Carmen Z.

As Senior Director of AI, I lead the development of machine learning platforms that are scaled to meet the needs of NetSuite’s global customer base. My role centers around integrating cutting-edge AI solutions, including large language models, into legacy ERP systems, driving transformative business outcomes. I manage a rapidly growing, cross-functional AI team spread across five global locations, aligning our technological advancements with broader organizational goals. ➮ Grew the AI engineering team from 9 to 49 members within 11 months, expanding across five global locations. ➮ Led the delivery of a groundbreaking generative AI solution in less than 90 days, integrating advanced text clean-up capabilities and enhancing API-based functionalities. ➮ Fostered key strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including collaboration with multinational technology partner Cohere Inc. ➮ Presented AI advancements at the NetSuite SuiteWorld conference, where our AI capabilities earned industry recognition for their innovative application in the ERP space. In this role, I continue to advocate for AI innovation while steering the execution of impactful, data-driven solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible within the enterprise technology landscape.

I was brought on board to provide leadership and structure to a team of directors and managers overseeing global software delivery across three critical ERP product areas: inventory, cash management, and order-to-cash. In this role, I focused on enhancing team dynamics, operational efficiencies, and cross-functional collaboration to drive meaningful improvements in performance and delivery. ➮ Doubled team size from 30 to 60 members and established a co-op program, improving the pipeline for full-time hires and fostering organization-wide collaboration and training. ➮ Restored the team’s reputation in just two years by streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and elevating team performance. ➮ Reduced defect overwhelm from 75% to 50%, freeing up more capacity for feature development and improving completion rates and issue resolution. This role allowed me to combine hands-on leadership with strategic planning to optimize ERP product delivery while driving operational excellence and team growth.

As the Software Development Manager for Analytics, I led technical engineering and product decision-making for the global rollout of a scalable, multitenant, near-real-time analytics platform. In addition to driving engineering efforts, I assumed program management responsibilities to guide the development of a next-generation data streaming platform, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance the company’s analytics capabilities. ➮ Acted as the de facto product manager, shaping product direction and strategy for analytics platform development and delivery. ➮ Spearheaded the transition to a microservices architecture and a cloud-based solution by fostering a DevOps culture within the team. ➮ Led multiple software development teams with up to 25 global and on-site resources, ensuring smooth collaboration across regions. ➮ Established a culture centered on inclusion, transparency, efficiency, and cross-functional teamwork, driving both product innovation and team cohesion. This role allowed me to integrate cutting-edge technologies and foster a high-performance development environment that delivered impactful analytics solutions on a global scale.

In this role, I focused on troubleshooting ETL jobs and optimizing underperforming reports while testing new product capabilities. My proactive problem-solving approach and ability to manage customer-facing conversations regarding failing ETL jobs quickly earned me a leadership position within nine months. As a team manager, I directed the team’s efforts in issue resolution and reporting, ensuring a streamlined approach to tackling product challenges. ➮ Led the troubleshooting and testing of ETL jobs and product performance issues, ensuring timely resolution and improved customer satisfaction. ➮ Advanced to team manager in under a year, overseeing issue resolution plans and coordinating with cross-functional teams to drive efficiency. This role provided me with the foundation for leadership and product quality assurance, setting the stage for my future managerial and technical growth.

As a Business Intelligence Consultant, I utilized a strong combination of technical and communication skills to develop Oracle database solutions and ETL processes tailored for the oil and gas industry. I played a key role in building and optimizing data warehouse solutions, implementing and testing queries for OLAP cubes, and enhancing business intelligence reporting. Additionally, I provided training on BI toolsets and managed ongoing client communications to ensure successful project delivery. ➮ Developed and optimized ETL processes and data warehouse solutions, driving data-driven insights for oil and gas industry clients. ➮ Implemented complex queries to populate OLAP cubes, improving data accessibility and reporting efficiency. ➮ Delivered comprehensive BI toolset training and supported clients through regular communication and technical troubleshooting. This role allowed me to combine deep technical expertise with client-facing responsibilities, ensuring impactful business intelligence solutions for industry-leading clients.

Agile Software Engineering (Graduate Course): January – April of 2010