Western Digital is looking for a Senior Director, Strategy to drive our business transformation by identifying and evaluating new opportunities in storage adjacencies, software platforms, and emerging business models. This role is central to expanding beyond our core hardware business into areas like software-defined storage, tiered storage solutions, and innovative partnerships to serve hyperscalers, neoclouds, sovereign clouds, and OEM partners.
What You'll Do
- Identify and evaluate high-value strategic opportunities in storage adjacencies, including software, platforms, services, and new business models.
- Assess market opportunities in Software-Defined Storage (SDS), storage management platforms, data orchestration, and tiered storage solutions.
- Evaluate emerging business models like Storage-as-a-Service, consumption-based pricing, and platform partnerships.
- Develop frameworks for assessing build vs. buy vs. partner decisions for software and platform opportunities.
- Identify white space opportunities where Western Digital's capabilities create unique competitive advantages.
- Develop strategic approaches for serving hyperscale, neoclouds, and sovereign cloud initiatives.
- Analyze customer infrastructure trends and storage requirements that extend beyond hardware.
- Evaluate opportunities for differentiated solutions for emerging segments like edge computing and private/hybrid cloud.
- Assess evolving OEM partnership models for deeper value chain integration.
- Understand customer Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) drivers and map buying behaviors.
- Evaluate opportunities in storage management software, data placement, and intelligent tiering solutions.
- Assess Software-Defined Storage (SDS) architectures and Western Digital's potential role in the ecosystem.
- Analyze platform partnership opportunities with cloud providers, System Integrators (SIs), and infrastructure software vendors.
- Evaluate API strategies, developer ecosystems, and platform business models relevant to storage.
- Assess opportunities to leverage WD's storage expertise through software intelligence and optimization layers.
- Analyze the competitive landscape in storage software to identify differentiation opportunities.
- Develop and execute strategic partnership frameworks for software vendors, cloud providers, and system integrators.
- Evaluate potential strategic partners and alliances within the storage ecosystem.
- Assess diverse partnership models such as licensing, co-development, joint ventures, and revenue sharing.
- Analyze ecosystem dynamics to build platform effects and network value.
- Evaluate sovereign cloud initiatives globally for partnership opportunities.
- Support business development teams with strategic frameworks for partner evaluation and deal structuring.
- Evaluate new business models for storage including consumption-based pricing, outcome-based models, and managed services.
- Assess storage-as-a-service opportunities and requirements for Western Digital to compete in service-based models.
- Analyze financial implications and unit economics of alternative business models versus traditional product sales.
- Evaluate capabilities, partnerships, and investments required to execute on new business models.
- Assess implications of business model shifts on go-to-market, operations, and organizational capabilities.
- Develop business cases and financial models for adjacency opportunities and new business model initiatives.
- Conduct rigorous strategic analysis of adjacency opportunities with clear recommendations for executive decision-making.
- Prepare strategic deep-dives and prepare executive and board briefings on storage adjacency strategies.
- Synthesize market research, customer insights, and competitive intelligence into strategic recommendations.
- Partner with Strategy to identify integrated solutions and cross-selling opportunities.
- Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering on platform roadmaps, technical feasibility, and feature prioritization.
- Work with Business Development and Corporate Development on partnership evaluation, M&A targets, and deal execution.
- Engage Sales and Marketing to understand customer needs and validate strategic assumptions.
- Collaborate with Finance on financial modeling, business case development, and investment prioritization.
What We're Looking For
- 12+ years in management consulting, corporate strategy, or business development with a focus on technology platforms and ecosystems.
- MBA from a top-tier business school.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related analytical field.
- Exceptional strategic thinking with deep expertise in platform strategy, two-sided markets, and ecosystem dynamics.
- Outstanding analytical and financial modeling skills, including business case development.
- Ability to identify emerging trends and non-obvious opportunities.
- Strong technical understanding of emerging trends in AI infrastructure and edge computing alongside cloud architectures and data storage requirements across hyperscale, neo cloud, sovereign, and enterprise segments.
- Skill in designing and managing complex multi-party relationships.
- Proven ability to craft compelling strategic narratives and translate technical/market complexity into clear, actionable executive recommendations.
- Ability to drive alignment across organizational boundaries and influence C-suite decisions.
Nice to Have
- 5+ years at a top-tier management consulting firm.
- Proven track record developing platform strategies, ecosystem frameworks, and business model innovations for technology companies.
- Deep experience with cloud infrastructure, neo clouds, data storage, or enterprise infrastructure markets.
- Direct consulting experience advising storage, cloud infrastructure, or enterprise software companies.
- Experience with platform strategy projects including marketplace development, ecosystem strategy, or API strategies.
- Background in business development or corporate development with experience structuring strategic partnerships.
- Prior experience working with or for hyperscale cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) or large OEMs.
- Knowledge of sovereign cloud initiatives in Europe, Asia-Pacific, or Middle East regions.
- Experience with M&A due diligence or strategic investment evaluation in software or platforms.
- Familiarity with open-source software models and community-driven platform development.
- International business experience, including understanding of regional market dynamics and partnership models.
Team & Environment
This role reports directly to the VP of Corporate Strategy.
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary Range: $224,500.00 - $299,300.00
Work Mode
This is a hybrid position with a primary work location in San Jose, California.
Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Harassment based on any of these characteristics is also prohibited.
