Jenefer is available for hire
Hire JeneferJenefer Thoroughgood
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Location
London, United Kingdom
Toptal Member Since
May 20, 2020
Jen is an expert in engaging customers to develop great products. Jen has worked in sales, marketing, R&D, and senior management—as well as product—so she's skilled at running multidisciplinary teams and engaging stakeholders across departments. Plus, as a pro-market researcher, Jen generates the robust insights needed to make the right product decisions. Jen has particular expertise in media (20+ years) and now supports companies in their product development, both hands-on and as a consultant.
Project Highlights
Product Launch: Research Communities
Led—for industry-leading scientific publisher Springer Nature—the development and launch of a program of online communities for researchers in partnership with a SaaS startup.
Expertise
Work Experience
Chief Product Officer and Senior Adviser
2020 - PRESENT
Collingwood Advisory (Strategic Advisors to Media Entrepreneurs)
- Supported the senior management team in customer-led new product development; introduced key product development principles and led customer discovery work.
- Ran an industry research project to inform strategic decision-making: achieved exceptionally high customer engagement and generated invaluable data.
- Took part in customer discovery sessions, explored customers' product development experience and needs and recommended actions required for improvement.
Managing Director
2015 - PRESENT
Thoroughly Good Consulting (Self-employed Product Development Consultants)
- Supported various industry-leading media companies in successful product development projects, including Informa, Springer Nature, and The Drum.
- Trained clients on agile product development best practices; empowered product teams to conduct their own product development work and supported them through the creation of bespoke guides and processes.
- Conducted in-depth market research projects to understand and measure customer satisfaction, customer need and competitor landscape to inform product development decisions.
Head of Communities (Freelance)
2015 - 2020
Springer Nature (Leading Global Scientific Publisher)
- Oversaw a collaborative partnership between Springer Nature and its SaaS partner to build online expert communities for scientists across a range of disciplines.
- Ensured the communities' success through strategic planning, product development guidance, and community management: the program brought the publisher closer to their customers, enhanced their brand, and delivered new value to their audience.
- Went on to be appointed chief product officer at the SaaS partner and, later, secured Springer Nature as a consulting client, having impressed the team with this project.
Chief Product and Customer Officer
2015 - 2019
Zapnito (SaaS Provider of Online Community Software)
- Owned the product roadmap, prioritized development in line with customer need, business objectives, and capacity/feasibility, working with limited resources at this SaaS startup.
- Maintained a 100% customer retention rate and increased Net Promoter Scores significantly year on year.
- Fostered a customer-centered culture, putting customer insight at the heart of decision-making.
Various Roles, including R&D Director
2004 - 2015
Informa (FTSE 100 Intelligence & Events Business)
- Undertook market research, product development, competitor analysis, and strategic planning across B2B markets as diverse as healthcare, shipping, retail, financial services, and law.
- Established a team integral to the company's most important decision-making and investments.
- Deployed a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to undertake market research, provide guidance on research best practices, establish processes for the generation and management of customer feedback, and manage outsourced research.
- Ran a number of industry-leading titles as a publisher /product manager with P&L and management responsibility.
Project History
Product Launch: Research Communities
http://communities.nature.com/Led—for industry-leading scientific publisher Springer Nature—the development and launch of a program of online communities for researchers in partnership with a SaaS startup.
Working within Nature Publishing Group as interim head of communities, I oversaw NPG and SaaS startup Zapnito's collaborative partnership to build online expert communities for scientists across a range of disciplines. I ensured the communities' success through strategic planning, product development guidance, and community management, the program brought the publisher closer to their customers, enhanced their brand, and delivered new value to their audience.
Certifications
JUNE 2013 - PRESENT
Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice
Market Research Society (MRS)
Collaboration That Works
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