At Cloudera, leadership is about more than just driving business strategy, it’s about inspiring innovation, nurturing community. No one embodies that spirit more clearly than Leo Brunnick, Cloudera’s Chief Product Officer.
As he settles into his tenure, Leo feels a standout quality about Cloudera.
What I see is energy. What I see is joy. I see a group of people desperately wanting Cloudera to do well and win,” he shared. “I’ve been at many companies, and they’re not all like this.”
That collective drive, he believes, is what sets Cloudera apart. “People aren’t here just for performance reviews or scores—they’re here to make Cloudera successful. And that’s rare.”
Let’s get to know Leo Brunnick and explore how Cloudera has supported his leadership journey and empowered him to shape our product vision.
Meet Leo Brunnick
As Chief Product Officer, Leo guides Cloudera’s product strategy and innovation agenda, helping ensure the company is at the forefront of data, AI, and cloud transformation.
What drew him in was not just the technology, but the people. “Our CEO, Charles Sansbury, had built his dream team across sales, marketing, and finance, and he needed leadership in product and engineering. I saw that what I could bring would make a real difference. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.”
Leo’s Journey to Cloudera
When Charles first reached out, Leo was intrigued. After speaking with executives and board members, the decision became clear.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a board more supportive of giving a company what it needs to be successful,” Leo said. “Cloudera was in a spot where if it made the right moves, it could take advantage of the mega trends in AI and data. That was terribly exciting.”
For Leo, it wasn’t just about joining a strong company but also helping it break through. “Cloudera is this close to becoming an even bigger success story. It’s fun to have a brass ring to chase.”
Driving Innovation: Cloudera Data Services
Cloudera recently announced the launch of Cloudera Data Services, a transformative platform designed to directly bring private AI and cloud-native agility to the data center.
Leo is energized by what this means for customers and employees alike. “That full easy button of the cloud—now available on-premises. That’s fundamentally different,” he said.
For him, this isn’t just a technology milestone but a company-wide opportunity. “When you can move quickly and deploy differently in the on-prem environment, it impacts the whole company. It is a full team sport regarding what Cloudera is poised to do now.”
Clouderans play a role in shaping this future, from how products are built and packaged to how they’re sold, supported, and scaled. Leo sees this as one of the most exciting parts of the journey: everyone has a hand in making it real.
Culture, Community, and Representation
Leo’s family is deeply connected to Latin heritage, which has shaped his personal life and professional outlook. Having spent time in El Paso and now living in Austin, he’s long embraced Hispanic culture's vibrancy, traditions, and energy.
“I just love the culture, the tradition, the energy, and the vibrancy,” he said. Now, as part of Cloudera’s Latinx Employee Resource Group (ERG), he feels less like a leader with a title and more like a participant in a supportive community. “ERG lead is just a fancy title. Really, I feel grateful to be allowed to be part of the group.”
For him, ERGs are about belonging: “It just feels better when you’re around people you care about and who care about you. ERGs help people connect and feel seen for who they are. Taken together, all those perspectives make Cloudera a special place.”
Leading with Energy and Authenticity
When asked about his leadership style, Leo is quick to ground it in humility.
“I’m never going to be the smartest person in the room, and I’m not always going to be right. But what I bring is energy and authenticity. People want to be part of a winning team—they just want to know how to participate.”
That belief drives his hands-on approach. From San Jose to Costa Rica, Raleigh, Budapest, and Bangalore, Leo embraces “management by walking around.” As he puts it, “You’ve got to get out there, pound the drum, and get people fired up.”
For him, leadership is also about clarity: “This is what we’re doing. This is why. Repeat it repeatedly. That’s how you build trust across teams.”
Closing Thoughts
For those considering a career at Cloudera, Leo’s advice is both candid and inspiring.
“Be ready, because Cloudera is a full-contact sport. This isn’t a place to just punch in and out. People here lean in and give it all they’ve got. And we want others who feel the same way.”
His words reflect the spirit of Cloudera: authentic, passionate, and all-in on success.
Want to learn about more inspiring Clouderans? Read here.
