Susanna Holt

Susanna Holt

Strategic Engineering Leadership | Team Building | Innovation

Location icon Kensington, CA, USA

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About

As Vice President of Strategic Technologies at Autodesk, I lead the development of Forge, a design-to-make platform empowering developers with innovative tools and services. With over 20 years in technology, I specialize in scaling platforms, cloud migration, and integrating OpenUSD capabilities to transform digital workflows. My leadership style combines technical expertise with a passion for building diverse, high-performing teams across global markets. A mathematician and international rowing champion, I bring discipline, creativity, and empathy to leadership. I am committed to driving innovation, fostering inclusion, and enabling collaboration to tackle complex challenges and deliver impactful solutions.

Job Categories

Engineering
Executive Leadership
Consulting

Industries

Software Engineering Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC)
Product Design
Manufacturing

Top Skills

Strategic Leadership
Cloud Migration
SaaS Transformation
Platform Development
Geometric Modeling
Global Team Building
Diversity Advocacy
Available
Clock icon
Full-time
Onsite
Remote
Hybrid
A
Advising
C
Consulting
F
Fractional Leadership
S
Speaking

What I Offer

I help technology leaders and organizations navigating platform transformation, cloud migration, and team scaling by leveraging 20+ years of global leadership expertise to deliver innovative solutions, strategic direction, and inclusive, high-performing teams.

Fractional Leadership

Strategic oversight and implementation for SaaS transitions.

Consulting

Expertise in cloud migrations and platform strategy.

Advising

Guidance on OpenUSD adoption and workflows.

Speaking

Insights into diversity in technology and innovation leadership.

Ask Me About

Platform ecosystems
SaaS transformation
API integrations
Cloud-based solutions
Technical strategy
Collaborative leadership
Scalable team building
OpenUSD workflows
Global business strategy
Data-driven decision-making

Strategic Platform Development

Description
For organizations looking to design or scale robust platforms, I provide expertise in architecture, developer engagement strategies, and scalability planning, helping businesses build ecosystems tailored to industry needs.
Outcomes
Enhanced platform performance, increased developer adoption, and scalable solutions aligned with market trends.

Cloud Transformation Roadmap

Description
For companies transitioning to cloud-based products or services, I offer strategic guidance and execution frameworks for seamless migration, focusing on risk management, cost optimization, and operational efficiency.
Outcomes
Efficient cloud migration, reduced operational costs, and improved user experiences with scalable cloud solutions.

Leadership Coaching for Technology Executives

Description
For senior leaders managing global teams or navigating complex tech challenges, I provide personalized coaching to enhance leadership skills, foster collaboration, and drive innovation.
Outcomes
Stronger leadership capabilities, improved team alignment, and innovation-driven outcomes.

Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Workshops

Description
For organizations aiming to foster inclusion, I deliver tailored workshops and strategies to build diverse teams, improve belonging, and embed D&I into corporate culture.
Outcomes
Enhanced team engagement, improved innovation through diversity, and actionable D&I frameworks.

Wisdom at Work

Notable Roles

VP of Strategic Technologies, Autodesk

Spearheaded the transition from product to platform company, scaling Forge and enabling a 740% API usage growth YoY.

Senior Director of Forge Engineering

Advanced SaaS transformations and regionalized cloud services, optimizing cost-effectiveness and global strategy.

Software Development Manager, Autodesk

Built the foundation for transitioning desktop software to SaaS and implemented agile methodologies.

Areas of Expertise

Platform Strategy Development

Driving the strategy for Autodesk's Forge platform, enabling developers to build robust, scalable solutions across industries.

OpenUSD Integration

Leading efforts to integrate OpenUSD capabilities across Autodesk's applications, revolutionizing digital workflows for collaboration and scalability.

Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy

Creating inclusive environments to foster belonging and drive innovation in global engineering teams.

Key Achievements

Scaling Platform Growth

Drove Autodesk Forge to 40% growth in active developers, with 300B+ API calls.

Advancing OpenUSD

Integrated Hydra and Storm renderers, revolutionizing 3D data handling in AEC and manufacturing.

Global Leadership in Diversity

Contributed to Autodesk's D&I initiative, creating impactful narratives on fostering belonging.

Wisdom is...knowing when to listen and when to talk. The ability to balance the vision with reality.

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Susanna Holt is a member of OpenWater Group — a trusted community and platform where seasoned professionals reimagine success through shared wisdom and meaningful connections.
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