Transformations of Coupa Women through MEvolution’s Energy Booster
When one of the women at Coupa, who we’ll call Pam, first met Sarah from MEvolution, she was at her lowest mentally, physically, and emotionally. Pam was depressed, low energy, and feeling alone and desperate. Caring for her small children including homeschooling during the pandemic, plus taking care of her aging mother recently diagnosed with Alzheimers, and learning how to work remotely in a fast-paced technology job became too much. The pandemic was tough on everyone in many ways. But for women in business, many of whom were feeling just like Pam and who Coupa’s Empower Employee Resource Group was created to support and lift up, there was an opportunity to really change people’s lives for the better.
Sarah Deane, Founder of MEvolution, walked with Pam through the eight-week program of learning how to identify and plug up Pam’s energy leaks, identify and remove energy blockers, and really begin to thrive. MEvolution is a science-based personal growth system that measures and systematically increases human capacity by teaching employees how to manage, direct, and optimize their personal energy. When Pam came to the Empower leadership meeting to share her testimonial on the enormous impact and value that the MEvolution program and Sarah personally has had on her life, she literally could not stop smiling. She shared her story of transformation while beaming, saying that by taking care of herself, setting boundaries, and prioritizing her needs, she is better able to take care of everyone around her and is thriving in her career.
Gina Tesla, Coupa’s Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chairperson of Empower, was inspired and knew she had the corporate responsibility to offer this service to other women at Coupa from all different departments and timezones. Gina’s vision also included the shared commitment with the recipient women of Empower’s + MEvolution’s program: to be accepted into the program was to also commit to giving back through volunteer service for 2-4 hours, kicked off through Coupa’s Global Impact Week. This is a week each December where Coupa will match monetary donations to charities and is meant to encourage employees to use up to 40 hours of Volunteer Time Off while highlighting and hearing from several charity organizations.
From January through March 2023, 20 additional selected Coupa women went through the guided program with Sarah and MEvolution, starting with a detailed and personal Energy Quiz that highlighted where each of the women had energy leaks, blockers, or opportunities. Through a weekly mix of live teachings by Sarah and group sharing of stories or eye-openers, each woman also went through a “choose-your-own-adventure” type of guided modules based on the Energy Quiz with recorded teachings and guided personal reflections to really dive into the root causes of certain beliefs and therefore actions and feelings. At the end of each week the women would fill out the same “Weekly Pulse” to gather data and trends on their energy, feelings, and intensity of those feelings. The results are undeniable! The majority of women were able to better handle challenging situations, felt less negatively, had less anxiety, had increased focus, and set better boundaries! And half of the participants even felt happier, more fulfilled and engaged at work.
These women, happier and more energized, became even MORE fulfilled by also giving back to their communities through their required acts of service. The resounding takeaway from each service write up was “It really makes you appreciate what you have, humbles you at how great the needs are, and inspires you to serve more regularly.” Some numbers on the impact this small group of 20 women made: 14,000 pounds of food packed, 1,000 Christmas gifts given to children in need, 185 families and seniors served boxes of non-perishables, 40 pounds of trash removed from the beach, 120 guests served a Christmas dinner, and many other wins. The women were filled with gratitude for being prompted and encouraged to give back, not only to help and sustain our world and communities, but for their own self-fulfillment and fun they received themselves.
Supporting each other around the world has never been more important. Coupa is proud of the many Employee Resource Groups it supports, including Empower, whose mission is to break down barriers to women’s success by creating a community working together to unleash the impact of women in business. Empower is thrilled to continue partnering with MEvolution and Sarah Deane to change and enrich the lives of women in business and all people around the world.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month , we’re recognizing the women who help shape Coupa every day, not only through leadership roles, but through mentorship, advocacy, collaboration, and the many contributions that often happen behind the scenes. In this special episode of Shaping What’s Next at Coupa , guest host Kiri Christensen , representing Coupa’s Empower Employee Resource Group , sits down with Cindy Yi, Senior Vice President of Global HR Business Partners , to explore the theme of this year’s celebration: Leading the Change. Their conversation goes beyond titles and career paths to talk about the people and moments that shape leadership. Cindy reflects on the leaders who influenced her journey and shares a perspective that resonates across organizations: when people feel supported, challenged, and connected, businesses perform better. The episode also shines a light on the idea of “Unsung Heroines,” the mentors, problem-solvers, and team builders whose impact may not always be visible but is foundational to a strong culture. As Cindy explains, recognizing those contributions matters because it expands how we define leadership and impact. “Leadership doesn’t always come from titles or visibility. When we celebrate mentorship, collaboration, and quiet leadership, we reinforce the behaviors that make organizations great.” The conversation also explores the importance of thoughtful courage, the willingness to ask important questions and contribute perspectives that move conversations forward, regardless of title or tenure. And at the heart of it all is a simple but powerful truth: when people feel their voices and contributions matter, they’re empowered to do their best work. That’s what helps organizations grow, innovate, and shape what’s next. Watch Episode 6: Women’s History Month: Unsung Heroines.
Meaningful progress is driven by people who take ownership, collaborate deeply, and consistently raise the bar for what’s possible. Each month, Coupa’s India Leadership Team recognizes individuals who exemplify our values through the Standout Performer Award . This recognition celebrates Coupanians whose contributions make a tangible impact on our teams, our customers, and the business while living our values to Drive Success for #AllOfUs, Own Our Results, Cultivate Belonging, and Build Tomorrow Together. We’re proud to spotlight our December 2025 India Standout Performer Award winners, whose work reflects the heart of Coupa’s culture: proactive, innovative, and people-centered. Meet the winners:
At Coupa, we believe that progress happens because of people who go beyond what’s expected to drive impact, support others, and help shape what’s next. That’s why recognition is such an important part of our culture. As part of our continued commitment to celebrating standout contributions across the business, Coupa’s India Leadership Team recognizes employees each quarter through the Extra Mile Award . This award honors individuals who exemplify our values: Drive Success for #AllOfUs, Own Our Results, Cultivate Belonging, and Build Tomorrow Together through meaningful, real-world impact. We’re proud to spotlight our Q4 2025 India Extra Mile Award winners , whose dedication and leadership continue to raise the bar for excellence at Coupa. Meet the winners:
Leading Change Through Everyday Impact As we kick off Women’s History Month , our Coupa Empower employee resource group is honoring the women whose leadership, influence, and care move our teams, culture, and communities forward — often in ways that aren’t always visible. This year’s theme, Leading the Change , recognizes the builders, mentors, problem-solvers and quiet leaders whose impact shapes how we grow and work together. The Unsung Heroines program highlights employees whose journeys, advocacy, and influence create lasting progress — not just for Coupa, but for the people around them. These are the stories that remind us that recognition isn’t a single moment. It's something we build into our culture every day.
As we welcome the Year of the Fire Horse, our global village comes together to celebrate Lunar New Year — a moment for renewal, reflection, and bold forward momentum for #AllOfUs. This year’s celebration is led by our Coupa Exceed Employee Resource Group, whose leadership continues to create space for cultural connection, shared learning, and deeper belonging across our communities. Through its programming and storytelling, Exceed ERG helps turn moments like this into meaningful global experiences for all Coupanians. In the lunar zodiac, the Horse symbolizes energy, progress, and determination. The Fire element brings passion, visibility, and transformation. That spirit comes to life in how Exceed leads this celebration: Moving with purpose Amplifying voices and traditions Bringing our global community closer together From red envelopes and reunion dinners to travel, lanterns, and time with loved ones, Lunar New Year reminds us that while our backgrounds may be different, the values that connect us are shared.
Engineers at Coupa are shaping what’s next, through code, curiosity, impact, and a shared commitment to building better systems for people and businesses. In celebration of Engineers Week 2026, we asked a few of our engineers how they’re transforming the future: their own, Coupa’s, and the communities we serve. Their answers reflect a profession grounded in purpose, growth, and possibility.
As we continue our Black History Month celebration, Coupa’s Engage employee resource group is proud to spotlight more voices whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of Black innovation in technology. Building on our first feature, this blog highlights Coupanians whose paths into tech weren’t always linear but whose perspectives are shaping how technology, people, and possibility intersect at Coupa. Through the stories of Elise Huggins, Rashida Jones, and Johnny White, we’re reminded that innovation is strongest when it’s grounded in imagination, inclusion, and human purpose.
As Coupa celebrates 20 years of innovation, growth, and impact, it’s the people who’ve grown alongside the company who best reflect what that journey really looks like. For Sukhada Bardapurkar, Partner Success Manager, the last 10 years at Coupa have been shaped by curiosity, connection, and a deep sense of ownership in the results she helps deliver. “At every stage of my career here, I’ve genuinely cared about the impact of my work and how it enables both me and the team to move forward,” Sukhada shares. “Owning results motivates me and it pushes me to stay curious and solve problems proactively.”
At Coupa, we believe great work deserves to be recognized, not just for outcomes but for the commitment, ownership, and impact it brings. From weekly wins to milestone achievements, celebrating excellence is part of how we show up for one another. As part of our evolving rewards and recognition program, the Coupa India Leadership Team introduced the Standout Performer Award (Monthly) and Extra Mile Award (Quarterly) to spotlight Coupanians whose contributions drive individual, team, and business success. We’re proud to recognize our Stan dout Performer Award winner for November 2025 and invite you to join us in celebrating his achievement.
As we celebrate Black History Month, Coupa’s Engage employee resource group honors the resilience, creativity, and leadership of Black pioneers whose innovation has shaped technology and artificial intelligence. This year’s theme, “ Innovation and the Impact of Black Pioneers in Tech and AI ,” recognizes trailblazers who challenged barriers, introduced new ways of thinking, and built pathways for future generations. Through the voices of Coupanians across our organization, we celebrate how those legacies continue to inspire us to innovate with purpose, push boundaries, and help shape what’s next at Coupa.