Product Management consultancy
As a Product Management consultant I can help your company bring world-class, customer-focused products to market faster using agile processes.
I have a proven track record of developing and delivering successful market driven products that sell and generate business growth.
Strengths include a thorough knowledge of the entire Agile software development life cycle and a leadership style that is collaborative and outcome oriented.
Consulting services are available for short or long-term projects either as a part time adviser or full-time consultant.
Some examples of services offered include conducting customer and market research, product strategy and planning, competitive analysis, market analysis, creation of Market Requirements or Product Requirements documents (MRD’s or PRD’s) etc.
I’m able to take on short term agreements to act as an interim employee, taking the place of staff that are on vacation, sabbaticals or maternity leave or to fill in if you don’t have full-time headcount to hire a permanent employee.
“Agile Product managers aim to leverage real time analytics data to drive continuous product improvement"
Mark Matthews| Founder
Attributes
Professional product manager with a track record of delivering profitable products on time
Offering a full service strategic 360 degree product perspective including developing key artifacts required to drive successful product outcomes
Utilise an agile and pragmatic approach to product management
Team player and motivator
Flexible approach to contracts based on individual customer needs and budget either as a part time adviser or full time consultant
Experienced across a range of industry verticals including Banking / FinTch, Gaming and Enterprise software
Fast learner - quickly come up to speed in new industries
Problem solver
Good listener
Good time management
Good judgment
Good communicator able to contextualize guidance
Knowledgeable subject matter expert
Tenacious ability to Execute Remotely - Disciplined outcome oriented whether remote or local
Good reputation, references and past customers
Simplify the complex – help translate complex technology into simplified descriptions that are understandable and relevant to business managers
Able to understand the needs and problems of c-level exec’s and describing technical solutions to their problems in a business benefits context
As a product manager I fundamentally believe in a pragmatic product management approach to products where the best products come from talking to customers to gather insights and market requirements to become the “voice of the market” within the development process.
Mark Matthews| Founder
Sample product management consulting services
Ensure you’re building the right features
Identify the true costs of implementing and maintaining a feature
Prioritse product backlog based on criteria including ROI and business value
Knowing when and how to say “no” to a feature request
Know how to build and launch successful features
Know how to rescue features that flop
Know what to do with features that simply aren’t making the grade
Optimize your product management function and process
Define processes to meet your needs
Optimize current process
Determine which development processes (agile versus waterfall) are appropriate
Analyse and make recommendations to optimize current process
Leverage proven product management methodologies to quickly implement world-class process
Perform market analysis
Identify and size target markets
Determine which markets are appropriate for your company’s unique talents
Perform customer and market research
Customer research to determine critical needs required for your products
Determine critical product requirements
Fast surveys and customer interviews to rapidly and inexpensively validate ideas
Conduct market research using secondary research sources such as analyst firms and industry experts
Conduct competitive analysis
Develop an accurate and non-biased picture of your competition
Help you determine whether to enter a market based on the current competitive environment
Define products based on customer needs
Write MRD's (Market Requirements Documents), PRD's (Product Requirements Documents) and define products
Give engineering teams clear and concise information about customer needs
Prioritize feature sets into “Must Have”, “Nice to Have” and “Next Release”
Develop short-term and long-term product roadmaps
Perform product roadmapping
Capture, analyse and prioritize all requirements
Create a multi-year release plan
Use best practices such as “Themes” and “Golden Features” to create a well thought out plan
Work with and guide engineering teams
Determine feature versus schedule trade-offs
Make difficult feature decisions
Decide whether products are ready for first customer ship
Manage test customers
Write initial customer success stories
Gather initial product feedback
Secure early customer wins to validate additional financing
Ship products
Define and manage all shippable components
Work with operations to create BOM and manufacturing plans
Create product packaging
LEVERAGe DATA & AI
Use data to make informed product decisions
Use AI to streamline Product management processes to improve productivity including backlog story creation and refinement
Define Data & AI solutions to deliver real time range optimisation recommendations and predict benefits
The following diagrams represent some of the product management disciplines and processes I utilize in my consulting practice:
Industries…
Retail & Hospitality
Media Ad Tech,
FinTech Mobile Apps & Online Digital Banking
Gaming
B2B & B2C …..
Industries and customers
Current product management consultancy with a focus on leveraging AI and data to deliver innovative product solutions. This includes using data understand product and feature performance to optimise user experience. I am well-versed in evaluating market opportunities, industry trends, and customer needs. I am an accomplished and growth-focused Product leader offering 18+ years of proven experience in defining, developing and delivering market-driven products. Among my peers, I am a strategic planner with innate ability in defining and executing continuous improvement strategies that increase business and customer value in emerging markets.
I have proven expertise in leading cross-functional teams to define, build, and launch world-class SaaS solutions. I am adept at driving competitive advantage and revenue through the planning and development of enterprise cloud-based software solutions. I have significant product team leadership experience across a range of industries, technologies and markets, delivering Enterprise B2B, B2C and cloud-based SaaS software solutions, for start-ups, SME’s, large listed global multinationals.
Endeavour Group - Senior Product Manager AI - Hotels
As a member of the Endeavour Groups Data & AI product team we pioneered the innovative use of data, AI and ML to deliver products that change the way that Australians socialise and how our team created memorable experiences. As an AI product leader, I worked with our Business teams to meet our business objectives while ensuring that we’re sustainably and ethically creating industry defining AI innovation technology. Endeavour group brands include ALH (Hotels), BWS and Dan Murphy's and the Data and AI team worked to create product solutions that helped the business service more than 6 million Australians with every month; tackling challenges from optimising our range to make sure we’ve got the best games and beer on the tap, through to analysing one of Australia's 10 largest supply chains to make sure we delivered the best local and fresh products.
• Spearheaded the implementation of AI and ML technologies to enhance customer experiences for over 6 million Australians monthly.
• Collaborated with business teams to develop sustainable and ethical product solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Optimized product offerings, ensuring the best selection of games & beverages while analysing one of Australia's largest supply chains.
Specifically I lead the 0-to-1 Product Development & GTM Launch of AI products that utilised data to deliver substantial value to the Endeavour Group's hotel business and its customers, while balancing both short-term and long-term benefits.
Key Achievements included developed AI based range recommendation solution that ethically utilized venue, game, play and player data to make better game range choices, enhancing player experience, increasing market share, and fostering a more responsible and socially conscious future. The recommendation application supported review and order management to streamline game deployment.
Beyond by OpusXenta - SVP of Product Management
Start-up delivering Global Cloud based SaaS ERP, Payments and Digital Marketplace solutions with a focus on US, UK and Au markets. I led transformative initiatives at OpusXenta, enhancing product delivery and driving substantial business growth. Implemented strategic product process improvements that aligned with key business objectives. Cultivated a high-performing product management team, focusing on innovation and market needs. Drove the launch of market-driven products that significantly contributed to customer success.Product focus on scaling team and end-to-end product planning and prioritisation to build and launching market driven products that customers delivered real business growth.
IPG Mediabrands (Kinesso) - General Manager / Head of Product
While General Manager / Head of Product & Technology for IPG Mediabrands (Kinesso) a Media Advertising Technology company accomplishments included establishing a Sydney based product innovation hub which focused on defining, designing, developing and delivering best-in-class Media Ad Tech solutions that bring value to local agencies and their clients. Beyond Product, Delivery & Development I also manage Business Intelligence (BI) and Data teams who support IPG’s Acxiom audience targeting and data governance solutions in Australia which enable better customer experiences through the ethical use of data & technology.
Mediabrands
Clients and agency brands
Additionally my team created the mediaXpert platform which delivers a better Client to Agency digital front door by standardizing and automating the campaign briefing workflow to remove manual processes and friction. This Client facing Campaign management solution has been built on a modern Node.js and React tech stack running on AWS cloud services. The solution has been deployed to Mediabrands Australian clients including the Federal Government, WA Government, Coke & Kmart where it has processed over $100 million in campaigns value across thousands of campaigns. The solution has driven improvements in operational efficiency with an average of 15hrs saved per campaign with additional benefits of reduced errors and improved client satisfaction.
Additionally, my BI & Data team developed automated digital campaign performance data ingestion ETL processes using Apache Airflow which store data in a Snowflake based Data Warehouse running in AWS that is used to generate client reports and insights. This solution saves 1000’s of man hours per year creating client campaign performance reports. It also drives campaign optimization and pacing dashboards to improve client campaign outcomes.
In addition to GM for IPG’s Kinesso Australian Product & Technology team I was also GM for IPG’s Ansible Agency who were one of the most awarded mobile application development agencies in Australia. Client’s included RACQ, Department of Health and the Aust. Electoral Commission. Ansibles Competitions and Promotions business also provided competitions services and Premium SMS voting for major Australian TV networks programs including Sunrise (7), the Today show (9), I’m a Celebrity (10), Dancing with the Stars (10) and Eurovision (SBS) and generated millions of dollars in revenue annually.
Banking customers
Sandstone Technology
Sandstone Technology - Head of Product
My previous role was Head of Product - Digital Banking for Sandstone Technology a FinTech software solutions provider. My product management team had a global focus and delivered a range of Digital Banking products including Mobile Banking Apps, eWallet’s, Online Digital Banking & Personal Financial Management (PFM) solutions. Some of the customers I worked with at Sandstone included NAB, ANZ, BOQ, Bank of Adelaide, ME Bank, Suncorp, RaboBank and IMB.
Some achievements include achieving strong year-on-year revenue growth in Mobile and Online Digital Banking, introduced new product management processes and modular product pricing, established strategic partnerships in emerging markets, managed products with geographically-dispersed development teams in Sydney, UK and Manila and presented new technology product strategy at a wide range of forums to a broad group of FI’s in Australia, Asia and the UK.
Aristocrat Gaming Technologies Director of Product Management - Emerging Business and Strategy
Casino gaming customers
Aristocrat Tecnologies
Games product management
In my previous role with Aristocrat Gaming technologies I was Director of Product Management in the Emerging Business and Strategy division. This role has a global focus with responsibilities for new and emerging technology initiatives including Social Gaming, Mobile Gaming, Online Gaming, Server Based Gaming and Lotteries.
New technologies were selected to leverage popular game content across multiple platforms and channels. These were seen as key growth opportunities and fast market entry was achieved through a mix of internal and external product development and through acquisition of products and technologies. Some emerging markets I worked with included China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.
In the role I achieved strong year-on-year growth in Online, Mobile and Social gaming revenue, established partnerships in emerging markets in China and Asia and managed products with geographically-dispersed development teams in Sydney, San Francisco, Las Vegas, London, Stockholm and India. Additionally I presented new technology product strategies at a wide range of forums, managed the global product launch of a new Electronic Gaming Machine and developed a new “JAWS” entertainment game for US market to deliver new revenue growth.
Technologies
Some recent technologies I've worked with include.....
Being a tech guy I profoundly believe in the importance of IT and technology as key pillars that support necessary changes in the way business is conducted today and tomorrow.
As a product manager I aim to add value to business by understanding changing market dynamics and technology shifts to develop product plans that will maximise revenue and growth.
During my career I’ve focused on developing the ability to help translate complex technology into simplified descriptions that are understandable and relevant to business managers. This has included understanding the needs and problems of c-level exec’s and describing technical solutions to their problems in a business benefits context.
I have a good working knowledge across a broad range of technology from Data and AI to Online and Mobile Apps to networking, systems and platforms. I’m enthusiastic about my products and driving their business success through agile product management and evangelism either via face to face meetings with customers and prospects or through the use of social media channels and webinars.
I’ve also worked across a range of platforms and systems from IBM to Google to AWS to Microsoft to Linux to Apple iOS and Google’s Android running across mainframes, PC’s, smart phones and tablet devices. I’ve worked with centralised big iron legacy applications through to today’s cloud based SaaS systems and distributed thin client mobile Apps.
Business today is changing faster than at any point in history. To stay relevant and competitive and profitable business have to compete on a global scale and implement new agile methodologies to support fast entry and evolution required to drive and maintain business growth. Companies who embrace and respond fastest to the new more agile global economy are more successful in expanding their business reach than those who take a slower more conservative approach.
Experience
During my career I’ve focused on developing the ability to quickly and effectively translate market opportunities and requirements into strategic vision, roadmaps and product solutions.
Infographic career timeline
I’ve always been an “product guy” and someone who is passionate about technology and understanding how new technology can be applied to deliver business with a competitive advantage resulting in improved business success and profitability.
My passion for technology has resulted in me constantly refreshing my knowledge through lifelong learning and research enabling me to determine how to apply new technology to my specific areas of business focus. I’m also interested in the broader impacts of technology and how it can support and drive global social and economic change.
As an IT product guy I’ve delivered B2B, B2C and cloud based SaaS solutions. I have solid software development life cycle experience with a shift from waterfall to modern scrum based agile development and have driven product development from idea through to successful market launch. I’ve also created short term and longer term strategic product plans and business plans for a range of software products.
I’ve consulted across a broad range of industry verticals from banking, finance, telco and airlines through to governments. As a product manager I fundamentally believe in a Pragmatic product management approach to products where the best products come from talking to customers to gather insights and market requirements to become the “voice of the market” within the development process.
Business today is changing faster than at any point in history. To stay relevant and competitive and profitable business have to compete on a global scale and implement new agile methodologies to support fast entry and technology change required to drive business growth. Companies who embrace and respond fastest to the new more agile global economy are more successful in expanding their business reach than those who take a slower more conservative approach.
Some key trends I’m seeing in 2021 include: the importance of data governance and ethical use of data, Open API’s, Micro Services architecture, Robo Advice / Data driven insight and the challenge of making sense of huge amounts of information contained in ever expanding Big Data stores which represents both a huge challenge and opportunity for business to establish competitive advantage through mining and utilization of big data. New intuitive BI analytics reporting and dash boarding tools will be fundamental to business leveraging information in a timely and relevant manner allowing better more informed decisions and supporting a more personalised and more profitable dialogue with customers and business partners.
Agile methodologies are also driving new ways of developing products and software and systems and apps involving rapid prototyping and rapid delivery and deployment of “things” that make a business more responsive and relevant internally within a business and externally with business partners and customers.
Fast access to key business metrics and information continues to support better decision making. Big data and Business intelligence tools are delivering new insight into consumers buying patterns, their engagement, needs, likes and dislikes.
Contact me for more information on my services and leveraging a product based analytical and data driven approach to driving product improvement to deliver better business outcomes.