Rubrik Career Growth & Development

What makes promotion criteria feel fair and clear — and what evidence supports that?

To ensure promotion criteria feel genuinely fair and clear, they must be demonstrably objective, transparent and consistently applied. Promotions must clearly link an individual’s business impact, the business need for a role at the next level and the mastery of defined competencies. At Rubrik, promotions recognize “Rubrikans” who deliver meaningful business impact, embody our RIVET values — “Relentlessness,” “Integrity,” “Velocity,” “Excellence” and “Transparency” — and advance our mission to secure the world’s data, grounded in transparent, equitable calibration. 

This structured approach builds trust and fuels motivation for growth, effectively preventing decisions based on subjective factors or simply time in role. To enable this, we leverage leveling guides and rubrics and follow a rigorous process for promotion calibration decisions. When these standards are applied equitably across the organization, it validates the fairness of the system and removes ambiguity. It also creates clarity around development planning, allowing Rubrikans to be intentional about the skills and experiences they need to grow in their career, whether for an upward promotion or a lateral move to an entirely new role.

Which program changed your capability — with what measurable result?

At Rubrik, ongoing performance excellence is the foundation of growth and development. OPE combines regular check-ins, ongoing feedback, individual development plans and mid-year and annual reviews, keeping development top of mind throughout the year so Rubrikans can do the best work of their careers. OPE and our signature programs empower Rubrikans to own their growth and amplify their impact, helping teams innovate faster and serve customers worldwide.

Our programs include Thrive, which is geared toward “transformational leadership for top talent,” Frontline Fundamentals, tailored to people management essentials, and a Quarterly Development Series on pertinent, emergent topics, plus mentorship and business-specific technical and power-skills training.

The results: Thrive participants earn higher promotion rates and performance ratings than a matched peer group, and 83 percent agree, “Rubrik is a great company for me to invest in my development,” which is up five points versus the fourth quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. Our vision: Rubrik as the ultimate career destination, where meaningful work securing the world’s data pairs with exponential personal and professional growth.

What coaching habit consistently moves careers forward?

When people managers lead with curiosity, it unlocks a powerful new level of enablement for their team members. Curiosity lends itself to asking more questions rather than simply directing or telling, which prompts individuals to think critically about their situation, underlying problem and possible solutions. This crucial shift in conversation cultivates greater ownership of work, moving Rubrikans from following instructions to generating ideas and strategies. Curiosity-driven coaching also encourages thinking and innovation, helping teams solve the right problems and make better decisions. This commitment ultimately fuels engagement, empowerment and growth. Our manager and leadership development programs incorporate ample practice in asking questions and active listening.