The High-EQ Leader: Why Vulnerability Wins in 2026

As part of our Women Leaders in Technology (WLIT) series on The AI Forecast, we’re joined by Avani Desai, CEO of Schellman, a leading cybersecurity firm. Each quarter, we’ll take a break from the regularly scheduled AI programming on The AI Forecast to direct our attention to this important topic in tech. Avani shares her journey from a curious kid in Orlando who loved to tinker with technology to becoming a leader in cybersecurity. She reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her career, like her 15-year journey to accept vulnerability as a means of connection, not failure. She also shares how her leadership style—rooted in empathy, authenticity, and radical transparency (e.g., her “eye-to-eye with Desai” meetings with employees where no question is off limits)—has helped her build trust, inspire teams, and drive innovation.  To learn more about Cloudera’s Women Leaders in Technology, join the LinkedIn community and visit the home page. LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13104138/  WLIT Website: https://www.cloudera.com/about/women-leaders-in-technology.html  And to stay in touch with Avani, follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avanimehtadesai/