James is available for hire
Hire JamesJames Flynn
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Location
Boston, MA, United States
Toptal Member Since
October 23, 2019
With over three years of experience in product management for AI at Google, James is an expert in product strategy and product development. He has implemented digital transformation at a $1 billion market-cap bank. In 2016, he built and ran a product team that invented a multi-platform digital application, acquired into global distribution by Samsung and took top honors at CES. He was hired into an Innovation Lab by Samsung after founding a mobile app and sensor hardware company.
Project Highlights
Central Internalized Labor Market
Brought a novel industrial organization project from concept through to delivery with a remote team.
Stickiboard App
Hypothesized, prototyped, and rapidly iterated a unique connected device application that quickly gained traction with users.
Retail Bank Digital Transformation
Established cross-functional product development at a national bank with lasting positive organizational impact.
Expertise
Work Experience
Product Strategy Advisor
2019 - 2019
IDEO Design
- Consulted on strategy for new product definition and validation.
Product Strategy Consultant
2019 - 2019
Samsung NEXT
- Advised on portfolio strategy for Samsung Next to deliver differentiating consumer-facing software and services, leveraging Samsung's strategic market advantages.
- Built a causal model for product strategy, incorporating informatics, technology, and behavioral psychology.
- Researched specific product categories and developed market-entry and hypotheses-validation strategy.
- Identified and onboarded partner companies.
- Built a roadmap for product go-to-market and lean hypothesis validation.
SVP Digital Banking
2016 - 2018
Techcombank
- Assessed infrastructure, system software, architecture, vendors, personnel-allocation, and strategy for technology throughout the organization.
- Redesigned digital banking development roadmap factoring banking and operations strategy, investment requirements, technology, and human resource implications, working from high-level company goals.
- Investigated and prototyped deep-learning AI technologies for process optimization.
- Directed the design and provision of an HR Optimal Matching software platform.
- Led internal reorganization to establish cross-functional product team structure for differentiating software.
- Implemented workflow changes for retail mobile and internet banking resulting in improved usability, increased customer satisfaction, and significant cost-saving.
- Conducted an analysis of regional fintech activity and market trends. Informed bank strategy on acquisition targets and startup partnerships.
Product Team CEO
2013 - 2016
Samsung Global Innovation Center
- Built and managed cross-functional digital innovation teams.
- Managed post-acquisition integration and a global roll-out of multi-platform consumer applications with Samsung Digital Appliances.
- Invented and trialed integrated hardware and software products with a mandate to deliver novel recurring revenue products for Samsung.
- Presented projects, methodology, and results to Samsung CEOs.
- Directed strategy, team design, hiring, and project management.
Founder
2010 - 2013
Extrasensory Devices
- Founded technology startup.
- Invented and brought to market mobile applications and accessory hardware.
- Directed marketing, crowd-funding campaigns, and digital advertising.
FPGA ASIC Engineer
1999 - 2010
Wideband Semiconductor
- Integrated a circuit design for communication infrastructure and medical devices.
- Authored multiple design patents.
Project History
Central Internalized Labor Market
Brought a novel industrial organization project from concept through to delivery with a remote team.
Designed, built, and managed an optimal-matching labor market platform for a financial-sector company. The platform algorithmically reassigned 350 personnel within a 2000-employee Sales and Distribution division, resulting in an 8% increase in monthly sales.
Stickiboard App
Hypothesized, prototyped, and rapidly iterated a unique connected device application that quickly gained traction with users.
Stickiboard was a multi-platform consumer app for families. Took the project from concept through to acquisition by Samsung Digital Appliances in 15 months, winning the top award at CES 2016. The project involved hardware prototypes in a geographically-distributed user co-creation process that facilitated the validation of product features by observing real engagement in natural settings.
Retail Bank Digital Transformation
Established cross-functional product development at a national bank with lasting positive organizational impact.
Established product teams in a legacy-structured 5,000 employee bank. Took over retail banking software development and trained new project managers in user-focused design, Agile methodology, and strategy. Quickly captured $300,000 per month in cost savings and improved user ratings.
Education
1994 - 1999
Bachelor's Degree (Honors) in Physics
Canterbury University - New Zealand
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