We Are Sectigo | Surup Desai

“My job is to predict the future,” says Sectigo Director of Financial Planning & Analysis Surup Desai. “Whether I’m tasked with budgeting, forecasting, or reporting, I’m always looking forward.”

Looking forward is something that Surup has always been good at, and it has shaped not only his role at Sectigo, but his career as a whole. Before joining Sectigo, Surup spent more than a decade with a much larger company, handling financial reporting and strategy. Despite enjoying an office overlooking Times Square, Surup often longed for a role at a smaller, more agile company, where he could make a more direct impact. Over his thirteen months with Sectigo, he has done just that, expanding his role in new and interesting ways and helping Sectigo achieve success in initiatives across many different departments. He looks after financial, sales, and revenue operations at the company, and—no matter which hat he is wearing—he is always cognizant of how his work fits into Sectigo’s overall vision.

“Sure, I handle the traditional finance work, but the processes that my team and I put in place—and are continuing to put in place—at Sectigo aid all facets of the company, including our customers,” he explains. “Having a direct impact on Sectigo’s bottom line, empowering the sales team, and providing them with tools for success is energizing.”

From a Cruise Ship to a Speed Boat

Sectigo is constantly in motion, changing and innovating, which is exactly what Surup was looking for. He wanted to become part of a smaller, more compact team, operating in a more hands-on capacity and helping to shape both his own function and the company as a whole. Surup is proud of his accomplishments as a leader at Sectigo and the impact he and his team have made since he joined the company a little over a year ago, helping to create value and a positive experience for both colleagues and customers.

“I went from a company in midtown Manhattan with over 30K employees to a 300-person company in New Jersey,” he says. “Through joining Sectigo, I found the feeling I was looking for: the ability to get my hands dirty, build something, and design projects, all while making everything more efficient. Often times, making changes at a big company is like steering a cruise ship. Changing direction can take a long time. Before even joining Sectigo I knew it was a nimble company and that my work would have a greater impact on the company.”

Potential and passion were traits that Sectigo had that stood out to him the most. Surup finds how employees and customers are treated at Sectigo to be refreshing. The leadership team is always making moves to continue innovating with new products and processes and setting standards across the industry. Perhaps even more importantly, some of Surup’s proudest moments at Sectigo so far are not about himself, but about his team. He takes pride in witnessing their accomplishments as they continue to learn and develop in their careers.

“Sectigo’s growth, innovation, and passion for making the world a safer place is exciting, and I try to use that to inspire my team,” he says.

Focus on the Future

When Sectigo initially spun off from its parent company, it put the company in an interesting position in the market—a position that Surup saw as an exciting opportunity to combine both a respected legacy and forward-thinking innovator.

“A lot of people think that Sectigo is something new, but we have a twenty-year legacy in the industry,” he explains. “There is a duality: Sectigo, as a brand, is new, but the products and people who have been trusted for the past two decades remain. I think many people would find it surprising that Sectigo has such a rich history, even though the brand itself has only been around since late 2018.”

In Surup’s position, he is able to see Sectigo’s evolution from a high-level perspective while also immersing himself in the company culture that makes that progress possible. He is continually motivated by the achievements and the efficiency of his team and is excited to see them come up with new innovations every day. Surup is gratified to see both his own team and the company as a whole thriving in their roles as industry leaders.

Everyone Is a Piece in the Puzzle

Surup holds himself accountable as an example to his team members by embodying Sectigo’s core values of hard work, innovation, and proactive thinking in every facet of his role. “Open” and “accessible” are words that Surup uses to describe Sectigo. Surup explains that at Sectigo, there is no shortage of experts—the best in the industry—eager and open to an impromptu chat and always willing to share their knowledge and exchange ideas.

He views his team as an extension of himself and knows that Sectigo wouldn’t be the same without every employee pulling in the same direction, embracing the company’s vision for the future. Surup refers to his team as a puzzle, stating that every member is a piece that creates the full picture.

“We are not reacting to the industry. We are thinking about tomorrow and the next five, ten years,” he says. “Sectigo’s employees and customers trust us. It’s a scary world out there. Through validation and our products, we do what is right to make customers feel secure.”