I believe it’s more important than ever for organizations to be evidence-driven, open-minded and flexible when it comes to their product strategy.
I had the good genetic fortune to inherit a great right-brain/left-brain blend of my amazing parents. From my father I gained a deep respect for science and sense of logic while my mother's wealth of creativity and empathy gave me an acumen for problem solving and communicating effectively.
So no surprise, then, that I find myself drawn professionally to product management and product marketing roles (which are so closely aligned). They are a fascinating combination of gathering and drawing upon evidence from customers to frame a product idea or message and then creating a business case or go-to-market strategy to act upon that evidence.
I have spent the better part of the last 19 years of my professional life in product management and product marketing leadership roles. Those roles have given me broad experience in everything from product development and innovation to cross-functional leadership to marketing strategy and communications.
Drawing upon what I learned during my MBA program and my experience with products focused domestically and abroad, I enjoy leading teams (in-person or virtually) in tackling product strategy challenges.
Colleagues have told me I have a talent for communicating effectively, whether it's in framing ideas and building consensus with internal teams or composing customer-facing messaging. I have to admit that I have a hard time sitting still, and I get a little bit of a thrill from sketching out ideas on a whiteboard as a team brainstorms.
During my career I have been very lucky to have the support and mentorship of several great managers. I learned a great deal from their style and approach in nurturing me and my professional goals, and I enjoy coaching, mentoring and learning from those who report to me.
My management style is to empower my team to take initiative, give them the tools they need to succeed, and help them remove any barriers they encounter. But I'm also not afraid to roll up my sleeves to help get things done.
Timeline
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Director, Product Management, National Restaurant Association
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Senior Product Manager, National Restaurant Association
Director, Product Management, Pearson Education, Professional Growth
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Director, Product Management, Pearson Education, Curriculum Group
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Vice President, Product Management, Pearson Education, Teacher Education and Development
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Educational Consultant, Pearson Education
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Digital Program Manager, Pearson Education
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Director of Marketing, Technical Solutions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Proudest Accomplishment
Driving the development of 660 hours of online PD for overseas K-12 math and science teachers.
Experience Highlights
Director, Product Management
NAtIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Senior Product Manager
National Restaurant Association
Director, Product Management
Pearson Education North America
Vice President, Product Management
Pearson Education North America
Educational Consultant
Pearson Education Global Schools
Digital Program Manager
Pearson Education Global Schools
Director of Marketing, Technical Solutions
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Education Highlights
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Drake UNiversity - English/journalism & Mass Communication
Master of Business and Administration (MBA)
Duke University - Fuqua School of business cross-continent executive MBA Program
Interests
Playing board games
the best way to spend time with family and friends
Movies and music
love movies (especially sci fi and david fincher) and alternative music (which ranges pretty widely)
Results
20+
years in product management or marketing roles
17
countries home to past reports, vendors & clients
375
online modules developed in 2 years by team
Skills
Management
7
Product Marketing
6
Market Research
10
Cross-Functional LeaderSHIP
10
Product Management
13
Marketing Strategy
6
Questions & Answers
Describe your greatest accomplishment.
While working for Pearson's Global Schools business, I directed the development of online modules as part of a blended professional development initiative for a client in the Middle East.
The target users of the modules were K-12 math and sciences teachers, more than 100,000 of them. The product requirements were specific, the timeframe was aggressive, and the client was involved and demanding.
Though it took some trial and error in the early stages to work out kinks and find our footing, within 2.5 years the team I directed completed all 375 required modules representing 660 hours of professional development for deployment on an open-source LMS.Â
It was a complex project with a lot of moving parts and collaboration among contributors and vendors from at least 14Â countries across 4 continents. By the tail end of the project, we were bringing in the modules ahead of schedule.
Who are your main influences?
I tend to be influenced by people I admire, and a lot of those people tend to be creative types. I'm not unique in admiring people like Jim Henson, Steve Jobs, John McDonough and the like.
But I also have admired past managers/mentors and colleagues who have taught me a great deal at every step of my career.
And, of course, my parents have been a tremendous influence since my earliest days.
Why did you choose your profession?
My career has, thankfully, been about stringing together opportunities to challenge myself and to grow and learn. An extraordinary mentor of mine, early in my career at Pearson, pointed out to me that, while I had a knack for writing and creative, I was also highly analytical and strategic.
She was the one who gave me my first opportunity to exercise my skill in those areas professionally, and I've never looked back (though I still love to flex those writing muscles whenever I can).
Images
Celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary at Merriman's in Hawaii (on the Big Island).
I like a lot of different types of music and tend to listen more to alternative artists than not. But anyone who knows me knows that I have always been a big fan of Prince's music. "Sign O' the Times" will always be one of my favorite albums of all time.
I really enjoy playing board and card games with family and friends, but Scrabble is my jam. It obviously appeals to the writer and editor in me, but it also involves analysis and strategy in regards to maximizing tile value and board placement.
Blog
Is Apple's HomePod going to overcome launch hurdles?
A look at the HomePod launch in the context of the Four Ps of the Marketing Mix
This morning my phone blew up with all sorts of notifications from various news outlets and tech websites that, at long last, Apple's HomePod would be available for pre-order this Friday.
I use the phrase "at long last" not because I have been eagerly awaiting to see Cupertino's latest but because, from a product marketing perspective, I am interested to see if Apple can effectively leverage its significant user base and substantial brand to shoehorn HomePod into an already-established...
Celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary at Merriman's in Hawaii (on the Big Island).
I like a lot of different types of music and tend to listen more to alternative artists than not. But anyone who knows me knows that I have always been a big fan of Prince's music. "Sign O' the Times" will always be one of my favorite albums of all time.
I really enjoy playing board and card games with family and friends, but Scrabble is my jam. It obviously appeals to the writer and editor in me, but it also involves analysis and strategy in regards to maximizing tile value and board placement.
