Kellie Pierce
Co-Founder | Strategy & Transformation
Transformation Maven
Kellie Pierce is an operational executive and strategic leader with over 15 years of experience driving enterprise operations, customer delivery, and technology leadership. She helps global organizations navigate rapid growth and complex transformations by managing budgets and vendors while building compliance programs that protect and scale.
As Chief of Staff to the Chief Data & Technology Officer at Tricentis, Kellie oversees operations for a department of over 400 employees spanning engineering, product management, security, IT, and business applications. She manages a FinOps portfolio exceeding $25 million in cloud spend and has participated in more than 10 mergers and acquisitions — from initial assessment through full cross-functional integration.
Her career is anchored by deep expertise in security, compliance, and data privacy. At SolarWinds, she built the company's data privacy program from scratch and established product compliance programs during one of the most high-profile security events in the industry. At TIBCO, she led a team of 21 overseeing certifications including HITRUST, SOC2, HIPAA, ISO27001, and FedRAMP.
Kellie's foundation includes over 22 years of service in Texas state government, where she rose from finance roles through FP&A and budget forecasting, eventually leading a full ERP (PeopleSoft) implementation — delivered in 18 months and under budget — that replaced 22 legacy systems with a unified platform. This experience cemented her love for fast-paced, transformative projects.
A champion of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement, Kellie is recognized for developing future leaders and empowering teams. She is a servant leader at heart, focused on building trusted partnerships across every function of the business to enable effective decision-making and sustainable growth.
What makes Kellie unique
Enterprise Scale Operator
Manages operations for 400+ employees and $25M+ in cloud infrastructure. From M&A integrations to ERP implementations, Kellie builds systems that handle complexity at scale.
Security & Compliance Expert
Built privacy and compliance programs from scratch across multiple global organizations — GDPR, CCPA, SOC2, ISO27001, FedRAMP, and more.
Transformation Maven
Replaced 22 legacy systems with a single unified platform. Led a full ERP implementation in 18 months under budget. She thrives where others see chaos.
Servant Leader
Champions inclusivity and continuous improvement. Recognized for developing future leaders, building trusted cross-functional partnerships, and empowering teams to take ownership.
Career journey
Chief of Staff to Chief Data & Technology Officer
2021 – PresentTricentis — Austin, TX
- Lead operations for CDTO overseeing Engineering, Product Management, Security, IT, and Business Applications (400+ employees)
- Manage FinOps including $25M+ in AWS, Azure, and GCP cloud spend
- Support 10+ M&A events from letter of interest to full cross-functional integration
- Drive strategic KPIs, process optimization, and asset rationalization across departments
- Lead Empower employee resource group supporting career progression
Senior Director, IT Security, Standards & Compliance
2021TIBCO — Palo Alto, CA (Remote)
- Managed compliance certifications: HITRUST, SOC1, SOC2, HIPAA, ISO27001, ISO9001, PCI-DSS, FedRAMP
- Performed Risk Management Program enabling quarterly reviews and leadership visibility
- Led team of 21 across program management and cross-functional initiatives
Director, GRC (Security, Privacy & Compliance)
2019 – 2021SolarWinds — Austin, TX
- Built data privacy program from the ground up to satisfy GDPR and CCPA requirements
- Established SaaS product compliance program including SOC2 and ISO27001
- Streamlined vulnerability management, security training, and annual policy processes
- Direct experience navigating a global, highly public security incident and incident response
Early Career Foundation
Over 22 years of service at a Texas state agency, rising from accounts payable & receivable through FP&A, budget, and forecasting. Led a full ERP PeopleSoft implementation that replaced 22 legacy systems with a unified SaaS platform — delivered in 18 months, under budget. Also gained early business acumen helping manage her father's insurance adjuster company, handling client relations and claim management.
Core Competencies
1:1 with Kellie
Leadership & Operations Mentorship
Kellie partners with leaders and professionals who are navigating complexity, driving transformation, or stepping into higher levels of strategic responsibility. With 15+ years of enterprise leadership — from managing $25M+ budgets to navigating M&A integrations — she helps you build the operational clarity and leadership confidence to thrive at scale.