Hire Me! ISO a New Job Now
I am sad to say that USAID is dying. I am watching in horror as 25 years of my life is crushed by this new Administration. Yet, I am not one to wallow in the past. What’s done is done.
I must move on.
I did so in a way that came naturally to me. I created Career Pivot – a community of action. And it is an amazing success. In just one month, its gone from zero subscribers to almost 9,000 – and its growing by 200 subscribers a day! I would rejoice, but each subscriber is someone in pain.
We are traumatized by our unexpected unemployment.
This was a bracing wake-up call to me. I realized that I can no longer be an industry-leading Digital Development Advisor. That role does not exist anymore. I needed to pivot my career and use my transferable skills in a new industry.
This led me to a realization. All these years, I’ve really been a very successful digital product manager!
Hire Me: I’m a Digital Product Manager
Looking back on my career, I noted four areas of success that weave throughout my different jobs. Success backed by clear evidence that should excite any employer to hire me as a digital product manager:
- I created software solutions that grew into multi-million-dollar business lines.
- I led teams to design and build software solutions deployed at nationwide scale.
- I formed industry-defining communities and events that engaged thousands
- I navigated large bureaucracies to deliver high-quality results in record time
I’m looking to start a new role now that builds on my comprehensive experience and has the following attributes. As you read this wish list, know it’s just that, a wish list. Like with job ads themselves, this is an idealized vision and subject to negotiation.
My employment wish list:
- Lead a team – I loved leading teams to success at Deloitte, IntraHealth, and Inveneo, and my direct reports say I’m a good leader too. Management by objective and treating staff like you want to be treated really does inspire high-performing teams. Being an independent contributor is faster but doesn’t have the same camaraderie and impact.
- Create solutions that solve problems – I am laser-focused on product/market fit. Everything I design and build has the customer’s needs and wants (those are different) front and center. User adoption is a clear metric, as is ARPU – average revenue per customer. That is how I developed a new $30 million Generative AI business line at Deloitte in less than 6 months.
- Work at scale – I can go deep into a solution for a few high-value customers, yet I excel at creating solutions with nationwide scale. At IntraHealth, I led software development and sales for the largest health management information system for Ministries of Health – we had 20+ governments deploying iHRIS at nationwide scale. I also led the rebuilding of the solution on modern FHIR protocols, making it natively interoperable with global data standards.
- Engage thousands – I love the excitement of leading large communities of action – not practice. Communities of customers that find emotional connection and professional advancement through digital solutions, and who are included in its development – see product/market fit above.
- Career Pivot is in the Top 5% of Substack subscriber growth ever – as measured by Substack.
- ICTworks engages 25,000 email subscribers – who are unsubscribed if they don’t interact.
- Technology Salon directly led to $165 million in new business won – that I could track.
- Be innovative – I’ve learned that the larger the company, often the slower it moves. You may have more resources, but paradoxically, it’s harder for you to get things done. I’m thinking of either working in a small firm or in a purposely innovative section of a larger company where my entrepreneurial spirit can lead us to new markets and faster growth.
- Do good – I have a clear humanitarian ethos. I live for the change I want to see in the world. I am motivated by solving problems that are core to the human experience and bringing joy and delight to customers. I’ve worked on everything from government procurement reform to global digital health and I can find value in many contexts.
- Remote or hybrid – I promised my family we’re not leaving Chapel Hill until the kids graduate high school in 2028, but I can travel up to 30% domestic or internationally, including going into the office. Working remotely should not be an issue – I’ve been leading remote, globally-dispersed teams since 2004, and I have a great track record of managing up and across from afar.
So, whatcha think? Know of any roles like this – existent or potential? Got any pointers or opinions on these themes? Or should I be going in a whole other direction?