Rubrik CPO on Scaling AI, Cybersecurity & Business Model Transformation | Anneka Gupta | E274

In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Anneka Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rubrik, a leading cybersecurity company helping over 5,000 customers, including half of the Fortune 500, protect and manage their data against cyber threats.Under Anneka's leadership since 2021, Rubrik has undergone one of tech's most impressive product transformations, evolving from an IT backup solution into a comprehensive cybersecurity platform. This transformation has driven remarkable growth, with subscription ARR crossing $1.09 billion and the company successfully going public in 2024.In this episode, we explore Rubrik's journey through three major transformations: shifting from perpetual licenses to a SaaS-first model, expanding from a single product to a multi-product platform (with two new product lines approaching $100M in ARR), and repositioning as a cybersecurity-first company. We'll dive deep into the challenges and strategies behind managing such significant organizational change at scale.What you'll learn:How to successfully transition a business model from perpetual licenses to subscriptionStrategies for expanding from single-product to multi-product portfolioMethods for structuring teams around strategic pillars rather than just product linesApproaches to maintaining growth while managing significant organizational changeTechniques for leveraging existing customer relationships to validate new productsFrameworks for creating clear career progression during transformationKey Takeaways👇:Business Model TransformationSuccessfully managed parallel tracks of maintaining core business while building new capabilities, growing from $100M to $1.1B ARR in 4 years.Portfolio Expansion StrategyCreated specialized go-to-market teams for new product lines while leveraging existing customer base for validation and early adoption.Organizational DesignStructured teams around strategic pillars (core business, public cloud, security, AI) with a dedicated platform team for cross-functional needs.Change ManagementImplemented transparent communication and clear career frameworks while setting firm deadlines for business model transition.Customer-Centric InnovationUsed existing customer relationships to validate new product opportunities and guide portfolio expansion into cybersecurity.This episode is essential listening for any product leader managing large-scale business transformation or considering major strategic shifts in their organization.This episode is brought to you by Persona, the adaptable identity platform that helps businesses fight fraud, meet compliance requirements, and build trust. These days, it's easier than ever for fraudsters to steal voices, faces, and identities. That's where Persona comes in; helping leading companies to securely verify individuals and businesses worldwide, providing flexible building blocks to create tailored verification flows that maximize conversion while minimizing risks.Whether you work at a startup or large enterprise, you can get started for free here:  https://withpersona.com/productschool Credits:Host: Carlos Gonzalez de VillaumbrosiaGuest: Anneka GuptaSocial Links:Find out more about Product School hereFollow our Podcast on TikTok hereFollow Product School on LinkedIn here