Sasanka A.
Founder | CEO at LaunchSource- Claim this Profile
Click to upgrade to our gold package
for the full feature experience.
Topline Score
Bio
LinkedIn User
As an intern for LaunchSource, I had the amazing opportunity to work directly with Sasanka on many projects. During the Pandemic of 2020, and addressing important issues in the work place he was able to lead our team through crucial conversations such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the modern sales organization. Sasanka has been a leader who challenges his team to push themselves to be their best through his mentorship and guidance.
Jeff Francisco
I met Sasanka at a previous job and have since worked with him on two software projects as an independent contractor. It's not always easy for software developers to report to business folks on a project, but Sasanka has been awesome and a pleasure to work with. When it comes to the technical side of projects, he shows a willingness to understand and learn more about it while letting people with the right skills make the right decisions. Sasanka values me as more than just a cost to building the technical side of his company. He takes my advice seriously, allows his team to learn from me, and enables me to learn from him and his team about the business side of things. Sasanka's passion for building his team is impressive. He let's really skilled people do what they do best. As a software developer, that's one of the most important characteristics I look for when working with someone. I hope to continue working with him!
Mike Atlas
As a software engineer, I owe my first mind-opening experience suiting-up and going out to a prospective customer site for a sales pitch - thanks to Sasanka. BD and Engineering are often so very far apart in the way we go about our daily objectives, but Sasanka knows how to leverage technical engineer-folk (to his benefit) to potential non-technical customers - which, by nature, improved two outcomes: I was better able to understand our customer, and our potential customers could place faith in being able to ask any challenging technical question without BD needing to defer it for later to for an engineering-team response. Amazing stuff. Sasanka and I remain in contact today, years later.
LinkedIn User
As an intern for LaunchSource, I had the amazing opportunity to work directly with Sasanka on many projects. During the Pandemic of 2020, and addressing important issues in the work place he was able to lead our team through crucial conversations such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the modern sales organization. Sasanka has been a leader who challenges his team to push themselves to be their best through his mentorship and guidance.
Jeff Francisco
I met Sasanka at a previous job and have since worked with him on two software projects as an independent contractor. It's not always easy for software developers to report to business folks on a project, but Sasanka has been awesome and a pleasure to work with. When it comes to the technical side of projects, he shows a willingness to understand and learn more about it while letting people with the right skills make the right decisions. Sasanka values me as more than just a cost to building the technical side of his company. He takes my advice seriously, allows his team to learn from me, and enables me to learn from him and his team about the business side of things. Sasanka's passion for building his team is impressive. He let's really skilled people do what they do best. As a software developer, that's one of the most important characteristics I look for when working with someone. I hope to continue working with him!
Mike Atlas
As a software engineer, I owe my first mind-opening experience suiting-up and going out to a prospective customer site for a sales pitch - thanks to Sasanka. BD and Engineering are often so very far apart in the way we go about our daily objectives, but Sasanka knows how to leverage technical engineer-folk (to his benefit) to potential non-technical customers - which, by nature, improved two outcomes: I was better able to understand our customer, and our potential customers could place faith in being able to ask any challenging technical question without BD needing to defer it for later to for an engineering-team response. Amazing stuff. Sasanka and I remain in contact today, years later.
LinkedIn User
As an intern for LaunchSource, I had the amazing opportunity to work directly with Sasanka on many projects. During the Pandemic of 2020, and addressing important issues in the work place he was able to lead our team through crucial conversations such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the modern sales organization. Sasanka has been a leader who challenges his team to push themselves to be their best through his mentorship and guidance.
Jeff Francisco
I met Sasanka at a previous job and have since worked with him on two software projects as an independent contractor. It's not always easy for software developers to report to business folks on a project, but Sasanka has been awesome and a pleasure to work with. When it comes to the technical side of projects, he shows a willingness to understand and learn more about it while letting people with the right skills make the right decisions. Sasanka values me as more than just a cost to building the technical side of his company. He takes my advice seriously, allows his team to learn from me, and enables me to learn from him and his team about the business side of things. Sasanka's passion for building his team is impressive. He let's really skilled people do what they do best. As a software developer, that's one of the most important characteristics I look for when working with someone. I hope to continue working with him!
Mike Atlas
As a software engineer, I owe my first mind-opening experience suiting-up and going out to a prospective customer site for a sales pitch - thanks to Sasanka. BD and Engineering are often so very far apart in the way we go about our daily objectives, but Sasanka knows how to leverage technical engineer-folk (to his benefit) to potential non-technical customers - which, by nature, improved two outcomes: I was better able to understand our customer, and our potential customers could place faith in being able to ask any challenging technical question without BD needing to defer it for later to for an engineering-team response. Amazing stuff. Sasanka and I remain in contact today, years later.
LinkedIn User
As an intern for LaunchSource, I had the amazing opportunity to work directly with Sasanka on many projects. During the Pandemic of 2020, and addressing important issues in the work place he was able to lead our team through crucial conversations such as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the modern sales organization. Sasanka has been a leader who challenges his team to push themselves to be their best through his mentorship and guidance.
Jeff Francisco
I met Sasanka at a previous job and have since worked with him on two software projects as an independent contractor. It's not always easy for software developers to report to business folks on a project, but Sasanka has been awesome and a pleasure to work with. When it comes to the technical side of projects, he shows a willingness to understand and learn more about it while letting people with the right skills make the right decisions. Sasanka values me as more than just a cost to building the technical side of his company. He takes my advice seriously, allows his team to learn from me, and enables me to learn from him and his team about the business side of things. Sasanka's passion for building his team is impressive. He let's really skilled people do what they do best. As a software developer, that's one of the most important characteristics I look for when working with someone. I hope to continue working with him!
Mike Atlas
As a software engineer, I owe my first mind-opening experience suiting-up and going out to a prospective customer site for a sales pitch - thanks to Sasanka. BD and Engineering are often so very far apart in the way we go about our daily objectives, but Sasanka knows how to leverage technical engineer-folk (to his benefit) to potential non-technical customers - which, by nature, improved two outcomes: I was better able to understand our customer, and our potential customers could place faith in being able to ask any challenging technical question without BD needing to defer it for later to for an engineering-team response. Amazing stuff. Sasanka and I remain in contact today, years later.
Credentials
-
Inclusive and Professional Conversations on LinkedIn: Tips for Success
LinkedInJan, 2023- Nov, 2024 -
Confronting Bias: Thriving Across Our Differences
LinkedInAug, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Communicating about Culturally Sensitive Issues
LinkedInJun, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
LinkedInMay, 2020- Nov, 2024 -
Unconscious Bias
LinkedInDec, 2019- Nov, 2024 -
Communication Strategies: Developing Leadership Presence
NYU Stern School of BusinessJan, 2015- Nov, 2024 -
Bio-Pharma: Mastering the Business of Science
Babson CollegeJan, 2007- Nov, 2024
Experience
-
LaunchSource
-
United States
-
Internet Marketplace Platforms
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Founder | CEO
-
Apr 2018 - Present
We’re building an equitable hiring platform for the most highly demanded sales roles across the globe. We’re building an equitable hiring platform for the most highly demanded sales roles across the globe.
-
-
-
Pavilion
-
United States
-
Think Tanks
-
400 - 500 Employee
-
Member, CEO Pavilion
-
Apr 2022 - Present
CEO Pavilion is a private invitation-only community designed for vetted Founders and CEOs to help navigate the various challenges associated with helping our companies grow and scale. CEO Pavilion is a private invitation-only community designed for vetted Founders and CEOs to help navigate the various challenges associated with helping our companies grow and scale.
-
-
-
Venture Development Center at UMass Boston
-
United States
-
Higher Education
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Entrepreneur-in-Residence
-
Jul 2014 - Jul 2016
Working to strengthen the community at the The Venture Development Center (VDC). The VDC is Boston's top start-up incubator for technology and life-science companies. Over 93% of our graduates have been successful in raising Series A funding. Working to strengthen the community at the The Venture Development Center (VDC). The VDC is Boston's top start-up incubator for technology and life-science companies. Over 93% of our graduates have been successful in raising Series A funding.
-
-
-
EightSpokes
-
United States
-
Technology, Information and Internet
-
Director | Business Development
-
Feb 2014 - Jun 2014
Responsible for new business development for a novel SaaS platform that improves project planning and execution by encouraging collaboration and streamlining communication. Responsible for new business development for a novel SaaS platform that improves project planning and execution by encouraging collaboration and streamlining communication.
-
-
-
Affinnova, Inc.
-
United States
-
Advertising Services
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Vice President | MedTech Sector Lead
-
Jan 2013 - Jan 2014
Created and led strategy to drive adoption of Affinnova's marketing technology into the medical device industry.
-
-
Director | Life Sciences
-
Jan 2011 - Jan 2013
Launched a new vertical to drive adoption of Affinnova's marketing technology into leading pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies.
-
-
-
GSK
-
United Kingdom
-
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
-
700 & Above Employee
-
Executive Hospital Account Manager
-
Jan 2009 - Dec 2010
Team lead responsible for managing a $3MM portfolio of GSK’s Hospital Products: Arixtra, Argatroban, Entereg and GSK's Respiratory Solutions: Advair, Flovent, Ventolin HFA within Partners HealthCare and Steward Health Care Systems.
-
-
Executive Therapeutic Specialist
-
Jun 2008 - Dec 2008
Leadership role with responsibility for business growth of two territories with special focus on strategic account development for Boston teaching hospitals.
-
-
Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
-
Jun 2003 - Jun 2008
Sales role responsible for launching and growing major brands such as Avodart, Levitra, Coreg CR, and Lovaza in the Boston Territory which included: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, and Boston Medical Center.
-
-
-
Institute for Pediatric Innovation
-
United States
-
Hospitals and Health Care
-
1 - 100 Employee
-
Consultant
-
2009 - 2009
Member of a task force along with life science industry executives asked to assess and identify business development opportunities in the pediatric hospital market, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries. Member of a task force along with life science industry executives asked to assess and identify business development opportunities in the pediatric hospital market, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries.
-
-
Education
-
Babson College - Franklin W. Olin Graduate School of Business
MBA, Concentrations: Corporate Innovation, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Global Management -
University of Massachusetts at Amherst - Isenberg School of Management
BBA, Marketing