Share

cover art for #317: Vijay Tella: CEO & Co-Founder Workato

Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

#317: Vijay Tella: CEO & Co-Founder Workato

Season 1, Ep. 317

Vijay Tella

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder


Vijay is the CEO and co-founder of the Enterprise Automation platform, Workato. He has led the creation of market-leading integration technologies for over 25 years. Prior to Workato, he was the CEO of Qik, a consumer video communications company that was acquired by Skype. Before Qik, he helped create two multi-billion dollar integration products. He was part of the team that created the world’s first middleware platform, TIB (The Information Bus) at Teknekron Software Systems, which was acquired by Reuters Plc, in 1994. He was also on the founding team and SVP, Engineering of TIBCO through its IPO. As Chief Strategy Officer, he then helped launch Oracle’s Fusion Middleware platform in 2005.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 375. 375. From Flight deck to Boardroom “Navigating Turbulence” - Captain Emma Henderson MBE

    01:04:58||Season 1, Ep. 375
    ✈️ Emma Henderson MBE is a transformative speaker, award-winning CEO, and one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide.With over 30 years of aviation experience, she brings powerful, real-world lessons on resilient leadership, high-stakes decision-making, and leading teams through turbulence—both literal and figurative.From flying aircraft at 37,000 feet to founding the celebrated Project Wingman during the pandemic, Emma has become a trusted voice in developing authentic, human-centric leadership cultures. Her "captain's mindset" equips leaders to make fast, confident decisions, build trust, and adapt in high-pressure environments.Her bestselling book GROUNDED distills these lessons into a practical framework for success in business and life. As an Aviation Ambassador and MBE honouree for services to charity, she’s inspired top organisations like NatWest, EDF, Boeing, and the NHS.🚀 Tune in now to hear how Emma turns cockpit wisdom into boardroom brilliance—and walk away with the tools to lead with clarity, courage, and resilience.
  • 374. 374. Power Pressure & the Press - Chris Duncan's Media Leadership Journey

    01:05:15||Season 1, Ep. 374
    🎙️ Chris Duncan is a seasoned media leader with over 25 years of experience driving transformation and growth across the agency, national newspaper, and magazine sectors. He’s led strategic change in complex global environments for UK, US, and European businesses.From doubling revenue at a cloud CRM startup to launching the first iPad edition of The Times, Chris has consistently delivered innovation and impact. As Chief Customer Officer at NewsCorp, he spearheaded marketing and business development across UK brands, and as MD of The Times, he scaled its digital subscriptions to record highs.As CEO of Bauer Media UK Publishing, he oversaw 80 brands and 800 people, driving profitability and double-digit digital growth 📈. Today, he leads Seedelta, a media consultancy helping companies align strategy, technology, people, and processes to achieve sustainable revenue growth.🎧 Tune in now to hear Chris’s inspiring journey and powerful leadership insights that will challenge your thinking and spark new ideas.
  • 373. 373. Tornado Down! Leading through Uncertainty - John Peters

    59:13||Season 1, Ep. 373
    373. Tornado Down! Leading through Uncertainty - John Peters🎙️ This week on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we welcome John Peters — a former RAF pilot who was shot down and captured during his first mission in the Gulf War of 1991. Held as a Prisoner of War for seven weeks, he endured brutal interrogation and torture—experiences that would ultimately shape a remarkable second chapter in his life.Since leaving the RAF, John has become a respected leadership consultant, speaker, and author. He holds an MBA, has led executive education at top business schools, and founded the consultancy Monkey Business. His bestselling book Tornado Down and its award-nominated documentary brought his story to global attention.In this powerful episode, John shares what captivity taught him about resilience, leadership, and transformation—and how those lessons now help others navigate uncertainty and lead with purpose.Tune in to be inspired 🌍
  • 372. 372: Drive, stamina & determination with turnaround CEO Dr Ferri Abolhassan

    45:19||Season 1, Ep. 372
    🎙️ Inspiring Leadership PodcastIn this episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ferri Abolhassan, Member of the Board of Management at Deutsche Telekom AG and CEO of T-Systems International GmbH, to explore what it takes to lead at the forefront of digital transformation.With a PhD in Computer Science and a career spanning leadership roles at Siemens, IBM, SAP, and now Deutsche Telekom, Ferri brings deep insight into managing complexity, innovation, and scale. Currently leading a global team of 26,000, he shares lessons from overseeing IT, launching Telekom Security, and transforming customer service for 30,000+ employees.Ferri also gives us a glimpse into his passion for the future of AI and research, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and his involvement with the Max Planck Instituteand Atlantik-Brücke.Tune in to hear a forward-thinking leader reflect on trust, tech, and the human side of transformation. 💡
  • 371. 371. Leading & Executing with Excellence - Will Casselton

    01:01:44||Season 1, Ep. 371
    Mission-Driven Leadership: Turning Strategy into Action with Will CasseltonThis week on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we welcome Will Casselton — CEO of McKinney Rogers and VP at GP Strategies — a visionary in strategy execution and leadership development. 🚀 With a background in Mission Leadership and a track record of transforming organizations, Will shares how he helps CEOs turn bold visions into real-world results. From pioneering tools like BEOS to guiding leaders through crisis and uncertainty, his insights are both timely and timeless. 🌍Tune in and be inspired!
  • 370. 370. Mark Urban - Spies & Special Forces with Sunday Times Journalist, historian, Podcaster & BBC broadcaster

    54:54||Season 1, Ep. 370
    🎙️ Inspiring Leadership – Mark UrbanJoin us for a powerful episode with Mark Urban – journalist, historian, Podcaster and former BBC Newsnight Diplomatic Editor – as he shares insights from a career spent on the frontlines of global conflict.Now a writer for The Sunday Times, and Podcast Cohost with former MP Amber Rudd (The Crisis Room) Mark has reported from the Gulf War to Afghanistan, served as a Royal Tank Regiment officer, and worked with EW teams such as Jonathan’s on the Cold War front. His bestselling books reveal the secret worlds of military operations and espionage.Ahead of the release of his latest book TANK (out 5th June) and his new podcast (launching 28th May), Mark discusses the leaders, decisions, and intelligence efforts that shape modern warfare. Don’t miss this episode with one of Britain’s most compelling voices on defence and leadership.
  • 369. 369: Healthy High Performance: Employee Wellbeing with Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE

    57:11||Season 1, Ep. 369
    Leading Wellbeing with Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBEJoin us on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast as we welcome Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBE, a global authority in organisational psychology and workplace wellbeing. As the 50th Anniversary Professor at Alliance Manchester Business School, Sir Cary has authored over 170 influential books and championed healthier, high-performing work cultures. With honours including a CBE and a Knighthood, his leadership legacy is both profound and practical. Don’t miss this inspiring episode on how wellbeing is the key to unlocking business success.Tune in now to be inspired! 🎙️ 
  • 368. 368. Pro rugby player. Striving to beat MND - Matt Gallagher

    57:05||Season 1, Ep. 368
    Turning Adversity into Action – Matt Gallagher’s Fight Against MNDIn this powerful episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gallagher, former Coventry rugby player and founder of the Matt Gallagher Foundation, created following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in October 2023.Rather than stepping back, Matt has taken bold steps forward—raising over £600,000 through his foundation to support research, increase awareness, and provide hands-on support to the MND community. From charity runs and rugby matches to heartfelt public speaking and community engagement, Matt’s story is one of courage, resilience, and purpose.Tune in to hear how Matt is transforming personal adversity into a powerful movement of hope and solidarity. 🏉
  • 367. 367: Navigating the Financial Landscape: Leadership Insights from Steven Fine

    01:01:42||Season 1, Ep. 367
    Navigating Markets, Building Trust: Leadership Insights from Steven Fine, CEO of Peel Hunt.Get ready for an inspiring conversation on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast! This week, we welcome Steven Fine, Chief Executive Officer of Peel Hunt, a leading UK investment bank. Steven joined Peel Hunt in 2006 and was instrumental in leading the management and staff buy-out from KBC Bank in 2010. With roots as a founder member of D. E. Shaw Securities International, Steven brings decades of experience from global financial markets, having managed operations in Tokyo and London.As Deputy Chair of the FCA Markets Practitioner Panel and a non-executive director for the Quoted Companies Alliance, Steven is a passionate advocate for the interests of financial markets participants and quoted companies. He’s also been a judge for the Non-Executive Director Awards for over 15 years, championing governance and stewardship in UK boardrooms.Steven’s collaborative leadership style and transparent communication have helped build Peel Hunt’s reputation for long-term relationships and a strong partnership ethos. In this episode, he shares insights on navigating turbulent markets, the importance of governance, and how technology and culture drive success in financial services. Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the City’s most respected leaders! 🌍Tune in and be inspired!