Hi, I’m Nithya Ruff.

As a strategic Open Source, Digital, and Media Technology Executive and Board Director, I leverage 20+ years of experience across technology and innovation to scale growth in start-ups to Fortune 500 companies – Amazon, Comcast, Intel, Avaya, and SanDisk.

I bring expertise delivering enterprise, embedded, and Open Source solutions across media and entertainment, telecommunications, digital storage, semiconductor, and electronic design automation. As an influencer and marketplace collaborator I advise on strategies for growth, monetization, technology investments, product transitions, business models, and go-to-market.

My Work

  • At Amazon, I lead the company's Open Source Program Office across AWS, Amzon.com and devices to enable our builders to do open source development as an integral part of their work.

  • Previously, at Comcast, I set open source strategy and influence direction inside and outside the Company and into the open source industry, advising and supporting thousands of developers across 200+ projects. I established a center of excellence, creating a stronger open source competency.

  • Driving a culture of innovation and reliability to maintain Comcast as an open source company – with many of our solutions developed using open source. Previously at SanDisk Inc., partnered with Ceph, OCP and OpenStack communities to define new storage architectures/topologies for new workloads such as cloud, big data and HPC.

  • Oversaw $200M P&L at Avaya, Inc., a $3B+ F- 250, IP communications and VoIP company – also led senior team of professional services consultants impacting $500M in revenue.

  • Drove Linux product line business growth over 100% YOY for Wind River, an Intel Subsidiary, where they were named #1 Embedded Linux Vendor from VDC in 16 out of top 20 Tier 1 networking companies.

  • Serve on boards including as Chair of Linux Foundation Board, a highly respected 501C6 Trade Association for companies wanting to engage with open source.

Diversity and Inclusion

One of my hallmark goals as a leader in Open Source is breaking down barriers that prevent underrepresented groups, especially women, from contributing to open source projects. By recognizing how diverse perspectives drive innovation and collaboration, I work to champion contributions beyond coding, emphasizing governance, advocacy, marketing, and documentation.

These efforts focus on dispelling stereotypes and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Through leadership efforts, my aim is to open doors for new contributors, ensuring the open source community thrives by including diverse voices because fostering an inclusive culture will lead to richer, more innovative projects that benefit everyone.

Mentorship

As someone who has dedicated my career to open source and technology, I deeply understand the importance of mentorship. Serving as a mentor is not just about sharing knowledge—it’s about fostering growth, inspiring innovation, and building a supportive community where everyone can thrive. 

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work was mentoring start-ups in the Comcast Lift Labs Incubation Program. Here, I guided young entrepreneurs on software development and open source technology strategy. I aim to help them navigate the complexities of the tech world, providing them with the tools and confidence they need to succeed.

Through mentorship, I aim to build a legacy of collaboration and innovation. I am committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders who will continue to drive the open source community forward.