I'm a product and startup executive with SaaS savvy and developer platform expertise. I build high performing teams that create high performing products.
I've started five companies, raised capital, bootstrapped, and been acquired more than once. I shine when building something from nothing amid ambiguity. Hand it to me, I'll figure it out and write the playbook.
I'm highly technical. Equally at home leading software engineering and product management, I effortlessly balance strategic plans with tactical work.
Experience Summary
Highly technical founder of multiple companies with several exits and a variety of funding models, including VC, Angel, and bootstrapping
Leader for product management, software development, marketing, and operations teams for SaaS and API companies
Created several Developer Relations programs including Cisco Webex
As a product leader, turned around struggling software products in the real estate, e-commerce, and telecom markets
An experienced public speaker with hundreds of conference talks. Recognized by Cisco as a top event speaker
Sr Director of Product, Platform and UX
Tricentis
March 2021 –
August 2023
Product management leader for a testing tools company. As company grew from 400 to 1400 people, responsible for creating developer products for customers and internal use.
Turned around a struggling product team by focusing on vision and strategy, and organizing into cross-functional teams with clear objectives
Recruited, coached, and developed a product management organization of 12 direct report PMs, 15 UX designers, and 10 writers across the US, Europe, and Australia.
Started our internal product platform. Influenced rest of product and engineering to adopt and contribute, resulting in a significant shift in how products are built, integrated, and sold.
Created the Developer Experience team to create delightful experiences for internal developers and our customers.
VP Product Development
DialSource
Aug 2019 –
Mar 2020
Product and software development leader for this SaaS startup that turns your CRM into a communications tool.
Raised profit margins by 70%
Improved release frequency by 36x through smaller, focused batches and restructuring to horizontal teams
Cut known product defects in half
Boosted customer satisfaction scores by 15%
Slashed Cost of Goods Sold by 50% while increasing product quality.
Overhauled product strategy and positioning to pull the product out of a commodity space and move toward a differentiated product with a higher average revenue per user
Head of Webex Developer Relations
Cisco Systems
Jun 2015 –
Aug 2019
After Cisco acquired Tropo, I built the developer relations program for Webex and operated the $120 Million Webex Innovation Fund.
Achieved an 85+ Net Promoter Score on more than 40 training courses per year
Sales and partner enablement programs led to tens of millions in yearly revenue
Added dozens of innovative partners through investments and grants from the Innovation Fund
Created a Webex popup location at SxSW and other events that established Cisco as a developer brand to over 8000 visitors.
The processes I created for product-focused developer relations teams were adopted as the standard within Cisco
Head of Product
Tropo (Acquired by Cisco)
Mar 2010 –
May 2015
As the first non-founding employee of Tropo, I also wore hats ranging from marketing to documentation. Cisco Systems acquired Tropo in June 2014.
Grew Tropo from nothing to over 200,000 developer customers
Repackaged SaaS platform for white label, resulting in OEM deals with AT&T, Ericsson, Huawei, O2, and other telecom companies around the world
Manager, Developer Relations
Voxeo (Spun out Tropo)
Dec 2009 –
Mar 2010
Co-Founder
IMified (Acquired by Voxeo)
Aug 2006 –
Jun 2009
Previously
VP Product, WorkHabit (managed CMS) 2006–2007
Founder, Tagyu (ad targeting API) 2005–2006
Founder & CTO, Pheedo (syndicated ad server) 2004–2005
Freelance consulting 2001–2004
Product Manager, Realty Plus Online (MLS) 2000–2001
Lead Product Manager, Rare Medium (ecommerce) 2000
Professional Services, Pandesic (ecommerce) 1998–2000