John is available for hire
Hire JohnJohn Gauch
Verified Expert in Finance
Management Consulting Expert
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada
Toptal Member Since
March 10, 2022
John combines a general manager’s and an innovator’s experiences and tools. He builds and scales products and businesses that stand out in the marketplace. John brings a unique lens and flexible end-to-end approach to this work, integrating his prior corporate law, finance, business development, marketing, and product and business design experience.
Career Highlights
General Manager
PTDC
VP, Product
Spartan Race
General Manager
Axiom
Education Highlights
Juris Doctor
New York University, School of Law
M.Phil.
Cambridge University, Peterhouse College
Bachelor's Degree
Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences
Certification Highlights
Certificate, Disruptive Strategy
Harvard Business School Online
Case Studies
Expertise
Work Experience
Fractional Chief Operating Officer
2013 - PRESENT
John Gauch
- Brought flexible, structured frameworks to clients to create and grow products, teams, and businesses as a business designer and business manager.
- Served as fractional COO to the Techstars-alumni company with expertise in building web and mobile (iOS, Android) audio social network services.
- Advised the founder on finding a problem-solution fit and developed and tested prototypes for personal development solutions with the 2021-22 test at Harvard University.
- Set up the new SaaS venture's foundational operations, processes, and systems for the founder and founding team.
Focus areas: Business Design, Business Models, Business Modeling, Lean Startups, Lean Canvas, Design Thinking, Customer Journeys, Customer Research, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Operations, New Products, Marketing, Product Owner, Innovation, P&L Management, Business Development, Business Consulting, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, Agile, SaaS, Consumer Insights, Product Management, New Product Rollout, User Research, Consumer Trends, Consumer Behavior, Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Business (B2B), Product Design, Prototyping, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Design Research, Market Research, Innovation Management, New Business Development, Due Diligence, Business Planning, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Growth Strategy, Launch Strategy, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Empathy, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Business Setup, Strategic Planning, Client Presentations, Process Design, Primary Research, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, New Product Business Cases, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Accounting, Corporate Finance, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Analysis, Financials, User Testing, Sprints, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Sales Planning, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Management Consulting, Go-to-market Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Software, Software Sales, Hardware, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Leadership, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Marketing Strategy, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, EMEA, Consumer Health, Organizational Design, Financial Modeling, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Small Business, Fundraising, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Fundraising Strategy, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups
General Manager
2019 - 2021
PTDC
- Improved revenue and profitability in 2020, reset strategy and positioning in 2021 and took key steps to boost growth to address COVID-19.
- Developed a digital app to complement the core product using a series of iterative two-week sprints exploring whitespace with a less than 10,000-person waitlist for sign-ups.
- Designed and systematically carried out foundational and ongoing customer insights projects, including creating an evidence-backed customer experience map and informing strategy, KPIs, marketing, product, and operational priorities.
- Led and improved emerging human resources, finance, legal functions, and project prioritization and planning.
Focus areas: Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, New Products, Marketing, Product Owner, Business Consulting, Business Planning, Product Growth, Growth Strategy, Growth, Growth Analysis, User Research, Market Research, Design Research, Financials, User Testing, User Experience (UX), Sprints, User Empathy, Process Design, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Customer Journeys, Prototyping, Product Design, Launch Strategy, Business Development, New Business Development, New Product Development, New Product Business Cases, New Product Rollout, P&L Management, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Management, Startups, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Innovation, Consulting, Agile, SaaS, Consumer Insights, Product Management, Consumer Trends, Consumer Behavior, Business to Business (B2B), Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Innovation Management, Due Diligence, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, Contract Negotiation, Business Setup, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Primary Research, Interviews, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Business Models, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Google, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Go-to-market Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Software, Accounting, Journey Mapping, Due Diligence Consultant, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, M&A (Buy-side), Joint Ventures, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Marketing Strategy, eCommerce, Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Consumer Health, Organizational Design, Financial Modeling, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Small Business, Fundraising, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Fundraising Strategy, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups
VP, Product
2014 - 2019
Spartan Race
- Improved product performance (from sign-ups to retention) and grew revenue by ten times, geographic footprint by ten times, and partners from 0 to 200.
- Introduced new approaches to qualitative research, carried out projects and applied findings to product and marketing strategies and plans leading to the above gains.
- Built growth strategy encompassing two new business models, an in-market brick-and-mortar gym and a digital app (Daily Burn) experiment.
- Developed high-impact partnerships (e.g. 24 Hour Fitness) meeting partner, end-user, and Spartan goals to boost product impact and support new initiatives.
Focus areas: Product Owner, New Products, Marketing, Innovation, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Business Planning, Product Growth, Growth Strategy, Growth, Growth Analysis, User Research, Market Research, Design Research, Financials, User Testing, User Experience (UX), Sprints, User Empathy, Process Design, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Customer Journeys, Journey Mapping, Prototyping, Product Design, Launch Strategy, Business Development, New Business Development, New Product Development, New Product Business Cases, New Product Rollout, P&L Management, Management, Product Management, Project Management, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Startups, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Scrum, SaaS, Consumer Insights, Consumer Trends, Consumer Behavior, Business to Consumer (B2C), Process Improvement, Performance Improvement, Innovation Management, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, Contract Negotiation, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Primary Research, Interviews, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Business Models, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Go-to-market Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Google, Sales, Operations Improvement, Business Setup, Accounting, Due Diligence Consultant, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Joint Ventures, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Marketing Strategy, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, EMEA, Consumer Health, Financial Modeling, Small Business, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups
General Manager
2009 - 2012
Axiom
- Launched new office and crafted and implemented a business (sales, marketing) strategy to attain three-year operating plan goals.
- Led over 300 consultative client development meetings designed to explore and surface client "struggles" and goals. Nurtured strategic accounts.
- Used product and service design methodologies to create custom client solutions addressing challenges.
- Recruited, led, and developed a high-performing team that grew from one to over 20 employees in 18 months.
Focus areas: P&L Management, Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Business Consulting, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, Project Management, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, Product Owner, Business Planning, Sales Planning, Growth Strategy, Growth, Growth Analysis, User Research, Market Research, Design Research, Financials, User Experience (UX), User Empathy, Process Design, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Customer Journeys, Launch Strategy, New Business Development, New Product Rollout, Startups, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, New Products, Innovation, Consumer Insights, Product Management, Consumer Behavior, Business to Business (B2B), Product Design, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, Contract Negotiation, Business Setup, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Primary Research, Interviews, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, Business Models, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Go-to-market Strategy, Market Entry, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Microsoft, New Product Business Cases, P&L Forecasting, Accounting, Product Growth, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Marketing Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Financial Modeling, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Value Proposition, Business Plan Consulting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups
Retail Client Manager
2006 - 2009
IBM
- Formed trusted executive relationships and owned client P&Ls to gross profit level, achieving >$55M in annual sales.
- Collaborated with consulting partners to create and execute software and process design engagements exceeding $15M.
- Developed deep customer understanding as an embedded member of BJ’s Wholesale Club and Staples tech organizations, synthesizing client insights to set strategic account goals and plans.
Focus areas: Business Consulting, Sales, Project Management, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Strategy, Growth Analysis, Sales Planning, Software Sales, Hardware, Business Planning, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Operations, P&L Management, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, SaaS, Consumer Insights, User Research, Consumer Trends, Business to Business (B2B), Operations Improvement, Process Improvement, Performance Improvement, Market Research, New Business Development, Competition Research, Competitive Intelligence, Launch Strategy, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Strategic Planning, Client Presentations, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Accounting, Financials, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Customer Journeys, Journey Mapping, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Go-to-market Strategy, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Software, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Business Services, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Market Research Analyst, Discovery, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, EMEA, Financial Modeling, Value Proposition, Business Plan Consulting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring
Senior Professional Financial Analyst
2001 - 2005
IBM
- Created, executed, and streamlined pricing processes for a global $500M software consulting business.
- Owned business model and financial strategy on engineering, product, and marketing teams to achieve software product growth targets (content management, forms).
- Explored and built plans for disruptive SaaS email offering. Co-led initiatives to commercialize software consulting assets and price and market hosted software solutions.
- Synthesized structured and unstructured customer, market, and financial data to evaluate acquisitions and JVs.
Focus areas: Business Consulting, Business Setup, Project Management, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Analysis, Software Sales, Business Models, Business Planning, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, New Products, M&A (Buy-side), Joint Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, Marketing, Product Owner, Innovation, Business Development, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, SaaS, Consumer Insights, New Product Rollout, User Research, Business to Business (B2B), Product Design, Prototyping, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Design Research, Market Research, Innovation Management, New Business Development, Due Diligence, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Growth Strategy, Launch Strategy, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Empathy, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Process Design, Primary Research, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, New Product Business Cases, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Accounting, Corporate Finance, Financials, User Testing, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Customer Journeys, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Sales Planning, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Management Consulting, Go-to-market Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Due Diligence Consultant, Market Sizing, Software, Hardware, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Market Research Analyst, Discovery, Business Operations, Product Launch, EMEA, Financial Modeling, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups
Business Development Manager
2000 - 2001
Internet Appliance Network (IAN)
- Leveraged transactional expertise and product skills to help release visionary consumer devices on tight timelines for a startup backed by top venture capital firms.
- Developed, negotiated, and closed strategic tech relationships to optimize customer experience and power Virgin Entertainment's VirginConnect service with 10,000+ users in the first month.
- Analyzed market, products, and positioning of IAN and MyInternetDesktop service and their competitors. Created a business intelligence system and supervised two analysts.
Focus areas: Business to Business (B2B), Business Development, New Business Development, Sales, Negotiation, Financial Modeling, Customer Research, Competition Research, Fundraising, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Fundraising Strategy, Pitch Decks, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Hiring, Early-stage Startups
Education
1993 - 1996
Juris Doctor in Corporate Law
New York University, School of Law - New York, NY
1992 - 1993
M.Phil. in International Relations
Cambridge University, Peterhouse College - Cambridge, UK
1986 - 1990
Bachelor's Degree in History
Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences - Ithaca, NY
Certifications
APRIL 2023 - PRESENT
LEANSTACK Continuous Innovation Coach
LEANSTACK
MAY 2019 - PRESENT
Certified Professional Scrum Product Owner
Scrum.org
AUGUST 2018 - PRESENT
Certificate, Disruptive Strategy
Harvard Business School Online
MARCH 2017 - PRESENT
Specialization, Design Thinking and Innovation
University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
MARCH 2008 - PRESENT
Retail Executive Program
Santa Clara University, Leavey School of Business, Retail Management Institute
MAY 2007 - PRESENT
Business Insights Program
IBM