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 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.
Chien-Yi Tsai’s career hasn’t followed a straight line, and that’s exactly what led him to innovation. Looking back, Chien-Yi doesn’t see a single defining moment that made him an inventor. Instead, he sees a series of questions, challenges, and moments of curiosity that gradually shaped him into the engineer he is today. His focus was never on earning a patent, but on continuous learning, solving meaningful problems, and pushing beyond what felt comfortable. “I never set out with the goal of becoming a patent inventor,” Chien-Yi shares. “I was focused on learning, solving real problems, and pushing myself beyond what felt comfortable.” That mindset ultimately led him to Coupa, and to invention. A Career Built on Curiosity Like many engineers, Chien-Yi’s early career was about building strong foundations: understanding how systems work, weighing technical tradeoffs, and learning how technology can solve real business challenges. Each role added depth such as stronger technical skills, broader systems thinking, and a growing appreciation for collaboration. When Chien-Yi joined Coupa, he entered an environment that actively encouraged curiosity. The challenges weren’t neatly packaged; they were complex, evolving, and deeply connected to real-world supply chain operations. That complexity pushed him to think bigger and approach problems more creatively. Before Coupa, Chien-Yi didn’t consider himself an “inventor.” He saw himself as a problem solver. Over time, he realized the distinction wasn’t as clear as he once thought. “I didn’t think of myself as an inventor but more of a problem solver,” he says. “Over time, I realized those two things aren’t very different.” The Spark Behind the Patent The idea that eventually became a patent began with a simple question: How can supply chains become smarter, faster, and more efficient as new delivery methods emerge? As delivery models continue to evolve, Chien-Yi became increasingly interested in how emerging transportation capabilities could be thoughtfully integrated with traditional logistics networks. That curiosity led to deeper exploration of how different modes of delivery could operate together within a single system. As Chien-Yi thought more about the increasing viability of drones, it became clear to him that they could play a meaningful role in logistics. But integrating aerial delivery with traditional ground transportation introduced an entirely new layer of complexity. What started as informal conversations and rough concepts evolved into a structured exploration of how to model routes that intelligently combine aerial and ground delivery assets, accounting for capabilities, constraints, and user preferences. The challenge wasn’t just technical; it required rethinking how multiple transportation modes could operate as one unified system. Chien-Yi credits his colleague at the time, Hafiz Hasan, as a key partner in the ideation and patenting process. “Hafiz played a major role in shaping the idea and writing the patent,” Chien-Yi notes. “I learned a tremendous amount from working with him.”
Innovation doesn’t always start with a job description. In some cases, it starts with curiosity. For Keerthi Raghavendra, now an Associate Product Manager on Coupa’s AI & Analytics team, that curiosity turned into a passion project, and ultimately, a career-defining opportunity.
So much can happen in one year, especially in your career journey. We shine the light on four Coupanians across the globe who hit their one-year milestone. In the process, they share stories of learning, impact, and the values that unite #AllOfUs. From Bogotá to Pune to the U.S., this foursome reflects on their first year at Coupa and what it means to Shape What’s Next together. Testament to our culture, this journey sparked something unexpected. Two Bogota teammates—Lucas and José—started at Coupa as colleagues and ended their first year as close friends. Their story is a reminder that when we Build Tomorrow Together, relationships are often the greatest win. Let’s meet Lucas, Maddy, José, and Mehnaz and hear what their first year at Coupa has meant to them.
AI Helps. People Hire. How Coupa Keeps Recruiting Human. At Coupa, transformation is part of who we are. Whether it’s using our platform to help businesses run smarter or how people build meaningful careers with us, integrity is at our core. We also understand that the job search can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Generative AI (GenAI) has emerged as a helpful tool in the job hunt, but we want candidates to know one thing clearly: every hiring decision at Coupa is made by real people. AI can support your journey. It will never replace real connection, context, or the value of your lived experience. It’s great if AI tools help you feel more prepared. What matters most is you and what you uniquely bring to an opportunity. Here are a few simple guidelines to help you understand our position on the ethical use of AI throughout your application process. Tips for Using AI in Your Application Journey Use AI as a starting point, not the final version. AI can help brainstorm résumé or cover-letter ideas, but your application should reflect your true experience and voice which is what we care about. Lean into what makes you stand apart. AI can refine words, but only you can share the real story behind your work, impact, and growth. Prep with AI, but don’t script interviews. AI-generated mock questions can help you practice, but we want your thinking, not rehearsed answers. Stay truthful. Using AI to organize your ideas is great. Using it to stretch or fabricate experience isn’t. Show us your authentic self.