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Women of Distinction

agement and marketing, which
entails defining product specs
KAVITA KRIPALANI and go-to-market strategy. “Since
Growing up in TiE/TYE I was one of the few people with
a business background as well
I consider the TiE/TYE as engineering, I could not only
community as pretty much an define the product, but could also
extension of my family as I have articulate its value proposition
literally grown up in this com- to consumers, industry analysts
munity. My parents have been and internal businesses units,
including marketing and the busi-
charter members of TiE since I ness development departments.”
was a teenager in high school, so Then Pelin received a call from
I have been lucky enough to have a recruiter to step into the VP of
been exposed to the entrepreneur Marketing role at WebSideStory,
community of San Diego since a cloud-based software company
then. As I would accompany my that literally created web analytics
parents to TiE events, I remember as we know it today. “WebSideSto-
being so inspired by attending ry was the absolute perfect oppor-
workshops on topics of interest tunity to combine my analytical
and listening to the wisdom Photos Courtesy of Pelin Thorogood skills and business experience into
imparted by successful entrepre- transforming the art of marketing
neurs and CEOs. Being exposed to into a quantitative science.” Web-
professionals of such high caliber SideStory, where Pelin ended up
at a young age has been an expe- serving as Chief Marketing Officer
rience that is invaluable. (CMO), became a true San Diego
My father was on the TiE success story by going public (3rd
Global Board of Trustees and was ever cloud computing company
the President of the TiE San Diego IPO) and making numerous ac-
chapter from 2009-2010. Under quisitions of its own before being
acquired by Omniture/ Adobe.
my father’s term as President, the Pelin Thorogood Pelin eventually left Web-
foundation for the TYE San Diego SideStory to have her second
program was established. San child. “I wanted to spend more
Diego was one of the first handful The Wholistic Research and Education Foundation time with my young family, while
of chapters in the world to begin A Conversation with a Serial Entrepreneur also leveraging my experience
the TYE program. Now in 2020, growing companies. I was
we are celebrating 10 years of fortunate to easily transition to
TYE in San Diego, and celebrating By Judith A. Habert an advisory role for over four
20 years anniversary of the TiE years, working alongside CEOs of
chapter. some very exciting Silicon Valley
I have since been observing companies. Those were fun years
the growth of the TYE (TiE Young Pelin Thorogood was just location outside the United States. with a different kind of rhythm.
Entrepreneurs) high school 18 years old when she flew over Pelin learned multiple languag- I really enjoyed the diversity of
program over many years as a five thousand miles from her es at Robert College, including the companies I worked with,
teen and into becoming a young hometown of Istanbul, Turkey English. So, although her move and felt I was bringing a ton of
adult, but this year in particular to Ithaca, New York. An unlikely to upstate New York was a bit of a value to the CEOs I supported.
I decided to mimic my father's voyage for a young girl, but there culture shock, at least there was no Yet, deep down, I knew I wasn’t
example and do my part contrib- was a strong motivating factor language barrier when she arrived done with an operating role and
that made this trip worthwhile.
- still an incredibly brave move for
ute to the program by taking on Pelin had just received a full ride an 18-year-old. missed being in the middle of the
a leadership role with TYE. I was scholarship to study Engineering “I was born and raised in one action. Perhaps most importantly,
I craved to lead my own team
appointed as Executive Coor- at the prestigious Cornell Univer- of the oldest and most historical again.” Pelin returned to the
dinator to spearhead outreach sity in New York. Not only would cities in the world, and our family C-suite upon receiving a call from
and development for the TYE she obtain outstanding grades but travels had taken me to most of the original founder of Web-
Program. I love everything about would go on to earn two addition- the cosmopolitan centers in Eu- SideStory. The year was 2012, and
my position, from my invigorat- al degrees while there, a master’s rope. So, living in a small college he was looking for help with a new
ing conversations with program degree in engineering and an town for 6 years while at Cornell analytics start-up he had founded.
mentors to discussing the MBA. was truly a unique experience. It “I initially joined Anametrix, a
innovative ideas that students Pelin’s dad had worked for was an absolutely beautiful place. multichannel analytics player, as
are excited to share. I am very NATO and her mom for a Swiss It turned out to be an incredible an advisor given my substantial
passionate about helping edu- firm, so she had travelled exten- educational experience as well as experience in the space. I was
cate and expose students to the sively across Europe in her youth. a whole new adventure, both cul- also able to bring in my industry
limitless possibilities of business She had spent her teenage years at turally and nature-wise. It was in connections and raise money
and entrepreneurship. I can think the Robert College of Istanbul, a Ithaca that I realized that the great from venture capitalists. So, my
of nothing more meaningful than 157-year-old independent Amer- outdoors is my truly happy place.” involvement quickly evolved from
to offer my time and efforts to ican high school in Turkey. It re- After graduation, Pelin started serving as an advisor to stepping
help shape the future leaders of mains the oldest American school out as an engineer and then in as the new CEO when the new
tomorrow. still in existence in its original quickly moved into product man- VCs and the founding investors
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