Tom Mendoza is a prominent American business executive and public speaker, known for his important role at NetApp, where he was President and Vice Chairman. He joined NetApp in 1994 as Vice President of North America sales and played a key part in the company's growth from a startup to a billion-dollar business by 2000. He became President in 2000 and successfully guided the company through the dotcom bust, leading to its inclusion in the Fortune 500 by 2012.
Tom helped develop NetApp’s strong corporate culture, which earned the company the top spot in Fortune Magazine’s "100 Best Companies To Work For" in 2009. His leadership was recognized with the Morgan Stanley Leadership Award for Global Commerce that same year.
After retiring from NetApp in 2019, Tom continued to be active in business and philanthropy, serving on the boards of several companies, including Varonis Systems and VAST Data. He is also involved with Justin Tuck’s R.U.S.H. foundation, which promotes children's literacy.
Tom is a sought-after speaker on corporate culture and leadership, addressing audiences at institutions like Stanford University and the United States Marine Corps. He has been a guest lecturer at Stanford since 1997 and has delivered keynotes at various industry events.
His philanthropic efforts include support for the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation. The business school at Notre Dame was renamed the Mendoza College of Business in 2000 following a significant endowment from him and his wife, Kathy.
Tom's legacy is defined by his commitment to creating positive work environments and his influence on corporate leadership principles, making him a respected figure in the business community.
