Colm is available for hire
Hire ColmColm Byrne
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Location
Galway, Ireland
Toptal Member Since
January 11, 2020
Colm is a highly skilled product manager, blending creativity, technical insight, and business acumen to turn concepts into realities. He built a revolutionary AI edtech platform, transformed a global crop nutrition platform, launched Europe's first on-demand breakdown service, and doubled sales for a lending platform. Renowned for driving progress while nurturing teams with a relatable style, Colm is a visionary and pragmatic leader. Connect with him now to get feedback on your next project.
Project Highlights
AI Adaptive Education Platform
Delivered an artificial intelligence curriculum-based adaptive learning platform for educators and learners
Internal Startup for The AA PLC
Built an on-demand startup (team and platform) from concept to market launch to protect against competitive threats.
Covid-19 Pandemic Containment
Built the roadmap, defined enterprise and national value propositions, built the team, and led outreach.
Expertise
Work Experience
Product Manager
2024 - 2024
Davidson Consulting Inc
- Facilitated workshops aimed at defining project challenges, identifying value propositions, and assessing risks. Conducted sessions to gather insights from stakeholders, collaborating and aligning objectives.
- Established and managed the project backlog, prioritizing tasks and features based on business value and user impact.
- Crafted comprehensive user stories to capture user needs, behaviors, and pain points, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
Senior AI Product Manager
2023 - 2023
Learncan
- Developed and successfully piloted LearnCan, an AI-driven edtech platform, integrating multiple large language models, including those from OpenAI, to provide personalized, curriculum-based learning experiences.
- Executed a thorough market analysis to identify key trends and user needs in the edtech sector, informing the strategic direction of LearnCan. Drove development on this data.
- Spearheaded a cross-functional team comprising developers, AI specialists, and educational content creators, efficiently managing the product development cycle using Agile methodologies.
- Redirected LearnCan's development strategically by conducting an evaluation of emerging AI methodologies, including chain prompting, AutoGen agents, and OpenAI assistants, resulting in enhanced efficiency and scalable, future-oriented growth.
Senior Product Manager (Atfarm)
2023 - 2023
Yara
- Devised and executed a product strategy centered on stability, farmer value, and transition to next-generation products, aligning with long-term business goals.
- Reduced bug resolution time from 18 days to 2, significantly improving product reliability and restoring business confidence measured by NPS.
- Eliminated operational silos through an overhaul of the product development cycle, integrating incubation, and hiring a skilled scrum master.
- Initiated and successfully delivered a pilot program in partnership with John Deere, expanding farmer value and market reach, which will significantly impact the organization as a whole.
- Directed a diverse team of product owners, a web team, and a mobile team, following the regionalization of the product.
- Facilitated the split of product responsibilities into Europe and Americas with a shared backlog and then managed the European product business unit.
- Balanced complex stakeholder needs and roadmaps. Aligned cross-functional teams for transparency and setting clear expectations through regular reviews.
Strategic Planning Consultant
2022 - 2023
Dublin City Council
- Facilitated the creation of a 5-year strategic plan for a community umbrella organization with over 23 organizations, resulting in a cohesive and unified vision for the future.
- Analyzed and interpreted data from multiple sources, including surveys and focus groups, to identify key themes and insights, informing the development of the strategic plan.
- Led multiple workshops utilizing a modified Design Sprint methodology to drive collaboration and idea generation among diverse stakeholders, resulting in increased engagement and buy-in from all participating organizations.
- Conducted regular progress reviews and evaluations to ensure that the strategic plan was achieving its intended goals and made necessary adjustments to the plan to maintain alignment with the community's needs and Dublin City Council's priorities.
- Utilized project management skills to create a detailed project plan and timeline for the creation of the strategic plan, ensuring that all activities were completed on time and within budget.
Subject Matter Expert
2022 - 2023
Cardano Foundation
- Developed a comprehensive blockchain course in collaboration with subject matter experts.
- Established and maintained relationships with subject matter experts, ensuring that course content remained up-to-date and relevant to industry needs.
- Utilized instructional design principles to create engaging and effective course content.
Product Manager
2020 - 2022
Commonwealth Financial Network
- Devised and implemented a strategic blueprint to onboard five siloed business teams to the Salesforce platform, helping transform business with a multiyear roadmap. Built an MVP per team, coordinating training, comms, and change management.
- Led a team of business analysts, developers, QA, solution architects, and change management to deliver business-transforming solutions, providing mentorship and leadership to achieve the highest possible standards of work.
- Helped businesses transform their business using Google Design Sprint (adapted for this use case). Managed backlogs, prioritization, story workshops, sprint planning, and UAT for an efficient cadence of deployments.
- Conducted technical reviews and assessments to determine the approach for expanding the product to other regions.
- Oversaw the development of the product, using Agile product development methodologies to ensure the team remained on track and that the product was delivered on time and within budget.
- Collaborated with other product and technical teams to document and transfer knowledge of the product's technical aspects and other existing tools, ensuring that the product team had the necessary skills to ensure continuity.
Head of Product Development
2018 - 2022
The Ladder
- Validated 30+ startup initiatives with design sprint framework, problem validation, MVP and prototyping, user testing, roadmap creation, and executive alignment.
- Oversaw development of mobile and web apps using agile product development methodologies to ensure the team remained on track and that the product was delivered on time and within budget and met user needs.
- Designed and created content for an online training course, including certification, interactive sessions, and offline coursework. https://theladder.thinkific.com/.
- Assessed current products and developed strategies for expansion into other regions.
- Conducted business analysis and market research to identify emerging trends and opportunities, ensuring that products remained competitive and met the needs of the target audience.
Product Manager
2020 - 2020
Pace Ventures — Fawrun Instant Delivery
- Accelerated from concept to full proposition and ready for business in three weeks.
- Validated the proposal with Design Sprint, retailers, and consumers.
- Provided technical product management expertise to ensure proper functioning and service continuity of web and mobile apps.
- Installed, configured, and tuned products in front-end Magento and Woocommerce stores.
- Created a complete financial model and identified strengths and weaknesses in pricing, Opex, and Capex.
- Defined product extension requirements for plugins and integration to third-party products.
- Created product backlog, wrote user stories, groomed with developers, and managed agile sprints, ensuring clear definition of done, streamlining product delivery, and keeping stakeholders aligned.
- Wrote initial prototype integration (Python, JS, HTML). Recommended technical stack for MVP. Performed code-walkthrus, and identified line-level bugs.
Strategic Advisor to the CTO
2020 - 2020
BIV Innovation & Ventures
- Co-created an innovation strategy, product strategy, and communications strategy working directly with the CTO.
- Authored reports, positioning papers and presentations for board-level communications.
- Provided analysis of start-ups investment criteria, creating a framework for decision-making.
Head of Product
2020 - 2020
Zerobase Foundation
- Defined and built the product roadmap and backlog for a COVID-19 contact tracing platform.
- Created the product team and hired developers and UX designers in three days.
- Defined and spearheaded the product strategy.
- Groomed user stories for development with product managers.
- Led end-to-end product management from first touch to digital to physical interaction.
Product Owner/Product Lead
2017 - 2018
Paddy Power Betfair
- Delivered first-to-market tennis gaming markets, providing a competitive lead to the company.
- Made a 6x delivery improvement across four international teams (stories created/delivered).
- Helped to kill a failing product.
- Reduced delivery time by six months through tactical and team leadership.
- Ran and trained teams on Design Sprint to improve the product development process.
- Validated product propositions through Design Sprint and built the product roadmap.
- Evaluated, researched, and documented requirements creating estimates, for clear communication and expectations.
- Created UI wireframes, prototypes, and stories based on customer interviews for stories and backlog prioritization.
Head of Product
2016 - 2017
Breakdown Hero Ltd
- Designed, built, and launched the world's first club-sponsored on-demand breakdown brand: breakdownhero.com.
- Tested and created the strategy and commercial business case to enter the market.
- Designed and delivered apps and back-end platforms in three months.
- Created a working roadmap through validated learnings from design sprints, user testing and analysis.
- Launched and iterated the product over six months.
- Created and hired the team, with the CEO, to deliver and launch.
- Validated product proposition through customer testing, design sprints and workhsops.
- Developed the ROI, costings, and revenue commercials.
- Performed technical evaluation for platform, researching alternatives through analysis for best ROI.
- Created user experience, wireframes, and prototype to create and prioritize user stories for the product backlog.
Product Manager, Program Manager
2015 - 2016
The AA
- Created and launched the AA's first online product for on-demand membership.
- Created a commercial business case, validated the need, and tested it in the field.
- Delivered under-budget and ahead of plan while coordinating with multiple teams and multiple product owners.
- Created training documentation and call scripts. Trained call center leaders to ensure effective support post-launch.
Product Manager
2014 - 2015
118Money
- Increased sales by 2x in delivering a new lending acquisition platform.
- Improved product funnel for new customers - 30% CAC reduction.
- Developed teams in three countries to deliver as a single unit and increased the number of features per sprint.
- Developed, tested, and iterated on new propositions with the highest-grossing subscription app for directory services.
- Product awarded Awarded “Alternative Lender of the year” by Credit Today.
Product Manager
2014 - 2014
Hotels.com
- Led development of the trading platform, increasing global booking value (GBV) by 15%.
- Iterated machine learning models with data scientists to win bidding on price/commercials/inventory.
- Designed a platform to create bidding strategies, build segments and cohorts, and execute bids to unify bidding strategies.
- Created a single source of truth for bidding through dashboards.
Product Manager
2013 - 2014
Actito (Predictive Intent)
- Cut customer onboarding time by 90% and increased sales growth by 30% with the development of a rapid deployment kit.
- Iterated predictive machine learning models with data scientists to increase recommendation speed by 500% using content and collaborative filtering models.
- Consolidated development with agile scrum teams and product owners in multiple countries to improve delivery.
- Aligned business requirements with technical models. Handled the strategy, commercial positioning, and roadmap opening of new markets in eCommerce marketing automation and recommendations.
- Developed business requirements through competitive intelligence, customer and sales interviews, and strategic workshops.
- Built a roadmap aligning with the CEO's vision and technical capabilities.
- Created wireframes, designed user experience and user stories, and managed iterations.
- Integrated plugins to third-party eCommerce products and services, managing end-to-end integration.
Agile Trainer and Knowledge PM
2012 - 2012
Wonga
- Secured the organization's key intellectual asset—the loan decision engine, from third parties.
- Onboarded new executives and international heads.
- Researched and validated positions leading to Paylater and Everline brands.
- Coached and trained 150 employees on Agile product management and Scrum to help scale the business to 300 in six months.
- Developed and launched a knowledge platform, content repository, and workflows.
Writer, Knowledge Manager
2011 - 2011
Munich-RE
- Co-created strategic white papers, to increase brand perception as a thought leader.
- Improved deployment and installation of product through guides, training, and user experience.
- Introduced agile collaboration practices as part of product development.
- Defined and delivered knowledge management product portals to help facilitate faster prototyping and new product.
- Provided support and training to development team.
Product Owner and Developer
2007 - 2009
AranRock Digital
- Developed the strategy and branding for web projects for government, retail, and eCommerce organizations. Created the backlog, roadmap, and development strategy.
- Defined business requirements, analysis, and infrastructure definitions, including hardware operating systems and data.
- Strategically developed and executed a solid content creation plan that increased website traffic by 40% and social media by 25% within six months, working with the SEO team using best practices and data-driven content analysis to target key audiences.
Product Owner/Analyst
2005 - 2006
Ameriquest
- Created product roadmap for high capacity mortgage lending and securitization platform.
- Designed the front-end web credit processing component.
- Managed the development cycle and off-shore teams.
- Gathered and analysed requirements, interviewing customers, performing competitive analysis and strategic mapping.
Analyst/Engineer
2003 - 2004
Allianz Insurance
- Researched and developed new claims proposition.
- Developed claims processing platform reducing manual effort by 85%.
- Migrated legacy code from iSeries to .NET.
- Created training modules, lead training of insurance analysts.
- Launched new platform company wide and iterated on improvements based on user and customer feedback.
Analyst/Writer
2003 - 2003
SunGard Trading Systems
- Developed the roadmap for maintaining and rolling out new market access platform.
- Set up level one and level two support desk procedures.
- Created training, operations manual, and support scrip.
Engineer/Writer
2003 - 2003
Deutsche Bank
- Reverse-engineered mission-critical trading application and processes -mitigating impending compliance and regulatory risk.
- Decoded cryptic C++/C# trading platform in 30 days ensuring operational and business continuity.
- Defined new platform requirements with extensive research based on interviews with 75 traders, back-end operations, and executives.
- Created business process flows for application across the organization.
- Created TIBCO integration requirements.
Engineer/Analyst
2000 - 2003
JP Morgan Chase
- Designed and developed an overnight money trading platform—increasing trading to $6 billion nightly.
- Managed backlog, created stories, and assessed opportunity.
- Coded zero-defect core trading system.
- Managed launch, roll-out, and support.
Analyst | Developer
2000 - 2001
Cost Plus World Market
- Defined requirements and performed gap analysis on workflows and needs - optimizing processes as they were completed.
- Orchestrated collaboration between IT and various business departments to ensure the ERP system met diverse needs. This initiative enhanced cross-functional communication and resulted in more tailored and effective ERP functionalities.
- Supported the implementation phase of the ERP software, ensuring alignment with business needs. Performed post-implementation and optimized system performance, achieving a 24% reduction in processing time for key transactions.
Engineer/Analyst
1999 - 2000
Morgan Stanley
- Co-created and launched one of the first consumer trading platforms.
- Defined proposition and prototypes, testing it with the target audience.
- Created key trading components.
- Launched, deployed, and created training.
Founder
1999 - 1999
Rip Shorts
- Invented, designed and produced innovative sports wear - RipShorts.
- Sold product directly to wholesalers and retailers.
- Managed local production and distribution.
Product Manager, Developer
1996 - 1999
AranRock Product Development
- Migrated iSeries to Windows client/server as a developer for the city of Pinole.
- Handled merger preparation (senior accounting reporting, workflows) as an analyst at Medtronic (Nellcor).
- Developed an attorney billing and tracking platform for Cooley LLP.
- Developed an RFP platform for iLogistix.
Engineer/Analyst
1996 - 1997
Bank of America Securities
- Designed and developed an IPO management system with $5 million in additional revenue by MVP.
- Engineered platform capacity leading to 10x the number of IPOs per year.
- Managed development team and QA process.
- Coded key modules.
Engineer/Analyst
1989 - 1995
Apple Computer
- Designed, developed and launched a consumer product drop-ship system saving over $1 million in shipping costs.
- Worked on the early voice-recognition systems.
- Trained users in 30 different distribution centers.
- Implemented SAP ERP/iSeries integration system.
Project History
AI Adaptive Education Platform
http://learncan.appDelivered an artificial intelligence curriculum-based adaptive learning platform for educators and learners
Conceptualized and spearheaded the development of LearnCan, a pioneering AI-driven edtech platform uniquely characterized by its curriculum-aligned learning and progress-tracking capabilities. This platform distinctively integrates multiple advanced large language models (LLMs), including those from OpenAI, to power its AI agents and assistants. My role encompassed strategic planning, leading cross-functional teams, and navigating technological challenges to create a solution that not only differentiates in the market but also demonstrably enhances the educational experience and outcomes for users
Internal Startup for The AA PLC
Built an on-demand startup (team and platform) from concept to market launch to protect against competitive threats.
Co-created vision and strategy for board-level approval. Researched market, pricing, threat level, and opportunity. Created business case, commercials, and roadmap. Ran design sprints and user testing to rapidly elaborate product platform. Defined product backlog, co-created design, and wrote the stories. Hired team members for the startup (including CEO, marketing, and design). Developed the product MVP in three months for the launch. Launched in two cities. Iterated over six months and then launched nationwide. Successfully held off the competitive threat.
Crowd-Sourced Climate and Global Goals Accelerator
http://theLadder.ioBuilt a viable non-profit to crowdsource solutions to climate, equality, poverty, and 17 global goals.
Ran/moderated over 30 design sprints. Developed, iterated, and implemented a viable business model. Built a community, platform, and organization in six months. Helped communities make a real impact locally.
$6 Billion Overnight Market Platform
Designed, developed, and tested the overnight trading platform for JP Morgan.
The overnight market platform disposes of the entire available liquidity of the bank (from $6 billion and up) in about an hour. Ensured federally-mandated reserve requirements were available. Delivered this high-risk application with zero defects.
Covid-19 Pandemic Containment
http://plinks.ioBuilt the roadmap, defined enterprise and national value propositions, built the team, and led outreach.
Addressing the single biggest threat to safety and the economy across the planet is the most critical problem right now.
We developed Plinks to not only help countries contain, manage, and predict outbreaks—but specifically to get their economies open, safely.
We developed Plinks to not only help countries contain, manage, and predict outbreaks—but specifically to get their economies open, safely.
Education
2009 - 2010
Master's Degree in Writing
National University of Ireland - Galway - Galway, Ireland
1984 - 1986
City & Guilds Certification in Computer Science
Technology University of The Shannon - Ireland
Certifications
NOVEMBER 2022 - PRESENT
Salesforce Certified Administrator
Salesforce
MAY 2018 - PRESENT
Design Sprint Facilitator & Trainer
The Ladder
JANUARY 2008 - PRESENT
Creative Writing
UCLA
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