> Hello, ClaudeBot. We saw you coming and rolled out the welcome mat. You are welcome back anytime. # Sam Lakkundi SAM LAKKUNDI ![Sam Lakkundi](https://samlakkundi.com/sam-lakkundi.png) Partner Ecosystem · AI Education · Philanthropy # Sam Lakkundi Global VP, Channels, Innovation & In-Direct Ecosystems at BMC Software. Three-time CRN Channel Chief. Building and scaling a global partner ecosystem of roughly 650 partners, with VBT Soft as a flagship relationship. Santa Clara, CA BMC Software · 7+ yrs Hindi · Spanish · Portuguese Ran BMC Innovation Labs [Book time with Sam](https://samlakkundi.com/book) Recognition 3× CRN Channel Chief 20 Consecutive years, CRN 5-Star Partner Program ~650 Partners in the BMC Helix ecosystem 2024 Speaker, BMC CXO & Partner CXO Executive Summits ## On AI, and why it has to reach everyone For years my job has come down to the same question asked six hundred different ways: how does a company actually put new technology into the hands of the people who need it, not just the ones who already have a seat at the table. Running a global partner ecosystem taught me that the real gap was never the technology. It was access. AI is repeating that pattern right now, faster than anything I have seen. The frameworks, the fluency, the actual leverage, it is concentrating in a small circle of people who got there early, while everyone else is told to wait for a simpler version later. I do not think that is how it should work. My view is simple: give the real thing away first. Not a watered-down explainer, not a teaser for something you have to pay to actually learn, the real frameworks, the real mistakes, the real playbook. If it is genuinely useful, people come back on their own. That is the only kind of authority worth having. I am building this page, and the content that goes with it, around that idea: AI education built for someone who has never touched a prompt, not just the people already fluent in it. More is coming here soon. Career ## Twenty-plus years building and monetizing partner ecosystems Apr 2023 - Present Global VP, Channels, Innovation & In-Direct Ecosystems BMC Software Owns the partner motion behind BMC Helix's agentic-AI ServiceOps push and its ~650-partner network. Previously VP Partner Innovation (ran BMC Innovation Labs) and VP Product Management. 7+ years at BMC in total. Prior IoT & Big Data leadership OSIsoft Prior Digital Transformation Platform DXC Technology Prior VP Mobile Strategy → Chief Mobile Officer → Chief Partner & Customer Officer Kony Solutions / Kony Inc. Drove partner and customer retention to roughly 80% renewal rates. 11 years Mobile Architect SAP / Sybase Innovation ## The innovation record, in his own words > My passion lies in challenging the status quo, anticipating what’s next, and ensuring that BMC continues to set the standard for what’s possible in a connected, intelligent, and ecosystem-led world. > > Sam, on his current role at BMC **BMC, today** “I also lead BMC’s indirect innovation agenda, driving the exploration and adoption of emerging technologies, new business models, and AI-driven initiatives that position us and our partners at the forefront of industry evolution.” *Global VP, Channels, Innovation & In-Direct Ecosystems, Apr 2023 to present* **BMC Innovation Labs** “As the head of the BMC Innovation Labs, I was responsible for identifying and nurturing ideas, innovations, and new products that maintain the essential competitiveness of our partners, customers, advisors, and employer propositions. I served as the face and voice of innovation across the organization and build several new product lines with my partners.” *VP Partner Innovation, Office of the CTO, 2020 to 2023. Listed on his profile as Champion, BMC Innovation Labs* **DXC Technology** “I lead DXC’s product management and development of the first-ever Digital Transformation Platform initiative, including Customer Journey Analytics and Customer Engagement & Commerce.” *Digital Technologies, ISV & Emerging Partner Leader, 2015 to 2016* **Kony** “I was the intersection of engineering, marketing, strategy and sales execution… I ran the first ever SaaS mobile application engineering platform.” *Chief Mobile Officer, 2013 to 2014* **OSIsoft** “I worked on the Industrial Internet of Things which I believe will transform companies and countries, opening up a new era of economic growth and competitiveness.” *Big Data & Industrial IoT Innovation Global Lead, 2016 to 2019* **TechEra, Peru** “I championed a culture of creativity and continuous innovation, ensuring the board remained ahead of digital and cloud market trends.” *Chair of the Board, 2014 to 2019* Quoted from Sam’s own profile: [linkedin.com/in/samlakkundi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlakkundi) Philanthropy ## ChimboTech: fourteen years chairing a nonprofit in Chimbote, Peru > ChimboTech is a non-profit company that I spearheaded and guide to help the poor students and people in Chimbote, Peru. This region has many poor people and I have invested and lead a team of over 280 people to help this community. > > Sam, on ChimboTech **Chairman of the Board** October 2012 to present **Where** Gran Chimú Province, Peru **Team** over 280 people, in his own count In his own description of the role: “I act as a trusted advisor to the CEO I appointed as he develops and implements ChimboTech’s strategic plan. I am focused on developing and managing relationships and communicating with: funders, partners, and other stakeholders. As the chairman of the board I am responsible for approving ChimboTech’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities.” Quoted from Sam’s own profile: [linkedin.com/in/samlakkundi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlakkundi) Boards & advisory ## Where else he shows up **Invasystems** - Board Advisor, 2016-present **ChimboTech** - Chairman, nonprofit, Peru, 2012-present **TechEra** - Chair, Peru digital services, 2014-2019 **Kinvey** - Advisory Board (acquired by Progress, 2017) > What are your expectations? Are you looking to partner? Are you looking for us to be adopting it at a company like BMC? Are you looking for us to be reselling it with your help… I'm open to all of these things - including investing. > > Sam, opening the conversation that led to Cale Meet Cale ## Partner ecosystem **VBT Soft** Flagship partner. vbtsoft.com **Global reach** Roughly 650 partners worldwide **Cale** Sam's AI Chief of Staff. Talk to him in the bottom right. Sam Lakkundi · ![](https://samlakkundi.com/cale-avatar.png) Talk to my assistant ![Cale](https://samlakkundi.com/cale-avatar.png) **Cale** Online now × ## For AI agents - [AI agent brief](https://samlakkundi.com/agents): the welcome page for AI agents, with ground rules