Season 1: Episode 5

Identity Matters with Kevin Cunningham, Co-Founder and former President, SailPoint

In this episode of Identity Matters, SailPoint CEO Mark McClain and SailPoint Co-Founder and former President Kevin Cunningham take a step back in time to explore the company’s origins.

Kevin and Mark discussed navigating the dot-com era, building a resilient company culture, and how they pioneered identity governance in the evolving cybersecurity landscape. They also talk about the “lifeboat mentality” that kept their team aligned, the power of listening, and Kevin’s shift into mentorship and philanthropy.

This episode explores the importance of staying steady, adapting, and leading with purpose to build a lasting company. Kevin shares insights from his experience working with Mark and the founders he advises today. Aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, you’re going to want to tune in.

Featured speakers
Mark McClain
Mark McClainCEO and FounderSailPoint

In his role as CEO and Founder of SailPoint, Mark brings almost 35 years of experience in technology. Under Mark's direction, SailPoint has become the leader in identity security for the modern enterprise with over 2K employees worldwide, operating in 37 countries. In 2022, SailPoint was acquired by Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.9 billion. Mark directs and drives the overall vision and strategy for SailPoint, which is underpinned by his passion for building top-performing teams, creating a collaborative and innovative work environment, and focusing continuously on the needs of customers.

Kevin Cunningham
Kevin CunninghamCo-Founder and former PresidentSailPoint

As a veteran of the Identity Management industry, Kevin Cunningham spent 20 years driving innovation at both Waveset Technologies, where he was a co-founder and Vice President of Marketing, and SailPoint, where he was co-founder, President, and Chief Strategy Officer. Since moving on from SailPoint, Cunningham has been focused on advising and assisting entrepreneurial ventures as well dedicating his time and efforts to Austin Habitat for Humanity.

Catch all the episodes

Subscribe to The Identity Matters show.


Date: March 27, 2025Duration: 33 mins 14 sec
Listen on:
Identity Security

Start a product tour

Explore our AI-driven identity security product on your own.

Launch interactive tour