Michael Lester

About

With a robust background in business management and Japanese from Brigham Young University, I have cultivated a diverse career in leadership roles across various industries. Currently, I serve as the General Manager of Mobility on Demand at Trapeze Group, where I have successfully revitalized a legacy business by transitioning it to the Cloud and enhancing professional services. Previously, as COO at AgileAssets, I led the transformation to a product-led SaaS business, achieving over 300% ARR growth. My tenure at CA Technologies as VP of Business of IT Product Management involved launching innovative SaaS products and reversing product decline. At IBM, I drove significant revenue growth as Sr. Market Manager for Product, Project & Portfolio Management. My strategic insights have also been shared as an Advisory Board Member at OurDivorce. My career is marked by a commitment to innovation, strategic growth, and operational excellence.

Experience

• General Manager, Mobility on Demand · Trapeze Group10-01-2022

  Brought in to return a legacy business to growth and transform it from an on-premise product portfolio consisting of 40+ products dating back to the 90’s to the Cloud, and rebuild the professional services and client success functions to adapt to current customer expectations. Responsible for P&L and all operations of the Trapeze Mobility on Demand business, including Finance, HR, Product Management, Engineering, Sales & Marketing, Customer Care and Professional Services. In first 3 months, led the team to implement training programs to cross-train and improve billable utilization by 20% and launched new OneMobility SaaS solution at ThinkTransit user conference in April 2023. Exceeding YTD 2023 Net Revenue, EBITA and Organic Growth metrics with lower OPEX than forecast.

• Advisory Board Member · OurDivorce02-01-2022 – 12-01-2023

  As an Advisory Board Member, likely contributed to strategic guidance and advice to help shape the company's direction and growth.

• Chief Operating Officer · AgileAssets, A Trimble Company05-01-2014 – 10-01-2022

  Spearheaded the day-to-day operational activities for the business including Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Software Engineering, Client Success & Support, IT, SaaS Operations, and Professional Services. Delivered clear focus on product usability, overall quality, and performance. Oversaw the recruitment, hiring, and professional development of Product Managers, UX Designers, User Education, and integrated PhD Subject Matter Experts for the Product Management Team. Successfully oversaw the transition of the business to a product-led SaaS business (300%+ ARR growth) from engineering services and on-premises deployed software tools. Maintained current Professional Services revenue, with ARR becoming the lead revenue source and 70%+ of ARR from SaaS clients by December 2020. Strategically decreased the product release cycle from 18 months to 8 weeks by implementing standardized products (web and mobile) while growing the addressable market from primarily US DOT clients to include city, county, and global customers. Led rebranding of the business with launch at the start of 2020 to clarify market positioning. Built a collaborative team culture through the minimization of silos and roadblocks, as well as the definition of new company values and behaviors, in collaboration with the Chief People Officer. This investment resulted in a smoother transition to “work-from-anywhere” when Covid impacted the business in 2020. Transitioned company focus to core business and achieved alignment of goals with practices through the introduction of metric-driven goal planning, budgets, & annual planning cycles. Established an innovative product management role and team aimed at shaping and driving the delivery of product strategy, roadmap, requirements, and product designs resulting in the smooth transition of the legacy suite of products from “customer project-driven” through services to a true set of products with a roadmap & direction.

• Vice President, Business of IT Product Management · CA Technologies10-01-2009 – 05-01-2014

  Led the launch and oversight of product strategy, roadmap, go-to-market plans, requirements, and feature designs. Directed the achievement of an innovative long-term product vision, pricing strategy, and positioning for the $280M/year product line. Oversaw in-depth product fit and viability assessment for four product/company acquisitions to determine potential market and customer opportunities, alignment, technology, and feature fit to needs. Active participant in the Global Leadership Development Program in 2011-2012. Spearheaded a global team (US and India) of Product Managers in the successful launch of the first organic products at CA in years (new SaaS products (Clarity Playbook, Clarity Ideation, Clarity Requirements and Clarity Agile)) complementing a market leading solution (CA Clarity PPM). Transitioned teams from maintenance type product releases to a focus on new innovations. Achieved improved customer interest and excitement and a decrease in a reversal of product decline. Successfully transformed the business to a SaaS solution and products from the legacy enterprise CA Clarity Project & Portfolio Management (PPM) product family.

• Sr. Market Manager, Product, Project & Portfolio Management · IBM09-01-2006 – 10-01-2009

  Set market and product strategy by leading a team responsible for global go-to-market planning and execution, market and competitive analysis, and roadmap definition for Product, Project and Portfolio Management solutions, which included the Rational Focal Point product line – the fastest growing product in the Rational product portfolio. Through global campaign plans and coordination of marketing activities with go-to-market and globally distributed field marketing teams, responsible for product revenue growth of 89% over the previous year. Developed vertical messaging for targeted campaigns addressing Consumer Electronics, High Tech Manufacturing, ISVs, Telecommunications, Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals, delivered through webcasts, datasheets & whitepapers. Introduced Solution Packages to offer quick time to value solutions for Product Portfolio Management, Product Management, IT Portfolio Management, M&A in Financial Services, Idea Management and a specialized solution addressing Pragmatic Marketing.

Education

• Brigham Young UniversityBusiness Management & Japanese

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