Yamini Rangan is the Chief Executive Officer at HubSpot. Prior to becoming CEO, Yamini served as HubSpot’s first-ever Chief Customer Officer, overseeing the marketing, sales, and services teams. Yamini is a tech industry veteran with over 24 years of experience in product marketing, sales, and strategy. Yamini previously served as Chief Customer Officer at Dropbox, responsible for embedding customer focus across the organization. Before Dropbox, she was VP of Sales Strategy and Operations at Workday; she helped quadruple revenue and scale the sales organization. At SAP, Yamini held several customer-facing leadership roles in strategy, pre-sales, and value-based selling and helped close landmark deals. In 2019, the San Francisco Business Times recognized Yamini as one of the Most Influential Women in Business. Yamini currently serves on the Board of Splunk, a cybersecurity company.
Hailing from a modest locale in India, Yamini’s ardor for the world of technology was kindled during her formative years. Demonstrating exceptional academic prowess, she acquired a degree in computer science, laying the foundation for her forthcoming accomplishments. As she honed her skills, Yamini’s relentless curiosity led her to explore various aspects of the tech world.
At the age of 21, Yamini relocated to the United States to pursue her aspirations. The initial phase of her American sojourn was characterized by formidable challenges, with a significant portion of her financial resources allocated toward rent payments. At one point, she had just $150 to her name. Undaunted, she began working as a food server at an Atlanta football stadium. She says, “I refused to go back or ask for money from my parents; I wanted to be independent.”
Throughout her illustrious career, Yamini made significant contributions to the IT industry, serving prominent organizations such as SAP, Lucent, Workday, and Dropbox. However, her most notable career move occurred in 2020 when she joined HubSpot, the company co-founded by billionaire Dharmesh Shah, assuming the role of Chief Customer Officer. Remarkably, within a short span, her journey reached a pinnacle in 2021 when she ascended to the esteemed position of CEO, positioning her in the same league as industry luminaries like Oracle’s Safra Catz, Arista’s Jayshree Ullal and HCL’s Roshni Nadar.
Yamini has garnered several accolades throughout her career, including recognition as one of the Most Influential Women in Business in San Francisco in 2019.
Reflecting on her journey, she says: “I always believed in the transformative power of technology. It can potentially solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.” This belief became her driving force.” She believes understanding and addressing customer needs are fundamental to sustained business growth.
Yamini elaborates, “I always sought roles that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Each challenge was an opportunity to learn and grow.” This approach has not only defined her career but has also shaped HubSpot’s future. Under her leadership, HubSpot has seen remarkable growth and transformation in the tech industry.
Yamini Rangan’s tenure as CEO has marked HubSpot’s evolution into a powerhouse of innovation and customer-centricity. Conclusively, she adds, “It is natural to want to be a leader and get promoted. The transition is very exciting but can be a treacherous path to navigate without guidance.”
