Joseph Putnik
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Arlington, VA, United States
Toptal member since August 9, 2024
Joe is an experienced data scientist who operates at the intersection of advanced technology, business strategy, and public policy. He specializes in bridging the gap between engineering teams and executive decision-makers. Recently, he completed a senior congressional innovation fellowship with the House Judiciary Committee, advising Members of Congress on the legislative implications of AI and emerging technologies. Prior to Congress, he led large-scale IT transformations and initiatives.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Agile
- Data Science
- Jira
- Machine Learning
- Product Management
- Python
- Tableau
Work Experience
Founder | Data Scientist, Product Manager, and Agile Coach
Cerebtitious LLC
- Improved marketing strategy effectiveness at Athletic Greens by creating dynamic Tableau visualizations that provided insights into customer behavior and campaign performance, leading to increased engagement and expansion of the target audience.
- Conducted comprehensive commercial due diligence for May River Capital's acquisition target by evaluating market trends, growth drivers, and competitor landscapes, resulting in a robust five-year forecast of the total addressable market.
- Automated data reporting systems. Developed Python scripts to automate financial reporting processes for Focus Brands, significantly improving accuracy and saving several days of work per quarter across seven retail brands.
- Transitioned reporting systems to Power BI at Kenvue, enhancing executive decision-making capabilities by providing clearer data insights and optimizing budget management, which identified potential cost savings and investment opportunities.
- Spearheaded the adoption of Agile practices at Anheuser-Busch's BeyondBeer business unit, managing over a dozen scrum teams and conducting training for over 200 individuals, which improved team performance and strategic alignment.
Tech Fellow
United States House of Representatives
- Served as policy advisor. Advised Members of Congress on emerging technologies, AI, and antitrust matters to shape hearings and legislation.
- Contributed to data strategy. Introduced data science capabilities to the committee to unlock insights for oversight and decision-making.
- Handled tech translation. Translated complex technical concepts into actionable policy insights regarding the intersection of technology and the Constitution.
Management Consultant
Strive Consulting
- Delivered strategic consulting in eCommerce and Agile delivery for major enterprise clients.
- Managed enterprise-wide loyalty program products (global footwear and apparel retailer).
- Developed a retail portfolio strategy for a 5-state region (major health insurance consortium).
- Led eCommerce product details page development as scrum master and delivery manager (Fortune 500 tech services provider).
Consulting Analyst, Business Advisory Services
Slalom
- Contributed to a responsive web/native app build as a product analyst (Fortune 1000 Commercial REIT).
- Handled OneDrive for Business rollout as a change management analyst (multi-national pharmaceutical firm).
- Handled post M&A IT integration/email migration as an infrastructure analyst and technical project manager (Fortune 150 commercial insurance firm).
- Became one of four experienced hires who joined Slalom Chicago's first Analyst cohort.
Project History
Business Intelligence for Retail Food Portfolio
Improved the financial reporting process for all seven brands, saving several days of work each quarter while offering valuable insights to franchisees.
This project aimed to enhance the reporting for a portfolio company of food brands’ UberEats food delivery operations across all its retail brands. Utilizing Python, I consolidated and refined vast amounts of transaction data to generate automated reports.
eCommerce Digital Transformation
Enhanced operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, reducing service delivery times by 35% and increasing customer satisfaction scores by 20%. These improvements subsequently drove a 15% annual revenue increase.
A global retail corporation was experiencing inefficiencies and outdated processes due to its reliance on legacy systems. Their outdated digital infrastructure was causing delays in service delivery, impacting customer satisfaction and overall business performance.
Enterprise-wide Agile Transformation
Led an agile transformation at a major food and beverage company, resulting in a 30% reduction in time to market and significant improvements in product quality and team collaboration.
The project involved a comprehensive agile transformation initiative to address inefficiencies in the food and beverage company’s product development cycles and project management practices.
As an agile coach, I thoroughly assessed the existing processes and collaborated with key stakeholders to develop a tailored transformation roadmap. The initiative included extensive training on Agile principles and Scrum methodologies, establishing cross-functional scrum teams, and implementing Agile ceremonies and practices. I provided continuous coaching and support to ensure teams could adapt and thrive in the new agile environment.
This transformation led to faster time to market, enhanced product quality, increased employee engagement, and better alignment with market needs, positioning the company for long-term success.
Education
Doctorate Degree in Artifical Intelligence and Machine Learning
The George Washington University - Washington, DC, USA
Master's Degree in Data Science
Northwestern University - Chicago, IL, USA
Bachelor's Degree in Finance and Information Management
University of Colorado - Leeds School of Business - Boulder, CO, USA
Skills
Tools
Jira, Tableau, Slack
Paradigms
Agile, Change Management
Other
Data Science, Language Models, Machine Learning, Python, Microsoft Teams, Corporate Finance, Product Management, AI Policy
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