Simon Yost

About

Most technology teams don’t fail because of vision. They fail because complexity quietly outpaces execution. I work with founders and executives when product direction, engineering effort, data reliability, and infrastructure cost stop lining up—and the business starts paying for it. I operate as a fractional product and platform advisor, helping companies restore clarity, predictability, and leverage across product, engineering, data, and AI initiatives. My background spans startup creation and enterprise-scale systems, including hands-on leadership roles with Disney, Pinterest, Mastercard, and venture-backed SaaS companies. I’ve led teams across the U.S., Europe, India, and South America, and I’ve taken AI products from prototype to real-world deployment. Representative outcomes include: • $12M+ annual cloud savings and elimination of $750K/month cost regressions • 66% burn reduction while increasing delivery velocity • 86% faster scaling for global, high-traffic live events • 99.9% data-parity platform migrations • Significant improvements in activation, conversion, and operating efficiency I’m not a slide-deck consultant. My work is hands-on, system-level, and focused on turning strategy into shipped outcomes. I’m most effective with companies moving from early success into real scale—when complexity increases faster than structure.

Experience

• Fractional Product & Platform Advisor · simonyost.com2025-10-01 –

  I work with founders and executives when product, engineering, data, and infrastructure stop lining up—and execution breaks under scale. • Realigned product and engineering operating rhythms to restore predictable delivery • Led cloud cost and reliability resets, including $12M+ annual savings at Pinterest • Took AI systems from prototype to dependable production environments • Served as interim technical leader for high-stakes, cross-org initiatives • Focused on hands-on execution when outcomes—not decks—mattered

• Fractional Cloud & FinOps Program Lead · Pinterest2024-10-01 –

  A Fortune 500 visual discovery platform serving hundreds of millions of users worldwide. • Designed multi-tenant cloud governance strategy delivering $12M annual savings • Eliminated $750K/month AWS cost regression through architectural optimization • Built cross-functional accountability across engineering, finance, and infrastructure

• Co-Founder & Head of Product / Engineering · LumaLink2023-01-01 – 2025-12-01

  Built and scaled a voice-first AI platform connecting older adults and caregivers to local resources. • Took company from idea → prototype → multi-market deployment (DFW, St. Louis) • Built and shipped production AI voice + SMS platform with multi-tenant architecture • Reduced burn 66% while expanding product scope and improving CAC • Improved activation 40% and increased organic traffic 220% YoY • Led product, engineering, design, and GTM with lightweight operating systems

• Fractional Infrastructure & Reliability Lead · The Walt Disney Company2023-10-01 – 2024-09-01

  A global media technology division powering Disney+, ESPN+, and broadcast platforms. • Reduced scaling time 86% for global live events across Disney+ and ESPN+ • Led chaos engineering initiatives to harden international streaming reliability • Coordinated U.S. and UK teams during high-pressure, revenue-critical events

• Data & Platform Engineering Manager · InStride2022-07-01 – 2023-07-01

  Workforce-education company helping employers deliver life-changing learning programs. • Unified fragmented data systems, driving 48% user growth and 26% renewal lift • Modernized data platform and automated testing, restoring trust and delivery velocity

• Data Engineering Manager · Mastercard2021-11-01 – 2022-07-01

  Global payments technology company enabling secure, seamless transactions in 210+ countries. • Led global engineering teams delivering high-throughput, secure platform services • Improved reliability and delivery velocity across regulated, multi-region systems

• Principal Engineering Consultant · 1904labs2019-12-01 – 2021-10-01

  Consultancy delivering data and digital transformation for Fortune 500 clients. • Modernized large-scale data platforms, unlocking performance gains and renewal growth • Led cross-functional delivery teams for Fortune 500 clients

• Senior Consultant · Slalom2018-03-01 – 2019-11-01

  Strategy and technology consulting firm focused on digital transformation. • Built and scaled data-driven platforms and SaaS products for Fortune 500 clients

• Senior Product Manager · ThreatBlockr, Inc.2017-01-01 – 2018-03-01

  Cybersecurity appliance and SaaS platform for active threat intelligence. • Increased product adoption 82% and reduced support volume through system simplification

• Adjunct Instructor · Washington University in St. Louis2012-09-01 – 2016-05-01

Education

• University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's degree
• W. P. Carey School of Business – Arizona State UniversityMaster of Business Administration - MBA, Organizational Leadership

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