Security-first product leadership across fintech, security, and AI.
That’s the throughline of my career, and it’s what I write about here.
I’m Neeraj Mathur. For more than 25 years, I’ve built and shipped products in domains where trust is the product: cybersecurity, financial technology, and now AI. My career spans the full arc, from enterprise foundations at Cisco, Sun Microsystems, and Silicon Graphics to product leadership at category-defining startups to founding my own fintech company.
A few stops along the way:
- Skyhigh Networks: product leadership at the company that pioneered the CASB category and redefined cloud security, later acquired by McAfee.
- Authentic8: secure cloud browsing (Silo), trusted by government agencies and regulated enterprises.
- Bluebox Security: mobile application security for the enterprise, acquired by Lookout.
- ForUsAll: modern 401(k) products that brought retirement benefits to small businesses and their employees.
- SavingsOak: my own fintech startup, and a second education in building a company from zero.
The common thread: I’m drawn to problems where security, compliance, and trust aren’t features bolted on at the end. They’re what makes the product work at all.
That lens matters more now than ever. AI is reshaping how every organization handles data, risk, and governance, and most teams are improvising. Much of my current writing focuses on helping product and security leaders navigate this shift responsibly. And yes, I am all about helping others start to run, and take their running to the next level, whether 5K or a half marathon.
What I write about
Three things, from an operator’s perspective:
- Security: how to build security products, and how to build security into any product.
- FinTech: what works, what breaks, and where financial technology is heading.
- AI: the governance, risk, and product questions every team now faces.
If you’re a product leader, a founder building in a regulated or security-sensitive space, or an executive navigating AI adoption, this site is for you.
Beyond work
I was born and raised in New Delhi, India, and spent more than two decades in the San Francisco Bay Area before making Cary, North Carolina home with my wife and kids. I’m a runner, with 25 half marathons in the last five years and counting, and endlessly curious about music, art, history, food, and travel.
I pursue every opportunity with one simple goal: make an impact so that people can have a better tomorrow.
Connect
LinkedIn: My full professional background
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X or Bluesky: Shorter takes and real-time commentary
Instagram: Life outside work – running and travel