Amanda Richmond
Amanda Richmond has built a dynamic and multifaceted career in global sales operations, compensation planning, and analytics over nearly seventeen years with NetApp. Currently serving as a Sales Compensation Manager for the company’s Worldwide Go-to-Market team, Amanda’s expertise spans the full commercial lifecycle, including quote-to-invoice processing, compensation administration, program design, analytics, and operational strategy. One of her most significant professional achievements to date is helping lead the global rollout of NetApp’s FY27 compensation plan, a large-scale initiative requiring extensive collaboration across HR, finance, operations, and sales leadership. Known for her highly detail-oriented and proactive approach, Amanda has built a reputation as someone who is always willing to step in, solve problems, and expand her knowledge beyond the boundaries of a formal job description. Her broad experience across multiple functions has given her a uniquely wide-ranging perspective that allows her to connect operational details with larger organizational goals. Amanda’s professional journey reflects the value of adaptability and openness to unexpected opportunities. Although she originally earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University and later completed a master’s degree in History at San José State University, she did not initially envision a career in technology or sales operations. After beginning her career at San José State University, she was recruited into NetApp and steadily advanced through a variety of operational and compensation-focused roles over the years. Amanda credits much of her success to her willingness to immerse herself deeply in every project, continuously learn new systems and processes, and remain flexible as her career evolved in directions she had never anticipated. Her experience across departments and disciplines has helped her cultivate a collaborative, problem-solving mindset that continues to shape her leadership style today. Outside of her professional work, Amanda is deeply committed to advocacy, resilience, and community support. In 2022, she was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare and challenging form of bone cancer that required extensive surgery and rehabilitation. Since then, she has become a passionate patient advocate and board member for the Chondrosarcoma Foundation, using her voice and personal experience to raise awareness, support research efforts, and advocate for better treatment options for patients facing the disease. She also supports organizations including the American Breast Cancer Foundation and participates in educational and pharmaceutical initiatives focused on rare cancer research. A mother of two who enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors, Amanda values flexibility, continuous learning, empathy, and extending grace to others. Her personal and professional experiences have reinforced her belief in perseverance, compassion, and embracing life’s unexpected paths with resilience and curiosity.
• Bachelor's in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University
• San José State University
MA, History
• Patient advocate for the Chondrosarcoma Foundation
• Patient advocacy and support for the Chondrosarcoma Foundation
• Including testifying to pharmaceutical companies
• Attending conventions
• And leading support groups for newly diagnosed patients
What do you attribute your success to?
I'm a Type A personality, so I tend to throw myself in deep into the weeds to learn as much as possible. I'm not the person that sits there and says, that's not my job. My approach, if somebody asks for help on something, is to assist to the best of my capabilities. I may not always know the answer, but I'm going to find out, because it adds to my own knowledge. Because of how my experience has evolved, especially at my current company, my view
is probably not as myopic as some other of my counterparts, where they might have worked in the same position for the totality of their career,
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stop apologizing. As a female, it’s socially coded and expected for us to apologize- but it undercuts your contribution and point of view.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be flexible. Most of my job growth and career trajectory has not been what I planned. I have a master's in history. I started working at San Jose State University as an admin, and then I got a call and got recruited into NetApp, and I've been here for 17 years. So, I would just say that, in life or career, the path you start on isn't always the one where you end up, and that is okay. Sometimes life takes you in different directions, and you have to be open and flexible enough to know that although an opportunity may not fit your initial plan, a change of direction may lead to great things.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge we are facing is the current geopolitical and global economic environment.. I’m in the tech industry, so we are impacted by supply chain constraints, trade wars, and international conflict.
Additionally, as you know, AI is becoming a huge disruptor in the technology industry, and it's having a cascading effect on people and their employment as companies refocus or restructure. Because every company, including my own, has an AI initiative, And though I believe there is benefit to leveraging AI, it fundamentally can’t satisfy the very human loss - be it a loss of sympathy and empathy, or the workforce replacement and flooding of the job market.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Try to be flexible. One of my things that's been a guiding light for me, especially in the last 5 years, after everything I've been through personally, and it bleeds into my professional life, is - as frustrated as we are on a day-to-day basis, always try to remember you don't know what are other people's battles and challenges. You just have to give people a bit of Grace.