My Journey to Senior Project Manager & Transformation Leader
Updated: Apr 30, 2022
INTRODUCTION
I am a seasoned analytical Information Technology Professional with a 30+ years track record of success in areas spanning from Project Management to Software Development and Infrastructure. I have 15+ years of coaching and training experience under my belt. I have been an instructor at renowned corporate universities such as
Oracle Corporation (https://www.oracle.com/index.html)
Thales Group (https://www.thalesgroup.com/en)
and an Associate Professor at Aligarh University, ranked among the top 5 in India
I have worked in different industries such as Education, Logistics, Finance, Insurance and Ground Transportation
RECENT WORK
At present, I am helping Project Management Office at Sun Life with digital transformation by
Using data and technology to enhance existing products and services
Improving channel coordination and performance
Improving productivity or optimizing enterprise activities and processes
Transforming channels to match customer behaviors and preferences
Making broad improvements in one or more corporate functions
My extensive Project Management and Agile skills have helped me
To be client focus both internally and externally
Develop a two-in-one leadership strategy (Both Technology and Business working as one team)
Develop a rapid learn-and-adapt culture
Focus on the outcome and not only on the output.
At the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, I was helping core business portfolio teams and individuals to learn and adopt Agile Project Management practices. I supported them through Teaching, Mentoring, Facilitating and Coaching, which included business executives, product owners, project managers and cross-functional teams.
I knew I had the aptitude to teach and motivate people from a young age. I believe there is no better purpose in life than passing on one love of learning to his students.
I am known for conducting inspiring courses. Evident from verifiable reviews I have received throughout my career. TESTIMONIAL
Some of my STAR STORIES
Runaway DR Project
Parachuted in by VP when only 2 months was left to deliver the DR site as per auditing requirement. Earlier attempts by previous PM failed. Had to build 150+ servers and deploy 30 different applications and test DR failover.
Braved through the challenge, using Agile Project Methodology, build a team consisting of associates from different areas.
Ran four 2-weeks scrums and completed the project on time with minimal disruption.
Recognized by being promoted to Associate Director
SAP Team building exercise
Requested by the CIO to realign the SAP ERP administration, currently controlled by finance with instability, limited backup and spiralling costs.
Collaborated with finance and the IT team to transition and revitalize the technical components, recruiting an internal SAP team to eliminate the use of consultants.
Built and maintained an inspiring, performance-driven team initiating comprehensive training to fulfill a demanding 24/7/365 operating mandate, introducing an innovative telecommuting program and less invasive work schedule.
Reduced dependency on external consultants by 95%, improved SAP support across the company saving $50,000 per month.
Runaway SAP Project
Handpicked by the CIO to resurrect a highly visible SAP Upgrade project experiencing multiple management issues.
Evaluated the project, swiftly cut functionality and resources, breaking the project into multiple independent phases.
Realigned resource engagement and responsibilities to solidify decision making and reduce complexity, giving authority, with the permission of the CIO, to Directors.
Returned the project to original scope within 6 months without additional resources and on budget.
Revitalizing Oracle backups
Assigned to restructure the company’s collapsing backup system to protect the database assets.
Sourced and purchased an external hard disk attached to USB for servers to backup as a temporary solution.
Researched and implemented a High Availability solution utilizing tools including CA XOsoft (WANSync) and RMAN Hot Backup, reducing downtime by 98%, and boosting database recovery time by 95%.
Conducting FMEA & Building procedures
Tasked to spearhead Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) on numerous occasions.
Streamlining the IT organization resulting in reductions in IT related downtime and cost.
Developing and deploying ITIL compliant procedures and standards to optimize database and SAP administration and reduce risk.
Recommending and implementing numerous solutions to extract operational costs.
Developed SAP CoE in a short time
Tasked to develop SAP CoE for GL and EFDW.
Hired and build the whole SAP environment and start dual reporting system from Oracle to SAP.
Strategized the staffing at SAP in a very short period.
Oracle Challenge
Skydived in by senior management after 2 days into the appointment to take over the facilitation of an Oracle course as a result of the unanticipated loss of personnel.
Challenged to review and learn the course curriculum in 1 evening, utilizing previous university tutoring experience to acquire and confidently deliver the following 3 days of course material.
Applauded by management, peers and students for flawless course presentation. An enervating experience but gratifying, while avoiding embarrassment and loss of revenue to Oracle.
Resurrecting Warehouse Management System
Tasked to make a dis-functional WMS systems work.
Performed FMEA across the system to alleviate multiple underperformance issues affecting the company’s ability to remain competitive.
Pinpointed weak points in hardware, software and processes, working with multiple internal and external stakeholders to eliminate inefficiencies, streamlining the IT organization to swiftly reduce downtime and lower IT costs by $500,000
In a short period, performed ORTA (Oracle Response Time Analysis) on the RedPrairie databases to identify issues, resulting in converting a fragile database to maximum performance database.
Identified, tested and implemented IBM Change Data Capture (CDC) software for Oracle replication, replacing high maintenance and unstable Oracle Streams
Fast Tracking Engineers to Agile way of working
Trained 200+ Engineers in very short time in Agile practices and accelerating Enterprise Agility by
Embracing ambiguity, taking calculated risks, implementing new management styles, and making quicker decisions.
Simplifying where possible, managing systemic complexity (standardisation where appropriate), and encouraging a quick-thinking and flexible mindset.
Renewing commitment to customers, increased use of business social networking, and profiting from the information explosion (taking advantage of new data analytics).
Resulting in Doing Agile (Speed-to-value, Quality, Do Less, Engage and Inspire) by Being Agile (Adapting, Exploring, Facilitating, Riding Paradox)
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
I have a Ph.D. in Business Administration, an MBA in Finance and a Master’s in Economics. He is a University Grant Commission Scholarship holder.
I am also a certified instructor at Project Management Institute (PMI) and am eligible to teach both Project Management Prep and Disciplined Agile courses. Additionally, at Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), I am a Program Consultant & Remote Trainer/Instructor.
I have several certifications in the field of Project Management and Agile.
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Stanford Advanced Project Management (SAPM)
PMI Certified Disciplined Agile Instructor (CDAI)
SAFe 5 Program Consultant (SPC5)
PMI-Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM)
Certified Scrum Professional®-ScrumMaster (CSP-SM)
Certified Scrum Professional®- Product Owner (CSP-PO)
Certified Scrum Master® (CSM)
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Coaching
ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Team Facilitation
Agile Project Manager Certification (Cert.APM)
IBQMI® Approved Kanban Professional
IBQMI® Certified Kanban Coach
Kanban Management Professional (level 1) with Kanban University
Prokanban.org Professional Kanban 1 (PK1)
Certified SAFe Remote Trainer