Life in the Swimlane with Payal Mehrotra, VP of Product

Welcome to the “Life in the Swimlane” blog series. Here we will feature interviews with Swimlaners to learn more about their experience. This series will give you a preview of Swimlane, our culture, and the people who keep us going.

My name is Payal Mehrotra. I live in Boston, MA with my husband who is an entrepreneur and twin boys who are 13 years old. 

I grew up in Bombay, India. I always had a love for numbers and my goal in High school was to rank top in the state of Maharashtra in Mathematics and I achieved it. I decided to go off the beaten path and decided to do my under-graduate degree in Economics and Commerce. I had a profound interest in Computers and took some beginner Computer Science classes. 

I came to the United States 25 years ago and did my Masters in Computer Science from Worcester Polytech Institute (WPI). I graduated in 2001 when we were going through the DOT com bust and it was very hard to find a job and get a visa to stay in the United States. I landed up with my first job in Chemical engineering helping Eli Lilly validate their processes for a drug to treat sepsis. This job taught me to be customer focus and to solve problems for our customers. Once the job market got better, I moved into cybersecurity. I also pursued an MBA from Babson College.

How long have you been with Swimlane?

I have been with Swimlane for 1 year now. 

What does your job entail?

As the VP of Product Management, I oversee the strategic direction and execution of our company’s product portfolio. I play a crucial role in shaping the direction of our products, driving growth and ensuring alignment with customer needs and market opportunities. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Swimlane?

I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by exceptionally talented individuals who have not only become my colleagues but also my friends. This dynamic allows for a collaborative and supportive work environment.  Knowing that I have the backing of my executive team further empowers me to take initiatives and make decisions confidently. I love that our workplace is open and welcoming, making everyone feel included. 

What excites you most about your work? 

What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to solve customer problems. This passion has been with me since childhood, where I found joy in tackling complex math problems for hours on end. Now, as an adult, I thrive on interacting with people, engaging with customers to understand their needs, collaborating with engineering to build features, partnering with marketing on messaging and go-to-market strategies, and supporting sales in effectively positioning and selling our product features. 

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

I love going on trips with my family, especially hiking or spending time in nature. Recently, we visited Chile where we got to see King penguins and hike on glaciers. I also really enjoy cooking with my twin boys.

Are there any clubs, volunteer/awareness groups, or social movements you’re passionate about?

For the past few years, I’ve been teaching Hindi at a non-profit organization called Chinmaya Mission. It’s been incredibly rewarding to work with students from kindergarten to fifth grade and see their progress.

What’s are some fun facts about you many people may not know?

I got into a heated debate with the police officer during my driving test, as I tried to explain the driving rules to him! 🙂

Your motto or personal mantra:

Stick together as a family.

Three words that best describe you:

Team player, hard worker, persuasive.

What Swimlane core value resonates with you the most?

Punch Above Your Weight Class and Move at the speed of WOW.

What type of impact do you want to leave on our industry?

I aim to make a significant impact on the cybersecurity industry by focusing on two key areas: enhancing organizational security and compliance, and increasing the productivity and efficiency of security teams. By developing innovative solutions and strategies within the SOAR space, I strive to empower organizations to strengthen their security posture and ensure compliance with regulations. Additionally, by providing tools to create automation, I aim to enable security teams to work more effectively and efficiently, ultimately enhancing their ability to mitigate threats and protect critical assets.