A Journey Through Tech, Partnerships, and Global Learning: SPJ Alumni Spotlight with Nisha Koshy (GMBA & PGPM 2008)
In this edition of SPJ Alumni Spotlight, we are proud to feature our Global MBA graduate, Nisha Koshy, a visionary leader in the IT and tech industry with over a decade of diverse experience. From her early days as a software engineer to her current role as the Director of Technology Partner Program and Operations at Okta, Nisha’s career reflects her passion for innovation, strategic thinking, and fostering impactful partnerships.
Join us as Nisha shares insights from her inspiring professional journey, lessons shaped by her time at SP Jain Global, and her vision for the future of technology and collaboration.
Could you tell us about yourself and your professional journey?
My professional journey began as a software engineer, building a foundation in technology and problem-solving. My curiosity about the connection between technical work and business outcomes led me to pursue an MBA at SP Jain Global. Since then, I’ve embraced diverse roles in IT/Tech, including business development, account management, sales enablement, and partner programs.
Currently, I focus on amplifying impact through partnerships, designing innovative programs, and enabling partners to drive growth and win-win outcomes across the ecosystem.
As Director of Technology Partner Program and Operations at Okta, what are your key responsibilities, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I am responsible for shaping and executing partner programme strategies to build impactful technology partnerships with organisations like AWS, Google, Zscaler, and CrowdStrike. This involves creating innovative programmes that enable partners to develop integrations, scale with Okta, and achieve shared business goals.
I ensure operational excellence across the partnership lifecycle, from onboarding and enablement to go-to-market activation and performance tracking. Given the cross-functional nature of partnerships, my role involves collaborating with teams across alliances, sales, marketing, and operations to develop business cases, secure budgets, and gain leadership buy-in. The focus is on continuous innovation to address partner challenges and streamline their engagement with Okta.
Can you discuss how your role drives efficiency and streamlining operations in a technology-driven environment?
My team focuses on driving innovation to incentivize partner growth and implementing scalable processes to streamline engagement with Okta. By automating tasks like account mapping via Crossbeam and enhancing revenue tracking in Salesforce, we’ve reduced manual efforts while improving accuracy and visibility. The most rewarding part is seeing tangible results, from increased partner engagement to innovative integrations and revenue growth.
What challenges do companies face today regarding identity and access management, and how does Okta address these challenges?
(IAM) is a critical aspect of modern business operations, especially as organisations embrace cloud services, remote work, and complex IT ecosystems. Some of the key challenges facing companies today include securing a distributed workforce, combatting rising cyber threats, managing complex IT environments and enabling digital transformation while ensuring seamless and secure access management and consistent user experience.
Okta addresses these challenges with a best-in-class identity platform to simplify and strengthen IAM.
- Zero-trust security model
- Comprehensive Integration Ecosystem
- Scalability and Flexibility
- Robust compliance features
Okta enables businesses to protect their assets, support innovation, and deliver superior experiences for their employees, customers, and partners by unifying identity management, simplifying access, and enhancing security.
Looking back, is there any advice you would have given your younger self during your MBA days?
I’d tell myself to embrace every learning opportunity, both in and outside the classroom, and not fear stepping out of my comfort zone. At the time, I was focused on excelling academically and preparing for the next career milestone. There’s value in being open to change and the ability to pivot and learn new skills.
Also, trust the process and be patient. My career path wasn’t linear, and the detours were often the most rewarding. I would encourage myself to focus on building a broad skill set, staying adaptable, and knowing that every experience contributes to the bigger picture.
