About Mike
Two decades of leading teams through complex change - now helping leadership teams find their way forward.
I've spent 20+ years in operations and technology leadership - building PMOs, leading agile transformations, and helping executive teams navigate the messy reality of organizational change.
What I've come to learn is that broken processes are rarely just a process problem. They're also a people problem. And until you focus on both the people and the process, you'll never break through to new levels of performance.
My most recent experience is serving as Chief Operating Officer at Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund, leading operations across IT, application development, project management, business analysis, customer service, and data systems. Before that, I spent over 12 years at Cornerstone OnDemand, leading the PMO through an IPO, 20x revenue growth, numerous M&A, and eventual PE acquisition.
What I've learned along the way
I've led teams through agile transformations, post-acquisition integrations, and the kind of organizational growing pains that come with scaling from startup to enterprise. I've managed a PMO supporting a technology organization of over 1,200 people, owned P&L responsibility, and built internal consulting practices to tackle cross-departmental dysfunction.
But here's what I've really learned: there are process problems and there are people problems, and most problems are both.
But it's much easier to focus on the process problem than it is to focus on the people problem, and that's where most organizations fall short.
And that's where I can help.
My approach
It's tempting to show up with a pre-determined playbook. I don't do that.
My first step is always to work with you to investigate and define the problem - not assume I already know what it is. I listen to every member of you leadership team, look for the patterns they can't see from the inside, and work with you to define solutions.
I am an honest, empathetic, and trusted partner. And I will tell you the truth with care and discretion, even when it's tough to hear.
I'm pragmatic. I draw on Lean-Agile mindsets and practices, agility, SAFe, and two decades of operational experience - but I don't force frameworks onto problems they weren't designed to solve. I tailor the approach to what your team actually needs.
A bit more about me
I'm based in Los Angeles. I have a MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and a BA in Management and Organizational Leadership from George Fox University.
When I'm not helping leadership teams get unstuck, I enjoy meditation, my daily morning walk, reading, movies, music, and cooking.