VAKISAN KARTHIKEYAN
Agile coach | Program Manager
Chennai
Summary
Dynamic and accomplished professional with over 18 years of experience spearheading software delivery, program management, and digital transformation initiatives. Adept at aligning IT strategies with business objectives, I have successfully governed the development of innovative solutions, crafting comprehensive IT roadmaps that engage stakeholders at all levels and drive organizational success. My expertise in Agile methodologies has empowered teams through thought leadership and tailored coaching, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. I excel in designing and executing strategic plans that enhance business enablement, optimize costs, and deliver cutting-edge technology solutions, all while maintaining strong global stakeholder relationships and elevating quality assurance standards.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
5
5
Certifications
Work History
Product Manager & Transformation program lead
Agilysys
12.2023 - Current
- Owned delivery excellence: Collaborated with Product managers, developers and QA to define, estimate, and refine user stories, ensuring clear understanding and 95% on-time sprint completion across teams
- Led bi-monthly release planning: Partnered with project managers to prioritize enhancements and new features, delivering tailored updates to diverse customers with 90% release accuracy
- Championed quality standards: Worked with QA leadership to set achievable goals, co-developed strategies, and drove 20% defect reduction through periodic reviews, RCAs, and monthly retrospectives
- Strengthened engineering rigour: Teamed with directors and senior leaders to establish benchmarks (e.g., code coverage, performance, Infosec fixes), facilitating monthly retrospectives to boost continuous improvement by 15%
Product Coach
McKinsey & Company
07.2022 - 04.2023
- Led 4 cross-functional technical programs to optimize AI-driven systems, enhancing architecture and mitigating risks, achieving 30% lower latency, 35% stronger security, and 20% faster release cycles for mission-critical solutions
- Directed 3 AI/ML Proof of Concepts (PoCs) integrating Natural Language Processing, and Machine Learning partnering with engineering and leadership to prove feasibility, driving 50% adoption of data-driven features across teams within 6 months
- Cut program delivery time by 25% across 5 AI-focused projects through adaptive planning and dependency management, aligning 6+ teams for seamless integration, delivering enhancements 15% ahead of schedule to accelerate discovery-focused outcomes
- Coached a product development team of 20+ in Agile practices, facilitating large-scale workshops and resolving 15+ blockers, boosting team efficiency by 30% and product delivery effectiveness by 25% through streamlined processes and problem-solving
Manager - Agile Coach
Optimum Infosystems - Standard Chartered Bank
08.2021 - 07.2022
- Led agile transformation efforts at CCIB (Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking) business unit thereby advising leaders, working hand-in-hand with transformation coaches in devising strategy, execution and continuous improvement
- Navigated complex stakeholder landscapes, building strong relationships, and effectively managing expectations to ensure stakeholder buy-in, engagement, and support throughout the transformation journey
- Gathered knowledge and created tailored coaching strategies for banking software development
Advisor - Project Management
DXC Technology
03.2019 - 04.2021
- Led Agile transformation across 6 services, managing budgets of $12M+ and redesigning processes for 10+ teams, achieving a 35% improvement in service delivery speed and a 25% boost in service quality through streamlined workflows
- Defined and aligned 15+ KPIs to strategic objectives for 3 Agile transformation programs, engaging 60+ stakeholders via planning workshops and governance frameworks, resulting in a 20-point increase in CSAT scores and a 15-point rise in NPS
- Facilitated Scrum of Scrums across 6 services in 4 transformation initiatives, identifying and resolving 30+ impediments, reducing blockers by 40% and enhancing cross-team collaboration, with retrospectives driving a 30% increase in employee satisfaction
- Orchestrated 5 Agile transformation efforts, conducting 20+ workshops to establish governance and align 10+ service teams, cutting delivery timelines by 25% and improving operational efficiency by 35% through iterative process enhancements
- Tracked outcomes for 6 enterprise-wide Agile transformations, implementing risk management and regular retrospectives, achieving a 95% success rate in meeting objectives and boosting overall program ROI by 45% through improved speed and quality metrics
Agile Coach
HID Global
04.2017 - 03.2019
Scrum Master & Project Manager
Photon Interactive
04.2016 - 04.2017
Project Manager
Tata Consultancy Services
01.2011 - 04.2016
Software Engineer
Changepond Technologies
11.2007 - 12.2010
Education
B. Tech - Information Technology
Anna University
Skills
Strategic leadership
Highlights Achievements
- Headed a team of 20+ Business Analysts, Product Managers and UX designers, that delivered product enhancements to 25+ clients for 6 months
- Spearheaded various change management and implementation management techniques and approaches, leading to colleague and customer satisfaction improvements
- Provided strategic transformation roadmap and led Agile and digital 3 clients
- Modernized many processes and deployed new technologies; led the implementation of digital initiatives through Transformation measures
Certification
ICP-ACC
Education Credentials
B. Tech, Information Technology, Anna University
Timeline
Product Manager & Transformation program lead
Agilysys
12.2023 - Current
Product Coach
McKinsey & Company
07.2022 - 04.2023
Manager - Agile Coach
Optimum Infosystems - Standard Chartered Bank
08.2021 - 07.2022
Advisor - Project Management
DXC Technology
03.2019 - 04.2021
Agile Coach
HID Global
04.2017 - 03.2019
Scrum Master & Project Manager
Photon Interactive
04.2016 - 04.2017
Project Manager
Tata Consultancy Services
01.2011 - 04.2016
Software Engineer
Changepond Technologies
11.2007 - 12.2010
B. Tech - Information Technology
Anna University
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