Suggestions
Kira Makagon
Chief Innovation Officer | Independent Board Director
Kira Makagon is a prominent technology executive and business leader with extensive experience in the communications and software industry. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Calix, where she is also part of the Compensation and Cyber Security Committees.1
Professional Background
Makagon is best known for her role at RingCentral, where she has been a key executive for over 12 years. At RingCentral, she holds the position of Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).1 In this capacity, she is responsible for:
- Overseeing RingCentral's worldwide product strategies
- Driving AI innovation initiatives
- Leading global marketing strategies
Her leadership has been instrumental in RingCentral's growth, helping the company expand from pre-IPO status to achieving over $2.4 billion in annual recurring revenue.1
Achievements and Innovations
Throughout her career, Makagon has been recognized for her innovative contributions:
- Spearheaded the development of RingCentral's open platform
- Led the launch of RingCentral Video in 2020
- Initiated RingCentral Ventures, the company's corporate ventures arm, in 2021
- Pioneered multiple transformational technologies and companies
Awards and Recognition
Makagon has received numerous accolades for her work, including:
- 2021 Aragon Research Women in Technology Award
- 2020 Silver Stevie for Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Technology
- 2019 Gold Women World Award for Excellence in Industry Woman of the Year: Cloud Computing/SaaS/Internet
- 2018 San Francisco Business Times Forever Influential Honor Roll award
- Multiple recognitions from Silicon Valley Business Journal and San Francisco Business Times12
Education and Board Memberships
Makagon holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. In addition to her role at Calix, she serves on the Board of Directors for the American Technion Society.1
Additional Activities
Makagon is actively involved in the technology community:
- Regular lecturer at UC Berkeley
- Participant in industry panels and podcasts
- Advisor to entrepreneurs and early-stage companies1
Her LinkedIn profile (username: kiramakagon) showcases her professional journey and achievements in the technology sector.2
Highlights
Balancing innovation with stability is key to realizing AI’s full potential.
I recently saw a video from @jhalamka that emphasized the importance of finding this balance. I highly recommend it to leaders who are introducing AI to their teams: https://t.co/GuhDpHimSF
