FREDERIC KERREST

Frederic Kerrest is a highly respected figure in the technology industry, best known as the Co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Okta, Inc., a pioneering company in identity and access management. His journey with Okta began in 2009 when he co-founded the company with Todd McKinnon, driven by a vision to simplify secure access for the enterprise in a cloud-first world. Under his leadership, Okta grew from a nascent startup to a publicly traded, multi-billion dollar enterprise, fundamentally changing how organizations manage digital identities.

As Executive Vice Chairman, Frederic Kerrest continues to play a pivotal role in Okta's strategic direction, market expansion, and fostering its innovative culture. Prior to his current role, he served as Okta's Chief Operating Officer for many years, overseeing critical functions including sales, marketing, business development, and customer success. His operational acumen was instrumental in scaling the company through hyper-growth phases, navigating its successful IPO, and establishing Okta as a global leader in its domain.

Beyond his executive responsibilities at Okta, Frederic Kerrest is an active and influential angel investor and advisor within the B2B technology landscape. His investment focus areas primarily revolve around enterprise software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity solutions. He brings a wealth of practical experience in building and scaling successful tech companies, offering invaluable guidance to early-stage startups on product-market fit, go-to-market strategies, and organizational development. His deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the enterprise sector makes him a sought-after mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Frederic Kerrest's career background is rooted in a strong foundation of technology and business. Before co-founding Okta, he held significant roles at Salesforce.com, where he contributed to product management, and at Sun Microsystems, gaining experience in both product management and sales. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, combining technical expertise with strategic business insight.

An accomplished author, Frederic Kerrest co-authored "Zero to IPO: Over $1 Trillion of Advice From the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs," sharing lessons learned from his own journey and those of other industry titans. While he is not a traditional venture capitalist managing a fund, his personal investments and advisory roles have supported numerous promising startups in the enterprise tech space, helping them navigate the complexities of growth and market penetration. His commitment to fostering innovation and sharing knowledge underscores his significant impact on the technology ecosystem.