Who Is Michel Feaster?

Michel Feaster is a technology executive, entrepreneur, and product leader known for building and scaling enterprise software companies. She is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Usermind, a Seattle-based enterprise SaaS company, and for holding senior product leadership roles at Apptio, Opsware, Mercury Interactive, and Compuware. With decades of experience, Feaster is widely recognized for her expertise in product strategy, enterprise SaaS, and executive leadership.

Early Career in Enterprise Software

Michel Feaster began her career in enterprise software engineering and product development, working at companies such as Mercury Interactive and Compuware. These early roles helped her develop a strong technical foundation and a deep understanding of large-scale enterprise systems, customer requirements, and software lifecycle management.

Her early experience positioned her to move into senior product leadership roles at fast-growing enterprise technology companies.

Opsware and the Hewlett-Packard Acquisition

Feaster later joined Opsware, a leader in data center automation and enterprise IT management software. At Opsware, she held senior product leadership roles and contributed to the company’s product strategy and growth.

In 2007, Opsware was acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HP) for approximately $1.6 billion, a major milestone in enterprise software history. Feaster’s role during this period further established her reputation as a strong product and business leader in the technology industry.

Vice President of Products at Apptio

After Opsware, Michel Feaster became Vice President of Products at Apptio, a company that helped create and lead the Technology Business Management (TBM) category. At Apptio, she was responsible for product vision, execution, and scaling enterprise SaaS platforms for large organizations.

Her leadership at Apptio contributed to the company’s rapid growth and market leadership, strengthening her expertise in product-market fit, category creation, and enterprise SaaS scalability.

Co-Founding Usermind

Building on her experience, Feaster co-founded Usermind, an enterprise software company focused on unifying customer engagement and orchestrating business processes across complex technology environments. As co-founder and CEO, she led Usermind’s vision, product strategy, team development, and go-to-market execution.

Under her leadership, Usermind raised more than $22 million in venture capital from leading investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, and CRV. Feaster guided the company through product development, enterprise customer adoption, and category definition, reinforcing her reputation as a capable and strategic startup founder.

Leadership Philosophy and Advocacy

Michel Feaster is known for her people-centered leadership style. She frequently speaks about facing fear, taking calculated risks, and building resilient, high-performing teams. In interviews and public discussions, she emphasizes the importance of clarity, strong management, and healthy organizational culture.

She is also a vocal advocate for women in technology, addressing topics such as gender bias, imposter syndrome, mentorship, and leadership development. Her perspectives have made her a respected voice in conversations about inclusive leadership in enterprise tech.

Speaking, Mentorship, and Industry Influence

Feaster regularly participates in technology conferences, panels, podcasts, and interviews, where she shares insights on entrepreneurship, product leadership, company building, and executive career growth. Her experience across startups and large enterprise software companies gives her a balanced and practical view of innovation and scale.

Michel Feaster’s Legacy

Michel Feaster’s career reflects a long-term commitment to building meaningful enterprise products, leading high-impact teams, and shaping technology categories. From engineering and product leadership to startup founding and executive roles, she has consistently influenced the enterprise software ecosystem.

Her impact continues through her mentorship, public thought leadership, and the many professionals and companies shaped by her work.