Derek Matisz

• Co-founded and utilize expertise to consult for a strategic, data-driven advisory firm enabling executives and organizations to enhance productivity, drive innovation, and achieve measurable business transformation through operational excellence and AI adoption. • Architected full cloud migration strategy for a service-industry client, transitioning from on-prem to cloud in 6 months versus a two-year previous project, halting a $11M cost overrun and reducing IT spend by 60%. • Established a centralized PMO of 20 project managers, implementing standardized methodologies and change management frameworks that launched 8 projects within 3 months and delivered significant cost efficiencies. • Secured board approval for a growth-phase operating vision and tactical roadmap, integrating AWS Contact Center Intelligence to achieve a 27% cost reduction and enable enterprise-wide digital transformation. • Designed and operationalized AI-enabled operating models for professional services and SaaS firms, consolidating siloed functions into horizontal structures to deliver 18% cost savings and 10% improvement in service delivery. • Engineered enterprise-wide reconciliation, compliance, and revenue recognition frameworks to fortify audit readiness, ensure financial integrity, and enhance regulatory resilience; improved reporting accuracy by 35%, reduced compliance exceptions by 42%, and positioned the organization for successful funding and M&A due diligence.

• Recruited to lead enterprise transformation for Canada’s $250M media audience measurement authority underpinning a $14B+ advertising market; directed a team of 20 VPs and senior directors. • Directed an enterprise-wide modernization and AI-enabled operational transformation. • Partnered with the CEO and Board to define corporate strategy, assess partnerships and acquisitions, and execute multi-year transformation initiatives, securing Board approval for a new operating vision and product expansion roadmap. • Orchestrated the restructuring a 3.5K-person customer operations division (call center, inside sales, back office) into a digital-first, multi-channel model integrating chat, SMS, AI chatbots, and CRM platforms, reducing Average Handling Time by 20%, increasing 1st Contact Resolution by 25%, and generating $5.5M in annual savings. • Overhauled a 24M-call-per-year contact center running 70% over budget and facing critical attrition by digitizing communication channels, implementing AI-driven speech analytics, and rebalancing the workforce from 3.5K to 300. • Deployed Blue Prism RPA, chatbots, and predictive analytics across customer service, analytics, and PMO, improving reporting accuracy by 85%, reducing fraud exposure, and unlocking $3.5M in new revenue. • Introduced real-time reconciliation and transaction monitoring dashboards, launched 2 regulator-approved product lines that expanded total addressable market by 20%. • Implemented enterprise-wide AML/KYC-style controls and the Three Lines of Defense model, embedding 250+ financial-grade controls, cutting escalations by 40%, achieving a 100% audit pass rate, and restoring full regulatory standing.

• Reported to the Global CEO of a data research and technology firm, leading 150 professionals across project management, programming, data analytics, and client services with full P&L accountability for a $350M portfolio spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. • Architected foundational enterprise systems from the ground up, implementing Salesforce CRM, NetSuite ERP, and a scalable cloud infrastructure that enabled operational readiness within 20 days and doubled revenue within 2 years. • Scaled global delivery operations across 12 offices by unifying people, processes, and culture under a single operating framework, reducing onboarding cycle time by 35% and capturing $75M in annual operational savings. • Cut project delivery cycle time by 50% in 2 years through automation, process redesign, and reconciliation efficiency, resulting in measurable increases in client satisfaction and retention. • Directed M&A integration and due diligence, including operational assessments, synergy identification, and cultural alignment, contributing to Maru Group’s successful acquisition by Stagwell Global. • Partnered with leadership to execute the carve-out of Vision Critical’s professional services unit into Maru. • Revamped product portfolio post-acquisition, integrating automation and CX innovation that generated $30M in new revenue and enhanced competitive positioning. • Introduced ISO 27001–aligned compliance frameworks and financial-grade audit standards.

• Partnered with executive leadership to lead a 60-member global operations team supporting a $60M SaaS consulting division within a market research software company specializing in AI-powered analytics and community-driven insights for global brands. • Scaled organizational infrastructure from $20M to $1B in revenue during a period of rapid growth, advancing through 5 leadership levels in 4 years to become Vice President of Project Management. • Directed financial performance and project governance, implementing automated reconciliation and financial reporting systems that eliminated 85% of manual processes, achieved 99% reporting accuracy, and delivered $250K in annual savings. • Accelerated project delivery timelines by 50% and drove 60% revenue growth through workflow automation, cross-functional collaboration, and realignment of project management standards. • Integrated a mobile technology platform into the core SaaS offering, enhancing client engagement, data accessibility, and product differentiation. • Developed and launched executive KPI dashboards and modernized board-level reporting, strengthening compliance visibility, operational transparency, and governance rigor.

• Mobilized cross-functional teams to retain high-value, at-risk clients by aligning enterprise solutions to business objectives, driving delivery excellence, and advancing client success initiatives, ultimately earning 4 promotions in 5 years for transformative leadership. • Leveraged technology and data analytics to transform project execution, automating survey and panel operations, reducing manual processing by 60%, compressing delivery timelines from weeks to days, and achieving 99%+ data accuracy. • Built and institutionalized enterprise-grade compliance and governance frameworks, launching early-stage fraud detection systems analyzing billions of records daily and embedding audit controls that evolved into AML-style practices and global governance councils.

GUELPH-MCMASTER COLLABORATIVE; MA - PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

DOUBLE MAJOR POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY

Digital transformation is no longer just a productivity advantage but an imperative shift for effective operation alignment with the future of business. The Digital Transformation in Operations online program offered by Kellogg Executive Education at Northwestern University will prepare you to transform your operations management practices and drive organizational success. The program introduces essential concepts in operations management, enabling you to recognize the value that digitalization and digital transformation can bring to your operations. You’ll also acquire the tools to identify opportunities for digital transformation in your operations and understand how fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies, including automation, smart controls, big data, machine learning, and analytics, can be employed. You will learn how to enhance the speed and scale of processes and management, personalize your approach using a digital framework, and business's profitability.