Neha Narkhede — Apache Kafka → Confluent → Oscilar: an Indian technologist who built global infrastructure.

Neha Narkhede’s journey begins long before Silicon Valley knew her name. She grew up in Pune, studied computer science, and carried a natural curiosity for how huge systems move data across the world. That interest slowly shaped her path toward one of the most important pieces of modern tech. While working at LinkedIn she helped create Apache Kafka, a tool that quietly became the backbone for real time data flow across banks, ecommerce platforms, telecom networks and almost every major digital service people rely on today. It is rare for someone from India to influence global tech at such a deep level while still early in their career, yet her work did exactly that.

Kafka changed her life and the lives of thousands of engineers who needed a reliable way for massive streams of data to travel in seconds. For Neha it also opened the door to entrepreneurship. She co founded Confluent, a company that built a business around Kafka and made it easier for teams to use in production. The company grew fast because many firms struggled to manage data at scale, and Confluent offered them a cleaner path forward. Neha became one of the few Indian women to build a billion dollar value company in the software world, and her story inspired many young technologists who often feel the global stage is too far away.

Her strength comes from a mix of calm discipline and a willingness to understand very complex problems without rushing. People who worked with her often say she listens more than she speaks, and that habit helped her guide large engineering groups with confidence. Her leadership style also set an example for founders who believe that deep tech can come from people who do not always chase the spotlight.

After Confluent, Neha did something many founders dream of but rarely attempt. She started another company. Oscilar focuses on risk detection for fintech and other data heavy sectors. It uses machine learning to help companies spot fraud and reduce losses in real time. This step showed that she was not done building. She had more to contribute and she continued to push into areas where strong technical understanding meets business need.

Neha’s story holds a special place in the growing world of Indian entrepreneurship. Many young engineers from India wish to build tools used at a global scale, yet they wonder if the road is too steep. Her career proves the opposite. She shows that skill, patience and courage can take someone from a classroom in Pune to a boardroom where the future of data systems is decided.

As India produces more founders with deep technical talent, her example becomes even more important. She continues to mentor new builders and invests in early stage startups across different sectors. Her journey reflects the rise of Indian talent shaping core technology across the world, and it gives confidence to a whole new generation that big ideas can come from anywhere if someone is ready to work relentlessly for them.