Shailvi Wakhlu

Fractional Data Leader at Early-Stage Startups

Companies that are serious about business success, care about investing in data. I'm the former Head of Data from Strava, where I led the Data Department and Data Guild comprising 34 Analysts, ML Engineers, and Data Engineers. As a data and analytics leader, I've also brought discipline and data science rigor to companies such as Salesforce, Komodo Health, and Fitbit. I have personal investments in 3 data startups at the moment.

I consult with companies that are hungry for data and want to invest early in their data processes, assets, teams, and tooling. Having someone like me, who has more than seventeen years of experience building products in businesses with 600M ARR, can set your company on the path to success. Within the last year, I have worked with multiple high-growth companies and delivered tangible value that helped them streamline their data practices, and use their data assets more effectively.

I deliver benefits in four primary areas:
1. Create your 2-year data strategy and vision which includes people, processes, and tools
2. Map out a short to medium-term hiring plan, and hire key positions
3. Setup building blocks for data culture and education, including at the C-suite level (strong emphasis on data quality)
4. Mentor and coach junior analysts and data scientists

Connect with me using my contact form, on LinkedIn, or email me at info@shailvi.com. If you have a collaboration in mind, we can set up some time to explore a mutual fit.

Professional Bio Testimonials

Professional Bio

Shailvi Wakhlu is a Technology Leader, Author, and International Keynote Speaker. She is the former Head of Data & Analytics at Strava and Komodo Health. Her seventeen-year data and engineering career has included companies such as Salesforce, Fitbit, and a software startup she co-founded. Shailvi’s data expertise comes from being a practitioner at tech startups and large companies across three continents.

Wakhlu speaks on data and self-advocacy at global conferences and Fortune 500 corporate events. She also teaches online courses on these subjects to a global audience.

Wakhlu offers individual and group coaching. She has helped hundreds of aspiring and current data scientists grow their skills and reach important career milestones faster. She is also an investor and advisor to several high-growth startups in the data space.

Wakhlu grew up in India and studied Computer Engineering at Illinois Tech in Chicago. She loves to travel and has visited thirty-three countries. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their sixty plants.

Testimonials

Ram Chaitanya Nellore, CEO @ Ecowiser: "Shailvi is amazing! She gave very good advice on our data strategy and how to better manage our data team. Would highly recommend her!"

Kiru Bala, Co-Founder @ TerraSpace Ventures LLC: "Excellent advice. She was able to quickly formulate the next best course of action as well as give ideas for all the other options I was considering. She has a lot of knowledge and experience and definitely worth talking to get another persons opinion. Highly recommend anyone who needs help when they feel stuck and don’t have an idea how to move forward to the next steps."

Nicolai Thomson, CEO @ Jenesys: "Brilliant chat. I came away with some new ideas and a higher level of conviction for some decisions that must be made."

Clyde Willabus, Founder @ Sidyum, Inc: "Shailvi listened intently to my concerns and offered great advice, guidance and suggestions to help me manage some of the issues I raised with her. It was a very good experience."

David Deutsch, CEO @ DD: "I had a great session with Shailvi about data. She gave me clear answers to all of my questions, and helped me focus on the right metrics and what to do with the knowledge based on the data."

Greg Weinstein, Founder & CEO @ Audience Genomics: "Shailvi's active listening skills provided a supportive and welcoming environment, allowing me to openly share my thoughts and experiences. I look forward to future discussions where I can gain more of her insightful feedback and practical advice."