Early Life
Peter P. Gassner was born on February 26, 1965, in Portland, Oregon, to Swiss immigrants. He grew up in Portland as the third of six children. From a young age, Gassner displayed a strong work ethic, working as a paperboy at age 8. He later worked mowing lawns, in a restaurant, and ran a roofing business in high school. Gassner's interest in computer science was sparked by a math teacher who encouraged him to take a computer science class, which would shape his future career.
Rise to Success
Gassner earned a degree in computer science from Oregon State University in 1989. He began his career at IBM's Silicon Valley Lab, working on DB2. He then moved to IBM Research at the Almaden Research Center. At age 30, he joined PeopleSoft, where he served as Chief Architect and General Manager of PeopleTools for nine years. After PeopleSoft, he joined Salesforce.com as Senior Vice President of Technology, gaining valuable insights into cloud computing and the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. In 2007, he founded Veeva Systems with Matt Wallach, focusing on cloud solutions for the life sciences industry. Veeva's IPO in 2013 was a significant milestone.
Key Business Strategies
Gassner's business strategy centers on vertical SaaS, focusing on the unique needs of the life sciences industry. This approach allowed Veeva to offer specialized software, including Veeva CRM and Veeva Vault, for managing data, tracking regulatory registrations, and overseeing supply chains. Gassner emphasizes customer focus and long-term sustainable growth. Veeva also became a Public Benefit Corporation in 2021, demonstrating a commitment to serving customers, employees, and society.
Philanthropy
Peter Gassner is known for supporting various educational and charitable organizations. Veeva has also demonstrated philanthropy through its Public Benefit Corporation status.
