Vice President of Technology for SIPS at SoFi, Former Vice President at Splunk

Kate Matsudaira is a world-renowned technology leader whose career spans industry giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. With deep expertise in building large-scale web applications, cloud computing, and high-performing engineering teams, she has played pivotal roles in shaping some of the world’s most innovative platforms. From her leadership at Amazon Web Services to serving as Google’s Director of Engineering, Kate has consistently driven groundbreaking results. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she blends technical acumen with leadership insight, inspiring global audiences to reimagine how they build, scale, and sustain both products and teams for maximum impact.

Credentials and Impact

Kate Matsudaira has distinguished herself across a wide spectrum of engineering leadership and entrepreneurship. Early in her career, she began as a Software Engineer at both Microsoft and Amazon, quickly moving into management roles that shaped her trajectory in scaling complex systems and teams. At Delve Networks, she served as VP of Engineering, leading the build-out of distributed systems for video delivery and search. She then joined SEOmoz as VP of Engineering, where she expanded technical teams and bolstered the platform’s performance for a global audience. Next, as VP of Engineering at Decide, she brought machine learning and data-driven methodologies to improve product recommendation systems. She went on to serve as VP of Engineering at Splunk, where she oversaw the development of enterprise software solutions that powered data analytics at scale.

In 2013, Kate founded Popforms, a leadership development platform described as an executive coach in a box, which she later sold to Safari Books Online. She also launched Ink+Volt, creators of widely admired productivity tools, including planners and notebooks. Her writing and speaking continue to serve as a resource for leaders navigating technical and organizational challenges. Additionally, Kate has contributed her expertise through advisory roles and board positions, guiding startups and open source communities. By combining technical depth with people-centered leadership, she has built a reputation as a transformative figure in technology.

Publications and Media

As an accomplished author and thought leader, whose work has been featured in respected outlets such as ACM Queue, where she has published articles on leadership, architecture, and scaling data systems. She was the subject of an ACM “Video Portrait” interview highlighting her career insights and technical expertise. Through her blog, KateMats.com, she shares widely read pieces like “A Networking Roadmap for Engineers and Other Introverts” and “Epic List of Interview Questions.”

Why Hire Kate Matsudaira?

Booking Kate Matsudaira means bringing in a speaker who combines the technical expertise of a Silicon Valley insider with the leadership wisdom of a transformational coach. Her experience at Microsoft, Amazon, Moz, Decide, and Google gives her a rare breadth of insight into how world-class organizations operate, and her ability to translate those lessons into actionable strategies makes her invaluable to audiences.

Kate’s talks highlight her ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible, inspiring way, leaving listeners energized and motivated. Whether addressing executives, engineers, or cross-functional teams, she tailors her keynotes to deliver high-impact lessons on innovation, resilience, and team cohesion. Her journey, shaping billion-dollar platforms, revitalizing struggling engineering groups, and founding her own companies, ensures that her talks are filled with authentic stories and practical takeaways. For organizations seeking fresh thinking and transformative leadership strategies, Kate Matsudaira is a truly exceptional choice.

To book Kate to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.