What’s It Like to be Acquired by Progress? Part 3

Matthieu Jonglez, SVP Product & Engineering, who joined Progress as part of the MarkLogic acquisition in 2023, discusses Progress' perspective on career growth and development and the ways it has impacted his experience with the organization.

Learn more about Matthieu's experience and Progress’ M&A expertise in the interview below.

Can you tell us about your roles at SmartLogic, MarkLogic and now with Progress?

Of course! I am one of the founders of SmartLogic, and, as CTO, led product and engineering. When SmartLogic joined forces with MarkLogic, I took on the product strategy for the combined organizations. Now, with Progress, I am the SVP of Product & Engineering for MarkLogic, Semaphore and several other Progress data-related products.

How has your role changed since joining Progress?

Since joining Progress, my responsibilities have expanded. In addition to my work on MarkLogic and Semaphore, I now lead a wider portfolio in the organization. The new Progress Data Platform strategy – a combination of historical and newly acquired products into an end-to-end data platform – marks a sudden acceleration of the data strategy we had initiated in MarkLogic and demonstrates the commitment of Progress to invest and develop acquired products and teams.

How has Progress supported your career growth?

Progress has provided extensive resources, particularly in areas like operations, training and legal support, which have all been invaluable. The MarkLogic team was bruised from the rapid changes during the few turnaround years under Private Equity ownership; joining a product-centric organization has given us the opportunity to revisit our engineering and product management practices and scale them. Conversely, the MarkLogic team has brought its expertise to the Progress team. Providing leadership and guidance in this collaborative effort has also been a significant growth opportunity for me.

How do you see your career evolving as part of Progress?

I’m working closely with product leaders across multiple business units on several exciting initiatives. My goal is to evolve our data platform into a comprehensive solution for our customers, adding capabilities that streamline data extraction and integration, leverage and support generative AI and empower our customers to trust their data and the decisions they make with it. With Progress’ resources and expertise, I’m confident we can achieve this. The integration of MarkLogic and Semaphore technology has already enhanced products like DataDirect, Corticon, Sitefinity and Kendo UI by adding valuable data capabilities.

What’s your favorite part about working at Progress?

Progress offers far more flexibility than I anticipated, allowing teams to operate with empowerment and minimal red tape. Having worked in organizations small and large before, from start-ups to 250k+ employees, I knew I wanted to work in an organization that felt and remained human, where support networks and collaboration were the norm. Progress is offering that today.

What initially excited you about joining Progress, and has it met your expectations?

During the due diligence part of the MarkLogic acquisition, I had several conversations with John Ainsworth, EVP, GM, Application and Data Platform, and Pavel Minarik, VP Product Security, about product strategy. I realized at the time that we shared a vision for the future, and this alignment has continued seamlessly post-acquisition. This has been very fulfilling.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role as a leader?

A key aspect of my role is to drive the culture and cohesion of the teams, especially during the post-acquisition integration process. While it is a time-consuming and very often complex task, it is essential for keeping our team strong.

What do you appreciate most about the culture, values and environment at Progress?

Empowerment is key at Progress. Working with leaders like John Ainsworth and Ian Pitt, Chief Information Officer, has been fantastic—they show great trust in their teams, which reflects Progress’ overall culture of support and respect.

What sets Progress apart as an acquirer?

The culture and values at Progress align closely with those we had at MarkLogic. Progress fosters a sense of pride and commitment to its employees, making it an exceptional place to work.

Can you share a specific project or achievement you’ve been part of since joining Progress?

I recently worked with product leaders to establish a unified product lifecycle policy. This project is transformative, aligning our product sales, security and support teams to create a cohesive experience for our customers. This policy helps customers see Progress as a unified solution provider rather than as a collection of independent products.

What advice would you give to employees going through an acquisition?

Be yourself. I’ve seen people try to compete for roles in inauthentic ways and it shows. Conversely, I have seen engineers give up and quit silently. Honesty, trustworthiness and perseverance are crucial. During times of uncertainty, focus on your work and keep things running smoothly. And don’t lose your voice. Everyone has a role to play in shaping the future state of the organization!

What do you like to do in your free time?

We live out in the sticks in the southwest of France and we own a small flock of sheep. They are our fire wardens, clearing the slopes of the few acres of mountain woodlands around the house and doing their part to prevent forest fires. Another perk of the location: a few years ago we invested in a trailer full of canoes and enjoy canoeing on our local rivers!