Anjali Sud’s journey to the top wasn’t a straight shot. She didn’t have a golden ticket into Silicon Valley or a fast track to CEO status. Instead, she built her career by taking risks, making bold moves, and proving that reinvention is sometimes the key to success.
From Finance to Marketing to… Tech?
Born in Michigan to Indian immigrant parents, Anjali grew up with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. She studied finance at the University of Pennsylvania and started her career in investment banking. But finance wasn’t her passion, and she quickly pivoted into marketing, working for companies like Amazon before landing at Vimeo in 2014.
At the time, Vimeo was trying to compete with YouTube as a video-streaming platform. It was a tough battle—YouTube had already cornered the market. But instead of following the same old playbook, Anjali saw an opportunity. She realized Vimeo could do something different: focus on creators, not ads.
Taking the Leap to CEO
Anjali joined Vimeo as a marketing executive, but she didn’t stay in her lane. She started pushing for a shift in the company’s strategy—moving away from ad-based revenue and instead focusing on tools that helped creators produce and distribute high-quality videos.
Her ideas were bold, but they worked. In 2017, at just 34 years old, Anjali was promoted to CEO of Vimeo. She wasn’t just leading a company—she was completely transforming it.
Reinventing Vimeo
Under Anjali’s leadership, Vimeo stopped trying to be the next YouTube and started focusing on becoming the best platform for video creators. She pivoted the company toward providing software tools that helped filmmakers, businesses, and creatives make professional-quality videos without needing a massive budget or a production team.
This move paid off big time. Vimeo went from being a struggling video site to a SaaS (Software as a Service) powerhouse, offering subscriptions and business solutions that made it an essential tool for creators worldwide.
The IPO and Beyond
In 2021, Vimeo went public, marking a major milestone for the company and for Anjali’s leadership. But instead of basking in the spotlight, she continued to push forward, always looking for new ways to innovate.
By 2023, after nearly a decade at Vimeo, Anjali stepped down as CEO. Her time there wasn’t just about growing a company—it was about proving that success isn’t about following the crowd, but about finding a new path and owning it.
Lessons from Anjali’s Journey
Anjali Sud’s story is all about reinvention. She didn’t let rejections define her, she wasn’t afraid to switch industries, and she never settled for just being “good enough.” Her journey is a reminder that sometimes, the best way to succeed isn’t by following the biggest players—it’s by changing the game entirely.
