John Colbert

At Stony Brook University College of Business, I enhance student learning as a Co-Director and Lecturer. Through courses in Organizational Behavior and Management Strategy, I foster engagement, experiential learning and skill development. Collaborating with industry partners, we lead impactful projects that improve job readiness and connect graduates with employers seeking top talent.

At BPM Partners, I collaborate with technology organizations seeking to optimize their business performance strategies, drive digital transformation, and deliver financial and operational efficiencies for their customers.

Led team of product managers for a core product suite, driving strong double-digit growth in recurring revenue and set product strategy and direction to modernize a strategic SaaS platform for OpenGov. Managed closely to a targeted product market fit for municipal governments - set a framework for prioritized feature development for further market expansion with enhanced capabilities, including AI, to enhance customer efficiency. Responsible for operational improvements in customer support experience, quality and overall service levels.

Transformed a complex SaaS offering into a more scalable go-to-market model for IBM Sterling (Business-to-business (B2B) Integration & Managed File Transfer). Led a team of 5 product managers in executing above plan 7% year-over-year growth for $400 million of revenue in a mature market. Enablement leader for the IBM Offering Management Rollout, enabling over 100 product management professionals globally to adopt a customer-centric offering strategy. In partnership with Bain & Company, this was a new way for product managers to deliver value for IBM and our customers. Deployed a unique out-sourcing of product development with select engineering partners - enhancing IBM revenue and profitability, while starting a new growth business at partner organizations. Drove market awareness through analyst relations, thought leadership & communication of a transformational offering vision.

Oversaw global product management for telecom & complex spend expense management software, leading to a 15-25% reduction in operational costs for clients. Played a key role in three roll-up acquisitions over 24 months, integrating products to enhance the organization's market position. While at IBM, expanded responsibilities to become overall Emptoris product leader, responsible to $65 million in revenue from hundreds of customers for sourcing, contract management, spend analytics and complex spend solutions - including management of IBM’s internal procurement deployment IBM’s strategy pivoted away from Smarter Commerce in 2014, and eventually pursued a partnership with SAP ARIBA where we lead an initiative to migrate IBM’s existing deployment & customers to SAP

Partnered with founder Craig Schiff for the launch of a performance management and business intelligence advisory services firm developing thought leadership for end user organizations and guidance for technology vendors

Fitness and health technology start-up, drove hyper-growth marketing through the Dotcom era. Led demand generation and value-proposition development for a service delivered to over 500 health and wellness centers that helped fitness enthusiasts succeed at their goals and improved health club member retention. Simplified a complex technology offering for consumption by non-tech health clubs.

Product leader for an online analytical processing (OLAP) offering, growing from $5M to $25M in two years. Converted a technical IT product to a more user-friendly solution for the Office of Finance.

Palo Alto, CA

New Brunswick, NJ