Samantha Elliott, MBA

Transformation Executive | Simplifying Complexity to Accelerate Growth | Expert in Scalable Systems, GTM Velocity, and Operational Efficiency | Passionate about Driving Results Across People, Process & Platforms | Author

United States

About

I am an enterprise transformation and technology leader with more than 20 years of experience driving operational, engineering, product, and AI-enabled change across cybersecurity, SaaS, and complex global technology organizations. I specialize in turning complexity into clarity by aligning strategy, operating models, engineering execution, AI capabilities, and cross-functional teams to deliver measurable business outcomes. My work sits at the intersection of enterprise transformation, AI productivity, AI product acceleration, engineering leadership, and operational excellence. I help organizations move from AI experimentation to enterprise adoption by modernizing ways of working, strengthening governance, redesigning operating models, and embedding AI into how teams plan, build, secure, deliver, and measure value. I am a solutions-driven leader who operates at both the executive and execution level—partnering with senior leaders to shape strategy and prioritize investments, while working hands-on with engineering, product, operations, security, and customer-facing teams to remove blockers, improve delivery, and scale execution. My experience includes enterprise platform modernization, AI maturity transformation, global operating model redesign, post-acquisition integration, software delivery improvement, customer escalation management, release readiness, and operational governance. From building scalable TPM organizations to aligning multi-business roadmaps, establishing AI productivity frameworks, and implementing data-driven performance dashboards, I focus on converting ambiguity into alignment—and strategy into sustained results. I bring a systems-thinking approach that connects product strategy, engineering execution, customer impact, financial discipline, operational rigor, and organizational change. I build trust, create alignment, generate momentum, and help organizations perform, adapt, and scale in an AI-driven future. I welcome conversations with leaders building AI-enabled organizations, modernizing engineering execution, and redefining how teams operate, innovate, and deliver measurable value.

Experience

  • Tenable (4 yrs 7 mos)
    • Head of Technical Program Management (Product, Engineering & Operations)
      Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

      Promoted to design, build, and lead a net-new Technical Program Management organization to drive enterprise-wide transformation, restore stakeholder confidence, and scale global cross-functional execution across Product, Engineering, Operations, GTM, and Customer Success. Driving AI-driven transformation initiatives across R&D, aligning company vision with execution through operating model redesign, tokeneconomics, roadmap modernization, delivery automation, and internal AI productivity adoption. Partnering directly with C-suite and senior executives to influence enterprise strategy, prioritize investments, and accelerate delivery of HEXA AI, an AI-powered, customer-centric innovation initiative. Established global execution roadmaps, governance frameworks, operating rhythms, and performance dashboards to improve transparency, accountability, investment prioritization, and measurable business outcomes. Re-architected ways of working by embedding coaching, mentoring, structured change management, and scalable execution practices to elevate team maturity, delivery predictability, and cross-functional alignment. Optimized operational efficiency by refining OKRs, KPIs, budget alignment, and ROI tracking to measure transformation impact and improve strategic decision-making. Drove cultural transformation centered on innovation, transparency, continuous improvement, and systems thinking—enabling faster iteration cycles and stronger adoption of strategic initiatives. Aligned customer insights with engineering, product, support, and sales engineering roadmaps, contributing to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction and a targeting 10X acceleration in feature delivery.

    • Chief of Staff | Product, Engineering and Operations
      Jan 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 7 mos

      Promoted to serve as Chief of Staff to the SVP, driving enterprise cross-functional alignment and rebuilding stakeholder confidence across Product, Engineering, Operations, GTM, and Customer Success Unified strategy-to-execution planning through integrated roadmaps, governance, and operating rhythms—improving delivery predictability and executive visibility Led operating model and digital maturity shifts, modernizing systems and processes to scale execution and accelerate decision-making Re-architected ways of working by embedding coaching, mentoring, and change management—raising team maturity and consistency of outcomes Aligned customer insights with product and engineering execution, resulting in stronger customer outcomes and faster delivery

    • Director of Engineering
      Jan 2022 - Jan 2026 · 4 yrs 1 mo

      Hired to lead organizational transformation across Product and Engineering for an $800M+ line of business, reducing operational inefficiencies, strengthening execution discipline, and restoring cross-functional stakeholder trust Modernized product and engineering operations by implementing scalable governance, risk controls, and cost-avoidance strategies—driving measurable process maturity and operational stability Led customer engagement and post-acquisition integration initiatives, accelerating product adoption, streamlining onboarding, and improving time-to-value for strategic capabilities Built and mentored high-performing global teams (70+ direct/indirect reports), achieving 95% sprint completion predictability, reducing software defects by 75%, and increasing development velocity by 10% through targeted coaching and performance leadership

  • Cisco (14 yrs 6 mos)
    • Senior Manager, Software & Cloud Security IT/Business Operations & Compliance
      Aug 2016 - Feb 2022 · 5 yrs 7 mos

      - Hired to lead a cross-functional team of internal and external auditors, ensuring compliance across all 50 business units and 3,000+ products with third-party risk assessments, regulatory standards and open-source governance - Successfully managed and architected a global implementation “transforming” an integrated third-party risk, software vulnerability, and compliance management ecosystem - “consolidating” 12 siloed databases, reducing redundancy by 40% and significantly enhancing predictive analytics capabilities - Pioneered the design and launch of Cisco’s first end-to-end software supply chain program - achieving a 40% reduction in compliance and security risks associated with revenue-generating products - Transformed systems architecture and tooling strategy, enabling a 30% improvement in resource efficiency, tighter process controls, and increased cross-team accountability

    • Manager, Product Engineering and Operations
      Sep 2011 - Aug 2016 · 5 yrs

      - Hired to lead the transformation of software business operations, governance, and processes - Successfully orchestrated the relocation of four global data centers to a new vendor with zero downtime or customer disruption for a $450M line of business

    • Manager, Global Process Compliance and Licensing
      Sep 2007 - Aug 2012 · 5 yrs

      - Hired to automate the end-to-end software supply chain by “optimizing” internal processes, systems, and tools to proactively prevent contractual breaches of legal agreements. This initiative resulted in over 120 process enhancements and framework improvements, delivered through close cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Compliance, Product Operations, Engineering and R&D teams