How a Young Cybersecurity Prodigy Made NASA’s Hall of Fame

How a Young Cybersecurity Prodigy Made NASA’s Hall of Fame

Ahamdabad.

Widowed by COVID-19, Pooja rebuilt life with Adani Cement’s support. Today, her teenage son Vansh is honoured at one of the most prestigious aeronautics programmes in the world.

In 2021, Pooja Saxena’s life changed forever. Her husband, Vivek Kumar, who had served with Adani Cement for nearly 23 years as Head of Environment & Horticulture, succumbed to the raging COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an instant, she was left a single mother—grieving, uncertain and solely responsible for raising their teenage son, Vansh.

The loss of her life partner and the family’s primary breadwinner could have shattered her spirit. But Pooja found quiet courage in her son’s eyes and strength in the values she and her husband had nurtured over the years. Her academic background—a postgraduate degree in environmental science—became the foundation she stood on to begin again. 

That journey was supported by the Adani Group, which recognised both her capability and the legacy of her husband’s long and committed service. A new role within the organisation wasn’t just a professional opportunity—it was a symbol of trust, empathy and continuity.

As Pooja rebuilt her life, her son Vansh was quietly building his own path—one that would take him from his small room to the global stage.

From an early age, Vansh was fascinated by computers. While other children were chasing cricket balls, he was digging deep into systems and software. That curiosity led him to the world of ethical hacking—where his passion wasn’t about breaking systems but protecting them. “I’ve always believed technology should empower, not harm,” he says. “That’s why I chose the ethical route.”

At just 17, Vansh discovered a significant vulnerability in a NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) web application—an achievement that earned him a spot on NASA’s Hall of Fame. He recalls the moment with a quiet awe: “I’d been testing for days, and then suddenly I found it. I just stared at the screen. I couldn’t believe it.”

For Pooja, the recognition from NASA wasn’t just a proud parenting moment—it was a powerful affirmation of everything they had endured and everything they continued to fight for. “It felt surreal,” she says. “Not just because it was NASA, but because I knew how hard he had worked—how focused, how ethical, how passionate he was.”

While Vansh continues to make responsible disclosures to global tech platforms and dives deeper into cybersecurity, Pooja continues her work with the Adani Group—a space that became an extension of family during their most vulnerable time.

Their story is not just about overcoming adversity. It’s about quiet perseverance, mutual respect and the transformative power of belief. In the shadow of loss, Pooja and Vansh found a common purpose—and in doing so, lit a path for others navigating grief and growth.

Sometimes, a family’s strength lies not in how loudly it expresses itself, but in how steadily it stands. And sometimes, the greatest legacies are not left in monuments, but in moments—of resilience, recognition and rising above grief and personal loss.