Biography of Shahani Markus: Founder of Emojot-Entrepreneur & Investor
Biography of Shahani Markus:
Shahani Markus is a seasoned global technology executive,
entrepreneur, and investor who thrives on fostering innovation in disruptive
software, applications, and services. Her career spans from hands-on
engineering roles to leadership positions at the C-level. Throughout her
journey, she emphasizes the importance of harnessing the diverse talents and
perspectives of team members and partners to drive ideas from research and
concept to successful market launch and beyond.
Academic and Intellectual Pursuits
Beyond her corporate achievements, Shahani Markus has made
significant contributions to academia. Her roles as a lecturer, researcher, and
collaborator in various academic environments have allowed her to challenge and
inspire students and fellow faculty members alike. She actively engages in
collaborative research, scientific exploration, and knowledge sharing, further
enriching her professional journey.
Childhood Dreams and Reading Habits
As a child in Sri Lanka, Shahani Markus was known for her
studious nature and love for reading. Despite the absence of television and
internet, she devoured magazines like 'Time,' 'NewsWeek,' and 'Reader’s
Digest,' painting a vivid picture of the tech-savvy United States—a place she
dreamt of living and mastering computers, stepping into the future.
Academic Choices and Career Expectations
However, Shahani's path was initially set by her parents,
who envisioned a career in medicine for their daughter. Being a woman in that
era, the idea of venturing abroad for education was unconventional and met with
resistance. Despite these expectations, Shahani strategically chose to study
mathematics and zoology after her 10th standard, keeping both medical and
physical sciences options open. Yet, her passion for mathematics steered her
towards engineering herself to not qualify for medical entrance exams, thus
paving the way for acceptance into physical sciences instead.
Turning Point at NIBM
The University of Colombo initially offered a course in
computers under the Department of Statistics and Mathematics. However, a sudden
change in government regulations halted admissions to this program. This
setback disappointed Shahani's parents, but a glimmer of hope emerged when the
National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) introduced a diploma course in
Computer Systems Design—a turning point that would shape Shahani's future in
technology.
Educational Background
Shahani Markus has pursued a rigorous academic path to
complement her professional endeavors. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science,
as well as Master's degrees in both Computer Science and Mathematics, all
earned from Purdue University. Her educational journey also includes a
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from Purdue University,
a diploma in Computer Systems Design from the National Institute of Business
Management, and foundational education at Vishaka Vidyalaya and Ladies' College
in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Entrepreneurial Leadership at Emojot Inc.
Shahani Markus has served as the Founder, CTO, and
Chairperson of Emojot Inc. since July 2019, where she has driven innovation in
market and operational insights through the company's unique Emotion Sensors™
and AI-driven SaaS solutions. Based in San Jose, CA, Emojot's platform has
revolutionized how businesses understand and engage with their customers,
employees, and competitors, fostering revenue growth, customer retention, and
brand elevation.
Biography of Shahani Markus:Founder of Emojot-Entrepreneur & Angel Investor/ Global Technology Executive/Journey of Shahani Markus/ emoji /success
Pioneering Ventures
Prior to Emojot, Shahani Markus founded and led the growth
of Emojot as its CEO and Chairperson from March 2014 to July 2019. During her
tenure in California, she spearheaded strategic initiatives that enhanced
performance metrics, executed effective business-to-business strategies, and
championed innovative product and business development approaches. Her
leadership paved the way for Emojot's prominence in the tech industry.
Diverse Entrepreneurial Endeavors
In addition to her role at Emojot, Shahani Markus co-founded
MillionSpaces in January 2018, focusing on strategic business initiatives in
Sri Lanka. She also co-founded 1 Billion Tech in August 2013, contributing to
cloud-enabled digital transformations for global enterprises. These ventures
highlight her strategic acumen and commitment to driving technological
innovation across various sectors.
Academic and Research Contributions
Shahani Markus's academic journey includes significant roles
at multiple universities, where she served as a lecturer, researcher, and
consultant. Her academic appointments spanned prestigious institutions in the
USA, Australia, and Sri Lanka, underscoring her dedication to advancing
research and knowledge transfer in the fields of computer science and
e-governance.
Technical Leadership and Industry Experience
Throughout her career, Shahani Markus has held pivotal roles
such as Chief Technology Officer at the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, where she
provided strategic technical guidance across national e-Sri Lanka programs. She
also served as Head of Engineering and Chief Software Architect at Virtusa in
Sri Lanka, overseeing large-scale IT operations and R&D activities. Her
extensive industry experience at IBM's TJ Watson Research Center and other tech
firms has enriched her expertise in program management, strategic planning, and
leadership.
The Birth of Emojot
Shahani Markus and her partners embarked on a unique venture
when they founded Emojot. Their idea was simple yet revolutionary: to transform
the way feedback is collected by replacing traditional paragraph-based comments
with emojis. This innovative approach promised to streamline communication and
provide more immediate and intuitive insights into user sentiment.
Seed Funding Success
Emojot reached a significant milestone when it successfully
closed a Series of Seed funding round, securing $1 million from a consortium of
investors from Asia and the US. This infusion of capital not only provided
financial stability but also validated the potential of their novel feedback
platform in the competitive tech market. With newfound resources, Emojot was poised
to expand its team and further develop its cutting-edge technology.
Growth and Leadership at Virtusa
During her tenure at Virtusa, Shahani Markus played a
pivotal role in expanding the Sri Lankan center from 200 to over 1000 members.
Leading the technology team, she oversaw 20 simultaneous projects, establishing
processes, designing performance metrics, and reviewing software architectures.
Despite feeling torn between family responsibilities and her career, Shahani's
pivotal decision-making skills continued to shape her professional journey.
Transition to ICT Agency of Sri Lanka
Guided by her mentor, Professor Samaranayake, Shahani
transitioned to the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka as Chief Technology Officer. Here,
she spearheaded the Lanka Gate project, aiming to integrate all national
systems into a unified platform, funded by the World Bank. Advocating for
open-source solutions, Shahani encountered resistance due to procurement
challenges. Her advocacy led to the development of an agile procurement method
for eGovernment solutions, significantly reducing costs and gaining support
from the World Bank.
Challenges and Achievements at ICT Agency
Despite successes, challenges emerged following Professor
Samaranayake's passing, exposing Shahani to the complexities of organizational
politics. After two years, she departed the ICT Agency to pursue new endeavors,
reflecting on her impactful tenure and contributions to advancing eGovernance
in Sri Lanka.
Academic Engagement and Entrepreneurial Ventures
Returning to the University of Moratuwa, Shahani engaged
with Master's students in communications and software architecture. She
mentored teams on Capstone projects, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
While contemplating a break to focus on family, personal hardships prompted her
to re-enter the workforce, leading to the founding of Auxenta, a software
solutions company aimed at optimizing enterprise operations.
Founding of Auxenta and Expansion to the US
Incorporated in California in January 2014, Auxenta marked
Shahani's entrepreneurial journey into the US market. Simultaneously, she
supported a Capstone project at the University of Moratuwa, culminating in the
development of Sith, a platform for emotion analysis across languages.
Shahani's dual citizenship facilitated her transition to the US, where she
continues to lead Auxenta's efforts in enterprise optimization.
RISE Conference Debut
In July 2016, Emojot made waves at the prestigious RISE
conference held in Hong Kong. The event served as a pivotal moment for the
young startup, offering them a global stage to showcase their innovative
approach to feedback analysis. Emojot's platform stood out as the only one
capable of real-time analysis of crowd perceptions, enabling targeted responses
tailored to specific client segments. The conference not only bolstered
Emojot's reputation but also attracted attention from potential partners and
clients eager to leverage their unique technology.
These expanded paragraphs provide a deeper insight into
Emojot's journey, highlighting their innovative vision, financial success, and
impactful debut on the global tech stage without resorting to plagiarism.
