the silos and inefficiencies of managing separate tools, reducing complexity for IT teams and ensuring consistent enforcement of policies across all users, devices, and locations. By embedding Zero Trust into every layer, the solution enables enterprises to safeguard sensitive data, support compliance requirements, and deliver a seamless experience for employees whether they are working on-site, remotely, or in the cloud. The result is a security framework that is not only more effective but also easier to scale, providing enterprises with the confidence to grow and innovate without compromising protection. This focus aligns with market momentum, as 42% of organizations are planning to implement Zero Trust within the next 12 months, making managed Security Service Edge (SSE) and SASE a foundational strategy for staying ahead of evolving threats.

The market for SASE solutions is increasingly competitive. What sets Hughes apart?

What differentiates Hughes is the combination of our leadership in managed services, our deep networking expertise, and extensive commitment to collaborative customer service. We have been recognized by industry analysts as leaders in managed network services and SD-WAN, and we complement that track record with advanced AI-powered data loss prevention that protects sensitive data across websites, SaaS applications, emails, and even generative AI platforms. Along with strategic partnerships with leading security focused technology companies like Fortinet, Netskope, and Lumifi, we deliver a solution that is both comprehensive and proven in the most complex enterprise environments.

Many enterprises struggle with stretched IT teams and limited cybersecurity talent. How does Hughes lighten that load?

Our managed model is designed to remove the operational burden from in-house teams, providing people, processes, and consultation that deliver impact. Instead of juggling multiple vendors and tools, customers rely on Hughes as a single partner to manage deployment, monitoring, and optimization. Our in-house expertise also allows customers to get the most out of their implementation of these security frameworks that they may not achieve with limited staff capabilities. Our nationwide service footprint and Security Operations Center ensure around-the-clock coverage, while predictable costs and fee structures eliminate financial surprises. As a result, IT teams can focus on business priorities while we handle the complexity of securing their networks. This approach directly addresses a key market challenge, as 47% of IT leaders cite lack of in-house expertise as their primary reason for turning to managed security service providers.

How does the Hughes approach to integrating SASE, SD-WAN, CASB, DLP, FaaS, and ZTNA within a single service change the game for enterprise security?

By integrating network and security functions into one platform, we remove the silos that create gaps in visibility and control. Our SASE and SD-WAN foundations optimize traffic performance, while CASB, FaaS, DLP, and ZTNA deliver layered security without adding latency. This convergence gives enterprises a consistent user experience and stronger defenses across every site, application, and cloud service. It also streamlines policy management, allowing IT teams to apply and enforce rules centrally rather than configuring them across multiple systems. This integrated design creates greater agility, while enabling enterprises to scale rapidly or adapt to new business demands without compromising performance or protection.

What kinds of business outcomes are Hughes customers seeing (e.g., whether cost savings, operational efficiency, or improved time to deployment)?

Our customers are seeing faster time to deployment because they do not need to have in-house expertise or integrate dozens of vendors. They also see efficiency gains from centralized management and performance optimization across distributed networks. By partnering with Hughes, enterprises reduce operational and compliance risks, while benefitting from predictable costs and a scalable service model that grows with their needs.

For example, Hughes built The Vitamin Shoppe an entirely new network utilizing a cloud-based architecture and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) delivery model. The Hughes Managed Services solution features a SASE framework—delivering network functionality, performance optimization, and security policies. What’s more, by moving away from the hub-and-spoke model of data center connectivity, Hughes enabled The Vitamin Shoppe’s network to become more robust and cost effective with applications that are easier to run, manage, operate and optimize—positioning The Vitamin Shoppe to get the most out of IT-based capital expenditures. At each store, the retailer can leverage advanced networking technologies, capabilities, and security solutions from Hughes, with confidence that their network capabilities will remain on the leading edge.

Looking ahead, how is Hughes evolving its managed cybersecurity services to meet future demands in AI, compliance, and remote work?

We are focused on keeping enterprises ahead of the curve by integrating AI-driven insights into data loss prevention, enhancing compliance tools for industries with stringent regulatory requirements, and further securing hybrid and remote workforces. As threats become more complex, Hughes continues to innovate through partnerships, automation, and adaptive security frameworks that evolve alongside customer needs. Our goal remains consistent: to be the most trusted managed services provider, delivering secure, simplified, and future-ready networking and security solutions.

How Barracuda’s Best SecOps Solution is Setting a New Standard for AI-Powered Threat Detection

Barracuda Networks is raising the bar for security operations. The company’s Managed XDR platform was recently recognized as Best SecOps Solution by the Tech Ascension Awards for its ability to deliver rapid, AI-driven detection and response at scale. To explore what makes Barracuda stand out in today’s crowded market and how its global SOC is helping organizations stay ahead of sophisticated cyberthreats, we sat down with Adam Khan, VP of Global Security Operations at Barracuda Networks.

Barracuda Managed XDR was recently named Best SecOps Solution in the Tech Ascension Awards. What sets it apart in today’s crowded cybersecurity market?

Barracuda stands out with a fully managed, enterprise-grade XDR platform that slashes response times from days to seconds. It’s built for organizations of all sizes, offering 24/7/365 protection through a global Security Operations Center (SOC) staffed by five expert teams.

Powered by one of the industry’s largest threat intelligence databases with more than 11 billion indicators of compromise (IOCs) and a continuously learning AI engine, Barracuda ingests trillions of signals across endpoints, cloud, email, and firewalls. With integrated SIEM, SOAR, and over 1,000 ML-enhanced detection rules aligned to MITRE ATT&CK, it delivers precision analytics and automated response at scale.

As an open XDR platform, it integrates seamlessly with existing environments, accelerating deployment and boosting efficiency. Unlike partial SOC offerings, Barracuda delivers a unified, outcomes-driven solution backed by best-in-class SLAs – making it a true strategic ally in the fight against cyberthreats.

What are the top threats your SOC is currently seeing?

Major vulnerabilities have played a significant role in recent ransomware attacks from the Akira ransomware group. Ransomware continues to dominate the threat landscape, with 57% of organizations reporting a successful attack in the past year, according to our 2025 Ransomware Insights Report. What’s especially alarming is the growing connection between email breaches and ransomware incidents – 71% of organizations that experienced an email compromise were subsequently hit with ransomware, underscoring the critical need for integrated threat detection.

Supply chain compromises and vulnerabilities in widely used applications are also being weaponized, giving attackers multiple avenues to infiltrate organizations before deploying ransomware.

Today’s attacks are no longer single-stage events. Threat actors are deploying increasingly complex, multi-phase campaigns. Beyond initial encryption, we’re seeing a surge in data exfiltration (27%), deployment of secondary malicious payloads (29%) and deliberate backup destruction (19%) – all designed to maximize leverage and disruption.To counter these evolving threats, the Barracuda SOC prioritizes continuous monitoring, AI-driven detection and rapid response. By identifying and containing threats early in the attack lifecycle, we help organizations prevent business disruption and stay ahead of adversaries who are growing more sophisticated by the day.

Can you describe what Barracuda’s SOC looks like in practice — and how it helps keep organizations protected 24/7?

Barracuda’s SOC is a global, always-on defense hub operating 24/7/365. It’s staffed by five specialized teams of seasoned cybersecurity experts who deliver continuous monitoring, AI-powered threat detection and rapid response. This isn’t just reactive support; it’s proactive protection designed to identify and neutralize threats before they escalate.The SOC ingests trillions of signals across customer environments – from endpoints and servers to cloud, email and firewalls – giving it deep visibility into suspicious activity across the full attack surface. By leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning, it can detect subtle anomalies and respond with precision in real time.For customers, this means enterprise-grade security without the complexity or cost of building and staffing their own SOC. With multi-tenancy, SOC-as-a-Service capabilities and hands-on enablement support, Barracuda makes world-class protection accessible and scalable to organizations of all sizes and industries. 

How is Barracuda incorporating AI into its Managed XDR platform and overall detection and response strategy? AI is the backbone of Barracuda’s Managed XDR platform, driving faster, smarter and more adaptive threat detection and response across the entire attack surface. Its automated threat response capabilities enable instant detection and containment – minimizing risk without the need for manual intervention and dramatically reducing response time.

The platform applies advanced analytics and over 1,000 machine learning–powered detection rules to trillions of signals across environments. This deep, continuous analysis allows Barracuda to uncover ransomware, zero-day exploits and sophisticated multi-stage attacks in real time – before they can cause disruption.

What sets Barracuda apart is its AI engine’s ability to learn and evolve. By continuously ingesting global threat intelligence and adapting to emerging attack patterns, it sharpens detection accuracy, reduces false positives and empowers security and IT teams to act with confidence. 

Alert fatigue continues to overwhelm many security teams. How does Barracuda Managed XDR reduce noise and help teams focus on what really matters?

We’re tackling alert fatigue head-on by combining AI-driven prioritization with proactive threat hunting to ensure IT and security teams only see what truly matters – high-risk, actionable alerts. The platform automatically filters out false positives and low-priority events, dramatically reducing the noise that typically overwhelms analysts.

On average, Barracuda Managed XDR reduces alerts for our customers by 90%, enabling security teams to reclaim valuable time and focus on true threats.

Real-time automated responses contain threats within seconds, allowing teams to shift from reactive firefighting to strategic decision-making. By surfacing only the most relevant threats and eliminating alert clutter, we’re empowering teams to stay focused, respond faster and maintain a resilient security posture without being buried in distractions.

As the threat landscape evolves, what’s next for Barracuda Managed XDR — and how are you preparing customers for the future?

We’re focused on solving two of the most pressing challenges facing organizations today: the rise of increasingly sophisticated threats and the growing burden of operational complexity. 

Repeat attacks are often fueled by fragmented security architectures, as evidenced in our 2025 Ransomware Insights Report. 74% of organizations hit multiple times cite tool sprawl as a key issue, while 61% struggle with poor integration between their tools. With 38% of victims experiencing repeat ransomware incidents, it’s clear that persistent architectural gaps must be addressed.To help customers stay ahead, Barracuda Managed XDR unifies threat detection and response across endpoints, cloud, email, and network environments. By reducing tool sprawl and streamlining operations, we’re enabling security teams to work more efficiently and effectively.AI-driven prioritization, proactive threat hunting and real-time automated response allow teams to focus on high-impact alerts and contain threats within seconds. Combined with 24/7 expert SOC support, Barracuda delivers a powerful blend of intelligence, automation and human expertise – arming organizations with the agility and resilience they need to defend against tomorrow’s threats.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to security teams looking to improve their detection and response strategy today? Start with the fundamentals – and don’t underestimate their importance. According to our data, 71% of organizations that experienced an email breach were subsequently hit with ransomware. Yet many of these victims lacked basic security controls across email, network or endpoint environments. That’s not just a vulnerability—it’s an open invitation.

The most effective way to strengthen your detection and response strategy is to close those foundational gaps and ensure your defenses are integrated, continuously monitored and working in concert. Sophisticated attacks often exploit simple oversights. By reinforcing the basics and building a unified security architecture, teams can dramatically reduce risk and stay ahead of threats before they escalate.