Srishti G.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

Born in Kerala to a family with a background in defense, I grew up across different parts of India, in a close-knit household that valued hard work, humility, and faith. That upbringing left me fluent in five languages, which has helped me connect with people from all walks of life throughout my career.

Professionally, I've spent over two decades building and leading global operations teams across customer experience, shared services, workforce management, and business transformation, including a fairly long stint in the US. Before joining Toast, I led Global Service & Workforce Management at Groupon, and before that, helped Vonage establish offshore operations in India and manage vendor partnerships across the Philippines and South America. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family.

What drew you to Toast and the restaurant tech industry?

When Toast first reached out, I learned about the business and the product, and the mission, and quickly came away impressed. What stood out most was Toast's focus on helping restaurants thrive through technology, solving real problems for owners and staff in ways that felt both innovative and genuinely impactful.

I was equally drawn to Toast's culture. The values weren't just words on a website; they were evident in every conversation I had and the way people worked together. From an India perspective, I saw a unique opportunity to help scale and shape the Chennai office into a strategic global hub. What started as curiosity quickly turned into conviction that Toast was a place where I could contribute and grow, and help build something special.

How do you keep the Customer Success teams in India aligned with Toast's global mission while working across regions and time zones?

Alignment starts with helping people understand the "why" behind their work. Our teams support restaurants every day, and it's important they understand how their efforts contribute to Toast's broader mission of empowering the restaurant community. We also place significant focus on communication and visibility, and collaboration: regular connections with global leaders and transparent, cross-functional partnerships.

At the same time, alignment doesn't mean simply replicating processes. We want our India teams to bring ideas and innovation, and operational excellence that strengthen the business globally. The goal isn't just to support the mission, but to help shape it.

How do you see the Chennai team uniquely interpret our values, and is there a specific tradition that makes the Chennai office unique?

What makes the Chennai team special is the strong sense of ownership and resilience people bring to their work, paired with a genuine people-first culture: celebrating successes together, supporting one another through challenges, and taking pride in contributing to something larger than themselves.

What I particularly appreciate is how the team balances global collaboration with local culture, celebrating festivals, participating in community initiatives, and building a strong sense of belonging. As we continue to grow, preserving that culture while creating new opportunities for our people will remain a top priority.

How would you define your personal leadership philosophy, and how does it manifest in the way you navigate complex business decisions today?

My leadership philosophy centers on people, clarity, and ownership. Strong organizations are built by investing in people and creating clarity around expectations and goals, and empowering teams to own their outcomes.

I also believe in balancing empathy with accountability: creating environments where people feel supported and heard, and challenged to grow, while still being willing to make difficult decisions and communicate transparently.

When navigating complex business decisions, I try to simplify the problem and focus on long-term impact, and align decisions with both business objectives and people outcomes. Ultimately, leadership isn't just about driving performance. It's about building trust and developing future leaders, and creating an environment where individuals and teams can do their best work.

Which Toast value resonates with you the most? Please provide a specific example or reason why.

The Toast value that resonates most with me is "We Lead with Humility." I learned early on that no single person has all the answers, and I've found the most effective leaders are those who stay curious and seek out different viewpoints, and keep learning regardless of title or experience.

Leading with humility doesn't mean lacking conviction; it means listening before speaking; learning before judging; and creating space for others to contribute their ideas. Great outcomes are rarely the work of one person; they come from talented teams working together and challenging each other respectfully.

As we continue to grow in Chennai, I hope we keep building a culture where everyone feels comfortable sharing perspectives; asking questions; and learning from one another. When people feel heard and valued, they do their best work, and that's when organizations thrive.

What advice would you give to someone looking to join the Toast team in India?

Be curious, be adaptable, and be willing to take ownership. Toast encourages people to think beyond their immediate responsibilities and contribute ideas that create broader impact.

Your voice matters here, regardless of role or level. Your ideas and perspectives can influence how we grow and evolve as an organization. Most importantly, bring your authentic self to work. Toast values people who are collaborative, humble, customer-focused, and committed to helping their teammates succeed.