Born: 1982 (Pune, India)
Biography:
Ruchi Sanghvi (born 20 January 1982) is an Indian computer engineer and businesswoman who has made significant contributions to the tech industry. Known for being the first female engineer hired by Facebook, Sanghvi has made a mark in the field of technology and entrepreneurship.
Raised in Pune, India, Sanghvi showed an early interest in her father’s business and intended to join it after completing her studies. She pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, where she gained a strong foundation in the field.
After graduating in 2004, Sanghvi initially planned to work in New York City, but was dissatisfied with the small cubicle size and decided to move to Silicon Valley. There, she joined Oracle Corporation but soon found a new opportunity at Facebook. In 2005, Sanghvi started working at Facebook, becoming the company’s first female engineer. This groundbreaking achievement set the stage for her career in the male-dominated tech industry.
At Facebook, Sanghvi played a crucial role in developing the initial version of the News Feed product, which was launched in September 2006. This feature provided users with algorithmically generated updates about their friends’ activities, a concept that was relatively new at the time. The News Feed faced criticism, including personal attacks directed at Sanghvi, but she and her team responded by implementing new privacy controls to address the concerns.
In 2006, Sanghvi became the product lead for Facebook Platform, further demonstrating her leadership and technical expertise. She continued to contribute to the growth and development of the company, leaving a lasting impact on its products and services.
After her successful tenure at Facebook, Sanghvi ventured into entrepreneurship. In late 2010, she left Facebook and co-founded Cove, a stealth collaboration startup, with Aditya Agarwal. The company gained recognition for its innovative approach to teamwork and collaboration. In 2012, Cove caught the attention of Dropbox, a leading file synchronization and backup service company, which acquired it. Sanghvi and Agarwal joined Dropbox, with Sanghvi becoming the Vice President of Operations, overseeing various functions including product, marketing, and communications. She played a vital role in shaping the company’s operations and strategy.
In October 2013, Sanghvi left Dropbox, but continued to have an advisory role at the company. Her expertise and experience have made her a respected figure in the tech community.
Notably, Sanghvi’s contributions extend beyond her roles at Facebook and Dropbox. In 2016, she established South Park Commons (SPC), a residential and professional tech space that functions similarly to a hackerspace. SPC provides a collaborative environment for like-minded individuals to work on projects, share knowledge, and foster innovation.
Ruchi Sanghvi’s achievements have not only paved the way for other women in technology but have also made a significant impact on the tech industry as a whole. Her dedication, skills, and leadership have inspired many and continue to shape the future of technology.