# Deidre Paknad

> Deidre Paknad is a three-time technology founder and the CEO and co-founder of WorkBoard, an enterprise strategy-execution company born from her frustration with the meetings, slide decks and manual reporting required to keep a global IBM team aligned. Her career runs from fixing an expensive production problem in her first job, through information-governance pioneer PSS Systems and its acquisition by IBM, to building WorkBoard's OKR platform, podcast, coaching methodology and newer AI agents for managers.

- **Role:** CEO and Co-Founder at WorkBoard
- **Organizations:** WorkBoard, IBM, PSS Systems, CoVia Technologies, CGOC, Certus, Altera Corporation, Consilium, Zinka
- **Education:** University of California
- **Known for:** Founded and led three technology startups., Built PSS Systems and led it through acquisition by IBM in 2010., Has more than a dozen patents related to information governance and enterprise software.

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Held operations and marketing roles at companies including Altera Corporation, Consilium and Zinka; in her first job after college, solved a production problem she said was costing the company $200,000 per month.
- **Before 1999** — Founded and led CoVia Technologies.
- **1999-2000** — Received Smithsonian Institution recognition for technology innovation in two consecutive years.
- **2004** — At PSS Systems, helped launch commercial applications for legal holds, collections and retention management; founded the Corporate Governance and Oversight Council (CGOC).
- **2010** — IBM acquired PSS Systems; Paknad subsequently led IBM's Information Lifecycle Governance business.
- **2013-2014** — Co-founded WorkBoard with Daryoush Paknad; the company announced a $2.75 million Series A in February 2014 and launched its first web app that July.
- **2019** — Goldman Sachs named her among its 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs; WorkBoard launched The OKR Podcast, hosted by Paknad.
- **2020** — WorkBoard raised a $30 million Series C led by Andreessen Horowitz after reporting that 2019 sales had tripled.
- **2021** — WorkBoard raised a $75 million Series D; the company later reported a valuation above $800 million.
- **2024** — WorkBoard introduced expanded AI capabilities for strategy execution; Paknad was named to The Great Entrepreneurs' Top 50 Entrepreneurs of 2024.
- **2025** — WorkBoard launched digital chief-of-staff and leadership-coach agents and acquired OKR software company Quantive.
- **2026** — WorkBoard announced an AI-native strategic portfolio management product and Portfolio Analyst agents.

## Achievements

- Founded and led three technology startups.
- Built PSS Systems and led it through acquisition by IBM in 2010.
- Has more than a dozen patents related to information governance and enterprise software.
- Received Smithsonian Institution recognition for technology innovation in 1999 and 2000.
- Founded the Corporate Governance and Oversight Council in 2004.
- Named one of Goldman Sachs' 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs in 2019.
- Led WorkBoard through a $75 million Series D in 2021 and the acquisition of Quantive in 2025.
- Hosts The OKR Podcast and regularly speaks on outcome mindset and ambition, including at Stanford.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — WorkBoard announced an AI-native strategic portfolio management solution and Portfolio Analyst agents, with Paknad framing the launch around faster, outcome-centric portfolio decisions.
- **2026-01** — Paknad shared a personal reflection on taking a complete two-week year-end break and returning to 2026 centered and energized.
- **2025-12** — Paknad continued hosting CEO conversations on The OKR Podcast, including a live Accelerate 2025 discussion about adapting strategy as markets change.
- **2025-05** — WorkBoard acquired Quantive and made its digital chief-of-staff and leadership-coach agents generally available.

## Links

- Website: https://www.workboard.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidrepaknad/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/WorkboardInc
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/workboardInc

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/deidre-paknad
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18