JOSEPH DADZIE
9631 173rd PI NE ● Redmond, Washington 98052
(206) 459-2352 ●
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Highly skilled Software Executive with 18+ years of proven success leading the development of commercially successful consumer and enterprise software products and cloud-based services. Adept at implementing new initiatives to automate processes, engaging consumers, and solving technical and business problems. Significant strengths in identifying business opportunities as well as potential obstacles, while cultivating efficient cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on-time and within budget. Hands-on mentor with a proven ability to successfully lead large teams and produce results that lead to high user satisfaction, adoption, and commercial success. Strong contributor to the development of software ecosystems among developers, users, and partners through effective partnerships, global field engagement, and extensive conference presentations.
Cloud-based Services Development ● New Product Development ● Patent Production ● Process Innovation ● Customer Feedback / Input ● Product Building & Testing ● Cross-Functional Collaboration ● Product Launch ●
Hands-on Team Leader ● Results-Oriented ● Generate Profits ● Reduce Expenses
● Emerging Technologies ● Customer Specifications ● Market Needs ●
Engineering Design ● Full Life-Cycle Project Management ● Forecast & Avoid Potential Obstacles
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
OPTIMYSPORTS, Redmond, Washington ● 2013-Present
Start-up company developing web / mobile software applications for youth sports teams with 4 staff.
Founder
Created company / product vision, initial business plan, funding, regulatory compliance, marketing, and client base. Identified and hired talented contractors. Spearheaded build management and distribution via hands-on leadership and implementation.
· Developed Soccer Mesh iOS and web application in just 9 months, including testing, social media campaign, and obtaining Apple approval for iOS app.
· Landed major launch customer of local soccer club with 70 teams as a result of effective market research and presentation of product that provided a needed solution to clients.
MICROSOFT CORPORATION, Redmond, Washington ● 1995-2012
Principal Group Program Manager ● Online Management Services - System Center ● 2007-2012
Directed comprehensive program/product management, ensured quality in products and performance, turned around a failing acquired product into a successful one, incubated and launched new products and features. Managed 26-member technical program management team with 130+ indirect reports of software developers and testers. Represented the team and program in executive presentations and acted as pivot point person for cross-functional collaboration with engineering, marketing, and product support. Managed all performance assessment for team members, including allocating annual bonuses and stock awards on basis of key performance indicators.
· Seamlessly introduced agile methodology for 130+ engineering staff to shift from the waterfall approach (despite opposition to maintain the traditional process). Achieved process change by engaging all levels of staff and executives through an effective business case and individual meetings to foster feedback and support to phase in the implementation and resolve issues rapidly as encountered.
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MICROSOFT CORPORATION (continued)
· Turned around the Asset Inventory Service SaaS product by initiating a complete assessment to create recommendations and restructure the product engineering process and shipped first release of a 2-year roadmap in just 6 months. Engaged key stakeholders through effective re-negotiation of parameters and increased transparency and accuracy in alignment with 2-year product roadmap for Enterprise Agreement Sales & Renewals.
· Incubated and launched Windows Intune, a subscription, cloud-based PC and mobile device management and protection service. Created the product scope and integrated Agile engineering systems to ensure rapid product delivery of every 6 months compared to similar products that required 2 to 3 years to ship. Maintained high quality by implementing automated service monitoring systems to proactively identify issues and resolve them. The product was deemed worthy to be demonstrated at the company’s annual meeting for 2 consecutive years. The service engineering approach was adopted as a prototype in other areas of Microsoft services. Growth accelerated from 0 to 10,000+ devices in less than one year.
· Awarded 8 patents (7 U.S. and 1 European).
· Earned multiple performance awards, including the Gold Star award for exemplary performance based on ability to turn around the Asset Inventory project and Honorary Mention in 2008 Engineering Excellence for contributing to the development and growth of Windows Update to 700+M devices managed globally.
· Singled out to participate in the 1-year Microsoft Corporate Member Bench, an elite program designed to train future leaders, selecting less than 200 participants annually from 90,000 staff.
Principal Group Program Manager / Lead ● Manageability/Software Distribution ● 2000-2007
Managed diverse portfolio of products through the efforts of 20 direct report technical program managers with 100+ software developers / testers in their respective areas. Facilitated communication between executives, customers, and technical / program staff to drive quality and rapidly resolve any potential concerns between engineering, marketing, and product support.
· Drove effective technical program management for 5 different products simultaneously, including development of new versions to meet consumer demand in these products as well as being integrated into other existing products, such as Small Business Server and varied 3rd-party update scanning tools.
· Spearheaded successful acquisition of Desktop Standard into Microsoft’s technology portfolio, based on compelling business case.
· Selected as Lead Program Manager for company-wide patch management task force charged with developing tools / processes to mitigate publicly discussed security challenges in Windows, which was achieved in 5 months, from presentation of plan to Bill Gates, obtaining his approval, and changing the entire development / testing process for patches while standardizing the update, installation, and review processes.
· Led the implementation of Windows Updates, Windows Installer and Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) features that reduce cost of distributing Windows XP SP2 from $5/PC to 25 cents/PC.
· Awarded U.S. patent.
· Earned multiple awards including divisional Excellence in People Management, Gold Star, and several promotions, based on consistent, results-oriented performance.
Lead / Program Manager ● Windows NT Core OS ● 1995-2000
Led technical program/product management for Windows NT core OS features. Assessed customer needs and integrated those aspects into the functional specifications to drive testing and implementation. Given responsibility for the vital OS installation, setup and 3rd party customization features required to drive adoption of the new Windows NT in the market by end users, corporate IT departments and computer manufacturers.
Resume continues…
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MICROSOFT CORPORATION (continued)
· Produced huge cost savings for manufacturers in U.S., Japan, and Europe by collaborating directly with international manufacturers (Dell, Gateway, Compaq, HP, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Siemens) and all major global PC manufacturers in reducing the time to pre-install Windows NT from 1.5 hours to 30 minutes, as a result of new and factory friendly deployment tools.
· Reduced expenses by automating factory processes partnering with Compaq engineers.
· Revolutionized PC boot-up process by eliminating the need for a floppy disk via Windows NT automated setup.
· Entrusted to broker engineering partnership with computer manufacturer to develop new tools despite junior status, based on recognition of technical and management skills by VP.
· Awarded U.S. patent.
· Earned multiple bonuses and extraordinary stock grant for significant contributions to Windows NT business.
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration
Babson College, F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Engineering
Thayer School of Engineering, Hanover, New Hampshire
Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences
Cum Laude
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Microsoft Corporate Leadership Bench Program / Leadership and Strategy Classes
COMPUTER SKILLS
Windows / Mac / Linux
MS Office Suite / HTML / CSS / Visual Studio / Javascript / C# / Git
Mobile App Development processes across IOS & Windows Phones
Cloud Computing: AWS / Windows Intune / Windows Update
Agile Development
PRESENTATIONS / PUBLICATIONS
Dadzie, Joseph, (2005). Understanding Software Patching, Queue, Volume 3, #2.
Multiple presentations at national and international technical conferences.
Resume