Ameeta Soni – Founder, CEO, CMO, investor and principal at Altek Consulting

“We need to start early by providing students exposure to innovative learning programs, opportunities and female role models in tech, and connecting them to female mentors.”

Ameeta Soni has been a senior leader for a diverse portfolio of tech companies, having served as Founder, CEO, CMO, investor, board director, and advisor and helping raise over $100M in venture capital. As principal at management consultancy Altek Consulting, Ameeta delivers dramatic growth for tech and digital health companies by developing and executing winning strategies. In addition, Ameeta serves on the Maroon Venture Partners Fund’s investment committee and holds board roles with its portfolio companies HomeBinder, Ompractice, and TOP the organic project. She previously served on the board of PlumChoice (now part of SquareTrade/Allstate), MIT Enterprise Forum Cambridge (chair), and Technology Capital Network.  Ameeta earned her MBA from the University of Chicago, her M.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her B.Sc. (Honors) from St. Stephen’s College. 

In a Nutshell: Tell us a bit about your job and what role technology plays in it?

I drive growth for tech and digital health companies in my consulting practice and as an investor. Technologies include cloud, mobile, and AI/ML.

Where did your professional journey start and how did you get to where you are now?

My first job after my MBA was with an F500 technology company. My boss there recruited me to join a VC-funded but pre-revenue startup. The company grew nicely, merged with a sister company in the VC portfolio, and had a successful IPO and a secondary offering. I was hooked!

I have since then enjoyed my diverse roles growing tech and digital health companies as a founder, CEO, CMO, advisor, investor, and board director. 

What is the greatest transformation in technology you’ve witnessed in your career?

We have seen some incredible technological advances over the past few years. However, I find digital transformation the most compelling by far. It truly can change both the top and bottom lines by enhancing the customer experience and stickiness while improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs.

For example, Amazon has evolved from providing books digitally to becoming the world’s largest online marketplace and a massive cloud services company. In the process, it made Jeff Bezos the richest man in the world. He just took a ride into space in his own rocket!

When you think about ‘women’ and ‘technology’ what comes to your mind first?

We need a lot more women in technology! We need more girls and women studying science, math, and computer science at the middle and high school level and in college.

We want more women in STEM sectors like medical sciences, fintech, and robotics, as well as senior management roles leading their companies’ digital transformation. We certainly have very accomplished women in STEM like Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO; Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube; Kimberly Bryant, founder and CEO of Black Girls Code; Kate Crawford, co-founder of the AI Now Institute; Susan Hockfield, former President of MIT, and Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC. However, we have to do a lot more to increase the number of women choosing STEM careers.

We always hear there are not enough women working in tech. What needs to happen to change that? Which steps should be done to achieve gender equality in tech? 

We need to start early by providing students exposure to innovative learning programs, opportunities and female role models in tech, and connecting them to female mentors. 

What was the best decision in your career?

My decision to work for my first startup worked out very well. Besides contributing to the company’s success (a kick in itself!), it paved the path to tremendous opportunities with other technologies and startups.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your 14-year-old self?

Talk to lots of people, you will learn from each conversation!

Ameeta Soni has been a senior leader for a diverse portfolio of tech companies, having served as Founder, CEO, CMO, investor, board director, and advisor and helping raise over $100M in venture capital. As principal at management consultancy Altek Consulting, Ameeta delivers dramatic growth for tech and digital health companies by developing and executing winning strategies. In addition, Ameeta serves on the Maroon Venture Partners Fund’s investment committee and holds board roles with its portfolio companies HomeBinder, Ompractice, and TOP the organic project. She previously served on the board of PlumChoice (now part of SquareTrade/Allstate), MIT Enterprise Forum Cambridge (chair), and Technology Capital Network. Ameeta earned her MBA from the University of Chicago, her M.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her B.Sc. (Honors) from St. Stephen’s College.

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