From Engineer to Enterprise Disruptor
Jyoti Bansal has led teams from idea stage to billion-dollar scale — not once, but multiple times. In this fireside chat, he’ll share what leadership really looks like in the face of rapid growth, constant change, and the pressure to deliver. We’ll dig into how leaders build trust, empower teams, and make tough calls when the path forward isn’t clear.
Jyoti will share the lessons he’s learned about balancing vision with execution, and how to grow as a leader while helping your teams grow with you. This is a rare chance to learn from a founder who has lived every stage of leadership — and kept people at the center through it all. Expect candid insights on how leadership evolves as your scope expands: from managing teams, to setting strategy, to leading entire organizations. For engineering leaders at every stage, this conversation offers practical lessons on leading with clarity, courage, and conviction.
Jyoti Bansal
CEO & CO-FOUNDER
HARNESS
Jyoti Bansal is a multi-unicorn founder, serial technology entrepreneur, and passionate mentor and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Harness, the $5B AI Software Delivery platform company that recently merged with Traceable, the API security startup that Jyoti also founded, to bring application security and software delivery together in a single, unified platform. The combined company reflects Jyoti’s long-standing vision: that software can and should be built and secured faster, smarter, and more safely.
Previously, Jyoti founded AppDynamics which was acquired by Cisco for $3.7B. He also launched BIGLabs, a startup studio focused on solving difficult tech problems, and co-founded Unusual Ventures, a VC firm with over $1B under management that supports early-stage founders.
He’s been recognized with honors, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Forbes’ Best Cloud Computing CEO. Jyoti holds a BS in Computer Science from IIT Delhi and over 25 U.S. patents.
Monica Bajaj
VPE
OKTA
Monica Bajaj is a seasoned technology executive, investor, and board member with over two decades of experience in cybersecurity, AI, and large-scale enterprise platforms. Currently, as VP of Engineering at Okta, she leads the Authentication product portfolio, driving a developer-first, scalable identity platform that supports billions of secure logins globally.
Previously, Monica held senior roles at Workday, UKG, Perforce, NetApp, and Cisco, where she led product innovation, technology strategy, and global team building. She also advises startups and investors on technology growth, product-market fit, and digital transformation.
Monica is on the Board of SheTO, an advisory board member at Berkeley SkyDeck, and an industry advisor to UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering. A recognized thought leader, she was named one of San Francisco's Top 50 Women in Tech (2025), Top 60 CTOs to watch and among the Top 10 Extraordinary Women in Tech (2024). Monica holds a Master’s in Computer Science from IIT Mumbai and an undergraduate degree from SGSITS, Indore, India.