OPTIMIZING PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE IT INFRASTRUCTURE/OPERATIONS AND FACILITATE BUSINESS GROWTH
Customer-focused Technology Executive successful in accelerating product/service delivery and business growth by cultivating and leading high-performance technology teams. A high-level strategist and a big picture thinker who delivers real business value by aligning innovative strategy, emerging technologies, resources, and execution with business objectives. A natural team leader, mentor, and motivator at the nexus of business and technology – well-positioned to deliver innovative, business-focused technology solutions. Special expertise in Infrastructure Optimization and Enterprise Architecture with a unique ability to demonstrate the value of technology to individuals at all levels of an organization. Noted for:
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Broad experience and knowledge in global technology management: Consolidated operations in multiple EMEA and APAC countries; implemented global service desk, architecture, standards and governance.
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Design optimal organizational and operating structure: Achieved $450K in cost efficiency savings through collaborative offshoring initiatives and zero job losses.
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Highly successful in leading multidiscipline, matrixed teams: Directed AI and IoT projects to completion with contributors from business, law, audit, risk, compliance and architecture, development, UX, QA and operations teams.
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Able to quickly grasp, translate, and apply new, emerging technologies: Lead implementation of Microsoft Copilot; introduced first Alexa skill in retirement industry; leveraged AI and machine learning workgroups and enabled developer-based, open source implementations.
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Pioneer in company-wide talent development and diversity initiatives: Developed program to grow internal IT architects; formed partnership with Girl Scouts as STEM pipeline; and championed cross business/function mentorships.
Experience
Relativity
Director, IT Operations, Chicago, IL
Promoted to oversee global service desk, endpoint engineering, server, and network engineering operations with team of US and global-based employees. Execute technology process improvement and staff engagement initiatives.
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Strategic Technology Leadership: Entrusted to pioneer and lead cutting-edge solutions that integrate AI, automation, and cost reduction across company; continually drove efforts to centralize and streamline operational activities. Partnered with other leaders to develop Architecture Review Board and SaaS Governance practices.
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Digital Transformation & AI: Tapped to serve as company’s technology lead for Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program; actively partnering with executives to determine business use cases for AI. After wildly successful results, continued as technical lead for AI Literacy program where AI concepts, prompt engineering and Copilot were rolled out to the entire organization.
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Cost Savings: Delivered significant cost savings ($430M) by optimizing Azure spending and Microsoft licensing contracts, realigning services in company’s technology needs and transitioning from Zoom to Microsoft Teams as a collaboration platform.
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Change Management: Steered 6-month technology project that transitioned company to Microsoft Teams; managed internal communications and employee group champions and completed project with minimal impact to operations.
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Team Leadership & Direction: Restructured team assignments and projects to better align with individual career goals and skills; efforts improved overall internal engagement, morale, and motivation.
Senior Manager, IT Infrastructure Engineering & Operations
SCOPE: Brought onboard to help company improve technology infrastructure, create optimal, secure end user experience, and standardize IT services to support business growth. Managed IT infrastructure, IT security and digital workplace teams.
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Operating Standards & Procedures: Enhanced company’s ability to scale and maximize market opportunities by instituting operating procedures, standardized documents for end users, consolidating tasks and service desk metrics.
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Internal Efficiencies: Strategically managed teams through evolving IT needs, achieved efficiencies by merging similar tasks/functions and partnered with product engineering team to properly allocate and transition relevant workload.
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M&A Support: Successfully integrated infrastructure, application and services related to multiple company acquisitions; developed internal checklists to guide integration activities on future M&As.
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Data & Knowledge Management: Dismantled two physical data centers and converted workloads to Microsoft Azure with minimal impact to operations; implemented new standards in documentation and knowledge management.
Prudential Financial
Vice President, Enterprise Architecture, Newark, NJ
Tasked with leading IT governance, creating an Open Source Office and managing Enterprise Architecture Review Board (EARB). Institute new standards, structure and accountability for global technology review and investment processes company-wide.
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Technology Planning: Ensured that the selection of new, emerging technologies (programs, systems, applications) aligned with company’s overall technology direction and generated process efficiencies.
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Strategic Technical Direction: Spearheaded ongoing efforts to frequently engage other business heads and technical teams to build momentum and interest in viable, long-term business and technology solutions.
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Operating Infrastructure: Conceptualized and developed new operational model for infrastructure and application organization that led to a more cost effective, efficient and flexible operation.
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Integrally involved in strengthening the architecture function (GEAR council) and discovering sustainable strategies for communication, planning and governing technology initiatives.
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Talent Development: Actualized the vision and increased buy-in for T2AP Technologist to Architects Program, a talent growth/development initiatives to expand skillset and capabilities of prospective architects.
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Process Improvement: Added structure, standardization, and efficiency to EARB processes through Sharepoint environment. Consolidated data and best practices along with ServiceNow workflow enhancements.
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Technology Innovation: Channelled entire planning process from strategic relationships with Amazon and convening multidisciplinary team to evaluating operational impact of new, voice-enabled technology, Alexa.
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Proactive Leadership: Sustained role as president, PRIDE Business Resource Group since 2011—actively engaged with senior executives to raise awareness on LGBTQ issues and create inclusive work environment. Initiated awareness programs including Why Marriage Matters and PruAlly.
Vice President, Office of Diversity & Inclusion
Selected for rotational assignment to introduce new technology/automation solutions in support of diversity initiatives. Concurrently held administrative role overseeing $1.5 M budget and sponsorship activation.
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Process Improvement: Uncovered numerous opportunities to increase consistency around training requests and sponsorship activation process—reinforced better organizational structure and administrative processes.
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Technology Innovation: Designed and implemented a Business Resource Group (BRG) Portal that enhanced operational efficiency and effectiveness across all business resource groups.
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Diversity & Inclusion Advocacy: Contributed significant efforts to company’s talent management and diversity and inclusion initiatives; represented company at community, employee engagement and outreach events.
Vice President, IT Infrastructure
Held various leadership roles in technology operations—evolved from central server support to global operational management for e-commerce, server infrastructure, applications, IT compliance and administration
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Technology Planning & Direction: Exhibited precise, proactive leadership during tenure and consistently drove process improvement, internal efficiency, and organizational enhancement initiatives.
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Operating Infrastructure: Established key operating model and standards for infrastructure and application activities; optimized resources (people, process and technology) to better allocate support for higher-level tasks.
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Operational Enhancement: Identified automation opportunities to replace manual monitoring processes—significantly improved time management and productivity by 15 hours and strengthened alerting capabilities.
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Technology Integration: Developed firm’s first web operations team from concept to implementation, including IP traffic management processes; achieved 99% website uptime with <5% error rate.
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Cost Savings: Conceptualized offshore, low-cost staffing solution for Server Web team and organized transition plan to transfer significant workload from US and India-based location to Pramerica in Ireland. New strategy saved $450K in costs, enhanced skills and improved business continuity.
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Business Innovation: Championed widespread efforts to implement LEAN operating practices and methodologies and repeatedly engaged team to increase focus on innovation and operating excellence.
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Global Technology Operations: Expanded centralized operational support to Japan and recruited and trained local team to oversee all activities.
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Talent Development: Strategized with HR teams and senior management to advocate inclusion opportunities, expand candidate pool and drive talent development across diverse groups.
Education and Certifications
MBA, Management Information Systems
St. Peter’s University, Jersey City, NJ
BSE, Secondary Education / Mathematics, Computer Science
Seton Hall University, West Orange, NJ
Certifications: Scrum Master - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer - ITIL - Lean IT - Knowledge-Centered Services V6
Leadership Awards: Prudential Leadership Award - Re:Gender Trailblazer Award