Rohini Kasturi is a paragon of leadership and innovation within the Software as a Service (SaaS) realm. His role as a global C-Suite executive and board member has substantially influenced both public and private sectors, including venture-backed firms. His remarkable strategies, centering on customer needs and proficiency in security, observability, SaaS platform ecosystems, data analytics, generative AI, and autonomous solutions, have redefined industry benchmarks.

Career Milestones and Achievements

In his capacity as EVP and Chief Product Officer at SolarWinds, a company specializing in IT management software, he has been a catalyst for significant growth. Personally recruited by the company's CEO, his oversight extends across product management, engineering, architecture, user experience, and analytics. Under his direction, SolarWinds has evolved from a multi-product portfolio company to a robust SaaS entity, experiencing substantial year-over-year increases in bookings, subscriptions, renewal rates, and EBITDA.

Before his tenure at SolarWinds, he played a pivotal role as Chief Product and Development Officer at Pulse Secure. He significantly expanded the Zero-Trust Security Portfolio there and doubled the company's bookings in less than three years. He was also a key player in the successful acquisition of Pulse Secure by Ivanti.

As VP/GM of the Cloud and Data Management Business Unit at Veritas Technologies, he managed the Data and Information management portfolio. He pioneered the industry's first multi-cloud data and information management SaaS platform and applications ecosystem. His entrepreneurial zeal led to the founding of Avni.io, which focused on cloud virtualization technology and was subsequently acquired by Veritas Technologies.

Strategic Business Insight and Financial Expertise

Kasturi's acumen in business is evident through his exceptional strategic planning and portfolio management abilities, demonstrated throughout his illustrious career. He has successfully managed significant P&Ls, facilitated business spinouts, scaled SaaS operations, led acquisitions, and spearheaded organizational turnarounds.

Leadership and Distinctions

Renowned for his empathetic and result-oriented leadership, he is a leader and a mentor, cultivating an environment of learning, diversity, and respect. His active participation as a board member, advisor, and leader in cyber-tech committees has been instrumental in steering strategic governance at the highest levels of organizations. His contributions to the SaaS sector have been recognized through various industry awards and over 20 patents.

A transformative figure in technology, he has adeptly shifted business models, moving from perpetual licensing to a subscription-first approach and implementing innovative pricing and packaging strategies.

He has been integral in enhancing the customer experience, focusing on telemetry and in-product analytics for Product-Led Growth (PLG) and experience, thereby increasing user engagement and comprehension. His forward-thinking leadership has expanded the Thwack developer community to over 20,000 ITOps/DevOps professionals.

Board Interaction and Engagement

His proactive and dynamic approach towards board engagement involves regular discussions to refine product strategies and organizational goals, integrating board feedback to stay aligned with market trends and emerging technologies. This ongoing dialogue has been pivotal for strategic positioning, fostering continuous growth and development.

Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success

He strongly emphasizes go-to-market strategies, working closely with GTM leaders for cross-functional alignment. His innovative designs have enhanced sales velocity through a Product-Led Growth model, accelerating sales and increasing deal values. This strategic direction has significantly improved customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores.

His track record in developing growth teams for new market routes, including collaborations with GSIs and Hyper-scalers, has been notable. Strategic alliances with major industry players like HCL and Infosys and partnerships for platform integration with Azure and AWS have markedly boosted Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).

Kasturi's engagement with Fortune 2000 clients, over 300 partners, advisory boards, and top CIOs has solidified his position as an industry thought leader. Collaborations with leading analysts have garnered high rankings in Observability and AIOps markets, earning accolades from TrustRadius, GigaOm, Globees, Gartner, Forrester, and the Stevie Awards.

Product marketing strategies under his guidance have been closely aligned with the product vision, driving significant top-line growth. He has led integrated campaigns for comprehensive demand generation, supported by blogs and thought leadership content.

Leadership in Talent Development

His commitment to talent development within the organization, along with strategic industry hires, has led to significant achievements. His talent strategy includes establishing centers of excellence and maintaining top-tier talent retention, fostering a culture of growth and excellence.

Following the SolarWinds attack, he led a swift and robust response, enhancing security measures and initiating a 'Secure by Design' program. His establishment of a Cyber and Tech committee within the Board of Directors has improved transparency and collaboration in security strategies, elevating the company's security rating significantly.

During his time at Pulse Secure, he doubled the bookings for the Zero-Trust Security Portfolio annually and launched a comprehensive Hyper-Converged Zero-Trust Access Platform and solutions ecosystem. He played a crucial role in the seamless acquisition of Pulse Secure by Ivanti, managing all aspects of the transition and presenting strategic plans to the CEO and Board for transformative growth.

His tenure at Veritas as VP/GM of Cloud and Data Management BU further cements his status as an outstanding leader. His roles in these organizations underscore his ability to effect transformative changes, deliver exceptional results, and build strong relationships with key enterprise clients and industry stakeholders.

Educational Background and Certifications

Proudly holding a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering, he has also completed executive programs at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School. Currently, he is pursuing certification with the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Rohini Kasturi is an exceptionally accomplished executive known for driving growth, profitability, and innovation. His extensive experience and unparalleled expertise have established him as a revered leader and trusted advisor in the SaaS industry.

Rohini Kasturi| Technology Officer| Los Altos, California