In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, effective leadership is often the linchpin that separates success from mediocrity. Let’s delve into a compelling example of leadership in action within the realm of product management and creative direction.
Outcomes
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Contributions
Product Management
I served as a seasoned Product Manager/Creative Director, and played a pivotal role in reshaping the future of a telephone/call center solutions provider by leveraging leadership skills to inspire and guide individuals and teams toward shared goals.
Creative Direction
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Discovery Lead
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The Ask
Make us the Apple in the Call Center Space
I joined at a critical juncture when the organization was poised to embark on the creation of a new product harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies and tools. The mission was clear: create a product that would not only meet the demands of a dynamic market but also cater to the needs of diverse users, including those with accessibility requirements.
Coaching for Collaboration
Recognizing the importance of collaboration, I initiated a series of “brown bag sessions.” These sessions served as a platform to coach team members on accessible and collaborative development. By fostering an environment of open dialogue, team members learned to work together seamlessly, aligning their efforts toward a common goal.
Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing
Beyond their own team, I extended mentorship to other leads on cross-team collaboration. These mentoring sessions covered a wide array of topics, including remote collaboration, agile development, user experience design, interaction design, style guides, accessible design, and development tools and techniques. This commitment to mentorship nurtured a culture of continuous learning and growth.
Technology Selection
One of the most significant impacts of my role came in the form of technology selection. While the company leadership initially opted for Silverlight for both the front and back end based on Microsoft’s recommendations, our team prepared a different path. Extensive research and networking revealed that Silverlight was fraught with issues, particularly in terms of UI support. However, XAML as a backend language showed promise.
Armed with this knowledge, I engaged with the team and executives, presenting compelling arguments against Silverlight. It took a year for leadership to embrace this alternative approach, during which our team worked to plan a transition away from Silverlight while retaining the valuable XAML components. This strategic decision not only saved the company significant costs, preventing a complete rebuild, but also positioned the product to be more omnichannel and accessibility supportive, a crucial factor for success.
Business Impact
The proactive approach adopted by our leader, which involved the entire team, not just the leadership, proved to be a game-changer. The company saved upwards of half of its $2.2 million R&D investment by avoiding a full rebuild. Moreover, the product’s enhanced accessibility features, made possible by transitioning away from Silverlight, allowed the company to better serve its blind users, a significant end-user group in countries like France and Sweden.
Key Outcomes
The strategic decision to transition away from Silverlight and retain XAML components saved the company substantial costs during development.
Enhanced accessibility features helped the company secure larger government contracts in countries like France and Sweden, leading to approximately 3 billion euros in sales.
Conclusion
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