Women in the corporate world

A leading woman in the corporate world — shaping how global enterprises stay safe.

For over two decades, Rekha Gairola has held senior roles inside the world's most demanding corporations — rising in a field few women enter and fewer lead. Today she directs global safety and security at Adobe, while championing the diversity, inclusion and mentorship that bring more women into corporate leadership.

About

Profile

Rekha Gairola is a senior corporate leader and one of the most recognized women in the global security profession. As Director of Global Safety & Security at Adobe, she sets strategy for protecting people, assets and operations worldwide — a leadership role she reached over more than 24 years across aviation, logistics, finance, aerospace and technology, with organizations including Jet Airways, DHL Express, HSBC Bank and Boeing International.

In a profession historically dominated by ex-military men, she built her standing as a woman from a non-military background — and turned that into a platform for change, advocating for women's empowerment, gender diversity, and safe, inclusive workplaces, and mentoring women entering corporate and security careers.

Her professional command of the security world is deep and broad: corporate security, risk assessment and mitigation, crisis management, investigations and security audits. She is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and International Crime Prevention Specialist (ICPS) — one of very few professionals certified in both the CRT and PEACE investigative methods — as well as a certified POSH and POCSO trainer, an internationally certified professional skills trainer and a leadership coach.

24+
Years in safety & security
5
Industries — aviation · finance · aerospace · logistics · tech
2024
First-ever Global OSPA winner from India
Career

A career across five industries

From the aviation sector to global technology, Rekha has built and led security and safety functions for organizations operating in some of the most demanding risk environments in the world. As Director of Global Safety & Security at Adobe, she sets strategy for protecting people, assets and operations at scale; earlier, as Regional Security Advisor for India & South Asia at Boeing International, she safeguarded one of aerospace's most sensitive footprints. Across banking, logistics and aviation before that, the same thread runs through her work: turning risk into resilience.

  • AdobeDirector — Global Safety & Security
  • Boeing InternationalRegional Security Advisor, India & South Asia
  • HSBC BankAVP, Security
  • DHL ExpressSecurity leadership — logistics
  • Jet AirwaysSecurity leadership — aviation
Expertise

Core expertise

SECURITY LEADERSHIP

Global Risk & Security

Two decades building and leading corporate security and safety functions across multiple industries and geographies, with a focus on understanding and mitigating organizational risk.

SAFE WORKPLACES

POSH & POCSO Trainer

Certified trainer under India's POSH Act and POCSO, helping organizations build workplaces that are not only secure but respectful and inclusive.

PEOPLE

Coaching & Skills Training

Internationally certified professional skills trainer and leadership coach, and an active mentor to women entering the security profession.

INVESTIGATIONS

Certified Investigator

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and International Crime Prevention Specialist (ICPS), with CRT and PEACE investigator certifications spanning fraud, investigations and crisis management.

Recognition & Voice

Awards, speaking & affiliations

  • 2024

    Global OSPA — Outstanding Female Security Professional

    The first-ever winner from India of the Global OSPA (Outstanding Security Performance Awards) for 2024 — a milestone for Indian representation on the international stage.

  • Feature

    Titans of Netrika

    Featured among the industry leaders profiled in Netrika's "Titans of Netrika" coffee-table book.

  • 2026

    Speaker — ICES Forum, Mumbai

    Featured speaker at Innovation in Cyber & Electronic Security, listed as Director — Global Safety & Security, Adobe.

  • 2025

    Speaker — Surakshit Bharat Sankalp Conclave, Ahmedabad

    Spoke at the conclave on corporate counterintelligence and strategic resilience (theme: "Securing Boardrooms, Safeguarding Bharat").

  • 2025

    Speaker — Sharda University

    Invited speaker on "The Role of Men in Women Empowerment: Allies not Opponents," as a certified POSH trainer and diversity & inclusion speaker.

  • Judge

    Judge — India & South Asia OSPAs

    Serves on the judging panel for the India & South Asia Outstanding Security Performance Awards.

  • 2025

    Jury Member — BW Security World 40 Under 40 Awards

    Served on the jury for the 2nd edition of India's BW Security World 40 Under 40 Awards (New Delhi), helping recognize the sector's emerging leaders.

  • 2023

    Jury Member — IFSEC India Awards

    Served on the IFSEC India Awards jury panel, recognizing excellence across India's security and safety industry.

  • Member

    FICCI–FLO Task Force on Safety of Women at the Workplace

    Contributed as a security leader to industry recommendations for keeping women safe at work — directly on the theme she champions.

  • 2025

    Member — CAPSI Task Force on Women's Security (Nari Rakshak Team)

    Member of the CAPSI-led Task Force on Women's Security under the Joint Security Innovation Centre, supporting a national women's-safety mission.