Sprinklr Stories: Kelly Lang

In this edition of Sprinklr Stories, we introduce you to Kelly Lang, Sprinklr Head of Corporate Communications. Kelly’s journey is fueled by hard work, resilience, and a deep commitment to bringing people together. With a background rich in experiences that shaped her views on leadership and teamwork, Kelly embodies the values that drive Sprinklr forward. In this interview with Emma Dobek, she opens up about her personal influences, her approach to communication, and why being part of the Sprinklr team is so rewarding. 

Emma: Share a bit about you. I'd love to hear about personal experiences that you feel have significantly shaped your life and character. 

Kelly: I grew up in a midwestern town in Ohio, raised with quintessential midwestern values: work hard, save money, and understand that success only comes to those who want something bad enough to earn it. I’ve been blessed with many life-shaping experiences and individuals who have positively influenced me along the way. Two significant experiences, in particular, are connected to sports and sponsorship. 

Sports played a big role in my childhood and community. I played volleyball and softball and swam competitively. I had the good fortune of having strong female coaches who taught me valuable lessons in leadership both on and off the team. They shaped my character, people, and leadership skills long before I understood what that meant. I remember my softball coach making us practice longer and harder after every game we won. She would say, "Winning is about improving every aspect of your own game." She emphasized the importance of learning from your toughest losses and knowing how to help the team pull together when you’re knocked down. 

Another experience was with my first sponsor in my career journey. After graduating from the University of Maryland, I worked at a financial printing company in Washington, DC. The partner at the firm was also the head of sales and customer service and he made a significant time investment in working directly with me and influencing my career path. He was genuinely interested in grooming me for a career at the firm, but he took the time to listen to my dreams and goals. He was high spirited and energetic and would come flying into my office and tell me to put on my walking shoes. We’d stroll around the monuments in DC over lunch talking, coaching, listening. I remember him saying “let’s figure out how you get from point A to point B.” I had no idea what a sponsor was at that time in my life, but Pat was exactly that. I learned so much from him, and when I told him I had this crazy idea of driving across country to California to work for a company called Cisco in the field of “high tech,” he reached out to his own contacts and encouraged me to follow through. I made that cross-country drive from Washington, DC to California. It started a whole new chapter of my personal and professional life. 

Emma: You’ve been with Sprinklr for almost four years as the Head of Corporate Communications. What is your approach to leading Communications for a fast-paced tech company and how do you prepare for every possible scenario?  

Kelly: I love this question, especially because of the word "prepare." Preparation is everything. Most people don't achieve great things on a wing and a prayer. In a world infatuated with instant gratification and flashy outcomes, we often overlook the hard work, preparation, failures, knockdowns, and struggles that truly shape success. 

At its core, communication is about making connections so that people have clarity and understanding, enabling them to come together and achieve something greater. No one achieves greatness entirely on their own. There's always a friend, coach, family member, or someone who has invested in you, guiding and helping you along the way. And I think communication plays an important role in making connections and bringing people together to create a “multiplier” effect. 

Success is 90% preparation, with a dash of good timing and luck. If you can approach everything you do with that mindset, you’ll be more prepared for whatever comes your way. You can't prepare for every single scenario with 100% accuracy, but aiming for 90% preparation, relying on your instincts, and drawing from your experience and training will get you closer to success. 

I've spent the majority of my career in high tech, and I am certainly drawn to its fast pace, constant change, and the energy of creating technology that can make cool things possible. I find it exhilarating to be part of an industry that constantly evolves, innovates new ideas and pushes boundaries. 

Emma: I, too, love the thrill of change and constantly raising the bar. Tell me more about what motivates you and your team.  

Kelly: Finding your 'YES' is something I feel deeply connected to. Early in my career, I was tasked with leading a critical project that would reimagine a process that people relied on for over a decade. It wasn’t easy. I faced resistance, conflicting opinions and layers of bureaucracy. After sharing my progress and frustrations with a leader who stood to benefit from this change, she looked me in the eye and said, ‘Just keep going until you find your YES.' That simple phrase became one of my guiding principles. It reminds me that persistence, belief, and unwavering focus are the keys to breaking through any barrier. And I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since. 

The thing to remember is that success isn’t about getting the ‘YES.’ It’s about achieving the best outcome for the team and delivering something that people are counting on.  Ideas aren’t set in stone—they grow, evolve, improve through collaboration and by incorporating the perspective of others. One of my other guiding principles is that ideas should adapt to benefit as many people as possible.  I thrive on the energy of brainstorming and the insights that come from negotiating and refining ideas together. True success comes from finding a 'YES’ that empowers, inspires, and uplifts everyone involved. 

Regarding how my team relates to this idea, they know they have the freedom to push boundaries, shape ideas, and challenge any thought. Too often, leaders shy away from feedback or let the loudest voices steer the course. But staying true to the mission means listening to all perspectives and encouraging collaboration. It's human nature to want to be part of a movement—something meaningful, something that makes a real difference. And when a ‘YES’ allows people to contribute to something great, it's incredibly powerful and satisfying.  

Emma: My last question really comes down to just two words, Why Sprinklr?  

Kelly: At the start of every year, I choose a "word of the year" to guide my mindset and focus. My word this year is ‘win.’ We are so fortunate at Sprinklr to be surrounded by exceptional talent, and with the right timing—and a bit of luck favoring those who are prepared—we're all driven to win and succeed together. What inspires me most is that our motivation to win goes well beyond our individual success. It’s about winning as a team for our customers, partners and each other. That’s the true spirit of being a team.