Mason is available for hire
Hire MasonMason Adair
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Location
Berlin, Germany
Toptal Member Since
December 24, 2019
Mason is a career product leader with 15 years as a practitioner, six years as a team manager, and three years of coaching product teams and product managers as a consultant. He focuses on early-stage product discovery and lean validation, particularly in digital/software contexts. He has recently focused on AI and machine learning applications.
Project Highlights
HERE Auto
Products received the Frost & Sullivan 2014 Technology Innovation Leadership Award.
HERE Auto
Discovered, defined, and validated a new embedded navigation offering sold to automotive OEMs, secured a global deal with Jaguar Land Rover worth EUR 50 million over the vehicle platform lifetime.
Expertise
Work Experience
Agile Coach
2019 - 2019
Koc Holding
- Prioritized initiatives for agile transformation.
- Co-created agile processes for non-software contexts.
Product Strategy Consultant
2018 - 2019
Körber Digital
- Rationalized product portfolio across multiple innovation streams.
- Created and hired for new roles in the product organization.
- Created financial plans for venture funding pitches to investors.
- Led product discovery and validation for several new offerings.
- Informed make and buy decisions for new product concepts.
Engagement Manager | Digital Product Strategy
2016 - 2018
McKinsey & Company
- Built and led digital product teams in product delivery and client capability building.
- Developed product team members through role coaching and mentoring.
- Took an IoT application from concept to launch at an industry trade show within 11 weeks.
- Provided digital consulting in automotive, energy, insurance, and industry 4.0 verticals.
- Nominated as an expert in digital organization design.
Head of Product
2010 - 2016
Here Technologies
- Built automotive experiences' product organization from scratch.
- Defined and executed a vision for a disruptive automotive navigation software suite.
- Helped secure major global product deals with Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover.
- Contributed to products that received the Frost & Sullivan 2014 Technology Innovation Leadership Award.
Senior Product Manager
2008 - 2010
Telenav
- Managed the entire lifecycle for a mobile app product line generating $30 million per year from 250,000 users.
- Outlined requirements for both front-end UI and partner web service integrations.
- Led the implementation of development processes that shortened product development cycles from six months to as few as four weeks.
Co-founder
2007 - 2008
Navadi, Inc.
- Authored and secured patents covering GPS-enabled mobile advertising technologies and pricing.
- Brokered sale of patent family to Groupon, Inc.
- Created product requirements for mobile app and web portal.
- Generated financial forecasts and contributed to capital model for VC venture pitch.
Senior Product Manager
2005 - 2007
Kronos
- Established pricing and led product strategy for employee assessment products.
- Owned product delivery for retail and healthcare customers.
- Authored specifications for XML-based web services.
- Maintained product roadmaps and created marketing collateral.
- Managed fifteen individual partner integration projects.
Co-founder
2004 - 2005
Perpetua Power Source Technologies
- Developed a venture capital investor pitch.
- Built out complete product model and channel strategy.
- Defined product model/offering.
Intern (MBA)
2004 - 2004
Intel Corporation
- Identified a $5 million savings opportunity in software procurement and submitted a proposal for execution.
- Proposed enhancements to team structure that would mitigate functional silos.
- Quantified the total lifetime costs associated with global sourcing of tech services.
- Received the strongest possible performance review at the completion of my internship.
Product Manager
2001 - 2003
WebWasher AG
- Launched six successful IT security products, managed roadmaps, and life cycles.
- Informed make/buy/license decisions through strategic and functional analysis.
- Developed product vision, key messaging, and value proposition statements.
Business Architect
1999 - 2001
Ernst & Young, LLP
- Defined requirements for a consumer-focused online stock options analysis tool.
- Designed and executed a usability testing program involving target customers.
- Managed primary research that addressed logo design, mar-comm, and product usability.
Analyst
1999 - 1999
Market Trends, Inc
- Consulted for high-tech industry clients including Real Networks, Canon, and Microsoft.
- Conducted usability tests, focus group interviews, and statistical analysis.
- Initiated a new segmentation service/product based on multivariate statistical techniques.
Project History
HERE Auto
Products received the Frost & Sullivan 2014 Technology Innovation Leadership Award.
Disruptive vehicle navigation solution product with in-vehicle, mobile and web experience elements that combined to create a seamless journey in and out of the car. Deployed in Jaguar Land Rover vehicles globally, Volvo Sensa, and Audi vehicles.
HERE Auto
https://www.here.com/platform/automotive-servicesDiscovered, defined, and validated a new embedded navigation offering sold to automotive OEMs, secured a global deal with Jaguar Land Rover worth EUR 50 million over the vehicle platform lifetime.
HERE Auto is a full-stack connected navigation solution built on HERE's map data and deployed in Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, and Audi vehicles. The product has an innovative and configurable user experience that can support multiple in-vehicle screens.
Education
2003 - 2005
Master's Degree in Business Administration
University of Oregon - Oregon
Certifications
AUGUST 2017 - AUGUST 2019
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance
APRIL 2017 - PRESENT
Digital Business
Columbia University