Rachana

Kumar

Founder

Stealth Startup

Jersey City,

New Jersey

2026 Cohort

Industry

Technology

Area of Expertise

Artificial Intelligence

Immediately Qualified to Serve

Nominating and Governance

Previous Board Experience

Nonprofit, Private

Rachana Kumar is a technology and product executive with deep expertise in AI/ML, hyper-growth scaling, and digital transformation. As CTO of Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY), she led global teams of over 1,200 employees, oversaw $1B+ in P&L, and helped scale the company from $500 million to $13 billion in gross merchandise sales, growing the buyer base from 20 million to 100 million customers over her decade-long tenure. She presented quarterly to Etsy’s board of directors on technology strategy and AI developments, and reviewed cybersecurity and risk reports for the board’s risk committee. She oversaw the enterprise cybersecurity function and CISO organization, ensuring compliance with SOX controls and data privacy regulations across 220 countries. Rachana also led executive compensation planning and succession for her senior leadership team.

At Etsy, she developed the company’s AI strategy, scaling adoption of generative AI from 3 to over 30 Gen AI applications, embedding it in internal processes and the customer experience. She created an internal platform enabling engineers to integrate external LLMs without infrastructure complexity, and established Etsy’s Responsible AI group to proactively address bias, transparency, and regulatory requirements. Under her leadership, Etsy achieved 99.95% system uptime while maintaining 100% renewable energy for operations. She directed global teams across AI researchers, engineering, security, data, cloud infrastructure, and IT, with a deep focus on inclusive leadership and people development.

Rachana has significant M&A experience, having led technology due diligence and post-merger integration for multiple acquisitions including Depop (fashion resale), DaWanda (European handmade marketplace), A Little Market (French marketplace), Canasta Rosa (Mexico), and Blackbird Technologies (ML platform). She understands how to evaluate technology assets, assess integration complexity, and drive post-merger value creation.

As VP of Engineering and Managing Director of Etsy Mexico, she launched and scaled the company’s Mexico operations to 200 employees. During the COVID-19 surge, she scaled Etsy’s infrastructure and customer experience to support 200% sales growth while maintaining platform stability, demonstrating crisis leadership under unprecedented demand. In earlier roles at Etsy, she drove scaling mobile from 10% to 60%+ of total sales and led product engineering through the company’s hypergrowth phase.

Rachana is a globally sought-after thought leader who has spoken at Microsoft Build, Google Next, Lisbon Web Summit, and WSJ Tech Live on AI strategy, digital transformation, and responsible technology deployment. She is recognized among the Top 100 Leaders in Tech and the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech.

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Speakers include: Sita Lowman, Nithya Das, Suresh Sharma, Byron Loflin

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Speakers include: Gaby Sulzberger, David Cahoy, Rachael Coffey, Eduardo Gallego

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Speakers include: Titi Cole, Mia Mends

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.

Speakers include: Rodger Baker