From Stanford to Wharton: Divye Khilnani’s path of elevating tech standards in Silicon Valley

Name: Divye Khilnani | Designation: Senior Director, Product Management | Company: Eightfold.ai | Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA

(November 15, 2024) For Divye Khilnani, hailing from Maharashtra with dreams of making a mark in the world of technology, reaching the United States was no small feat. As the first in his family to set foot abroad, he gained entry into the prestigious Stanford University, where he earned his Master’s in Computer Science, specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction. This achievement set the foundation for an impressive career across some of the most influential names in tech: Microsoft, LinkedIn, Meta, Opendoor Technologies, and now Eightfold.ai.

Over the years, Divye has led product innovations that redefined organizations, played pivotal roles in scaling revenue, launched industry-first products, and established new standards in tech. In 2024, he marked another milestone by completing an Executive MBA at Wharton, adding depth to his expertise as he moves forward in Silicon Valley with 13 years of experience in product management. His journey is one of persistence, strategic vision, and a relentless drive for self-improvement, always aiming to provide the best to the organizations he is associated with.

Major milestones

• First in the family to study abroad: Attended Stanford University
• Starting career at Microsoft: Leaping into product management shaped career trajectory 
• LinkedIn advertising business growth: Scaled LinkedIn’s ads business to over $750 million in revenue
• Patent contributions: Granted four patents in advertising technology, marking his expertise and innovative contributions
• Forbes nomination: Nominated by LinkedIn for Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2017
• Industry standards at Meta: Set benchmarks for mobile-first video ads
• Growth at Opendoor: Helped Opendoor scale from a series E startup to a public company, achieving a ninefold increase in market cap
• Generative AI product at Eightfold.ai: Launched a generative AI SaaS product line at Eightfold.ai, deployed by Fortune 500 companies
• Awards and industry recognition: Received Eightfold.ai’s prestigious Founders Award and multiple industry accolades, including Top HR Product of the Year and the SAP Pinnacle Award
• Academic milestone: Completed an Executive MBA from Wharton Business School in 2024

Setting foot in the U.S.

Divye moved to the U.S. in 2009 to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science at Stanford University. Recalling the experience, he tells Global Indian, “I was fortunate to have received a research assistantship at the Stanford Computer Security Lab under Professor John Mitchel who is one of the leading academicians and researchers in the field of computer security.” His journey to Stanford was supported by several scholarships, including the Bharat Petroleum Scholarship and the K.C. Mahindra Trust Scholarship, easing the financial strain of studying abroad.

At Stanford, Divye’s talent was recognized early on. He was selected to be part of the computer science graduate student council, representing student perspectives on critical departmental issues as well as collaborating with the professors to improve the curriculum of the master’s program. His engagement extended beyond academics as he also joined the Stanford Student Entrepreneurship Labs, a startup incubator, which provided him a strong understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Starting career at Microsoft

After completing his master’s, Divye began his career in product management at Microsoft, where he joined the machine learning team, focusing on ads ranking and relevance for Bing.com. “Product management appealed to me because it offered end-to-end ownership for building sophisticated technical products,” he explains. This inclination led him to his next significant role at LinkedIn in 2014.

Shaping LinkedIn’s advertising business

At just 25, he was leading a nascent advertising business of LinkedIn, reporting directly to the VP of Product Management and was responsible for scaling sponsored content which was LinkedIn’s flagship advertising product. Under Divye’s leadership, in four years, LinkedIn’s ads business soared, reaching $750 million in annual revenue. His pioneering work on flagship products such as LinkedIn Audience Network, LinkedIn Lead Gen Ads, and LinkedIn Conversion Tracking helped redefine the company’s advertising landscape. “Over my time at LinkedIn, I filed for seven patents, of which four were granted,” Divye proudly recalls. His contributions were recognized widely, earning mentions in top tech and advertising publications.

“As a result of my business impact, my career accelerated rapidly—I received three promotions in three years, ultimately becoming the youngest Group Product Manager at the company,” he shares.

Innovations at Meta and beyond

In pursuit of continuous learning and innovation, Divye joined Meta to spearhead a newly formed team responsible for developing content formats across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Apart from pioneering polling format, interactive videos and AR/VR formats with his team, Divye’s work at Meta culminated in the launch of the Video Creation Kit, which used artificial intelligence to convert static images into dynamic videos, a breakthrough for the advertising world.

Eager to expand his horizons, Divye transitioned to the startup ecosystem by joining Opendoor Technologies as Head of Growth, Product. This role allowed him to witness the startup’s meteoric rise, contributing significantly to scaling the company’s revenue by over $6 billion. He is happy about Opendoor’s evolution from a promising startup to a publicly traded company valued at $18 billion. “It was a transformative experience to play a key role in reshaping real estate transactions on a national scale,” he reflects, talking about his time in the company that has revolutionized real estate by introducing ‘iBuying’ earning industry accolades.

Driving innovation at Eightfold.ai

Having always worked on consumer products, he also wanted to gain experience in building B2B products, and hence in 2021, Divye Khilnani joined Eightfold.ai, a leader in AI-driven HR software, as Senior Director of Product Management. Here, he has led a new business unit and brought to market a generative AI-based SaaS product that redefines talent management for enterprises. “My products have been deployed in some of the largest corporations in the world including Microsoft, Netflix, Vodafone and Ericsson,” he tells highlighting how and the team work has helped Eightfold.ai secure prestigious accolades like the Top HR Product of the Year and the SAP Pinnacle Award and reinforced Eightfold.ai’s valuation, now at $2.1 billion.

Divye’s journey with Eightfold.ai is personal. “I am particularly proud of my accomplishments at Eightfold.ai because not only have I had the opportunity to positively impact the careers of several professionals with my products but have also played a critical role in building a unicorn startup with deep roots in India.” A significant portion of the R&D development happens in our Bangalore and Noida offices. 

Confronting challenges

Divye’s journey has been as challenging as it has been rewarding. “As a student at Stanford and now as an executive, I have always had to juggle several competing priorities,” he shares, describing the balancing act he managed between academics, a research assistantship, a startup, and student council responsibilities. Today, as an executive and father of two toddlers, he continues to navigate between business demands and personal commitments.

Moving to the U.S. as the first in his family to pursue higher education abroad, he initially lacked immediate family or friends. Over time, he built a strong support network of friends and mentors that now serves as his foundation.

Divye Khilnani with his child, just after earning the Wharton Executive MBA degree

His career path also included several setbacks, but he believes in the power of persistence. “At the start of my career when I wanted to break into product management, I was rejected by several companies as I had no prior experience as PM. However, persistence eventually paid off and I was able to secure a product role at Microsoft,” he mentions, “When I decided to pursue my MBA, I was rejected the first time I applied to business schools. I worked on building a stronger profile and eventually secured an admission at Wharton Business School which offers the top executive MBA program in the US.,” he says, proud about his recent accomplishment.

A glimpse of daily life

A father of two, Divye’s day starts early at 6 a.m., allowing him some quiet work time before his children wake up. His mornings are dedicated to family, helping get the kids ready for school alongside his wife. By 8:30 a.m., he’s at the office, navigating a schedule filled with meetings, ideation sessions, and strategic planning. Evenings are family time, and once the children are in bed, he logs back in for another hour of work before calling it a day.

For Divye, work-life balance is very important and a goal best measured weekly or monthly. “Some days demand long hours, while others allow more family time,” he says. This adaptable approach allows him to meet both professional and personal milestones.

Passions and pursuits outside work

Outside his professional life, Divye Khilnani is committed to his well-being and hobbies. Yoga is a weekly ritual, providing him with mental clarity and physical vitality. He’s also an avid documentary enthusiast, with a particular interest in biopics and historical narratives on Netflix. His ten-year-old dog remains a cherished part of his life, providing moments of relaxation and joy.

Divye with his wife and daughter

Future aspirations

With a passion for AI and entrepreneurship, Divye Khilnani envisions a future where he builds his own AI startup. This aspiration reflects his ambition to drive change in fields like AI and tackle complex global challenges. “I am constantly exploring ideas,” he says, hinting at the potential of his next venture.

Divye Khilnani’s journey – from a childhood marked by frequent moves across cities and schools in Maharashtra, adapting to each new environment due to his father’s transferable job, to his impressive accomplishments in Silicon Valley, highlights how adaptability and persistence can shape a path to success.

Insights developed through experience

• Minimize regret: Inspired by Jeff Bezos’s “regret minimization” framework, he focuses on making decisions he won’t regret, striving to look back with pride.
• Adopt a growth mindset: “Challenges and failures are merely stepping stones to success,” he remarks, highlighting the importance of resilience.
• Work smart: To succeed, one must work strategically, identifying career-accelerating projects and impactful business metrics.

Follow Divye Khilnani on LinkedIn