Meet Shilpa Shekar: Building cybersecurity teams across Europe

Cybersecurity is often seen as a highly technical field. But behind every strong security team is something less visible: the ability to find, understand and bring together the right people.

At Allurity, that responsibility sits with Shilpa Shekar who leads Group Talent Acquisition across the organisation. Working across multiple companies and markets, she helps shape how cybersecurity talent is identified, assessed and supported – building teams that are not only technically strong, but aligned with long-term growth.

With a background spanning both engineering and human resources, Shilpa operates at the intersection of technology and people. We spoke to her about her journey, what makes cybersecurity hiring unique, and why the industry needs to think differently about talent.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do at Allurity.

I lead Group Talent Acquisition at Allurity, working across our companies to set talent strategy, build shared infrastructure, and hire cybersecurity professionals across Europe and the Nordics. My background combines engineering and Human Resources, which naturally placed me at the intersection of technical and people-focused work. That’s exactly where cybersecurity recruitment sits.

I moved to Germany in my early 20s and built my career from scratch. That experience shaped my persistence and adaptability, and led me to what I do today: working with technical talent and supporting companies building something meaningful.

What does your job actually look like in everyday life?

A large part of my work is driven by curiosity and conversation. I work closely with technical teams to understand their day-to-day, the problems they solve, and the kind of people they need. At the same time, I advise hiring managers, shape interview frameworks, and ensure we build teams that are not just technically strong, but the right fit for where a company is heading. Recruitment reflects both leadership and culture.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

The connections. I enjoy understanding what drives people and where they want to go. Recruitment done well is about long-term relationships. I also value matching people to teams, not just roles. Finding someone with the right mindset and placing them in an environment where they thrive is very rewarding.

What might surprise people about your role?

How much of it is about building. Beyond hiring, I work on employer branding, recruitment standards, interviewer training, and talent pipelines across the group.

What are some of the challenges?

Cybersecurity talent is scarce and highly competitive, which makes long-term relationship building essential.

Another challenge is the shortage of strong people leaders. Technical expertise is common, but leadership skills are often underdeveloped. Organisations that invest in both build stronger teams.

How do you keep learning?

I stay close to the field by following trends and speaking regularly with practitioners. I also continuously develop my recruitment approach, from interviewing techniques to improving candidate experience.

What opportunities exist for people with different backgrounds?

More than most people realise. The best cybersecurity professionals are defined by curiosity, not a specific degree. The field also needs people from areas like communication, policy, and project management. What matters most is interest and a willingness to learn.

What would you say to someone curious about cybersecurity?

There is no single path. Cybersecurity offers many directions, and curiosity matters more than credentials. Start by joining communities, exploring platforms like Hack The Box or TryHackMe, and following real-world security research. The most important step is to start.

Anything the industry needs to hear?

There is a clear shortage of female talent in cybersecurity, and it needs more attention. Cybersecurity requires diverse perspectives to solve complex problems. The industry must actively support this through how we hire, build teams, and lead.