Her Story
About Rita
Rita Giran is a dynamic sales leader and business development strategist with more than eight years of experience building high-performing teams and driving growth across some of the technology industry's most innovative companies. As New Business Leader at Plaid, she leads a team responsible for generating new business opportunities while partnering with cross-functional leaders to execute go-to-market strategies, scale operations, and recruit top talent. Throughout her career, Giran has earned a reputation for developing successful business development organizations, having played a key role in scaling three high-growth teams across her experience in enterprise technology.
Before joining Plaid, Giran served as an Enterprise Business Development Manager at Salesforce, following leadership roles at Rippling, Cloudflare, and Yelp. Her expertise spans sales strategy, pipeline development, team leadership, and organizational scaling, consistently delivering strong business results while fostering collaborative, high-performance cultures. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology Management from California State University, East Bay, where she developed the technical and business foundation that continues to shape her strategic approach to sales and leadership.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Giran is passionate about mentoring and investing in the next generation of leaders. Each quarter, she mentors high school students from her hometown of Los Angeles as they prepare for college and coaches aspiring sales professionals as they launch their careers in technology. Fluent in multiple languages and driven by a commitment to authenticity, resilience, and continuous self-improvement, Giran believes that success begins with mindset, perseverance, and the willingness to embrace challenges outside one's comfort zone. Through her leadership and mentorship, she continues to empower others while helping organizations achieve lasting growth and impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to stepping outside my comfort zone and maintaining a strong, growth-oriented mindset. In every role, whether leading teams, collaborating with peers, or working with cross-functional partners, I focus on becoming a better version of myself while contributing to a larger purpose and continuously learning along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is that I am in control of my own success. When something isn’t working, I remind myself to evaluate my mindset, reassess my approach, and return to the larger plan with renewed focus and determination.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to believe in themselves, never give up, and continuously invest in building meaningful professional relationships. Expanding your network, seeking mentors, and remaining open to new opportunities can create pathways for both personal and career growth.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and greatest opportunities—is developing confidence in public speaking and effective communication. The ability to clearly share ideas, influence others, and speak with authenticity is a valuable skill that can open doors to leadership and career advancement.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are authenticity, resilience, continuous self-improvement, and maintaining a strong mindset. I believe in focusing on what I can control, striving to be better each day, and leading with integrity in both my professional and personal life.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.