Driving Growth Through Strategic Alliances and Partner Ecosystems

Accelerating innovation and revenue through cloud, AI, and SaaS partnerships

25+ Years Experience
100+ Projects Completed
100+ Happy Clients
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About

Strategic AI & Cloud Leader · $30B GTM Impact · 20+ Years of Growth & Transformation

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About Me

Strategic AI & Cloud Leader

Ricardo Urena is a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of global leadership experience at the intersection of AI, cloud, data, workspace productivity, and digital transformation. As the former Field CTO for Google Cloud Search, he led global efforts delivering intelligent enterprise search and knowledge discovery solutions, driving AI-powered innovation across Fortune 500 companies in Financial Services, Retail, Media, and Manufacturing.

At Google Cloud, Ricardo consistently drove global revenue growth through advanced go-to-market strategies, strategic alliances, and partner ecosystem development. He built and scaled high-impact SI, GSI, and ISV partnerships, launching joint data, modernization, and AI solutions, and co-sell motions with top consulting firms. His experience spans leading complex alliance structures, developing partner-led revenue models, and aligning field organizations to accelerate cloud and AI adoption at scale.

Throughout his career, Ricardo has spearheaded large-scale digital transformations, cloud modernization programs, and AI-driven solution architectures. He has held leadership roles across Google Cloud and top-tier consultancies, scaling technical programs, GTM strategies, and partner ecosystems that contributed to Google Cloud’s growth to a $30B revenue run-rate.

Ricardo brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise in AI/ML, vector search, cloud-native architectures (GCP, AWS, Azure), and cybersecurity frameworks, paired with strong business acumen in enterprise sales, alliances, and strategic growth initiatives. He has designed and launched scalable GenAI solutions, multi-cloud data platforms, and KPI-driven analytics frameworks that deliver measurable business value and lasting competitive advantage.

Resume

Strategic AI & Cloud Leader · $30B GTM Impact · 20+ Years of Growth & Transformation

Work Experience

Ricardo Urena is a technology executive with deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and cloud transformation, helping startups and enterprises scale innovation, drive revenue growth, and accelerate market expansion through strategic go-to-market (GTM) execution, ecosystem partnerships, and data-driven solutions. With 20+ years of global leadership experience, he played a pivotal role in growing Google Cloud’s revenue ecosystem, which reached $30B by the time of his departure, leading go-to-market strategy, partner enablement, and AI-driven modernization across key industries, including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, Telco, and Media.

Everest AI Ventures

January 2025 - Present

Managing Partner

Everest VC.ai is a transformative innovation-focused VC/PE studio reimagining industries shaped by AI/AGI. We build and launch companies across sectors with ARIA foundation domain-specific AGI and teammates platform and middleware architecture.

  • We are experienced builders, serial entrepreneurs, senior executives, technologists, operators and investors who have started and scaled dozens of companies, and created billions of dollars in enterprise value. We partner with you to build successful ventures.

Mechanical Orchard

February 2024 - March 2025

Director, Strategic Alliances

Set and execute a global vision and strategy for alliances and strategic partnerships, aligning initiatives with overall corporate revenue and growth objectives.

  • Identify, develop, and expand high-value partnerships with global technology leaders (Google Cloud, Microsoft, AWS), delivering integrated product solutions and co-marketing strategies.
  • Manage cross-functional teams to build and launch scalable go-to-market solutions, driving measurable revenue growth through both direct and channel partner programs.
  • Own executive-level relationships with strategic partners, including C-level engagements, to maximize business value, foster co-innovation opportunities, and strengthen long-term alliances.
  • Build and implement scalable partnership frameworks to identify and prioritize new opportunities, ensuring alignment with company goals and driving accelerated ROI.
  • Expand and optimize the partner ecosystem by identifying and onboarding new alliances, including technology vendors, system integrators, and industry-specific players, to accelerate market expansion.
  • Drive joint pipeline creation and co-sell opportunities, enabling measurable revenue growth through collaborative sales strategies and field alignment.
  • Deliver substantial business impact through joint solutions, resulting in 60% YoY revenue growth, enhanced market positioning, and increased customer adoption.
  • Enable strategic partners through tailored training and enablement programs, ensuring partners have the tools and resources to effectively position and implement solutions.
  • Implement performance tracking and governance models to monitor partner success metrics, including revenue contribution, pipeline development, and partner satisfaction.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (sales, product, marketing, legal) to align partnership strategies with product roadmaps and ensure partner success.
  • Drive innovative joint product solutions through partnerships, creating competitive differentiation and delivering value to customers globally.
  • Champion thought leadership initiatives by developing joint marketing campaigns, hosting executive summits, and driving partner visibility in industry events and media.
  • Lead business planning processes with key partners to define annual goals, revenue targets, and joint go-to-market strategies, ensuring accountability and mutual growth.

Google Cloud

April 2020 - February 2024

Global Head of Partner Infrastructure and Application Modernization Solutions, Partner Activation, and Cloud Transformation

Led global technical and go-to-market strategy for Infrastructure and Application Modernization solutions. Scaled partner impact across the channel ecosystem—including VARs, MSPs, GSIs, and ISVs—driving growth and activation. Contributed to Google Cloud’s $26B revenue engine through partner-led transformation and channel acceleration initiatives.

  • Collaborate with Google Cloud's product and solution managers to steer strategy, develop Partner capabilities, and ensure successful solution deployment.
  • Support revenue growth from $6B (FY18) to $26B (FY22) by onboarding more than 85K Certified Partner Learners to complete 100K+ certifications and training for 30.5K individuals on Google Cloud Solutions, reflecting 225% YoY growth.
  • Oversaw global partner selection, recruitment, and enablement, ensuring successful adoption of Google Cloud’s modernization solutions.
  • Developed repeatable frameworks for enterprise cloud migrations, hybrid/multi-cloud deployments, and DevOps best practices, optimizing customer projects.
  • Built high-impact technical resources (tutorials, white papers, and tools) to enhance partner capabilities and solution deployment.
  • Created revenue-generating go-to-market offerings, co-developing horizontal and industry-specific solutions to accelerate cloud adoption.
  • Defined use cases, solution materials, and training paths, aligning them with Google Cloud’s core solutions and architectures.
  • Tracked and analyzed modernization bookings and cloud consumption targets, making data-driven recommendations for course corrections.
  • Drove AI/ML-powered IT transformation, helping customers assess IT environments, optimize cloud roadmaps, and reduce migration risks with data-driven insights.
  • Developed a Partner Advantage Data Pipeline to track partner engagement, handling 60M+ events, integrating BigQuery, Looker, and batch processing for real-time analytics.

Google Cloud

January 2016 - March 2020

Global Technical Manager - Field Chief Technology Officer, Google Cloud Search and Workspace

Served as Field CTO for Google Cloud Search, leading global go-to-market enablement and technical strategy. Built and scaled the partner ecosystem by onboarding 100+ Global Cloud Search partners. Created technical whitepapers, reference architectures, and executive-facing collateral to accelerate adoption across enterprise customers and channel partners. Managed a globally distributed team of search technology experts supporting partner and customer success. acceleration initiatives.

  • Drove $500M+ in partner-led sales pipeline by executing large-scale sales enablement programs and expanding strategic alliances, strengthening Google Cloud’s presence in Manufacturing, Retail, Financial Services, Telco, and Media & Gaming.
  • Led GTM strategy for Google Workspace launch, driving partner adoption and positioning the platform for enterprise growth, contributing to $500M+ in partner-led pipeline generation.
  • Led and developed a high-performing, globally dispersed technical sales team across North America, EMEA, APAC, and Japan, driving go-to-market enablement and pipeline growth.
  • Recruited, onboarded, and enabled 100+ global Google Cloud Search Partners, accelerating adoption and pipeline development.
  • Defined and executed enterprise sales strategies by developing reference architectures, pitch decks, and technical enablement assets for sales teams and partners.
  • Drove market penetration by identifying high-potential enterprise sales opportunities and influencing product positioning.
  • Presented competitive insights, industry trends, and enterprise sales strategies to Google Cloud field sales teams across multiple regions.
  • Worked cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and product teams to optimize sales execution, shorten deal cycles, and increase conversion rates.

Google Cloud

October 2008 - December 2015

Enterprise Search and Workspace Architect

Worked on the core team that propelled growth beginning as a small business within Google to over $1Bn in revenue leading to recognition as one of the largest SaaS companies in the world. Served as the technical lead and global search expert focused on search, assistance and machine Intelligence and the challenges with “findability” - how to easily find knowledge and experts within the organization.

  • Worked with enterprise customers and partners to quickly respond to market changes, innovate and accelerate time to market by breaking down information silos and making secure knowledge sharing from within as easy as finding information on the Internet.
  • Google Workspace (G Suite) engineer responsible for end-to-end technical integration of Google Workspace (G Suite) at Google Cloud’s customers.
  • Developed technical best practices, proof of concepts, customer presentations and “value engineering” of the benefits of a SaaS product offering.
  • Managed Google Workspace (G Suite) technical relationships and joint solution offerings with the Partner community.
  • Used the Admin REST API to interact programmatically with Workspace Admin Console.

BroadVision, Inc.

October 2003 - September 2008

Vice President and General Manager, Latin America and Named Accounts

Led go-to-market strategy across direct enterprise sales and strategic channel alliances throughout Latin America. Oversaw regional P&L, drove revenue growth through named account expansion and partner ecosystem development.

  • Owned and exceeded $20M+ in software and services revenue, driving 40% year-over-year growth through strategic account expansion.
  • Led enterprise sales strategy, closing multimillion-dollar software and services deals with Fortune 500 and high-growth companies.
  • Managed P&L responsibility, driving profitability and revenue growth through strategic account expansion and new customer acquisition.
  • Built and scaled high-performing partner ecosystems, increasing indirect sales by 300% through strategic alliances and reseller enablement.
  • Negotiated complex, multi-year software licensing and service agreements, collaborating with Legal and Finance to structure optimal pricing models.
  • Led sales enablement efforts, providing training and support to customers and partners to drive solution adoption and long-term renewals.

BroadVision, Inc.

June 1996 - September 2003

Enterprise Search and Workspace Architect

Led strategic technology initiatives and built a high-performing global sales engineering team at BroadVision, driving revenue and influencing product direction.

  • Managed, hired, and developed a global team of 180+ sales engineers. Built the company’s highest-performing technical team and established the BroadVision Sales Engineering Portal (BVSE) to enable knowledge sharing and best practices.
  • Developed new opportunities and maintained customer satisfaction across North America, Federal, and Latin America by focusing on account penetration, partner development, and solution selling. Delivered high-impact technical chalk talks, business value demonstrations, and proofs of concept to showcase BroadVision’s capabilities.
  • Performed in-depth competitive and industry analysis, formulating solution playbooks and authoring key selling tools (white papers, architecture diagrams, RFI/RFPs, performance metrics, and sizing documents) to highlight business value.
  • Identified critical product gaps in content management, leading to the $877M acquisition of Interleaf. Developed BroadVision’s architecture blueprint and deployment strategy for enterprise applications, shaping future product releases.
  • Implementation: Defined, designed, and deployed BroadVision’s first e-commerce production instance (RS Components) with Cambridge Technology Partners. Led the development of financial CORBA server architecture for Banco Santander, influencing BroadVision’s roadmap.
  • Instrumental in closing and deploying large, multi-million dollar deals, influencing over $79M in software licenses and services revenue.

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology

In progress - July 2025

Masters of Science, Analytics

Computer Science, Analytics and Machine Learning (in progress: flexible, online, self-paced format)

Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business

2008 - 2009

Masters of Business Administration

Business Administration. Strategy. Finance. Management.

Stanford University

1992 - 1996

Bachelor of Science

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science