Strategic Project Delivery and Governance
Providing Transparent and Accountable Customer-Focused Transition Insight
The Backdrop & MISSion
Masons for Atlas
Software is 'eating the world' - increasingly value is created and delivered online across all indsutry. At a micro level project execution is a tactical endeavour by enterprise developer teams to build, as masons, great products - robust, resilient, secure and feature rich - at the lowest cost.
Done consistently, the result is long-term delivery excellence dovetailing with the enteprise's strategic objectives - satisfying the customers wants now in a way that meets their needs tomorrow with the outcome of building lasting relationships that generate meaningful value for all stakeholders.
Head's down in our work, we often struggle to find meaning in our (often 'bullshit') jobs because we can't connect our private interests (meaning from work) with public ones (serving our market - our customers). The 'rational' outome is all too often to 'quietly quit'.
If we could measure objectively where the greatest value can be derived and purposefully use our tools to deliver them with sustainable habits iteratively we find meaning in work and serve our customers; we align private self-interest to the common wealth driving a perpetual cycle of productivity-driven prosperity.
This alignment of public and private - the arrival of consensus on the question of value is key to harnessing the infinite capacity for human ingenuity with the finite resources of our planet. We do more with less. Collectively, we are Atlas sustaining a Planet with ever more ease.
Atlas Shrugged
That's not how things currently stand. Zooming out to the 'big picture' the greatest issue facing us is that in spite of all of enormous progress, we struggle with a conundrum; we are in fact doing less with more:
- Declining Labor Productivity Growth: Global labor productivity growth (output per worker) slowing down despite technological advancements.
- Resource Depletion: Unsustainable resource extraction practices hindering long-term economic growth on the planet being worn out
- Rising Inequality: Widening income inequality leading to underinvestment in education and infrastructure, hindering future productivity gains.
Now imagine an enterprise that stakes its capital to secure a PoS network (Ethereum or Solana) then uses that tokenized capital to build and run applications (compute and data) and re-stake (invest) those tokens objectively to where hypothesis on yield is greatest. Now we've aligned the interests of the individual, enteprise/community, and customer/market. The ability to support this vision with transactional scale is on its way. This amounts to the 'pursuit of happiness' through our technology for it - the token we call 'money'.
exacerbating the problem is a root-directory defect; a macro context (a yield-curve) that incentivizes short-term behaviour and ultimate results in depracation and entropy at an architectural level: fiat currency. Arguably the first place to start is with currency, which ultimately reflects a country's relative productivity - and this is happening with stablecoins.
The Mission
To solve the fundamental global macro-economic problem of our time at the micro-economic level (enterprise/community) by scaling sustainable and optimal software delivery on Web3 native proof of stake (Pos) blockchain-enabled architecture. PoS Blockchain enables the transparent identification of relative yield opportunity - aligning private and public benefit through consensus - and staking enterprise tokens (staked yield that can be restaked objectively towards the best opportunities for value creation). These tokens would be used through the breadth of the SDLC to pay for DApps and transaction costs (including being held as stake or currency by the market)
- Product Backlog Definition: Using CRM and Data Analytics (i.e. domain-centric AI) to transparently identify and objectively prioritize hypotheses for customer value creation; Precisely defined QA-driven user story/journey development with objective sign-off criteria
- Project Delivery: Agile (scrum or kanban depending on relative developer and team autonomy to navigate SDLC); implied-velocity driven development with end-to-end focus on quality with acceptance criteria and CI/CD progress smart contract evaluated
- Iterative Product Elaboration: Assessment of hypotheses in 'Production'; assessment of resonance and objective return on investment; staking enterprise tokens to the hypothesis (strategic asset allocation); dynamic and constant evaluation of product backlog based on CRM and Data Analytics
DetaileD Professional Profile
Transition Insight Consulting - Independent Contract Digital Project/Program Management
Transamerica (Apr 2023 - Aug 2023)
Assumed project management responsibilities for Digital Onboarding – a troubled project with an approved budget of $2.5M.
- Set up essential scrum/agile practices such as stand-up and scrum of scrum.
- Set up Jira scrum board, backlogs, key filters, dashboard and applied scrum practices to deliver code deliverables.
- Established an initial roadmap and two three-week sprints consisting of key technical debt, critical defects and architecture/design user stories.
- Coordinated the creation of an initial product backlog of epics and associated user stories for user journey workflows.
BMO Finance Technology (Feb 2017 – Nov 2018)
H4 (Bank of Canada) Counterparty Collateral Risk Reporting
-Managed a project to deliver BMO’s H4 Report, providing counterparty collateral risk to the central bank; The project evolved through phases from MS Excel PoC concept to the final XML
-Mediated numerous stakeholders (Chief Accounting Group, Finance, Corporate Treasury, Capital Markets to automate data into the enterprise data warehouse and map it to BoC’s template requirements) as well as tools for variance analysis
-OSFI Interest Rate Risk (I3 and GAP)
Managed a project to reduce risk in BMO’s interest rate risk reporting to OSFI by reviewing processes, replacing manual data entry with automated data warehouse feeds, and building business objects reporting tools to identify variance root cause
RBC Payments Solution Acceleration (Jan 2015 – Jan 2017)
RBC Wallet Payment App: allows clients to use Credit and Gift Cards at NFC-enabled terminals
- Managed $2.5M Program with 20+ resources to build and enhance RBC iOS and Android Payment Apps
- Working with vendors TSYS and BellID (also several startups) to build and enhance RBC’s Payment App; Credit Card provisioning, performance, security, payment functionality, and user design
- SecureKey Concierge
$1M project to allow clients to authenticate anonymously to third party sites using their RBC credentials
TD Digital Channels (Jul 2014 – Dec 2014)
- WebBroker and EasyWeb Enhancements - Responsible for multiple initiatives cumulatively valued at $5M+ to enhance visual presentation of client account and portfolio information
Loblaw Corporation Limited (Jan 2014 – Jun 2014)
- Management of Loyalty Program Projects to enhance the Loblaw PC Plus program website and mobile application; total program value of $1M annually
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (Nov 2012- Dec 2013)
- Management of multiple digital initiatives; examples include: Development of Torontopearson.com mobile site (launched in February 2013); Interactive digital terminal maps (launched June 2013); Interactive Connections Guide
- Implement a digital signage system throughout Toronto Airport to deliver timely and controlled communications to employees
RBC Retail Online Banking (Nov 2010 – Oct 2012)
- $5M e-Signature Project to move investment product contract signage to an electronic Tablet platform
- $2.5M project to redesign RBC's retail online banking site to drive greater client enrollment of electronic documents to deliver significant savings in processing, paper and postage costs sponsive website for a local coffee shop that I developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The website features a menu, location information, and an online ordering system. I used Bootstrap to ensure that the website was mobile-friendly.
Thomson Reuters (Apr 2019 - MAR 2022)
- I did a shit-ton of work and got little credit, got doxxed and shafted into a dead-end position
- Ran into the mother of all doom loop 2FA issues (Android/Windows)
- Used VPN on Windows Windows Explorer 10!
- Developed a drug problem - that got doxxed too; I took a 2-month leave of absence (entitled per my tenure) - I was doing really well! But they made me come back after four weeks - It was a downward spiral after that. On the plus side they have 2 paid 'mental health' days (every year!) - so that's a real bonus.
- Position was terminated and received (six or eight weeks pay in lieu of notice) right before bonuses got paid out - but I was invited to apply for positions as new hire! I got an award on my way out (a 3-year pewter plaque - I didn't know that was a thing - I threw it out with recycling)
- At the end of the day I'm not the litiguous type; I'm alive and happy (I did start a regular smoking habit - three to five a day - who does that at age 50? But I'm going to quit)
- Zero fucks given (however several were taken). I learned a lot about leadership, accountability and the risks entailed with executing poorly on depracated environments against non-existent strategy; consistent to my mission, I sold my vested LIRA pension and bought staked ethereum
IBM Global Business Services (Apr 1999 – Nov 2010)
A decade performing increasingly senior roles in client-facing implementing information technology solutions
Program Delivery Manager, Manulife Financial (Mar 2010 – Oct 2010)
Focal point for IBM global resource service delivery to Manulife Individual Life and Retirement Services Business Units – two programs of combined $3 million annually with 40+ resources (onshore and offshore)
Program Delivery Manager, TELUS Communications (Apr 2009 – Mar 2010)
Responsible for the delivery of $3M of contracts with 30+ resources building to 90+ resources
Proposal Team Lead, Air Canada (Messaging Infrastructure) (Oct 2008 – Jan 2008)
Led a team in the development and presentation of a proposal to deliver a replacement of Air Canada's enterprise messaging and printing service (the proposal included hardware, software, application services and application maintenance components)
Project Manager (Jun 2023 - Oct 2008)
Rogers Digital Media (Agile Web 2.0 Development) (Jan – Oct 2008)
- Global delivery of $250,000 worth of projects with 8+ resources on 'Web 2.0' redesign projects for Rogers Digital Media properties (CanadianBusiness.com and Macleans.ca)
Bell Canada (Application Development) (Jan – Oct 2008)
- Projects totaling $3 million and +45 resources for the largest Application Services program in Canada involving the customer's primary call-centre order processing tool (a Web Services-oriented application)
IBM Business Transformation and Outsourcing (Application Development and Process Integration) (Apr 2004 – Oct 2005)
- Led multiple project teams in implementing document processing outsourcing solutions for customers using IBM Content Manager-based tool GIW (Global Imaging and Workflow)
Bank of Nova Scotia (Data Centre Solutions) (Jun 2003 – Apr 2004)
- Simultaneous management of multiple data and application hardware infrastructure-related projects ranging in value from $35,000 to $150,000 with teams of 3 – 15 resources
Project Control Officer, IBM Canada (Application Development) (Nov 2003 – May 2004)
- Responsible for providing administrative control to a medium sized internal IBM application enhancement project (41 resources and C$684,000), involving several IBM Canada applications using IBM Global Services and SEI-CMM methods
- Responsibilities included tracking project progress, project plan development and maintenance, tracking project financials tracking, gathering status from application team leads and developing comprehensive weekly status reports
Project Control Officer, Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, MAG (Application Developer) (Feb 2002 – Nov 2002)
- Engaged on a large Microsoft technology application development project (38 resources and C$2,983,000) for a public sector organization with the task of providing administrative control and project management support
- Responsibilities included selecting project resources and managing staff integration; tracking project progress with MS Project; tracking project performance using financial (earned value) measurements; preparing status reports for the client; reconciling and managing issues concerning invoices; maintaining the Project Control Book
Project Manager, Community Care Access Centre (Aug 2001 – Dec 2001)
- Executed the initiation phase of a project to create a website to integrate the collection and presentation of contact and service information for provincial community care centres
- Worked closely with Community Care workers to understand requirements
- Define technology parameters (e.g. technology platform, network infrastructure requirements)
- Drew up a project charter, initial scope document and high-level schedule
Project Control Officer, Stelco (Application Development) (Sep 2000 – Dec 2000)
- Provided administrative control for a large application development project (100 resources and C$6,000,000)
- Responsibilities included managing billing, staff facilities access, the design and conduct of orientation sessions, managing team hardware and software requirements, preparing status reports, and maintaining the Project Control Book
Consultant, Ontario Government Management Board Secretariat (Aug 1999 – Jan 2000)
Created the Year 2000 Transition Guide for a large public sector client. The guide served as the central reference manual (an MS Word document) for the client’s Year 2000 risk management processes. Organized and conducted training sessions to prepare key ministry personnel on the client’s Year 2000 event management processes. Assisted in the set up and operation of the client’s Year 2000 Corporate Response Centre
Systems Analyst, Air Canada, (Feb 2002 – Nov 2002)
Developed and documented business processes and business tools using MS Excel for the asset inventory management systems of a large IT services outsourcing client
Ensured quality control and audit readiness for the software licensing and hardware asset management systems
Business Analyst (CIBC Mellon) (Apr 1999-Aug 1999)
Developed Y2K Business Continuity Plans for a large financial institution; mapped key business processes and created risk mitigation and contingency strategies through interviews with process owners and analysis of their business processes and essential assets. Pursued an aggressive timeline in preparing our client for external audit by the industry’s regulatory body (OSFI)
Other Experience
Application Developer, Business Analyst, Data Architect (Jun 1998 - Mar 1999)
Defining requirements and developing custom applications using Java, Javascript, and HTML technology. Sizing and scoping the project to meet fixed time and budget requirements, determine client requirements, design data model and application architecture and lead the team of five developers build
Royal Bank of Canada Ltd: Summer Internship (Jun 1995 – Sep 1995)
Research Analyst for the Bank's Multinational Corporate Banking Division; responsible for the development of a position paper on the Japanese General Trading Companies, outlining their profitability, credit worthiness, scope of activities, organizational structures, and the political and cultural context in which they operate
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: Winter Internship (Nov 1993 – Apr 1994)
Research Analyst for the East Asia and Pacific Rim Department
Responsible for developing templates for snapshot country summaries for Ministry officials
Ministry of Education (Japan): English Instructor and Education Consultant (Jul 1991 – May 1993)
Teaching English at Junior High Schools, establishing teaching plans, coaching Japanese teachers of English, selection of ministry curriculum English textbooks, creation and delivery of workshops for the teaching of ‘living’ English
Ash: 'About A boy', Told At 'Fever Pitch' In 'High Fidelity'
Education
My academic background combines social sciences, particularly history, political theory and international political economy with applied information technology: BA Hons, History & Political Science (from Western), MA International Affairs from Carleton's Norman Paterson School - Including a 2-year spell at Hitotsubashi University as a Monbusho Scholar); and a Diploma in Applied Information Technology from ITI (Information Technology Institute - Toronto)
Work Experience
I have a 25 year career that began at IBM in 1999 as an IT Specialist honing my development skills before finding my forte in Project Management, and ultimately Executive Program Delivery. In 2010 I began an independent consulting career, again primarily in project management (waterfall and scrum). In my time, I've worked in web development, authentication, identity management across a wide spectrum of firms including all of Canada's major banks and telcos
Skills and Knowledge
Stakeholder management / Executive Communication/ Risk Management / Iterative Product and Project Delivery / Tools (Primarily Azure DevOps and Jira) / Solution Architecture / Blockchain / Customer Identity Access Managment / UX / Payments / Banking
Outside Work
Beyond 'work' I spend my time getting 'kinetic'; training, snowboarding, motocycling, bouldering, krav maga, noodling on my guitar, navigating Ontario's backcountry - or just moving large stones, planting trees andmaking some other adjustment on our 2 acre property northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I also love the great songs, films and shows of our time. Most of all I love watching my beloved Arsenal Football Club
Education / Certifications
Professional Certifications
- Agile Certified Practioner (ACP
- Project Management Institute (PMP)
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
- Canadian Securities Course (CSC)
Graduate Diploma in Applied Information Technology (Nov 1997 - Jul 1998)
ITI Information Technology Institute - Toronto
- Diploma in team-based application design and development
- Network topology; desktop hardware; relational database modeling; code (primarily Visual Basic, Powerbuilder); UX Design; Integration; team-based delivery
- Graduate with distinction
Monbusho Graduate Research Scholar (Sep 1995 - Mar 1997)
Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo
- 18 month scholarship for studies in economics from Monbusho (Japan Ministry of Education)
- 6 month intensive Japanese language studies (Tokyo Universty of Foreign Studies)
MA International Affairs (Sep 1993 - Jun 1995)
Norman Paterson School of International Affairs
- Major: International Political Economy
- Macro andMicro Economics; Pacific Rim Politics; Science and Technology in International Affairs; Japanese Politics
- MA Thesis: Foreign Direct Investment: The Socio-Economic Barriers (Keiretsu)
BA Hons History & Political Science (Sep 1987 - May 1991)
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
- Modern Canadian, Russian, United States History
- Early Modern European History
- Political Theory and Philosophy
- Comparative Political Theory
- International Affairs, Canadian Poltics, Latin American Politics