OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2015. “Vibha Rustagi’s career has been highlighted by many different achievements. But this year’s Women in Technology Award winner sums up her philosophy, the driving force behind itaas, the company she started, in only a few words. Focus. Perseverance. Passion. Hard work,” writes CED Magazine.

Vibha Rustagi says focus needs to be on the customer, having vision, aligning that vision with the needs of the market, and on building a talented and versatile team. To Rustagi, perseverance also means rising to meet any challenges that come along in the market.

“We take pride in the fact that we created a culture of openness,” says Rustagi. “Exchange of ideas is encouraged throughout and access to any executive is simple.”

Rustagi says that starting a business is a lot of hard work and that it continues to be hard work no matter the size of your company. She adds that the combination of all these elements is how itaas grew to where it was last year when it was acquired by Cognizant.

“When Rustagi accepted her award during a ceremony at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, one incredible number stood out during last year’s winner Sherita Ceasar’s introduction, a number that drew a resounding round of applause: seven. That’s the amount of patents to which Rustagi has her name attached. But she’s quick to point out she didn’t get to that number on her own,” writes CED.

“I’m proud of my work on these patents. Engineering is a very creative process about finding unique ways to solve problems,” she says. “But also in marketing you can find new ways of doing things that are unique. Receiving these patents was just the icing on the cake.”

“Among Vibha’s many venerable traits, the two I admire most are the tenacity with which she pursues goals and her ability to find solutions under difficult circumstances. Her ability to focus in the midst of chaos goes well beyond work into personal and family life, giving her a ‘Super Woman’ like aura of invincibility,” says itaas co-founder Jatin Desai. “Her attention to quality and detail, even on the most minor matters, has played a key role in achieving the high degree of customer satisfaction we have maintained over the years.”

Rustagi says itaas’ mantra has always been to exceed the expectations of its customers. That dedication reflects in itaas’ impressive customer list that includes service providers like Comcast, Cox, Time Warner and Charter, and technology providers including Cisco, ARRIS and Technicolor.

“Vibha is among the most highly respected professionals in cable technology today, combining a unique mix of technical expertise and business acumen. She is an exceptional leader and role model, not for just women in the industry, but for all of us. The entire industry has benefited from her vision and development of today’s digital networks,” says ARRIS Chairman and CEO Bob Stanzione.

“One thing that has not changed is my focus and my role with the customers,” says Rustagi. “In the beginning, a significant percentage of my time was spent with customers, and the same is true today. The more I know about our customers’ businesses and needs, the better I can lead the organization.”