Ramanan Hariharan is a highly regarded motivational speaker whose career exemplifies ambition, resilience, and values-led leadership in fast-moving technical environments. As Principal Engineering Manager for AI Security and Identity and Access Management at Microsoft, he leads global teams operating across AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. His journey from student entrepreneur to senior technology leader provides a compelling narrative for audiences navigating change, pressure, and personal growth in demanding careers.
Ramanan’s professional path began while studying computer science at Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, where he founded Astradge Technologies alongside his degree. Balancing academic study with entrepreneurship, he developed early discipline, adaptability, and confidence in problem-solving. Research internships with AGV Systems and KVIC followed, exposing him to applied engineering and structured innovation. He later joined Infosys as a Systems Engineer, gaining first-hand experience of large-scale enterprise delivery. His curiosity and drive for excellence led him to Google as a Research Scientist, before completing his postgraduate studies at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science.
After his achieveing his MSc in Computer Science, Ramanan joined Deloitte, where he spent close to a decade progressing from Technology Consultant to Senior Manager of IAM Engineering. Throughout this period, he consistently ranked as a top performer, earned Summa Cum Laude honours, and became known for building trusted, high-performing teams. His career progression reflects sustained effort, continuous learning, and the ability to lead calmly through complexity. Alongside technical leadership, he has remained a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, championing empathy, fairness, and psychological safety within teams.
As a motivational speaker, Ramanan inspires audiences by connecting technical excellence with human values. He speaks openly about growth mindset, leadership under pressure, and the importance of influence without ego. His recent return to Vidyalankar Institute of Technology as an alumnus speaker demonstrated his ability to motivate emerging talent, offering practical career guidance grounded in lived experience. Organisations hire Ramanan for his authenticity, clarity, and ability to motivate individuals to pursue long-term success with integrity, resilience, and purpose.
