What do space advancements, computer programming, and household appliances have in common?
The answer is “women”.
The progress that has shaped modern civilization—allowing us to enjoy more comfortable and better lives—can be traced back to these pioneering women: Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson. These women have laid the foundation for today’s rapidly advancing computer technology. The names of the last three figures may ring a bell among many, because they appear in Hidden Figures. This biographical film highlights the invaluable contributions of these three women to the space industry during an era when gender discrimination was deeply entrenched in American society.
With the world taking a big leap from algorithm to AI, it has left behind the days when women were just mere followers. This is because women have proven their leadership, ready to be at the forefront and overcome all obstacles. One such women is “Tithirat Siripattanalert,” Head of Cybersecurity of True Digital Group. On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2025, True Blog interviewed this female executive to hear how she has been doing as a woman in tech.
Her Story: Challenges Facing Women in Tech
Tithirat was born in Chumphon, the gateway to Thailand’s South. This southern province had been her home until she moved to Bangkok to further her study at the country’s prestigious high school, Triam Udom Suksa in Phya Thai area.
With constant thirst for new knowledge, Tithirat believes she has been heavily influenced by two family members. Her father and his elder brother work in the engineering field. Her uncle, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosol Petchsuwan, is also a prominent figure. Not only that he is the first president of the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), but he also makes huge contributions to Thailand’s infrastructural development.
“My dad and my uncle have been my role models. During my childhood, I often saw my uncle on TV explaining about the pros and cons of each infrastructure project or transport mode. Back to when Thailand was still laying the groundwork for its engineering systems, he was a key figure in shaping the nation’s development—both in tangible aspects, like today’s mass transit systems, and in visionary contributions, such as pioneering KMITL. Seeing him on television was a source of inspiration for a little girl like me. It sparked a dream—that one day I would achieve at least half of what he had accomplished,” Tithirat recounted.
With that inspiration, Tithirat chose to study electronic engineering at KMITL. Although she then had to spend most of her time among men, she never felt out of place, different, or any less capable than her peers. She always believed in her capabilities, unfazed by gender-based challenges or traditional societal norms. Though forging a path as a woman in tech—especially in its early days—was far from easy, she remained undeterred.
A Pioneer in Thailand’s Cybersecurity Landscape
After proving her tech learning abilities, Tithirat began her career at the Telephone Organization of Thailand. It was around the time the global IT and communications industry started recognizing cyberthreats, which would soon pose a major challenge to the sector.
Tithirat received a scholarship to study Management Information System (MIS) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the United States. This aligned perfectly with her growing interest in cybersecurity—a new interdisciplinary field that blends science and art, covering management, law, and business. As MIS requires a holistic understanding, it is quite different from applied sciences and technical engineering. Backed by this educational background, Tithirat would finally rank herself among Thailand’s first 30 Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP). It is widely known that CISSP certification, one of the most globally recognized credentials in the field, is granted only to those passing rigorous exam especially in light of its time constraints.
When financial transactions later transitioned to card-based systems, Tithirat recognized new cybersecurity challenges emerging in the industry. This led her to shift into the financial sector, where she played a key role in establishing cybersecurity infrastructure for Siam Commercial Bank (SCB). Her expertise soon caught the attention of AXA, the French multinational insurance company, which recruited her as Regional Director for Asia. In this role, she was responsible for implementing cybersecurity frameworks across AXA’s operations in numerous Asian countries including Thailand where she also served as Head of Information Security for Krungthai-AXA.
“During my first days in cybersecurity field, almost all colleagues were male. So, it’s quite a pressure. I had to put in extra efforts to prove myself. Being a petite Asian woman in an international setting could create trust issues at the beginning. But I knew that the only way to overcome this was to let my work speak for itself and earn recognition through my performance. Being a woman in a male-dominated field is challenging, and climbing up to a leadership position is even harder in spite of the fact that gender was not itself an obstacle to the performance of duties,” Tithirat reflected.
Balancing Motherhood and Leadership
Tithirat refused to let negative perceptions toward women in male-dominated industries hold her back. Instead of allowing these biases to limit her, she used them as a driving force toward success—marking a turning point in her life and career.
Beyond the gender biases women face in professional settings, motherhood presents yet another challenge to career advancement. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024, the technology sector ranks among the lowest in female workforce representation—especially in leadership roles. One significant reason for this gap is the burden of childrearing that falls on women’s shoulders as soon as they became mothers. Tithirat, a mother of two, has so far managed to juggle her duties as a mother and a working woman well thanks to the following three factors:
- Maternity Leave & Mom-Friendly Facilities at Workplaces: Created through public policies for mothers, such welfare is meaningful especially in the first month following childbirth. Mothers usually face a crisis during this month due to physical changes to their body and the need to breastfeed their baby every three hours. Employers thus should not overlook the need to provide basic facilities such as lactation room and fridges for storing breast milk.
- Support system: Husbands can significantly share childrearing responsibilities in terms of care, food, and commuting especially during the first six years of their children’s lives. Because Tithirat’s husband provides solid contributions, she can efficiently double as a mother and an executive.
- Abilities: It takes preparations for women to excel as both mothers and professionals. The mental and physical preparations must be done ahead, during, and after childbirth, covering both career and motherhood aspects. Life coaching for working moms can thus help reduce gender disparities.
“With my first child, I deeply felt the meaning of ‘Kha Nam Nom’ song. As its lyric suggested, blood in my chest really turned into breast milk for my baby. It was incredibly painful. Also, I barely had any personal time – even for brushing my teeth! But I got through it all with love, my husband’s support, and my employer’s provision of maternity benefits,” Tithirat shared, “Although motherhood is heavy and exhausting, looking back, it was a time of immense happiness. It became my source of motivation to keep moving forward in my career.”
The Woman Behind Corporate Foundation
With her extensive experience both regionally and nationally, Tithirat views cybersecurity as an essential foundation in the digital era. Organizations, whether small or large, need cybersecurity services. So, when True Digital Group (TDG) invited her to pioneer a comprehensive cybersecurity consultancy and solutions business as an expansion of True Corp’s telecommunications services, she quickly jumped in.
“Joining TDG is another step towards making my dream come true—a dream of using my knowledge and experience to give back to my homeland, just as my uncle once did. I want to help all organizations, from SMEs to large corporations, transition securely and safely to the digital era. I want them to be on par with international standard. Global organizations have now used cybersecurity as a key criterion when deciding whether to engage in partnerships. If you lack a globally recognized cybersecurity system, you risk losing opportunities to step onto the world stage,” Tithirat disclosed.
Overall, the tech industry still faces significant gender gaps in various areas, including education, career entry, and representation of women in leadership roles. In Thailand, only 30% of women graduate in STEM fields. Tithirat believes these gaps partly stem from misunderstanding about the nature of the work and the lack of female role models to inspire the next generation.
“In reality, cybersecurity only requires technical skills as a foundation. However, what’s more important for leadership is the ability to integrate cybersecurity principles and practices into every organizational process. This requires empathy and attention to detail, qualities that women have and excel in,” Tithirat explained. For this reason, she takes every opportunity to be a voice for young people, especially women, through Women Thailand Cyber Top Talent. She often shares the following three key pieces of advice with the next generation:
1. Dreams can come true, if you believe in yourselves, seriously pursue your goals, and push limits.
2. Success doesn’t come easily. You must remain determined, patient, and consistently put in effort.
3. Attitude is key. A positive mindset will expand your perspective, helping you recognize opportunities and overcome challenges.
“As women, we often wear many hats—both as professionals and as mothers caring for our children. I would like to take this opportunity to commend every determined woman who has relentlessly handled both roles. You are amazing. Everything is indeed possible for as long as we don’t restrict our own thoughts or dreams. Turn gender-related obstacles into strengths, give it your all, and one day, your dreams will become a reality. I want to be a source of encouragement for all the women who are giving their best to walk their own path,” the iron lady of TDG concluded.
