“Empathy builds trust. Precision drives transformation.”
Melani Ross is a dynamic and compassionate technology executive whose professional journey spans over three decades of trailblazing leadership, operational excellence, and transformative business impact. From her earliest days managing major software releases at Autodesk to leading global teams through high-growth phases at GitLab and founding her own company, Melani’s career is a masterclass in strategic foresight, people-first leadership, and the art of delivering scalable, customer-centric solutions.
Melani’s passion for technology and innovation began with hands-on project management at Autodesk, where she played a pivotal role in two major AutoCAD releases. This formative experience sharpened her technical acumen and introduced her to the nuanced balance between engineering rigor and customer expectations. It was here that she began cultivating the foundational leadership skills—collaboration, clarity, and vision—that would come to define her career.
Her tenure at Web.com and Gracenote marked a period of accelerated growth and influence. At Gracenote, she rose to the role of Vice President of Professional Services, growing a modest support team into a global profit center of implementation engineers and project managers. Under her leadership, the team expanded from 30 to over 350 employees, delivering technical integration services to powerhouse brands such as Apple, Samsung, Ford, and Sony. Her work directly contributed to the company’s growth and ultimately led to its acquisition by Sony and later Nielsen. Through this transformation, Melani proved herself as a high-impact leader capable of navigating complexity, managing cross-functional execution, and driving growth through innovation.
After nearly a decade at Gracenote, Melani’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to explore a more hands-on, ownership-driven role. At Keilani Pilates, she demonstrated her ability to scale businesses at every level, from rebranding to revenue growth. While starkly different from her high-tech roots, this venture exemplified her core leadership principle: building systems and teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences. Her ability to shift gears without losing momentum reveals the versatility that has made her such a sought-after executive and advisor.
In 2017, Melani re-entered the technology ecosystem as Chief Operating Officer of RSM Technologies, where she oversaw global teams of software engineers, data scientists, and designers to develop ethical, real-time traffic data systems. Her operational leadership brought structure and transparency to a high-growth, high-stakes environment, preparing the company for VC scrutiny and future scale. She then co-founded Hannah Systems, again shaping a company’s structure and product from the ground up. This pattern of laying operational foundations, instilling best practices, and driving technical strategy became her hallmark.
At GitLab, Melani’s impact was nothing short of transformative. Over four and a half years, she led the Professional Services team, which grew from 11 to 35 professionals, distributed across nine countries. Her initiatives resulted in a 3900% revenue increase and established GitLab as a gold standard in DevOps service delivery. She pioneered the services delivery partner program, expanding delivery capacity and creating new revenue streams. By implementing data-driven forecasting, flexible staffing models, and empathetic team engagement, she developed a high-trust, high-performance culture that consistently exceeded client expectations.
Melani’s success at GitLab laid the groundwork for her next venture: Papilio.dev. As CEO, she built a C-Corp, attracted top-tier engineering talent, and positioned the company as a trusted DevOps transformation partner. Her vision for Papilio.dev was clear: to modernize outdated tools and workflows, enabling clients to innovate and grow with confidence. Her commitment to outcomes, operational clarity, and client empowerment defines the company’s ethos and value proposition.
Beyond her corporate roles, Melani remains committed to broader impact through board and advisory work. She serves on the ASTIA advisory board, lending her voice and experience to initiatives that champion women in tech and leadership. Her international exposure—working across APAC, Europe, and Japan—enables her to bring a global perspective and cultural fluency to any table she joins.
Melani’s leadership is driven not just by performance metrics, but by a deep belief in empathetic leadership. She understands that people are the engine of transformation, and that trust, inclusion, and listening are as critical as strategy and execution. Her teams thrive because she creates space for individuals to bring their whole selves to the work, fostering environments of innovation, accountability, and mutual respect.
In every role, Melani Ross delivers more than just operational outcomes—she transforms organizations from the inside out. With a rare blend of strategic vision, financial acumen, technical depth, and human-centered leadership, she is uniquely qualified to guide companies through periods of change, challenge, and opportunity. Whether on the board, in the C-suite, or advising the next generation of founders, Melani is a force for positive disruption, anchored in values and driven by results.
Character:
Melani embodies integrity, empathy, and resilience in every interaction, making her a trusted leader across diverse teams and cultures. Her unwavering belief in people-first leadership empowers those around her to excel and innovate.
Knowledge:
Her expansive knowledge spans the entire software development lifecycle, business operations, and strategic growth across startups and global enterprises. This deep expertise allows her to bring clarity and confidence to high-stakes decision-making.
Strategic:
Melani is a master of aligning vision with execution, ensuring that every initiative contributes to long-term value creation and operational excellence. She sees around corners and builds frameworks that sustain growth, adaptability, and scale.
Communication:
With clarity and warmth, Melani communicates across functions, borders, and business contexts to align teams and inspire action. Her ability to articulate vision and strategy ensures alignment from the boardroom to the front lines.
