Ken Zakalik, Finance Expert in Portland, OR, United States
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Ken Zakalik

Verified Expert  in Finance

Bio

Ken is an experienced tech futurist and innovator who has helped cutting-edge startups, iconic brands, and seasoned not-for-profits transform for growth and innovation. Whether developing product and innovation strategies, launching accelerators, giving keynotes, or leading teams, Ken's work is game-changing and has been recognized and featured in Fast Company, Variety, Advertising Week, and more. He has earned his reputation as a secret weapon in the world of digital R&D and innovation.

Case Studies

Work Experience

Head of Digital Product Innovation

2021 - PRESENT
Nike
  • Defined and launched six new digital experience initiatives resulting in a 10x increase in audience acquisition and delivered over $15 million in new revenue.
  • Stood up and led the product function into a pre-existing startup accelerator, resulting in a 50% increase in concept delivery and a 95% lift in the number of concepts to be transitioned as a core value-generating asset.
  • Evaluated new product concepts for viability, impact, and value resulting in a 30% increase in the number of concepts completed and delivering value.
Focus areas: Startup Consulting, Startup Development, Commerce, E-commerce marketing, Data, Business Modeling, Innovation, Innovation Labs, Innovation Strategy, Innovation Management, Innovation Capability Development, Prototyping, Rapid Prototyping, Business Modeling, Business Model Strategy, Incubator Management, New Product Business Cases, Product Management, Leadership, IT Product Management, Product Mapping, Product Development, Lean Project Management, UX Leadership, Team Leadership, Economic Development, UI Development, Web Development, App Development, Design Strategy, CX Strategy, UX Strategy, Launch Strategy, UX Development, UX Development, Process Design, Process Innovation, Disruptive Innovation, Software Innovation, UX Development, Agile Development, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, Product Strategy

Product Lead and Executive Coach

2022 - 2022
Orsy Inc.
  • Worked with executives to build business and product strategies for a social media live-streaming platform.
  • Led the execution team in creating a 0-to-1 mobile product MVP.
  • Created economic models. Led the marketing team in the go-to-market and content strategies.
  • Defined product roadmaps and supporting documentation.
  • Coached the executive team in the fundraising strategy for future investments.
  • Led a team of marketing, development, and project management professionals to develop and launch a new social streaming business.
Focus areas: Product Mapping, UX Leadership, Team Leadership, Design Strategy, Launch Strategy, Business Modeling, Executive Coaching, Marketing Design, Web Marketing, Blockchain Consultant, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Business Analysis Consulting, Design Leadership, Thought Leadership, Product Launch Strategy, Product Design, Blockchain Consultant, Growth Strategy, GTM Marketing, Smart Contract Development, Solana, Technical Consulting, Product Leadership, Market Research Analyst, Competition Research, Competitor Analysis

Founder Innovation Labs

2017 - 2021
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC)
  • Led the digital and innovation transformation that achieved the organization's recognition as the Fast Company's #1 workplace for innovators.
  • Oversaw the creation of multiple immersive experiences, producing more than $15 million in revenue over two years across multiple platforms, numerous industry awards and accolades, and unique partnerships with Google, Facebook, and others.
  • Forged collaborative relationships with multiple large partners, co-creating disruptive IoT, AI, Blockchain, and immersive experiences, delivering several revenue and engagement opportunities and the organization's first patent (pending).
  • Directed new retail merchandise sales expansion into third-party platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, Instagram, and others. Within the first six months, brand impressions increased by 200,000-300,000 and merchandise sales revenue by $25,000.
  • Established a scalable "product growth team" model, identifying and executing new net-value concepts, enhancements, and optimized experiences, reducing time to market by 40% and increasing business value for pre-existing businesses by 8-10%.
  • Launched an internal incubator and accelerator, introducing a new working and budgeting model, resulting in a 30% new program success rate, launching multiple new, net-positive, scalable revenue streams and models over two cohorts.
  • Pioneered an enterprise-level, multi-year transformation plan driving digital and innovation culture change and revenue growth.
  • Introduced design sprint process resulting in the creation of ground-breaking strategies, delivering core-program optimizations and new program launches significantly contributing to $400 million revenue growth over three years.
  • Implemented design-thinking and audience-centric design functions supporting the organization's being named "Health Non-Profit of the Year" (Harris Poll), Top Place to Work for Millennials (NSHS), and "Top 100 Places to Work For" (Fortune Magazine).
  • Developed an enterprise-wide training and a skill-building plan to drive transformation through education, coaching, benchmarking, and prototyping new concepts.
Focus areas: Product Management, Leadership, Team Leadership, Design Strategy, CX Strategy, UX Strategy, Launch Strategy, Business Modeling, Business Modeling, Innovation, Innovation Management, Agile Development, Marketing Design, Web Marketing, B2C, Business to Consumer (B2C), E-commerce marketing, E-commerce UX Design, E-commerce marketing, E-commerce Development, eCommerce Payments, eCommerce Management, Recruiting, Web Development, Digital Media, Digital Marketing, Google VR, Virtual Reality, Blockchain Consultant, Blockchain as a Service, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency, Metaverse, Web 3.0, Management, Technology, UI Prototyping, UX Prototyping, Research, Business Analysis Consulting, Business Cases, NFT, Blockchain Consultant, Product Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Competition Research, Competitor Analysis, Operating Models, Business Transformation

Head of Product Management

2011 - 2015
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC)
  • Implemented user-centered design process producing eCommerce enhancements resulting in a 120% lift in YoY revenue.
  • Launched new audience-centric products and campaigns driving expansion into new markets, partnerships, and platforms.
  • Directed re-platforming effort adding personalization, friction-free payments infrastructure, and data and analytics functions.
  • Strategized and led the implementation of B2B and B2C marketplaces producing a 25% lift in digital merchandise sales revenue and a 15% growth in new customer acquisition through retail channels.
  • Spearheaded the organizational shift to an agile work methodology, increasing operational efficiency and responsiveness, resulting in a 3x improvement in time to market activities.
Focus areas: Microsoft PowerPoint, Product Management, IT Product Management, Product Mapping, Lean Project Management, Leadership, Team Leadership, Design Strategy, CX Strategy, UX Strategy, Business Modeling, Business Modeling, Innovation, Innovation Strategy, Process Innovation, Disruptive Innovation, Innovation Management, Agile Development, Market Execution, E-commerce marketing, E-commerce UX Design, E-commerce marketing, E-commerce Development, eCommerce Payments, eCommerce Management, Web Development, Digital Media, Digital Marketing, New Product Development, Product Development, Lean Product Development, Product Development Management, Digital Product Development, Customer-centered Product Development, Web Development, UI Development, eCommerce Analysis, E-commerce Development, E-commerce Development, IT Strategy, Visio, Information Architecture, User Journeys, Product Journeys, Customer Journeys, UX Development, Partnerships, Partner Management, Partnership Strategies, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, App Growth, Product Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Competition Research, Competitor Analysis, Pricing

Chief Product Officer (Co-founder)

2010 - 2012
Rental Engine
  • Launched rentalengine.com and associated marketing strategy crossing 50,000 active users in four months of launch.
  • Grew product division to seven employees across multiple functions, including technology, marketing, sales, and product teams, and mentored one technologist to promotion to company's technology director.
  • Led the business development and strategic partner acquisition strategy, integrating five high-profile partners and successfully selling 15 clients to the proprietary system.
  • Implemented invite-only social media strategy successfully acquiring 150,000 leads pre-launch with a 20% conversion rate to active users at launch.
Focus areas: Product Management, Leadership, Team Leadership, Design Strategy, CX Strategy, UX Strategy, Business Modeling, Business Modeling, Innovation, Innovation Management, E-commerce marketing, New Product Development, Product Development, Lean Product Development, Digital Product Development, Customer-centered Product Development, Design Leadership, Thought Leadership, Roadmaps, Product Roadmaps, Feature Roadmaps, Advisory, Business Advisory, Mentorship, Team Mentoring, Mentorship & Coaching, Culture Management, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, App Growth, Product Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Competition Research, Pricing, Operating Models

Digital Consultant

2010 - 2010
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
  • Directed the design and implementation of a new back-end logistics system and front-end design solution decreasing operational overhead and increasing throughput.
  • Managed all aspects of branded eCommerce website development from concept through launch and operationalization, successfully producing four sites with combined revenue of $400 thousand.
  • Led optimized web consultancy for multiple internal divisions and brands.
Focus areas: Product Management, Product Mapping, Lean Project Management, Design Strategy, Business Modeling, Business Modeling, Innovation, E-commerce marketing, E-commerce UX Design, Business Analysis Consulting, UI Development, Information Architecture, Business Strategy, UX Development, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, Product Strategy, Competitor Analysis, Operating Models

Product Consultant

2009 - 2010
Marvel Entertainment
  • Managed the implementation of an industry-disrupting digital comic's subscription application, acquiring 25,000 initial subscribers in the first three months, managing Apple and Google app stores and vendor relationships.
  • Implemented Marvel "motion comics," web-gaming, and web-media initiatives managing vendor RFP, selection, contract process, and subsequent vendor relationships.
  • Led the re-launch of the enhanced Marvel.com website, the launch of Marvelkids.com, and the implementation of a foundational content management system as the product manager.
Focus areas: Product Management, Design Strategy, Launch Strategy, Business Modeling, Business Modeling, Innovation, E-commerce marketing, Web Development, Web UX, Mobile App Design, Mobile UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Subscriptions, Subscription Pricing, Vendor Management, Product Launch Strategy, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, Product Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Competition Research, Competitor Analysis, Pricing
APRIL 2018 - PRESENT

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Project Management Institute (PMI)

JANUARY 2015 - PRESENT

Scrum Product Owner Certified (SPOC)

Scrum Alliance

JANUARY 2015 - PRESENT

Certified Scrum Master

Scrum Alliance

Finance

Business Advisory, Financial Modeling, Blockchain Consultant, Market Research Analyst, Pricing

Output Software

Microsoft PowerPoint, Office 365, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Word

Industry Expertise

Early-stage Startups, Technology

Other

Slack Development, Zoom Development, Startup Consulting, Startup Development, E-commerce marketing, Business Modeling, Innovation, Innovation Labs, Innovation Strategy, Innovation Management, Innovation Capability Development, Business Modeling, New Product Business Cases, Product Management, Leadership, Design Strategy, CX Strategy, UX Strategy, Product Mapping, Lean Project Management, Product Development, IT Product Management, Product Development, New Product Development, Lean Startups, UX Leadership, Team Leadership, Economic Development, Launch Strategy, UX Development, UX Development, Process Design, Process Innovation, Disruptive Innovation, Software Innovation, UX Development, Agile Development, Scrum Master Consulting, Scrum Master Consulting, Web Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, E-commerce marketing, E-commerce Development, eCommerce Payments, eCommerce Management, Web Development, Web 3.0, UX Prototyping, Lean Product Development, Product Development Management, Digital Product Development, Product Journeys, Customer Journeys, UX Development, Partner Management, Design Leadership, Thought Leadership, Roadmaps, Product Roadmaps, Feature Roadmaps, Advisory, Mentorship, Team Mentoring, Concepting, Conceptualization, Product Conceptualization, Ethereum, Ideation, UX Development, Brainstorming, MVP Design, Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Minimum Marketable Product (MMP), Mobile App, Digital Product Management, Lean Product Management, Agile Development, Mobile Product Management, Global Product Management, Technical Product Management, Payment Product Manager, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), B2B Design, Backlog Management, Backlog Grooming, Feature Backlog Prioritization, Feature Planning, Feature Prioritization, Growth Marketing, Product Growth, Growth Strategy, Business Requirements, Requirements Analysis, Requirements & Specifications, Product Requirements Documentation (PRD), Functional Requirements, Software Requirements Specifications (SRS), Wireframing, Business Intelligence Development, Customer Research, Competition Research, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Key Performance Metrics, User Onboarding, Onboarding, Market Strategy and Research Product Manager, UX Development, App Growth, Product Strategy, Product Strategy Consulting, GTM Marketing, Web Development, Mobile App Design, Cross-platform App Development, Feasibility Studies, Mobile App, Value Proposition Design, Startup Growth Strategy Development, B2B2C, Product Discovery, Business Transformation, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), Rapid Prototyping, Information Architecture, Business Analysis Consulting, Confluence, Asana, Trello Development, Aha!, Airtable, Virtual Coaching, Digital Marketing, Virtual Reality, Blockchain as a Service, Cryptocurrency, Management, UI Prototyping, Research, Customer-centered Product Development, UI Development, E-commerce Development, IT Strategy, Partnerships, NFT, Presentation Design, Fintech, Project Timelines, Competitor Analysis, Operating Models, Microsoft Development, MacOS, Windows Development, Commerce, Data, Prototyping, Business Model Strategy, Incubator Management, Executive Support, Executive Coaching, Market Execution, Business, Product Design, App Development, User Journeys, User Flow Design, Requirements, UX Development, System Requirements, IT Management, Business Cases, UI Development, Web Development, Marketing Design, Web Marketing, B2C, Business to Consumer (B2C), E-commerce UX Design, Recruiting, Digital Media, Google VR, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Metaverse, Web Development, eCommerce Analysis, E-commerce Development, Visio, Partnership Strategies, Mentorship & Coaching, Culture Management, Business Strategy, UX Development, Web UX, Mobile App Design, Mobile UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Subscriptions, Subscription Pricing, Vendor Management, Product Launch Strategy, Security, Blockchain Consultant, Smart Contract Development, Solana, Technical Consulting, Product Leadership, Operations

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