There’s more than one recipe for success.
For Balamohan and Prasanthi Tadepalli, it started with some money and two suitcases, mixed with hope, hard work and the promise of opportunity. The couple came from India to Michigan determined to build a better life, eventually choosing Troy as home. Years later, their son Hemanth has built on that foundation in ways hardly imagined.
Hemanth attended House of Montessori, Morse Elementary, Boulan Park Middle School and Troy High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Kettering University and master’s in information and cybersecurity from UC Berkeley. He’s now completing a Ph.D. in cyber defense at Dakota State University.
Still under 40, Hemanth Tadepalli has already built a remarkable career in cybersecurity, with roles at Google, Mandiant and, today, May Mobility, where he works at the intersection of cybersecurity, technology and autonomous transportation. He has advised Michigan on election security, been named one of Oakland County’s 40 Under 40, received the Governor’s Service Award and was named one of CISO's Connect's Top 100 Cybersecurity Leaders in the world this year. Yet despite opportunities that could have taken him anywhere, Hemanth keeps coming home.
“Growing up here shaped who I am,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to work with organizations around the world, but I’ve always felt strongly about investing back into the community that is home.”
His connection to Troy, however, goes far beyond school.
As a teen, he served as president of the Troy Public Library Teen Advisory Board and was appointed student representative to the Troy Planning Commission. Later, he became involved in local political campaigns, serving as Deputy Campaign Manager for Troy Mayor Ethan Baker. Today, he serves on Troy’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. And then there’s the part of his résumé you probably wouldn’t expect from a cybersecurity expert: Violist with the Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra.
“Music gives me another way to connect with the community and contribute to Troy’s cultural life,” he says.
That sense of service follows him into his professional life. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson appointed Hemanth to an Advisory Task Force on Election Security and Integrity, an experience that showed him how closely technology and public trust are intertwined. His current work at May Mobility takes that idea in another direction. As vehicles become increasingly autonomous, he says cybersecurity becomes more than an IT concern. It’s a matter of safety. Remaining optimistic about the future he says, "Technology has enormous potential to improve how we live. My hope is we build it responsibly, so innovation doesn’t come at the expense of privacy, safety or trust.”
For Hemanth, that future is also deeply connected to where his own story began. “My parents came here looking for an opportunity to build a better future, and I want to honor that by helping create even more opportunities for the next generation,” he says. “Some of the most meaningful work is the work you do where you’re from.”
It’s a philosophy he sums up even more simply: “I truly believe Troy raises them right.”
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Here's Hemanth's top tips for protecting yourself in a world that is increasingly powered by AI:
1. Lock down your accounts
Use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and keep your devices updated. Be cautious and slow to click when sharing sensitive personal, financial or work information with AI tools.
2. Don’t automatically trust what you see or hear
With the advance of deepfakes and voice impersonations, don’t get fooled by a familiar face or voice on your phone. If your “bank” calls or a “family member” suddenly needs money, verify the request another way.
“You don’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself,” Hemanth says. “Just develop a few good habits, stay skeptical of unexpected requests for money and take a moment to verify information.”