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Girish Mathrubootham

Technology Entrepreneur

Girish Mathrubootham is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Freshworks, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that provides customer engagement solutions. He co-founded Freshworks in 2010, initially launching it as Freshdesk, and has played a pivotal role in its growth into a leading global provider of customer support and engagement software. Under his leadership, Freshworks went public on the NASDAQ in September 2021, becoming the first India-born SaaS company to do so, achieving a valuation of over $10 billion at the time of its IPO.135

Education and Early Career

Mathrubootham holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Madras. Before founding Freshworks, he served as the Vice President of Product Management at Zoho Corporation, where he gained extensive experience in product strategy and customer support systems.12

Transition to Executive Chairman

In May 2024, Mathrubootham transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman of Freshworks, allowing him to focus more on long-term product vision and innovation while Dennis Woodside took over as CEO. This change reflects his commitment to the company's future growth and product development, particularly in the context of evolving market demands and technological advancements.34

Impact and Philosophy

Girish Mathrubootham is known for his "heart-led" leadership approach, emphasizing compassion and employee empowerment. He has been instrumental in creating a company culture that prioritizes employee welfare and diversity, contributing to the wealth creation of many employees through the company's successful IPO.56 His vision for Freshworks continues to drive its mission of helping businesses enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency through innovative software solutions.

Highlights

May 16 · linkedin

What does a fulfilling life look to you, beyond the highlights and well curated photos? I'm delighted to celebrate a book launching this week which aims to answer this question, in the context of work-life balance.

Nisha Ramchandani addresses this conundrum in a variety of different situations in Humanise - Edition One: Elevating Workplace Conversations Towards Human Experiences.

Thank you to Nisha, Saurabh Arora and Plum for sharing these stories with the world and inviting me to contribute a few words:

May 9 · BusinessLine
Watch | Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham and new CEO Dennis Woodside on the recent management change and the road ahead - BusinessLine
Watch | Freshworks founder Girish Mathrubootham and new CEO Dennis Woodside on the recent management
May 3 · BW Businessworld
Freshworks CEO Girish Mathrubootham Steps Down, Dennis Woodside Takes Helm - BW Businessworld
May 1 · linkedin

I have some exciting news to share today. After spending almost 14 years since founding Freshworks as a tiny startup in Chennai to scaling it to be a global SaaS player and the first Indian SaaS company to list on the Nasdaq, I’m excited to announce that I’m stepping into a new role as Executive Chairman of Freshworks. Dennis Woodside, our President, will be our new CEO. Congratulations to Dennis today on his new role as CEO and President of Freshworks.

Going forward I will be spending more time on product vision and AI strategy, and I look forward to spending additional time with our product teams in India and customers globally.

Here’s what I shared today with employees:

Related Questions

What inspired Girish Mathrubootham to start Freshworks?
How did Girish Mathrubootham's experience at Zoho Corp influence Freshworks?
What are some key achievements of Girish Mathrubootham in his career?
How did Freshworks' IPO impact the company's growth?
What are some of the startups Girish Mathrubootham has invested in?
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Experience

CEO at Freshworks

Education

University of Madras

Location

Bellevue, Washington, United States