Ajai Srivastava is a distinguished cybersecurity, governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) professional with over 35 years of industry experience spanning consulting, auditing, training, and executive leadership. He is the Founder & Director of Seven Step Consulting and The Compliance First, organizations dedicated to helping businesses strengthen governance, manage risk, achieve regulatory compliance, and build cyber resilience.
Since 2000, he has been at the forefront of advancing management systems and information security in India, notably pioneering the Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) practice for the British Standards Institution (BSI) as General Manager in 2001.
A highly respected consultant, auditor, and trainer, Ajai has delivered more than 3,000 hours of professional training and advised organizations across diverse industries on Information Security Management, IT Service Management, Business Continuity, Privacy, PCI DSS, Quality Management, SOC/SSAE, and enterprise risk management. His expertise encompasses globally recognized standards including ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22301, ISO/IEC 20000, and ISO 31000.
Ajai is the architect of the S.T.E.P.S.™ Governance Trust Cycle and founder of the Wisdom Code Series, through which he shares practical frameworks for leadership, governance, and organizational excellence.
As co-author of Beyond Firewalls: Cybersecurity and Privacy in the Digital Age, The Endless Becoming, Code vs Constitution, Mind Your S.T.E.P.S., and Seven Steps to Infosec Nirvana, Ajai is committed to making complex cybersecurity and governance concepts practical and accessible for business leaders, boards, auditors, and security professionals.
An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, he holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, combining academic excellence with decades of practical leadership in helping organizations transform cybersecurity from a compliance obligation into a strategic business advantage.
Sandeep Vashisth is a seasoned C-suite leader and strategist with over 25 years of experience driving growth, transformation, and resilience across the telecom, fintech, media sales, and office automation sectors in both B2C and B2B markets. As the Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Seven Step Consulting, he leads large-scale digital transformation, cybersecurity, and compliance initiatives, helping enterprises navigate today’s evolving risk landscape with agility and foresight.
With a proven track record of delivering measurable impact in highly competitive markets across India and Africa, Sandeep has built his career on the ability to blend strategic vision with pragmatic execution. His expertise spans enterprise security, regulatory compliance, customer trust frameworks, and the orchestration of innovation roadmaps that balance growth with risk resilience.
Sandeep is widely recognised for his ability to demystify complex frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27701, reframing them not as compliance checklists but as dynamic, strategic enablers of organisational success. His advisory work emphasises continuous improvement, cultural transformation, and the role of leadership in embedding cybersecurity and privacy into the very DNA of business operations.
Beyond his technical and strategic acumen, Sandeep is admired for his calm, empathetic leadership style. Colleagues and clients alike describe him as a trusted partner who navigates complexity with integrity, authenticity, and a people-first mindset. These qualities have made him not just a respected executive but also a mentor and collaborator who inspires confidence in every engagement.
As co-author of Beyond Firewalls: Cybersecurity and Privacy in the Digital Age, Sandeep brings his global perspective and decades of frontline experience to illuminate how organisations can future-proof themselves against escalating digital threats while harnessing privacy as a driver of trust and competitive advantage. His contribution bridges strategy and execution, underscoring his core belief: in the digital age, cybersecurity is not a burden but a powerful business enabler.
Currently serving as Delivery Head and Director at Ducis Management Consulting, Sunil brings over 30 years of deep expertise in IT Service Management, Digital Transformation, and ISO framework consulting. He is an ITIL® 4 Master, ITIL Managing Professional, Strategy Leader, and Expert, with a proven track record in building and managing large-scale service delivery operations across industries including banking, telecom, manufacturing, and e-commerce.
Sunil has led numerous consulting assignments focused on ITIL process implementation, ISO certifications (ISO 20000, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS), RCA alignment, and ITSM tool deployment. He has trained and advised global organizations such as NTT Data, Tech Mahindra, Fujitsu, HCL, and CISCO, delivering over 3000 hours of professional training across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
One of the few experts trained by AXELOS/PeopleCert on ITIL 4 prior to its global release, Sunil co-authored core training material and continues to guide organizations in aligning IT services with digital business goals. He is also a frequent speaker and contributor to industry events, with a focus on IT service excellence and operational resilience.
Susheela (Sush) Gupta, CISA, CISM, CDPSE, ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, Certified Scrum Master, and PGDIT, is an accomplished information security and cyber risk professional with over 14 years of experience in information security governance, risk management, privacy, and cybersecurity strategy.
She holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from Bundelkhand University, India, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Technology from Symbiosis International University, Pune. Based in Melbourne, Australia, she is a respected security and privacy practitioner and was instrumental in establishing Seven Step Consulting Private Limited in India in 2009.
Her expertise includes information security governance, privacy engineering, security risk assessments, compliance, business continuity, payment security, and enterprise resilience. She has successfully helped organisations implement robust security frameworks that support business growth and digital transformation.
As co-author of Seven Steps to Infosec Nirvana in the Wisdom Code Series, Susheela shares practical insights and proven approaches to help leaders and professionals build resilient, trust-driven, and sustainable security programmes.
Vijay Kumar Srivastava is a seasoned legal professional and advocate with over two decades of experience spanning litigation, corporate law, and real estate compliance. With a career foundation in the Allahabad High Court and senior corporate roles at Unitech and DLF, he has established a strong reputation for legal precision, strategic advisory, and regulatory insight.
His professional journey reflects a rare blend of courtroom expertise and corporate acumen—having served as Standing Counsel for the Government of Uttar Pradesh and as Legal Manager for leading real estate groups. Vijay has led end-to-end legal documentation for large-scale property, hotel, and joint venture projects, including landmark assignments for Radisson Hotels, Unitech–Coca-Cola, and South City Gurgaon.
Vijay’s practice focuses on high-value contract drafting, dispute resolution, and compliance management. His work demonstrates deep command over commercial, real estate, and consumer law, combined with a pragmatic approach to risk mitigation and regulatory adherence.
An alumnus of Lucknow University with an LL.B. and a certified professional in finance (AMFI), Vijay continues to advise clients on legal strategy, documentation, and corporate governance. His consultative practice underscores integrity, foresight, and excellence—principles that define his long-standing contribution to India’s legal and corporate sectors.
