Bulent Egrilmez, Product Manager in Barcelona, Spain
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Bulent Egrilmez

Verified Expert  in Product Management

Product Manager

Location
Barcelona, Spain
Toptal Member Since
January 4, 2019

Since 2001, Bulent has been offering his technical and managerial expertise on digital transformation. He has a background in technology and business management in telco, banking, and insurance. Bulent also has extensive experience in SaaS and contextual services.

Project Highlights

P2P Remittance Platform
Led the product team from the ideation to market launch.
Cryptocurrency Exchange
Led the team and managed the product for the Japanese crypto exchange to be deployed to EMEA.
Decentralized Blockchain Project
Defined the product requirements as a product owner for the DEX on Cosmos Network.

Expertise

Work Experience

Principal Management Consultant

2015 - PRESENT
Krossdelta Consulting
  • Led digital transformation and change projects in ERP/CRM and PMO management. SAP S4 Hana landscape transformation projects for brownfield companies. Process reengineering for SAP R/3 to S4 transformations.
  • Acquired expertise in distributed ledger technologies, smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain programming.
  • Gained extensive experience managing cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection projects in finance, retail, and manufacturing industries.
  • Achieved proven success in designing, delivering, and improving services focusing on UX and usability in omnichannel marketing, including effective go-to-market strategies and market positioning.
  • Established loyalty programs for retail and financial institutions. Managed technical teams for hands-on delivery for React, Node.js, and Java technologies using CI/CD process in a scrum.
  • Acted as a product manager, leading multiple simultaneous projects within budget and per the approved scope.
  • Built and maintained the business case for products and features, including market opportunity models, user personas, value proposition, and KPI management.
  • Implemented AI and ML-based projects using RNN, LSTM, and GAN on audio, video, language encoding, and speech-to-speech basis.
  • Delivered a product lifecycle for technology products, go-to-market strategy, value proposition management, and operating model.
  • Analyzed financial business cases for financial market exchanges, conventional, and crypto markets.

Strategy and Business Development Director

2013 - 2016
Aktifbank
  • Managed the business development team that created an app ecosystem for value-added services for unbanked segments, such as tickets, public transportation, international remittance, micro-lending, and credit solutions.
  • Designed the customer experience for banks' investments and fintech solutions targeting unbanked segments.
  • Participated in the bank's investment strategy in startups.
  • Governed the program management office for internal and external projects.

Digital Business Development Manager

2011 - 2013
Turk Telekom Group
  • Developed PaaS and SaaS services.
  • Created digital strategies.
  • Implemented Scrum project management.
  • Managed the cloud strategy.
  • Designed and managed the incubation program.

Engagement Manager | Senior Consultant

2008 - 2011
Peppers and Rogers Group
  • Maintained multimillion-dollar engagements for customer-centric solutions and managed the accounts and teams in marketing and sales, including the operational efficiency in retail, telecom, and FSI.
  • Provided headcounts and managed the budget for the assigned accounts.
  • Worked on business development in Caspian, CIS, and Middle Eastern markets.
  • Delivered loyalty, commercial value proposition, and data analytics projects.
  • Managed international teams, including those overseas.

Senior Consultant

2006 - 2008
Pegasystems
  • Delivered successful projects that aided the business process and changed the management in Europe and the US within the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and government and telecommunication sectors.
  • Implemented PMI-based project management and developed the business and presales for London, Frankfurt, and NYC financial markets.
  • Managed the business process and cases for robotic process automation (RPA) related to forecasting experiences.
  • Supervised international teams.

Support Team Member

2003 - 2006
STMicroelectronics SA
  • Handled customer interactions for consumer electronics clients.
  • Managed the project and administered multiple internal and external parties for long-term program cases.
  • Contributed to product development for consumer electronics, gaining experience in microelectronics and video and communication protocols.
  • Supervised an international team and oversaw the accounts.

Consultant

2001 - 2003
SAP AG
  • Managed several project engagements in retail, FMCG, telecom, and manufacturing concerning supply chain management and CRM in Europe.
  • Developed an SAP Direct to Store Delivery (DSD) front end using Java.
  • Worked on the mobile infrastructure of the product team.
  • Handled the proposals for several prospects of professional services engagements.
  • Developed CRM and R/3 implementations for several clients.

P2P Remittance Platform

Led the product team from the ideation to market launch.

This is a cross-border payment system based on cryptocurrencies to manage P2P remittances with minimal fees.

Bank Card Loyalty Wallet

Managed the loyalty product of a major bank in Turkey on their behalf.

A major bank's loyalty program based on contextual marketing using AI, merchant campaign management, segmentation, and an omnichannel presence.

Football Fan Engagement Platform

Managed the product of football engagement platform.

I managed the football engagement platform for soccer fans of 30 clubs in a bank program. This project involved product development, go-to-market strategy, segmentation, and a value proposition setup.

Blockchain-based Write-once-read-many SaaS Solution

Managed the product for a WORM solution as SaaS service for document validation.

This is a WORM service that validates the documents and their validity is stored in blockchain technology.

LMS Platform for a Development Program for Personnel

Designed the platform specs and go-to-market strategy for an LMS platform for personnel skill development.

This is an LMS platform that targets staff for their skills development based on a curriculum and adapts itself using AI algorithms.

PMO Management for an OSS/BSS Transformation

Led a team of professionals up to 1,200 people with a PMO office for a major global telco operator.

A major global telco operator decided to overhaul their OSS/BSS and CRM systems in a cluster of three countries. I managed the PMO office that oversaw the project of 1,200 people in ten different companies.

Open Banking API Gateway

Led the product for open banking API management for European banks.

This is a PSD2 compliant, open banking, API management, and service brokerage platform for European banks.

Retail Store Location Optimization Using AI

Defined the specs and managed the GTM strategy for a retail store optimization program.

This program for retail store location optimization was built based on TensorFlow. The program was designed and delivered as a SaaS, contributing to the optimization of a retail store location network.

Cryptocurrency Exchange

Led the team and managed the product for the Japanese crypto exchange to be deployed to EMEA.

Koindex is a trade mining-based crypto exchange (CEX) that has decentralized finance functions as well. I managed the team to define the value proposition, break down the requirements, and manage the development. I was also in charge of both product ownership and project management using the Agile methodology.

Decentralized Blockchain Project

Defined the product requirements as a product owner for the DEX on Cosmos Network.

The DEX is a platform like uniswap.info, where users swap crypto tokens based on liquidity pools. I created the product requirements for the exchange and its blockchain operations esp. inter-chain connections for Ethereum and other chains.

NFT Marketplace

Managed the product lifecycle for a NFT marketplace for dynamic NFTs.

I managed the product definition and backlog management for an NFT marketplace that leverages Chainlink VRF and has dynamic traits linked to the NFTs for their lifespan. I managed a team of international experts in EST and CET time zones.

JTI Multi-experience Platform

Took product ownership of a multi-experience platform for commercial applications.

Acted as the product owner of the JTI multi-experience platform's commercial offerings. I managed prototyping building blocks and deploying them on a no-code basis for business units. The project was launched in 150 markets around the world.

Hazelnut Agrotech

Acted as product owner for a food processing company for multinational agrotech community product.

I managed the product vision for a multi-experience platform for the farmers' community for Hazelnut to manage its entire lifecycle. I was technically instrumental and managed contractors. The project was deployed to several countries for ecosystem build-up.

OTT Apps for Connected TV

Defined the features and backlog for MHEG-driven smart TV apps for DTV for a client in Europe.

I defined the backlog and features for the OTT app in MHEG protocol DTV. The app carries the news and weather information for users and interacts with DTV STBs. I defined the backog of features and NFR tech requirements.

Set-top Box Application

Worked as a product owner for an STB application and defined the tech specs and requirements.

I defined the features and tech specs for a set-top box app to deliver DTV audio and video. I defined the user stories for the backlog items. The application is built for SOC-driven STBs for the Europe market.

Insurance Reassurance Portal

Defined business process definitions for business workflows.

The application includes the entire lifecycle for each stage of the insurance process. The process includes underwriting, binding, and reassurance matchup. The application was developed using a BPR engine.

Energy Exchange

Led the product team for wholesale green energy exchange.

I managed a team of developers to create an energy exchange product and defined the product specs for green energy certificates exchange for the government. I defined the product features and GTM for the certificate exchange that utilizes the blockchain.

AI-driven Translation and Speech-to-speech Project

Managed product definitions and technical requirements.

I defined the product value proposition, product features, and technical requirements for a stealth startup that works in the speech-to-speech translation area using LSTM-based ML and AI techniques. I worked with engineers to identify technical needs and sizing requirements.

Interim Chief Product Officer for Fintech

Headed the product team and worked with the CEO to identify the product roadmap.

I worked as a CPO for a fintech firm disrupting the conventional financial sector in emerging markets. I have used AI and ML to identify behaviors and help users invest in new areas, such as crypto, by simplifying the process.

Metaverse Real Estate

Created the product definition and value proposition.

I managed the product team to define the customer experience and product value proposition for a metaverse-driven real estate startup. I administered the technical requirements in an Agile manner and worked with developers to define the acceptance criteria. Furthermore, I coordinated with the finance team to create the business case for further investments.

Global PMO

Managed the project management office (PMO) of multi programs for a global telco operator.

I led the program management office for the major digital transformation programs for a global telco operator that included more than 25 programs with 250 people and more than 10 vendors simultaneously.

Product Management of an eCommerce Marketplace

Handled the overall product management of a global eCommerce marketplace that includes multi vendors and B2B and B2C facades.

I managed the value proposition, feature, and roadmap of a global eCommerce marketplace. This included defining value proposition and feature, business case management, KPI management, and product positioning.

Real Estate Sales Rep Tracking App

http://www.emaar.com

Handled the product management of the sales rep funnel tracking app for real estate.

I oversaw the product definition and feature description of the mobile app for the sales reps in real estate. My work also included defining the analytics dashboard for tracking their funnel and performance.

B2B portal for FMCG

https://tinyurl.com/dabcf4u7

Product management and feature definition for the B2B portal.

I worked on the feature definition, product mix definition, and portal user story definition for a B2B FMCG portal for big buyers from the Coca-Cola company digitally, either on the web or direct SAP to SAP connection. I managed the feature backlog and liaison between technical and business.

Product Manager for eCommerce Portals

https://portfolio.tsgconsumer.com/

Managed the product definition and project management for the deployment of B2B and B2C portals using Magento to more than 50 markets.

I managed the feature definition for the eCommerce portals for automotive parts and tires for B2B and B2C settings using Magento and multiple market rollups. I served as the bridge between business and technical teams.

Product Owner: eCommerce and Marketing Suite

http://www.jti.com

Managed the product definition and delivery management of the features for marketing suite and eCommerce.

JTI has more than 150 markets and several brands in tobacco. I managed their eCommerce solutions and marketing automation requirement gathering and management. My responsibilities included user story definition and negotiation between business units and technical teams.

RPA Development for Automation Anywhere Platform

https://www.automationanywhere.com/

Managed the demo preparation and delivery for Automation Anywhere, an American global software company that develops robotic process automation software.

I defined the scope and delivered the client demo suite for Automation Anywhere for various clients. My responsibilities included feature gathering, workflow definition, and testing the RPA suite functions.

ChatGPT-based Chatbot

Product management of a ChatGPT-based LLM-modeled local chatbot.

Managed the product definition and management of the technical team using ChatGPT APIs to create a chatbot that is attuned to local needs. I have used the APIs and built the prototype with the tech team.

SAP Brownfield Landscape Transformation from r/3 to S4Hana

Managed the process reengineering from r/3 to S4Hana.

The client was an international manufacturing company with a customized R/3. I mapped and reconciled the processes and master data for S4Hana transformation. The outcome was the master data updates and process maps for the transformation
2007 - 2010

Master's Degree in Business Administration

Bilgi University - Istanbul, Turkey

1996 - 2001

Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems

Bogazici University - Istanbul, Turkey

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