Nominee Questionnaire

Please provide a short bio for voters to get to know you.  

I’m Martha Galley, and I’ve spent over 40 years leading strategic and operational initiatives in the software and cloud industries across global markets. Today, I serve as the Chief Sustainability Officer at Calix, where we provide platform, cloud, and managed services solutions to the broadband industry. 

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on customer experience & success, go-to-market strategy, and sales. I’ve held executive roles at Microsoft, Salesforce, and Calix, where I’ve built new businesses from the ground up, essentially acting as an intrapreneur within each organization. I’ve led efforts to open new markets, expand into international regions, and reimagine global engagement and success services. I’ve also leveraged AI and analytics to help customers gain deeper business insights. 

Operationally, I’ve grown businesses by more than 100% year-over-year, led teams of over 300 people, built global organizations across 20 countries, and consistently delivered revenue growth and margin expansion. I’ve managed P&Ls ranging from $350M to $800M, overseen both direct and channel sales, integrated acquired companies, and turned around struggling business units. 

What drives me is building high-performance teams and forging strong strategic partnerships. I’m deeply committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences, driving operational excellence, and supporting employee development. I also prioritize creating a positive, inclusive, and diverse workplace culture. 

At Calix, I’m proud to serve as the executive sponsor for our Employee Resource Groups. I also co-chair the Women in Fiber committee at the Fiber Broadband Association, sit on the Industry Advisory Council for the President of Smith College, and am a member of Reno Women for Good. In the past, I’ve mentored through the U.S. Department of State’s TechWomen program and served as an advisor with Astia. 

I earned my BA in Biology from Smith College and have published scientific research. My executive education includes programs with McKinsey, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

Please summarize why you consider yourself an excellent candidate for the FBA Board of Directors?  

I’m deeply passionate about the mission of the Fiber Broadband Association, especially its commitment to digital equity. I believe that a person’s opportunity and potential should never be limited by the zip code they live in. Expanding fiber access is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, much like rural electrification or the development of the interstate highway system. It’s not just about deploying technology, it’s about transforming lives and communities. 

While having compelling technology like fiber is essential, it’s not enough on its own to drive the societal change we’re aiming for. We also need to communicate the value of this transformation in ways that inspire action and build momentum. That’s where I believe I can bring unique value to the FBA Board. I’ve spent my career leading strategic initiatives, building high-performing teams, and driving customer engagement at companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Calix. I understand how to translate complex innovation into meaningful impact. 

I also know how to build and grow communities. I founded the customer communities at both Salesforce and Calix, and I’ve seen firsthand how engagement and advocacy can fuel organizational success. I would bring that same energy and experience to help FBA expand its membership, deepen engagement, and amplify its voice across the industry. 

Serving on the FBA Board would be an opportunity to contribute my strategic perspective, operational experience, and deep commitment to equity and inclusion. I’m ready to help accelerate fiber deployment, support member success, and ensure that the benefits of broadband reach every corner of our society. 

Describe your current position and functional responsibilities to your company. 

I currently serve as the Chief Sustainability Officer at Calix, a role I’ve held since June 2023. In this position, I lead our sustainability strategy across products, people, supply chain, and enterprise infrastructure. My responsibilities include aligning the organization around our sustainability goals, communicating our progress to stakeholders, and ensuring regulatory compliance and disclosure. I report quarterly to the Calix Board of Directors, regularly engage with investors and media, and serve as an executive sponsor for key customers. My role is deeply cross-functional and externally facing, allowing me to influence both internal operations and industry-wide conversations around sustainability and innovation. 

What was your previous position, and how long did you hold that position before transitioning to your current one?  

Before stepping into my current role, I served as Chief Customer Officer at Calix from July 2018 to June 2023. During that time, I was responsible for our entire services portfolio and its associated P&L. As Calix transformed into a platform, cloud, and managed services company, my team played a critical role in helping customers adopt new technologies and realize the full value of their investments. We focused on driving customer success, accelerating time-to-value, and building long-term relationships that supported both our customers’ growth and our own. 

Do you have any experience as a member of a Board of Directors? If so please provide name of the entity and number of years of which you served.  

While I haven’t yet served on a board with fiduciary responsibility, I’ve been actively involved in several executive advisory roles. I’m an Astia Advisor, supporting technology entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses, and I serve on the Presidential Industry Leadership Council for Smith College, where I help shape career development and entrepreneurship programs. I’m also preparing for future board service: I’ve completed the Harvard Business School’s board preparation program and included in the New York Stock Exchange’s board candidate database. I’m committed to bringing my experience, strategic insight, and passion for equity and innovation to a public company board in the near future. 

How many years has your company been a Fiber Broadband Association Member?

Calix has been an FBA member since 2009, 16 years. 

How many years have you participated in Fiber Broadband Association activities?  

I’ve been actively involved with the Fiber Broadband Association for approximately four years. During that time, I’ve grown increasingly engaged in its mission, committees, and initiatives that support the expansion of fiber and digital equity across North America. 

Please indicate any Fiber Broadband Association Committees or working groups you have participated on including position and years served. 

Over the past four years, I’ve participated in several FBA committees and working groups. I began by engaging with the Women in Fiber committee and, this year, I stepped into a leadership role as Co-Chair of that committee. I also serve on the Sustainability Committee, where I contribute to current work comparing the environmental impact of fixed wireless and fiber, and upcoming efforts focused on LEO satellite vs. fiber sustainability. 

Additionally, I’ve championed FBA-sponsored research, including the CORI study “Beyond Connectivity: The Role of Broadband in Rural Economic Growth and Resilience.” I helped amplify its findings by hosting one of the study’s authors on my quarterly LinkedIn Live broadcast, bringing broader visibility to the importance of fiber in rural development. 

Please list any Fiber Broadband Association Contributions (activities supported, assets developed, documents drafted, webinars presented, etc.) I have attended numerous Fiber Connect events. Volunteered for Policy committee.

I’ve supported FBA events as part of the Calix team, contributing both in-person and through content development. As Co-Chair of the Women in Fiber Committee (alongside Candy Reim of MEC), I’ve helped lead the committee’s strategic direction and outreach. 

Previously, I co-chaired the Professional Development working group within the Women in Fiber committee, where I collaborated with Tanna Hanna of ALLO to plan and host monthly webinars focused on leadership, career growth, and industry insights. 

In the Sustainability Committee, I’ve contributed to ongoing work around fiber’s environmental advantages and helped shape future comparative studies. I’ve also supported the CORI research by referring customers for assessment and promoting the findings through my LinkedIn Live broadcast, helping extend its reach to industry leaders and decision-makers. 

Please provide a short overview of your experience with telecommunications, fiber optics, and FTTH technologies.  

Over the past 14+ years, I’ve worked extensively in the telecommunications industry, always with a strong business focus. At Microsoft, I led half of the U.S. Telecommunications, Media, and Entertainment business, a $350M full P&L portfolio that included systems, software, mobile devices, application hosting, and IPTV. My primary customers were Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers, and I managed both sell-to and sell-through go-to-market strategies. 

Later, I led Microsoft’s go-to-market efforts across South America, partnering with major carriers like América Móvil, Claro, Telefónica, and Entel to bundle Office365 into their business services offerings. For the past seven years at Calix, I’ve been deeply involved in product planning across access, premises, cloud, and managed services. This requires a strong understanding of both the technical and business challenges our customers face in deploying and monetizing fiber and FTTH technologies. 

Please describe the goals you would like to accomplish during your term as Fiber Broadband Association Board Member.  

If elected to the FBA Board, I would focus on four key goals: 

• Reach: Expanding membership is essential to FBA’s long-term impact. I’ve proposed a Regional Ambassador program, currently being piloted within the Women in Fiber committee, to help drive local engagement and membership growth. 

• Engagement: Engaged members are more likely to stay involved and contribute. Drawing on my experience building vibrant customer communities at Salesforce and Calix, I can help FBA deepen member engagement and foster advocacy. 

• Value: I bring a strong business lens to the table. I want to help FBA build compelling business cases for fiber deployment, not just in terms of infrastructure, but in terms of subscriber connectivity and economic impact. 

• Enablement: Workforce development is a critical challenge. With my background leading education services and customer success teams, I can support FBA’s efforts to address skills gaps and prepare the workforce for the future of fiber, AI, and cybersecurity. 

Please describe the level of commitment (in terms of time and effort) that you intend to make to the Association during the three-year term. 

I fully understand the time and effort required to serve on the FBA Board and am committed to being an active, engaged, and collaborative board member. I have the full support of the Calix CEO and executive leadership team to dedicate the necessary time and resources to this role. 

Please use this space to include any additional information you feel is important to share with voting members.   

Thank you to all the Premier Members who are taking the time to consider my candidacy. It would be an honor to serve the mission and members of the Fiber Broadband Association. From my very first engagement with FBA, I’ve felt heard, valued, and welcomed—and I deeply appreciate that. I’m excited about the opportunity to give back and help drive the next chapter of growth, innovation, and inclusion in our industry.