Ann Delenela

The Cybersecurity Expert Who Is Propelling Women to the Top

In survey after survey, executive leaders have ranked cyber threats as the biggest risk to their business in 2025, but you don’t have to tell that to security strategist Ann Delenela. As the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Entergy, an integrated energy company providing electricity to more than 3 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, she spent last year leading a comprehensive transformation of Entergy’s cybersecurity program, integrating advanced technologies such as AI-driven threat detection and zero-trust architecture. She also strengthened Entergy’s partnerships with state and federal intelligence agencies, enhancing threat intelligence sharing and boosting industry-wide resilience in the face of national security risks. Even amid these ambitious efforts, her team achieved the highest organizational health score across Entergy — a nod to her commitment to building a transparent, accountable, and positive workplace culture. As one of the few women — and even fewer Asian American women — in executive leadership in energy and cybersecurity, Delenela is passionate about creating inclusive leadership pipelines. In 2024, she launched mentorship and sponsorship programs within Entergy that significantly increased the representation of women in technical and leadership roles.

By Audrey Goodson Kingo