Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk

Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk is Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Corporation, General Manager of Israel Research & Development Center and CTO of the Microsoft Security division - and one of the top Israeli hi-tech leaders.

Microsoft Israel R&D Center is the company's first R&D center outside the United States and among the global pioneers in international R&D centers. Michal founded the Microsoft Israel Cybersecurity Center when she joined the company in 2013, initiating and driving some of Microsoft’s most advanced security products including Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and Microsoft Defender for IoT. As CTO of the Microsoft Security division, Michal is focused on identifying disruptive growth opportunities for Microsoft’s security division and boosting the growth-hacking mentality and innovation across the division.

In recent years, the Israel R&D Center has become a major force in the fields of cybersecurity and AI within Microsoft. Since Michal assumed the GM role in February 2020 - the first woman to hold the position – the Israel R&D Center has grown by more than 60%.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Michal served as the General Manager of RSA Israel and the global leader of the Cyber Fraud and Risk Analytics product line at RSA/EMC (now Dell). Michal came to RSA via the Cyota acquisition in 2006. Under her leadership, revenues of the Fraud and Risk Analytics product line grew twentyfold, and the number of protected users worldwide reached 300M.

At Cyota, a cyber and FinSec startup, Michal served as the COO, leading R&D, product management, and Anti-Fraud services. Prior to Cyota, Michal served in several senior management positions at startups and global companies.

Michal is a passionate advocate for promoting the integration of Israeli Arabs and women in hi-tech, volunteering as a mentor in these communities. She is also a prominent speaker at technological conferences around the world.

Michal holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science (majoring in Artificial Intelligence) from Columbia University in New York where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.