Yogi Goel: tech, teamwork and triumphs

EY alumnus Yogi Goel leads Maxima AI with purpose. His journey proves the power of mentorship, bold moves and trusting your vision.

In brief

Yogi Goel, EY alumnus and now CEO of Maxima AI, credits his EY experience for instilling purpose and a drive to make a positive impact. Throughout his career, Yogi has relied on unwavering support from mentors to overcome challenges and embrace innovation. Today, he encourages others to bet on themselves and keep moving forward, even when the consensus may be against them.

Meet Yogi Goel, a visionary founder who transformed a foundation in finance into a pioneering role at the intersection of technology and accounting. His career is a testament to the power of growth, reinvention and the relationships that shape us along the way.

As a Senior Director of Finance and Accounting at Rubrik, Inc., Yogi helped steer the data security company from US$5m to US$900m in annual recurring revenue, culminating in a successful IPO and a US$17b market cap. But his journey didn’t stop there. Inspired by the challenges he faced and the lessons learned, Yogi founded Maxima AI, an AI-powered accounting platform now backed by Silicon Valley’s top venture firms and trusted by some of the world’s largest companies.

“I could not have asked for a better training ground than my EY experience,” Yogi says. “Working under incredible leaders, I learned to set a macro vision and execute on the micro details. That discipline has shaped every step of my career — from Wall Street to Rubrik’s IPO, and now as a founder.”

Yogi’s story is one of courageous innovation. Within the EY organization, he saw mentors take on projects that defied convention, teaching him to challenge public opinion and pursue bold ideas. “I know I can take on a big challenge, figure a way out, and eventually, success will speak for itself,” he says.

Relationships have been a driving force for Yogi. Early colleagues wrote recommendation letters, mentored him for years and supported his entrepreneurial journey. “Even EY folks I never directly worked with have given a helping hand through my Maxima journey. I hope to do the same for the wider EY community,” Yogi says.

Maxima AI, his latest venture, aims to revolutionize accounting for finance professionals, automating manual tasks and empowering teams to focus on high-value work. “I dealt with these problems firsthand as a senior finance executive. After a long and futile search for a solution, I decided to roll up my sleeves and create one,” Yogi says.

Of course, the path hasn’t been without challenges. Skepticism, not from accountants, but from outsiders who underestimate how transformative this space can be, has fueled Yogi’s resolve: “I am determined to prove the naysayers wrong. AI will be as transformative for accounting as the internet and smartphones were for communication, and we want to help this profession harness that shift, not fear it.”

Reflecting on his journey, Yogi credits his EY experience for instilling a sense of purpose and the drive to positively impact others. “Money and recognition should not be the primary motivation, those are by-products. It’s about the pursuit of building legendary organizations and impacting lives,” he says. “That’s what excites me most about this new chapter.”

His advice for fellow alumni? “Pressure test your motivation. Bet on yourself. Don’t outsource original thinking. Every industry and customer set is different — think for yourself and keep marching, even when the consensus is against you.”

Yogi Goel’s story is a powerful reminder that career evolution is fueled by learning, bold pivots and the relationships that help us grow.

How are you reshaping your own journey? Share your story for a chance to be featured in a future alumni spotlight.