Every revolution in connectivity has redefined the way humanity progresses— from telegraphs shrinking continents to the internet collapsing barriers of time and distance. Today, we stand on the brink of another transformation: the fusion of open source networking and edge computing. This shift promises not just faster systems but smarter, more democratic infrastructure for the digital age.
But revolutions don’t shape themselves—they need visionaries who can see beyond silos, who can weave collaboration into innovation, and who can turn complexity into shared progress. Among the architects of this new era, Arpit Joshipura, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Networking at The Linux Foundation, has become a catalyst—bridging communities, technologies, and industries to accelerate what comes next.
Building the backbone of the community
Arpit Joshipura’s journey into open source networking began with a deep curiosity about how systems work. This passion led him to pursue engineering, followed by advanced degrees, including a Master’s and an MBA in North Carolina. His career began at a defining moment in the history of technology, when TCP/IP was emerging as the backbone of the Internet. As one of the first engineers to work on this protocol, he contributed to shaping the infrastructure that powers global connectivity today.
Over the years, he advanced from engineer to C-suite executive, gaining experience across software, hardware, startups, and large enterprises. This breadth of expertise allowed him to understand both the technical and strategic dimensions of networking. A turning point came when he recognized that the future of innovation lay in collective investment, particularly in non-differentiated software.
In 2016, Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of The Linux Foundation, invited him to lead global initiatives in networking and edge. Nearly a decade later, under his leadership, the Linux Foundation has become a cornerstone of worldwide collaboration across the open networking and edge stack, enabling technologies that no single company could build alone. His journey reflects how vision and inclusive leadership can drive industry-wide transformation.
Rivalries into Roadmaps
What truly sets Arpit Joshipura apart is his ability to approach complexity with frameworks that prioritize inclusion and clarity over competition and silos. His leadership philosophy rests on three core principles: fostering trust, embedding transparency, and harmonizing diverse perspectives into actionable strategies.
Unlike leaders who focus solely on advancing technology, Joshipura integrates governance and community building into the very design of innovation. He sees every challenge not as a technical hurdle alone but as an opportunity to create processes that outlast individual projects. This strategic lens allows him to transform fragmented initiatives into unified ecosystems, ensuring that progress is sustainable, scalable, and globally relevant.
It is this approach—balancing technical depth with organizational diplomacy—that has enabled him to stand out in the crowded space of open source networking. By consistently turning complexity into collaboration, Joshipura has established himself as a leader who doesn’t just drive projects forward but reshapes how entire industries innovate together.
Challenges into Lessons of Leadership
Arpit Joshipura’s journey in shaping global open source networking wasn’t just about achievements but also about overcoming tough challenges. One big challenge was bringing together an industry that usually saw others as competitors. Networking companies (vendors, telcos, operators, system integrators, etc.) often kept their ideas private and were unsure about working together. Getting these different groups to cooperate needed more than just technical skills—it required patience, good communication, and building trust across different businesses and cultures.
With persistence, he changed doubt into teamwork, showing that working together can speed up innovation better than working alone. This experience taught him an important lesson: leadership in open source depends on good communication. He believes the best progress comes not just from writing code, but from conversations that respect every voice and idea. By listening, bringing people together, and leading clearly, Joshipura has shown that true leadership means turning challenges into shared strength.
Celebrating Leadership & Excellence in Open Source Networking
From pioneering TCP/IP to steering global collaboration, Arpit Joshipura’s achievements reflect a career built on innovation, influence, and industry recognition.
- Industry Honors & Awards
- Top 5 Movers & Shakers in Networking – Recognized globally
- Leading Light Finalist – Executive of the Year 2024
- Featured in multiple global and India-focused tech publications
- Professional Recognitions
- Recognized thought leader in open source networking and edge computing
- Keynote speaker at major global tech and industry events
- Mentorship & community-building initiatives spanning universities to industry forums
- Certifications & Educational Achievements
- Master’s Computer Engineering & MBA – North Carolina, USA
- Advanced training in networking, edge computing, and leadership programs
- Accredited programs through the Linux Foundation and partner organizations
- Organizational Achievements (Linux Foundation & more)
- Executive lead of LF Networking, LF Edge, CAMARA, Open Source RAN and 10 other sub foundations – which includesOpen Network Automation Platform (ONAP), Nephio, Essedum, and more – powering global 5G networks
- Industry-leading participation and collaboration across the entire open networking & edge ecosystems
- Recognized for excellence in leadership, innovation and community engagement, at multiple Silicon Valley Startups and High Tech Enterprises.
Partnerships That Propel Innovation
Arpit Joshipura believes that meaningful progress in open source networking emerges not from acquisitions, but from strategic partnerships that unite expertise and purpose. Under his guidance, the Linux Foundation has cultivated deep alliances with standards organizations, peer open source initiatives, and leading enterprises across sectors. By embedding code development within these collaborative frameworks, Joshipura ensures that theoretical standards are seamlessly translated into practical solutions.
His philosophy centers on harmonizing efforts: if a standard already exists, it is implemented openly within the community; if it does not, the Linux Foundation spearheads its creation and upstream integration. This approach prevents fragmentation, ensures interoperability, and accelerates enterprise adoption of emerging technologies.
Through these partnerships, Joshipura has positioned the Linux Foundation and its projects as a neutral yet influential convening force—where developers, executives, and global stakeholders co-create the future of networking and edge computing. His leadership demonstrates that collaboration, when guided by vision and inclusivity, can transform competitive landscapes into shared platforms for innovation.
Global Collaboration in Action
Arpit Joshipura led the Linux Foundation in harmonizing two major open-source networking projects—one led by AT&T in North America and the other by China Mobile—into the Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP). This initiative required aligning both architecture and operational workflows, while bringing together engineers and executives from across the globe.
Through consistent engagement, structured collaboration, and transparent processes, Joshipura facilitated the creation of a neutral platform where participants could contribute seamlessly. The initial result was ONAP, a unified solution that today powers multiple large-scale 5G networks worldwide.
Arpit then became a leading force in creating the LF Networking umbrella fund that co-governs several related projects (including ONAP) across the networking stack. This model has served as a template for other verticals to emulate within the Linux Foundation.
These achievements underscore Joshipura’s ability to transform complex technical landscapes into collaborative frameworks, demonstrating how inclusive leadership can enable large-scale, industry-wide innovation.
Integrity at the Core
Arpit Joshipura ensures that security, compliance, and ethical standards are central to all Linux Foundation initiatives under his purview. Under his guidance, the Linux Foundation’s networking projects follow the strict protocols set by the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), with continuous code scanning to detect vulnerabilities and ensure license compliance. (Dashboard)
His teams have implemented transparent monitoring dashboards that provide real-time insights into project security, allowing for prompt detection and resolution of potential risks. Additionally, ethical conduct is strictly enforced through codes of conduct applied to all events, meetings, and interactions, creating an environment of accountability and professional integrity.
By embedding these standards into every project, Joshipura has strengthened enterprise confidence in open source networking solutions, ensuring that innovation proceeds without compromising safety, legality, or ethical responsibility.
Feedback as a Catalyst for Innovation
Arpit Joshipura prioritizes structured engagement with enterprises, developers, and the wider open source community to ensure that every initiative benefits from comprehensive insights. He has established platforms and processes that make feedback a continuous and actionable part of project development. This approach allows voices from all levels—executives, technical contributors, and community members—to be heard and integrated into decision-making.
It’s this leadership style that enables Linux Foundation projects to incorporate multiple feedback channels, including regular governing board meetings, technical working groups, and open forums. These mechanisms ensure that concerns, suggestions, and innovative ideas are systematically evaluated and acted upon. By translating diverse input into clear priorities, the organization reinforces transparency, strengthens stakeholder trust, and accelerates the adoption of solutions that are both practical and globally relevant.
Joshipura’s philosophy reflects a simple principle: inclusive feedback drives superior outcomes. Through this, projects under his guidance not only meet current enterprise needs but also anticipate future challenges, creating a resilient and adaptable ecosystem for open source networking and edge technologies.
Media Publications & Features
- Featured Articles
- LinkedIn Highlights
- Featured in LinkedIn posts covering open-source summits and industry insights (Source)
- Global Media Coverage
- Recognized in multiple India-focused and international tech publications for thought leadership and open-source networking initiatives
Next-Gen Connectivity
Under Arpit Joshipura’s leadership, open source networking and edge are entering a transformative phase. Domain-specific AI is emerging as a key driver, enabling industry-tailored models and datasets that accelerate innovation across telecom, finance, critical infrastructure, and more..
Open source solutions are increasingly embedded in enterprise operations, offering transparency, compliance, and faster deployment. Joshipura emphasizes harmonized standards and interoperable frameworks to navigate the fragmented global landscape.
Edge computing is maturing from experimental deployments to production-ready solutions, delivering real-time insights and localized decision-making. Simultaneously, enterprise-ready orchestration and “architecture” frameworks simplify adoption, reduce complexity, and enable scalable innovation.
Through these trends, Joshipura demonstrates that leadership in open source networking and edge is not only about technology but also about building adaptable, secure, and collaborative ecosystems that prepare enterprises for the future of connectivity.
An open letter to aspiring open-source leaders
Dear Community,
Open Source tests leadership in a different way. You have to be humble enough to listen across communities, cultures, and countries, and strong enough to move first by taking people along. Leadership through people skills and leadership through communication skills are your greatest assets.
Keep learning, keep listening, and lead with empathy.
Sincerely,
Arpit Joshipura,
SVP/GM Networking,
The Linux Foundation
Architecting Global Collaboration in Open-Source Networking”
1. Visionary Leadership Transforms Complexity into Collaboration
Joshipura demonstrates that true leadership lies in turning technical and organizational complexity into inclusive, industry-wide solutions that unite competitors around shared goals.
2. Neutral Platforms Drive Collective Innovation
By fostering open, trusted environments like ONAP and Nephio, he shows that collaboration across rival companies accelerates the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, such as 5G and edge computing.
3. Communication and Trust Are Core Leadership Tools
Beyond technical expertise, his approach emphasizes listening, structured feedback, and transparent processes as essential drivers for sustainable innovation.
4. Strategic Partnerships Amplify Impact
Joshipura’s leadership underlines that building alliances, harmonizing standards, and embedding open source solutions across enterprises can transform competitive landscapes into cooperative ecosystems.
5. Ethics, Security, and Governance Strengthen Confidence
Integrating compliance, transparent monitoring, and ethical standards into projects ensures that innovation proceeds responsibly, inspiring trust across global stakeholders.
