# Rodolfo Saldana ![Rodolfo Saldana](/resources/cognition/portraits/rodolfo-saldana.webp) Cognition AI Ecosystem Lead, LATAM (Devin, Windsurf) | Managing Partner at Orbitware + Arkstem Cognition Mexico City, Mexico ## At Cognition - Role: Cognition AI Ecosystem Lead | Bringing Devin to LATAM (Sales/GTM) - Joined: Jun 2025 - How they joined: Directly - Before Cognition: Managing Partner, Arkstem ## Identity - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana - Website: https://www.arkstem.com - Domain: cognition.ai ## Notes - Announced the Cognition role on LinkedIn verbatim: "I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Cognition AI Ecosystem Lead | Bringing Devin.ai to LATAM at Cognition!" The public announcement came in Dec 2025 although his LinkedIn experience dates the role from Jun 2025. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_im-happy-to-share-that-im-starting-a-new-activity-7405044568527904768-sOU9) - LinkedIn role description for Cognition: "I help enterprises across Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina integrate Cognition's Devin... into their existing Product and Data teams", naming Nubank, Mercado Libre, Itaú, Citi and Santander, with the stated goal "Raising engineering and data team productivity by up to 20x." (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Posted after visiting Cognition: "Gran mañana en las oficinas de Cognition, es impresionante como la platforma lanza nuevas funciones cada semana con el input y feedback de los clientes." (96 reactions, his most-engaged original post found). (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_gran-ma%C3%B1ana-en-las-oficinas-de-cognition-activity-7439776764794421248-hjqH) - Reshared Santander chair Ana Botín's comments on Devin, writing "Cada instancia de Devin equivale aproximadamente al trabajo de 12 a 16 ingenieros de software junior" and "Después de implementar los primeros, tengo clarísimo que esta tecnología abre la puerta al...". (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_ai-fintech-coding-activity-7396606510744891392-Oepf) - Joined Orbitware as Managing Partner / CRO in Oct 2025 "following the fusion and acquisition of Arkstem"; Arkstem keeps its identity as a specialized Databricks partner. Orbitware is a Cognition partner. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Ran Devin AI workshops at the official Dev House of Mexico Tech Week (Oct 2026), posting "Vamos a tener varios workshops de Devin AI en la Dev House Oficial de tech week" and that several sessions were sold out. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_maezxicotechweek-activity-7518774449907617792-kCqs) - Promoted a 18 March 2026 enterprise AI leaders dialogue: "Devin AI Cognition Windsurf está en la casa para aportar un punto de vista desde la experiencia y resultados en clientes como Itaú, Nubank, Citi, Santander." (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_agenticimpact-engineeringfutures-orbitware-activity-7437607868620582912-MLZi) - Listed as a speaker at Orbitware's Cognition AI dinner "The AI Agenda 2026: Del Backlog al ROI en el Ciclo de Desarrollo", alongside Cognition Marketing Director Zach Diamond and Cognition Sales Director LATAM Haig Hanessian. (https://www.orbitware.com/cognition-ai-dinner) - Invited LATAM bank and fintech executives to a Cognition roundtable: "AI en el ciclo de desarrollo de software.... que tienen en común los Bancos y Fintechs líderes en LATAM. Itaú Unibanco, Santander, Citi, Nubank Mercado Pago .... Cognition Devin AI Windsurf"; his GTM motion is executive roundtables aimed at financial services. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_ai-en-el-ciclo-de-desarrollo-de-software-activity-7404251686073995264-VMwk) - Cognition signed a definitive agreement to acquire Windsurf in July 2025, roughly when his Cognition role begins (Jun 2025). His earlier Windsurf ambassador work makes him one of the LATAM community figures carried over from the Windsurf side into Cognition. (https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/14/cognition-maker-of-the-ai-coding-agent-devin-acquires-windsurf/) - Billed as "Embajador de Windsurf México" leading a Kahoot-style Windsurf demo at the Windsurf Open Build Mexico City event powered by The AI Collective. (https://luma.com/openbuild-citymx) - Founded/led Arkstem as Managing Partner from Feb 2024: a nearshore Data & AI consultancy with a "Data use cases lab in Mexico City" delivering Databricks solutions to North American clients. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - At NTT DATA Services (2018-2024) he built and ran the Mexico Data & Analytics practice specialized in Databricks, leading 100+ data analysts, engineers and scientists, and launched the Nearshore Delivery Center. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Public headline says "Managing Partner @ Arkstem + Orbitware | deploying Devin in LATAM". (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - On enterprise Devin rollout he wrote: "La adopción ordenada, progresiva y vigilada es clave para capturar el valor a gran escala" (May 2026), framing a staged, governed adoption pitch to large enterprises. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_orbitware-arkstem-engineeringexcellence-activity-7463251628100354048-ubtt) - As Sr. Application Director - Cloud, Data & Apps at NTT DATA (2020-2023) he reports growing the application development practice revenue 233% (from 6 to 20 million USD). (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Promoted a Devin AI event in Monterrey: "Nos vemos este jueves en Monterrey 🦾… Devin AI" (Sep 2026). (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_monterreytechweek-mtytw2026-innovaciaejn-activity-7510445481840418816-EvGq) - Posted about an Orbitware / Arkstem team gathering: "No fue una junta disfrazada de fiesta. Fue tiempo real con la gente que hace posible a Orbitware / Arkstem : nuestro equipo, clientes..." (Aug 2026). (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_cosmicalliance-orbitware-arkstem-activity-7495986680546484224-TZer) - Luma profile (Rodolfo Saldana Castro) shows 4 events hosted and 27 attended since March 2025, including "Agentic Coding: El nuevo estándar del software 🌟 Cognition | Windsurf | Devin | Orbitware". (https://luma.com/user/usr-F8VXVHVggwktUWa) - At Arkstem, my focus is on harnessing data, analytics, and machine learning to offer cutting-edge solutions to our North American clientele. Our team's proficiency in Databricks has empowered us to establish a Data Use Cases Lab in Mexico City, which serves as a cornerstone for our innovative services across the Americas. Previously, as Managing Director at Global Technology Firms, I spearheaded the creation of a Data and Analytics Practice, recruiting a formidable team to secure our first majo; this comes from the profile summary and preserves the person's own positioning. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Shared Cognition content with the caption "Cognition el laboratorio detrás de Devin AI 🦾" (Sep 2026). (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_inteligenciaartificial-desarrollodesoftware-activity-7500582230868688897-xSq6) - Still active in the Databricks ecosystem in 2026: promoted a CFO-focused session on "El paso a paso para llegar a los Agentes en el área financiera con Databricks" with Miguel Díaz, Carol Carneiro and Felipe Peñaranda. (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_arkstem-databricks-generativeai-activity-7442668115777347584-uJEr) - Previous roles include Managing Director - Data & Analytics Specialized in Databricks at NTT DATA Services; Managing Director - Nearshore Delivery Center at NTT DATA Services; Sr. Application Director - Cloud, Data & Apps at NTT DATA Services; Director - Intelligent Data & Process Automation at NTT DATA Services; Director - Digital Business Consulting at NTT DATA Services; Digital Banking Trasformation Manager at Accenture México; Management Consulting Manager - Digital Oil & Gas at Accenture México; Management Consulting Manager - Capital Projects & Project Finance - Oil & Gas at Accenture México. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Earlier career: Strategic planning & Capital Project Finance at Braskem (2012-2015) and startup/product work at the Tecnológico de Monterrey business incubator (2008-2012); trained as a chemical engineer (Tecnológico de Monterrey, UCLA), not as a competitive programmer. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Education history includes Bachelor's degree, Chemical Engineering, UCLA; Bachelor's degree, Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering, Tecnológico de Monterrey. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) - Shared Devin desktop/Mac news captioned "Devin + Mac 🦾" (Sep 2026). (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_special-delivery-devin-just-got-a-mac-activity-7505697934441631744-R9k-) - Congratulated Arkstem colleagues Diego Arriaga and Jesús Martín Gaytán Villarreal (May 2026): "El mayor de los éxitos para a dos grandes !" (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_dos-profesionales-excepcionales-que-personifican-activity-7463748572883120129-89Qm) - Location is Mexico City, Mexico. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana) ## Experience - Cognition AI Ecosystem Lead | Bringing Devin to LATAM at Cognition (Jun 2025 - Present): Leading the Autonomous Agentic Engineering revolution in LATAM. 🌎 I help enterprises across Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina integrate Cognition's Devin—the first asynchronous AI Developer & Data Engineer Agent—into their existing Product and Data teams. 🏦 Enterprise Collaboration: Working with financial and tech leaders like Nubank, Mercado Libre, Itaú, Citi, and Santander to modernize development workflows. 🚀 The Mission: To accelerate the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) while simultaneously increasing code quality, security, and efficiency. 📈 The Goal: Raising engineering and data team productivity by up to 20x. - Managing partner / CRO at Orbitware - Mexico City, Mexico (Oct 2025 - Present): I am joining the Orbitware team following the fusion and acquisition of Arkstem. The Data & AI portfolio in Orbitware now becomes stronger with this talented, certified team, while Arkstem will maintain its own identity and focus as a specialized partner of Databricks. * Leading the sales and business development team. * Focused on commercial strategy and process enablement. * Responsible for go-to-market of Data & AI in Mexico and the USA. * My goal is to drive growth and innovation in both markets. - Managing Partner at Arkstem - Mexico City, Mexico (Feb 2024 - Present): Arkstem is an Data & Tech consulting services company serving customers in North America. The firm specializes in data, analytics, and machine learning and leverages its data factory and Data use cases lab in Mexico City to serve its customers across the Americas. As Managing Partner at Arkstem, I lead a team of data scientists, engineers and analysts specializing in delivering databricks solutions. https://www.arkstem.com - Managing Director - Data & Analytics Specialized in Databricks at NTT DATA Services - Mexico City, Mexico (May 2021 - Aug 2024): As Managing Director of the Data and Analytics Practice, I have successfully established and grown the business in Mexico, leading a team of over 100 data analysts, engineers, and scientists. My contributions have included: *Founding the Practice*: Established the Data and Analytics Business Consulting and Technology Services practice from scratch, defining its vision, strategy, and operating model. Building a Strong Team: Orchestrated the start-up of the delivery practice, recruiting and assembling a talented team of data professionals. *Securing Key Clients*: Led the team to win the first major deal in the Data and Analytics space, demonstrating the value proposition and securing the practice's future success. *Sustainable Growth*: Strategized and implemented a sustainable growth plan for the team, expanding its capabilities and expertise while maintaining profitability and delivery quality. *Operational Excellence*: Designed and established the operating model for the practice, ensuring efficient and effective workflows, resource allocation, and project management. *Key Achievements*: + Built a team of over 100 data professionals + Secured the first major client in the Data and Analytics arena + Achieved consistent profitability and delivery quality + Established a robust operating model for efficient team operations *Skills and Expertise*: + Data and Analytics Business Strategy + Team Leadership and Management + Client Acquisition and Relationship Management + Solution Architecture and Design + Operating Model Development and Implementation + Financial Management and Profitability *Outcomes and Impact*: + Established the Data and Analytics practice as a key driver of success in the Mexican market + Enabled data-driven decision-making for clients across diverse industries + Contributed significantly to the company's overall revenue and profitability + Built a high-performing team with a strong culture of innovation and collaboration - Managing Director - Nearshore Delivery Center at NTT DATA Services - Mexico City, Mexico (Aug 2020 - Jun 2024): Spearheaded the launch and operationalization of the Nearshore delivery model, establishing a robust foundation for growth. Pioneered the implementation of an industrialized continuous delivery model, encompassing: Data Engineering and Analytics: Established efficient data pipelines and advanced analytics capabilities. Enterprise Applications like SAP and SFDC: Streamlined the deployment and management of critical enterprise applications. Digital Product Development: Fostered an agile environment for accelerated product development and innovation. Application Rationalization and Modernization: Led initiatives to migrate legacy applications to the cloud, enhancing scalability and performance. - Sr. Application Director - Cloud, Data & Apps at NTT DATA Services - Mexico City Metropolitan Area (Apr 2020 - Apr 2023): Over the 3 years I was Instrumental in transforming the Application Development practice, driving a 233% revenue increase (from 6 to 20 million USD) and a 100% margin improvement. Elevated service offerings beyond basic testing to encompass Application Management, Data & Analytics, Salesforce Industries, Application Rationalization, API, and Microservices. Spearheaded the implementation of factory models, achieving a 30% increase in delivery efficiency. Played a key role in securing major deals, successfully competing against industry leaders like Accenture and Deloitte. Demonstrated leadership in: Strategic growth: Developed and executed a comprehensive growth strategy, leading to significant revenue and profitability expansion. Operational excellence: Implemented factory models and streamlined processes, resulting in enhanced efficiency and cost savings. Service portfolio expansion: Broadened service offerings to meet evolving client needs and market demands. Deal acquisition: Played a pivotal role in winning major contracts against leading competitors. Team leadership: Built and motivated a high-performing team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. - Director - Intelligent Data & Process Automation at NTT DATA Services - Dallas/Fort Worth Area (Apr 2018 - Jan 2022): Accelerating the Transformation of an American Insurer, integrating dispersed initiatives and technology in an End to End digital value stream process. integrating the roadmaps from Exceptional Customer Experience to Data Structuring and Robotic Process Automation impacting in better customer experience, fast servicing and front, and back office operation cost reduction - Director - Digital Business Consulting at NTT DATA Services - Mexico City Area, Mexico (Oct 2018 - Apr 2020): End to End perspective integrating new Business Models, evolving Processes and new Technologies Demonstrate subject matter expertise in business strategy and digital transformation + acceleration within target industry sectors Consult on and manage the day-to-day direction of a client project which includes structuring and leading teams of business consultants and solution architects, ensuring project work is continually on track, delivering superior end products to the client. Projects: - Digital Acceleration Strategy Roadmap - Data and Analytics Transformation - Robotics, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Roadmap Implementation - Integration of Customer Journeys with supporting Enterprise Processes, Data, Robotics, and Analytics - Open Innovation Strategy - Design Thinking + Agile + DevOps processes and methodology integration and execution Industries - Banking - Insurance - Oil and Gas / Mining - US Health Care - E-Commerce - Digital Banking Trasformation Manager at Accenture México - Mexico City Area, Mexico (Feb 2017 - Nov 2018): As a Digital Banking Manager, I partnered with the top 10 banks in Mexico on numerous digital banking transformation projects, representing over 80% of my workload. During this time, I also founded a profitable business that generated USD 30 million in revenue by developing and deploying digital factories for leading banks in Mexico. -Service Design -Customer Experience - Product Management -Digital Architecture - Management Consulting Manager - Digital Oil & Gas at Accenture México - Mexico City Area, Mexico (Jan 2015 - Feb 2017): Combine industry experience with innovative offerings to help clients transform how they maintain, operate and optimize their plants, wells, refineries, mines, power generation facilities, gas stations and pipelines.  Main projects with National Oil Companies and top Mining companies in Mexico Monetize transformation through: •Digital Foundation •(IoT/Sensors) Intelligent Automation and Control •Digital Safety & Energy Management •Operations Analytics & Process Monitoring •Engineering Collaboration •Mobility •Cloud •Security •Robotics - Management Consulting Manager - Capital Projects & Project Finance - Oil & Gas at Accenture México - Mexico City Area, Mexico (Jan 2015 - Mar 2016): • From analog to digital in the Energy, Chemical, Utilities & Capital Projects industry - Strategic planning & Capital Project Finance Sr. Consultant at Braskem - Mexico City Area, Mexico (Jan 2012 - Jan 2015): Key Activities • Project Finance Forecasting, Project Planning, Budgeting, Cost Control • Financial Modeling and Risk Analysis • Reporting: Sponsors & Lenders Reports, Executive Board Presentations, Executive Summaries, Financial Reports and Weekly Key indicators to executive board level • Project Finance interface - Digital innovation product startup lead at Incubadora de Empresas - Monterrey Area, Mexico (Jul 2009 - Sep 2012): • Business modeling for costumer development working with different projects and startups. • Implementation of lean startup methodology to reduce risk, optimized cost and dynamically iterate business models to find the product/market fits going through all the cycle of product development. • Obtained a seed capital for 50.000 USD - Business incubator Analyst at Incubadora de Empresas del ITESM - Monterrey Area, Mexico (Jan 2008 - Jul 2009): • First contacts with the entrepreneur, receiving and analyzing their business models for qualification • Grade business models and make recommendations to fine tune their building blocks of the model, introduce and explain the lean startup methodology. • Answer startup/business questions to entrepreneurs through the website of the incubator: http://incubadoras.mty.itesm.mx/ ## Education - UCLA - Bachelor's degree, Chemical Engineering - (Jan 2005 - Jan 2011) - Tecnológico de Monterrey - Bachelor's degree, Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering - (Jan 2006 - Jan 2010) ## Sources - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodolfosaldana?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAlEv98B-V-3ToOmelxobaAxWKieAFRNKZQ - https://luma.com/openbuild-citymx - https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/14/cognition-maker-of-the-ai-coding-agent-devin-acquires-windsurf/ - https://www.orbitware.com/cognition-ai-dinner - https://luma.com/user/usr-F8VXVHVggwktUWa - https://www.arkstem.com - https://www.linkedin.com/company/cognition-ai-labs/posts - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlo-alberto-gonz%C3%A1lez-garc%C3%ADa-5b91b4146?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAACNExV0BWpeP_0sYzPbQh0cbQ0xjLN33Ybk - https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbitware/posts - https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkstem/posts - https://www.linkedin.com/in/griseldaosorio?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAMfwMoBfSE04mIxLMB4SXIBlxpapNm289Q - https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-de-la-torre-montero-a28a76251?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAD5FrUABxwTvUUGeNmbfI6UKKmAZ-XP9mE4 - https://github.com/rodolfosaldana - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_im-happy-to-share-that-im-starting-a-new-activity-7405044568527904768-sOU9 - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_gran-ma%C3%B1ana-en-las-oficinas-de-cognition-activity-7439776764794421248-hjqH - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_ai-fintech-coding-activity-7396606510744891392-Oepf - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_maezxicotechweek-activity-7518774449907617792-kCqs - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_agenticimpact-engineeringfutures-orbitware-activity-7437607868620582912-MLZi - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_ai-en-el-ciclo-de-desarrollo-de-software-activity-7404251686073995264-VMwk - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_orbitware-arkstem-engineeringexcellence-activity-7463251628100354048-ubtt - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_monterreytechweek-mtytw2026-innovaciaejn-activity-7510445481840418816-EvGq - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_cosmicalliance-orbitware-arkstem-activity-7495986680546484224-TZer - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_inteligenciaartificial-desarrollodesoftware-activity-7500582230868688897-xSq6 - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_arkstem-databricks-generativeai-activity-7442668115777347584-uJEr - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_special-delivery-devin-just-got-a-mac-activity-7505697934441631744-R9k- - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rodolfosaldana_dos-profesionales-excepcionales-que-personifican-activity-7463748572883120129-89Qm Researched with Autumn (https://www.autumn.ai) from public sources. Updated 2026-11-04. Profile: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/cognition/people/rodolfo-saldana · Everyone at Cognition: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/cognition/people