About
Rohini Kasturi is a distinguished figure in the field of Software as a Service (SaaS), renowned for his exemplary leadership and innovative approaches. As a seasoned C-Suite executive and board member, he has significantly influenced the public and private sectors, including companies backed by venture capital. His expertise spans critical areas such as security, observability, SaaS Platform ecosystems, data analytics, generative AI, and autonomous solutions, setting him apart as a leader who has redefined industry norms.
Career Highlights and Accomplishments
At SolarWinds, a leading provider of IT management software, he holds the position of EVP and Chief Product Officer. His role, which he assumed following a personal invitation from the CEO, encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including product management, engineering, architecture, user experience, and analytics. Under his guidance, SolarWinds has transformed into a SaaS-focused company, achieving significant year-over-year growth in bookings, subscription renewals, and EBITDA.
Before his current role, he was the Chief Product and Development Officer at Pulse Secure, where he played a crucial role in expanding the Zero-Trust Security Portfolio and doubling the company's bookings in under three years. His efforts were vital in facilitating Pulse Secure's successful acquisition by Ivanti.
His tenure as VP/GM at Veritas Technologies' Cloud and Data Management Business Unit saw him managing a comprehensive data and information management portfolio. He was instrumental in launching the industry's first multi-cloud data and information management SaaS platform and applications ecosystem. His entrepreneurial ventures include founding Avni.io, a company specializing in cloud virtualization technology, which Veritas Technologies later acquired.
Business Strategy and Financial Expertise
He is known for his strategic business planning and portfolio management skills, which he has effectively utilized throughout his career. He has managed substantial P&Ls, led successful business spinouts, grown SaaS businesses, driven acquisitions, and turned around organizations.
Leadership and Honors
His leadership style is marked by empathy and a focus on results, making him a leader and a mentor who promotes a culture of learning, diversity, and respect. As an active board member and advisor, he has played a pivotal role in guiding strategic governance at the highest organizational levels. His contributions to the SaaS industry have been acknowledged through numerous awards and over 20 patents.
A visionary in the technology sector, he has successfully transitioned business models, notably shifting from perpetual licensing to a subscription-first model. This included the introduction of innovative pricing and packaging strategies.
Rohini has significantly improved the customer experience by focusing on telemetry and in-product analytics for Product-Led Growth (PLG) and user experience, which has led to increased user engagement and understanding. His leadership was instrumental in expanding the Thwack developer community to over 20,000 ITOps/DevOps users.
Board Involvement and Strategy
His proactive engagement with the board involves regular strategy reviews and alignment with organizational objectives, taking into account board feedback to stay ahead of market trends and emerging technologies. These interactions have positioned the company for ongoing growth and innovation.
Sales, Marketing, and Customer Engagement
He strongly emphasizes go-to-market strategies, collaborating closely with GTM leaders to ensure functional alignment. His innovative approaches have enhanced the speed and value of sales through a Product-Led Growth model. This strategy has notably improved customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores.
He has successfully established growth teams to explore new markets, partnering with GSIs and Hyper-scalers. His strategic relationships with industry leaders and partnerships for platform integrations with Azure and AWS have led to a substantial increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
His engagements with Fortune 2000 clients, over 300 partners, advisory boards, and top CIOs have made him a critical thought leader in the industry. His work with leading analysts has resulted in high rankings in the Observability and AIOps markets, earning accolades from TrustRadius, GigaOm, Globees, Gartner, Forrester, and the Stevie Awards.
Product Marketing and Strategy
Rohini leads product marketing strategies closely aligned with the company's product vision, significantly contributing to top-line growth. He has spearheaded integrated marketing campaigns for comprehensive demand generation, supported by thought leadership content and blogs.
Talent Development and Leadership
His commitment to nurturing internal talent, supplemented by strategic industry hires, has led to notable successes. He has developed a talent strategy, established centers of excellence, and maintained high levels of talent retention, thus cultivating a culture of growth and excellence.
In response to the SolarWinds cyber attack, he led a robust response, strengthening security and initiating a 'Secure by Design' program. He was crucial in establishing a Cyber and Tech committee within the Board of Directors, enhancing collaboration and transparency in security strategies, and significantly improving the company's security rating.
During his time at Pulse Secure, he doubled the bookings for the Zero-Trust Security Portfolio and launched an extensive Hyper-Converged Zero-Trust Access Platform and solutions ecosystem. He oversaw Pulse Secure's acquisition by Ivanti, managing all transition aspects and presenting strategic plans for transformation to the CEO and Board.
His role at Veritas Technologies as VP/GM of Cloud and Data Management BU further underscores his exceptional leadership qualities. His impact across these organizations highlights his ability to drive change, achieve remarkable results, and maintain strong relationships with enterprise clients and industry influencers.
Educational Background and Certifications
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering and has completed executive programs at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School. He is also pursuing certification with the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Rohini Kasturi is a highly accomplished executive with a proven track record of driving growth, profitability, and innovation. His extensive experience and unmatched expertise make him a revered leader and a trusted advisor in the SaaS industry.
Career Highlights and Accomplishments
At SolarWinds, a leading provider of IT management software, he holds the position of EVP and Chief Product Officer. His role, which he assumed following a personal invitation from the CEO, encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including product management, engineering, architecture, user experience, and analytics. Under his guidance, SolarWinds has transformed into a SaaS-focused company, achieving significant year-over-year growth in bookings, subscription renewals, and EBITDA.
Before his current role, he was the Chief Product and Development Officer at Pulse Secure, where he played a crucial role in expanding the Zero-Trust Security Portfolio and doubling the company's bookings in under three years. His efforts were vital in facilitating Pulse Secure's successful acquisition by Ivanti.
His tenure as VP/GM at Veritas Technologies' Cloud and Data Management Business Unit saw him managing a comprehensive data and information management portfolio. He was instrumental in launching the industry's first multi-cloud data and information management SaaS platform and applications ecosystem. His entrepreneurial ventures include founding Avni.io, a company specializing in cloud virtualization technology, which Veritas Technologies later acquired.
Business Strategy and Financial Expertise
He is known for his strategic business planning and portfolio management skills, which he has effectively utilized throughout his career. He has managed substantial P&Ls, led successful business spinouts, grown SaaS businesses, driven acquisitions, and turned around organizations.
Leadership and Honors
His leadership style is marked by empathy and a focus on results, making him a leader and a mentor who promotes a culture of learning, diversity, and respect. As an active board member and advisor, he has played a pivotal role in guiding strategic governance at the highest organizational levels. His contributions to the SaaS industry have been acknowledged through numerous awards and over 20 patents.
A visionary in the technology sector, he has successfully transitioned business models, notably shifting from perpetual licensing to a subscription-first model. This included the introduction of innovative pricing and packaging strategies.
Rohini has significantly improved the customer experience by focusing on telemetry and in-product analytics for Product-Led Growth (PLG) and user experience, which has led to increased user engagement and understanding. His leadership was instrumental in expanding the Thwack developer community to over 20,000 ITOps/DevOps users.
Board Involvement and Strategy
His proactive engagement with the board involves regular strategy reviews and alignment with organizational objectives, taking into account board feedback to stay ahead of market trends and emerging technologies. These interactions have positioned the company for ongoing growth and innovation.
Sales, Marketing, and Customer Engagement
He strongly emphasizes go-to-market strategies, collaborating closely with GTM leaders to ensure functional alignment. His innovative approaches have enhanced the speed and value of sales through a Product-Led Growth model. This strategy has notably improved customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores.
He has successfully established growth teams to explore new markets, partnering with GSIs and Hyper-scalers. His strategic relationships with industry leaders and partnerships for platform integrations with Azure and AWS have led to a substantial increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR).
His engagements with Fortune 2000 clients, over 300 partners, advisory boards, and top CIOs have made him a critical thought leader in the industry. His work with leading analysts has resulted in high rankings in the Observability and AIOps markets, earning accolades from TrustRadius, GigaOm, Globees, Gartner, Forrester, and the Stevie Awards.
Product Marketing and Strategy
Rohini leads product marketing strategies closely aligned with the company's product vision, significantly contributing to top-line growth. He has spearheaded integrated marketing campaigns for comprehensive demand generation, supported by thought leadership content and blogs.
Talent Development and Leadership
His commitment to nurturing internal talent, supplemented by strategic industry hires, has led to notable successes. He has developed a talent strategy, established centers of excellence, and maintained high levels of talent retention, thus cultivating a culture of growth and excellence.
In response to the SolarWinds cyber attack, he led a robust response, strengthening security and initiating a 'Secure by Design' program. He was crucial in establishing a Cyber and Tech committee within the Board of Directors, enhancing collaboration and transparency in security strategies, and significantly improving the company's security rating.
During his time at Pulse Secure, he doubled the bookings for the Zero-Trust Security Portfolio and launched an extensive Hyper-Converged Zero-Trust Access Platform and solutions ecosystem. He oversaw Pulse Secure's acquisition by Ivanti, managing all transition aspects and presenting strategic plans for transformation to the CEO and Board.
His role at Veritas Technologies as VP/GM of Cloud and Data Management BU further underscores his exceptional leadership qualities. His impact across these organizations highlights his ability to drive change, achieve remarkable results, and maintain strong relationships with enterprise clients and industry influencers.
Educational Background and Certifications
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering and has completed executive programs at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School. He is also pursuing certification with the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Rohini Kasturi is a highly accomplished executive with a proven track record of driving growth, profitability, and innovation. His extensive experience and unmatched expertise make him a revered leader and a trusted advisor in the SaaS industry.