From Code to Compassion: Rathi Murthy’s Journey of Mindful Leadership

California, US, 8th October 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Rathi Murthy is widely recognized as one of the most visionary technology leaders of her generation, a trailblazer whose career spans some of the most influential companies in the world and whose impact continues to redefine what is possible at the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial inclusion, and mindful leadership. Named among the Top Women in Tech, Murthy’s influence stretches far beyond the boardroom. She embodies a rare blend of technical mastery, business acumen, and human-centered leadership, positioning her as a role model for the next generation of innovators.

Today, Murthy serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Varo Bank, the first nationally chartered, all-digital consumer bank in the United States. In this role, she leads Varo’s end-to-end technology strategy, advancing its mission to deliver secure, scalable, and AI-powered digital banking platforms. Her vision is bold yet deeply practical: to build real-time, inclusive, and accessible financial solutions for millions of consumers who have historically been underserved by traditional banking systems. For Murthy, AI is not just a technology, it is a tool for social transformation, a force that can dismantle barriers and create pathways for financial empowerment.

A Career Forged at the Crossroads of Innovation

Murthy’s career trajectory is as impressive as it is inspiring. Before joining Varo Bank, she held senior leadership positions at some of the most dynamic organizations in technology, media, and financial services.

As Chief Technology Officer and President of Expedia Services at Expedia Group, Murthy led critical technology pillars across artificial intelligence, e-commerce, payments, and customer experience. She played a central role in modernizing Expedia’s global platform, helping the company reimagine the infrastructure that powers millions of bookings worldwide. Her leadership was instrumental in bringing agility, personalization, and innovation to a highly competitive travel industry.

Earlier, as CTO at Verizon Media, Murthy spearheaded global technology initiatives, driving innovations in 5G, AI, and media platforms. She also served as SVP and CTO at Gap Inc., where she created the digital transformation roadmap for the company’s family of brands, ensuring that the future of retail would be as immersive and data-driven as it was customer-focused.

Her prior roles include CIO of Enterprise Growth at American Express, where she built technology capabilities to support new business models, as well as senior positions at eBay, Yahoo, Sun Microsystems, and WebMD. Each role added new dimensions to her leadership philosophy, sharpening her expertise in scaling technology platforms while keeping people and experiences at the center.

Recognition and Influence

Murthy’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. She has been consistently celebrated as a force in global technology leadership.
• Top 100 Executive Women in Tech to Watch (2023) by WomenTech Network
• Top Woman in Cloud Innovation (2014)
• Most Influential Women in Payments (2015)

These honors reflect more than her accomplishments. They acknowledge her courage in breaking barriers, her commitment to mentoring other women in tech, and her determination to build a more equitable industry.

Mindful Leadership: The Art of Living

Beyond her corporate roles, Murthy is also a teacher of The Art of Living, a global movement dedicated to cultivating mindfulness, resilience, and community well-being. This practice is more than a personal pursuit, it informs her leadership style and her belief that technology must be aligned with humanity’s highest values.

For Murthy, mindful leadership is not a trend but a necessity. In a world where technology evolves at breathtaking speed, she believes that leaders must balance innovation with intention, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of peace, well-being, or ethical responsibility. Her integration of mindfulness into her executive leadership is one of the qualities that set her apart in the tech industry. She leads with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

Board Service and Mentorship

Murthy is also deeply committed to shaping the future of education and innovation. She serves on the Board of Directors for PagerDuty, on the Board of Governors at Sri Sri University, and as an advisor to the University of San Francisco. She is also an active angel investor, supporting mission-driven startups in fintech, enterprise technology, and social impact. Through these roles, she empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs, ensuring that their ideas and innovations are nurtured with both resources and mentorship.

A Life Rooted in Purpose

Murthy’s journey is not just one of professional triumphs, it is a testament to living a life rooted in purpose. Her story reflects the power of resilience, adaptability, and continuous growth. Whether leading global teams at Fortune 500 companies, advising academic institutions, or teaching mindfulness to communities, Murthy approaches every role with the same conviction: technology must serve humanity, and leadership must serve others.

She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Santa Clara University, where she honed the technical foundation that would fuel her ascent in the tech world. Yet her education did not end there. Her lifelong learning through corporate leadership, spiritual practice, and mentorship continues to shape her evolving vision of what technology and leadership can achieve.