Today, as VP of Global Alliances at Siemba, a cybersecurity SaaS startup, Elengickal applies the lessons of both startups and enterprises.
Leaders who can connect technology, strategy, and partnerships often create the most lasting impact. Kiran Elengickal ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelenj/ ), VP of Global Alliances and Business Development at Siemba, exemplifies this balance. His career spans startups, enterprise giants, and global innovation programs, each chapter driven by the belief that ecosystems, not individuals, unlock scale and resilience.
For readers interested in business leaders shaping IT and cybersecurity, Elengickal’s story offers practical lessons: how to grow in the face of industry disruption, how to leverage alliances for revenue impact, and how to chart a leadership path that blends technical and commercial skills.
From Engineer to Business Strategist
Kiran began his career as a networking engineer at Dell, where he built the foundations of enterprise infrastructure. Technical skills alone, however, were not enough for the impact he envisioned. To bridge technology with strategy, he pursued an MBA in Marketing and Finance at the École Supérieure de Commerce de Pau in France.
That decision reshaped his trajectory. He transitioned into enterprise consulting and outbound strategy roles, serving global brands such as Unilever and Intel. These early experiences gave him a unique perspective on how the adoption of technology impacts business outcomes at scale.
Building from the Ground Up at RapidValue
The entrepreneurial stage of Elengickal’s journey began with RapidValue Solutions, where he was a founding member. He scaled the company’s cloud services portfolio to $25 million in revenue, expanded the team from 15 to 175, and secured global clients including Facebook (Meta), LinkedIn (Microsoft), eBay, and Citrix.
At the time, small firms lacked credibility in a market dominated by global IT players. Alliances with AWS, Azure, and Oracle helped RapidValue stand out. The company eventually transitioned into a product-plus-services model, generating recurring revenue streams that strengthened its valuation. Recognition as a top Oracle MCS partner further raised its profile, paving the way for acquisition by Aspire Systems.
Lesson for leaders: Early career challenges often demand adaptability. Building credibility through partnerships can help smaller companies compete on a level playing field with industry giants.
Scaling Alliances at AppDynamics
At AppDynamics, a Cisco company, Elengickal entered the world of observability software just as competition from Dynatrace, Datadog, and New Relic intensified. Instead of competing head-to-head, he expanded influence through partnerships.
By developing alliances with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, he helped AppDynamics reposition itself as a cloud-first leader. The results were measurable: 125% year-over-year growth, $100 million in enterprise deals, and marketplace rankings rising from fifth to third.
Actionable insight: In fast-moving markets, credibility can be borrowed through ecosystems. Aligning with hyperscalers not only provides reach but also fosters the trust enterprises need to make informed, large-scale purchasing decisions.
Driving Global Strategy at Cisco
Transitioning to Cisco, one of the world’s largest technology companies, meant navigating a different set of challenges: modernizing global go-to-market (GTM) strategies while overcoming organizational complexity.
Elengickal led global partner strategy efforts across the company’s cloud and AI portfolio, introducing flexible consumption models through Cisco Intersight and Cloud Networking Controller. He also co-developed secure data center solutions with Pure Storage and NetApp, and designed the partner GTM strategy for HyperShield, a cornerstone of Cisco’s AI-native security architecture.
These initiatives demonstrated his ability to innovate at scale, aligning cross-functional teams and building consensus in environments where decisions spanned multiple business units.
Leading Growth at Siemba
Today, as VP of Global Alliances at Siemba, a cybersecurity SaaS startup, Elengickal applies the lessons of both startups and enterprises. Siemba focuses on Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), a growing category in cybersecurity where speed and credibility are critical.
Within months of joining, he built a repeatable pipeline model, secured early customer traction, and designed partner-led GTM playbooks. He established alliances with hyperscalers and global system integrators to position Siemba as an innovator in AI-driven cybersecurity.
Takeaway for readers: In crowded industries like cybersecurity, credibility must be earned quickly. Strategic alliances help startups punch above their weight, especially when competing with established players.
Skills That Bridge Technology and Business
Elengickal’s expertise spans business development, strategic alliances, GTM design, and ecosystem building. He has led teams ranging from 15 to 175, demonstrating his ability to scale both organizations and revenue models.
Key focus areas include:
- Partner ecosystem development with CSPs, GSIs, and MSSPs
- SaaS and pay-as-you-go models via cloud marketplaces
- AI infrastructure and AI infrastructure and cybersecurity, spanning both defensive capabilities, such as extended detection and response (XDR), and offensive cybersecurity approaches
- Cross-functional leadership across product, sales, and marketing
This blend of technical depth and commercial leadership positions him uniquely to address the needs of modern enterprises.
Future Aspirations: Building at Scale
Looking ahead, Elengickal aims to launch his own technology venture in the fields of AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. His dual mission is clear: drive innovation and generate jobs across global markets, including the US, and Europe,.
Plans include establishing centers of excellence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 US cities, as well as launching a mentorship academy to prepare the next generation of AI and cybersecurity professionals. Alongside his operational roles, Elengickal has contributed to thought leadership through articles in Forbes, research published in IEEE, and ongoing patent work, thereby reinforcing his credibility in the global technology community.
It’s a vision rooted in both growth and impact, combining lessons from his startup, scale-up, and enterprise journeys.
Why His Journey Matters
For business leaders and innovators, Kiran Elengickal’s career underscores three lessons:
- Adaptability is a growth driver. Shifting from engineer to strategist to global leader requires continuous reinvention.
- Partnerships multiply impact. From RapidValue to Cisco, alliances have been the common thread in scaling revenue and influence.
- Future vision shapes present action. By aligning today’s roles with tomorrow’s aspirations, leaders can build careers with purpose.
Final Thoughts
Business and IT professionals searching for examples of how to navigate disruption, scale globally, and stay ahead in cybersecurity will find Kiran Elengickal’s career both relatable and instructive. His story shows how strategy and partnerships can shape both company outcomes and industry direction.
About the Author:
Jennifer Collins is a business and technology contributor for MSN, covering innovators in cloud, AI, and cybersecurity who are redefining the future of business.