About the Authors
Saurabh Mahapatra
Saurabh Mahapatra is a systems thinker and product leader whose career bridges the worlds of data engineering, artificial intelligence, and large-scale enterprise platforms. With a foundation in computer vision, robotics, and simulation, Saurabh’s journey began in research on dynamical systems, neural networks, and medical devices—where his work on improving tendon surgeries for stroke-impaired patients combined human insight with computational precision.
Over time, his focus evolved toward building data and AI systems that power decision-making at scale. Known for his deep technical intuition and ability to connect science with business outcomes, Saurabh has led initiatives across analytics, AI/ML, and marketing technology—most notably as one of the principal architects of Adobe’s Data Distiller product, which transformed how enterprises derive intelligence from petabyte-scale data.
Prior to Adobe, Saurabh worked at MathWorks, where he earned the nickname “Simulink Dude” for his unmatched library of simulation examples and thought leadership in model-based design. Today, his work centers on designing intelligent systems that integrate data, algorithms, and human creativity—helping organizations build products that not only work but learn.
Saurabh’s career reflects an uncommon blend of technical depth, design sensitivity, and product vision. He continues to mentor engineers and product leaders on how to think in systems, build with clarity, and drive lasting impact at the intersection of data and human experience.
Anil Malkani
Anil Malkani is a pioneering engineering leader whose career has spanned nearly three decades at the intersection of data systems, AI, and large-scale distributed computing. As Director of Engineering at Adobe, Anil architected and led the development of Data Distiller, the SQL and machine learning engine at the heart of Adobe Experience Platform—powering petabyte-scale analytics and real-time decisioning for some of the world’s largest enterprises.
Under his leadership, Adobe Experience Platform scaled from inception to over $1 billion in annual revenue, with Data Distiller evolving into a multi-tenant compute and intelligence fabric that enables exploration, feature engineering, training, and inference—all governed by 99.9%+ service-level objectives. Anil also drove the platform’s modernization through open standards, pioneering the adoption of Apache Iceberg, approximate query processing, and domain-aware GenAI copilots that made analytics both faster and more accessible across Adobe’s ecosystemProfile (5).
Before joining Adobe, Anil led engineering organizations at Workday, OpenGov, GE, BlackBerry, and BEA Systems, where he built some of the earliest scalable data and analytics platforms for enterprise and mobile ecosystems. His career began at NASA Ames Research Center, where he developed adaptive control and learning algorithms for aeronautics and robotics—laying the technical foundation for a lifelong pursuit of intelligent systems that learn from data.
Anil’s expertise spans distributed query systems, platform governance, FinOps, reliability engineering, and data architecture. He is a prolific author of technical publications on SQL-based machine learning, causal inference, and scalable analytics, and continues to mentor emerging engineering leaders across the data and AI ecosystem.
Purnaram Kodavatiganti
Purnaram Kodavatiganti is a veteran Solutions Architect and strategic thinker with over two decades of experience transforming how enterprises harness the power of data. With more than six years dedicated to Adobe Experience Platform (AEP), AI/ML, and in-memory computing, he has been at the forefront of modern data-driven transformation—turning complexity into clarity for some of the world’s most respected organizations.
Over the course of his career, Purnaram has shaped large-scale digital transformation programs and delivered enterprise analytics and BI solutions for industry leaders including Adobe, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, and Progress Software. His hallmark is bridging the gap between architecture and business vision—designing and implementing end-to-end AEP ecosystems that integrate structured and unstructured data, fuel predictive analytics, and empower executives with actionable intelligence.
Recognized as both a technologist and a trusted advisor, Purnaram brings depth across AEP, SAP HANA, BI strategy, data modeling, and enterprise reporting frameworks. His contributions have earned him multiple accolades, including Adobe’s prestigious CIO Award (2018) and numerous honors for process innovation and solution excellence.
A U.S. citizen based in Tracy, California, Purnaram is known for his calm leadership, clarity of thought, and ability to align cross-functional teams around ambitious business outcomes. Whether leading in Agile or Waterfall environments, he brings a rare combination of technical mastery, architectural rigor, and business acumen—qualities that have made him a cornerstone of the Adobe Data Distiller initiative and a respected voice in enterprise data transformation.
Annamalai Annamalai
Annamalai Annamalai is a Senior Product Management leader whose career spans data platforms, ad-tech, and enterprise analytics. He specializes in building privacy-safe systems that empower brands and partners to collaborate securely on customer data—turning identity, measurement, and activation into durable competitive advantages.
As Senior Manager of Product Management at Walmart, Annamalai leads the development of Walmart’s Data Clean Room—a cornerstone of its privacy-first advertising strategy. His work brings together advertisers, publishers, and suppliers to enable cross-partner collaboration, advanced measurement, and audience activation at scale.
Previously at Adobe, he was one of the key product managers behind Adobe Experience Platform’s Data Prep and Real-Time CDP Insights, delivering petabyte-scale ingestion, transformation, and insight capabilities. His work integrated Adobe’s first-party data ecosystem with external partners such as Google Ads Data Hub and Amazon Marketing Cloud, helping global brands unlock 60+ out-of-the-box insights. He is a two-time Adobe Summit speaker known for his pragmatic frameworks on translating first-party data into measurable business value.
Before Adobe, Annamalai worked on digital transformation programs at Cummins and Tata Consultancy Services, where he helped design one of India’s earliest scalable rural banking solutions, expanding access to millions through handheld and biometric smart-card systems.
Annamalai holds an MBA in Digital Technology from Cornell University, a Master’s in Information Systems and Operations Management from the University of Florida, and the Harvard Business School CORe credential in business analytics and economics. His career reflects a rare blend of product vision, data strategy, and operational excellence—anchored in a belief that the future of data lies at the intersection of privacy, intelligence, and collaboration.
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