Experience

 

Summary

I am a results-oriented digital transformation executive with extensive experience in organizational leadership, information technology, business operations, administration, finance, and management consulting for private and publicly traded companies, educational institutions, governments, and NGOs across the United States, Canada, China, Japan, the Middle East, and other international markets.

I possess a proven record in successfully starting up and scaling organizations, raising capital, attracting talented individuals, and building success-driven teams. As a dynamic leader, I have an ability to identify opportunities to automate and improve processes, enable systems to meet business needs, and improve bottom line results.

In the Information Technology field, I have held positions in executive leadership, digital transformation, software development, project management, product management, business development, consulting, sales, and marketing.

I have achieved positive results in digital transformation, automation, and ERP system implementations that contain costs while improving efficiency and data access.

Areas of Expertise

My areas of expertise include Digital Transformation; e-Government; Project Management and Execution; Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment; Organizational Behavior; Change Management; Business Process Re-Engineering; Outsourcing, Offshoring, and International Development; Cybersecurity; Information Security Auditing; Blockchain; Internet of Things (IoT); Cloud Strategies; Artificial Intelligence; Startups, Mergers, and Acquisitions; Global Product Development; Leadership and Culture; e-Commerce; Strategic Planning; Global Operations; Enterprise and Mobile Solutions; Critical Thinking; Corporate Governance; and Business Development.

Industry Expertise

Government and Public Administration; Education and Higher Education; Discrete Manufacturing; Electronics High Tech; Medical Devices; Healthcare; and Retail.

Career Highlights

  • Leading European Union-funded digital transformation project at the Ministry of Education in Baghdad, Iraq to implement an Education Management Information System (EMIS) at 31,000 public schools serving more than 9 million students and at 1,200 literacy centers affiliated with the High Commission for Literacy in Iraq.
  • Leading the development of the digital transformation strategy and implementation plans at 15 African universities on behalf of the World Bank Group (WBG), in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU).
  • Leading the development of the digital transformation strategy and implementation plan in the higher education sectors of Tunisia on behalf of the WBG.
  • Providing technical assistance, as part of the WBG team, for the development of the digital transformation strategy and implementation plans in the higher education sectors of the Gambia and the Philippines.
  • Spearheaded the National Digital Transformation Strategy and Implementation Plans for Lebanon, totaling 82 projects with $250 million budget, in collaboration with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, World Bank, UNDP, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other stakeholders.
  • Led digital transformation projects at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Beirut, Lebanon to roll out an EMIS at 165 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools as ILO consultant and 34 vocational training centers as UNICEF Consultant.
  • Achieved post-war re-enrollment of 37,419 Iraqi students at 437 schools by launching EMIS for Nineveh Governorate of Iraq as part of Education Above All / Educate A Child Initiative.
  • Led information security and cybersecurity teams conducting incident response and gap analysis activities using the Assess, Educate, Protect, Comply, and Respond framework.
  • Led projects for forensics intelligence, disaster recovery, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, social engineering testing, source code reviews, and secure system and network architecture design.
  • As Interim CEO of MoneyCam, led the design and development of a multimedia enterprise solution using Amazon AWS, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, accessible from Web, Android, and iOS apps.
  • Delivered management consulting services to CEO of Lebanese American University Medical Center – Rizk Hospital to deploy Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.
  • Led implementation of Ellucian Banner and Oracle eBusiness Suite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions for the American University of Beirut and its medical center in Lebanon.
  • Strategized policies, processes, and procedures for establishing Office of Information Technology with all needed IT infrastructure and systems for the planned American University of Abu Dhabi.
  • Conducted comprehensive needs assessment for UNDP-funded project to automate processes and communications for Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM).
  • Held several executive positions at Agile Software (acquired by Oracle) ranging from marketing, product development, and starting a new division to deliver solutions to Small and Midsize Enterprises (SME).

Professional Experience

THE WORLD BANK GROUP, Washington, DC
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO), Iraq
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF), Iraq
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO), Lebanon
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF), Lebanon
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP), Lebanon
MINISTRY OF STATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM, Lebanon

(2012 - Present)
Chief Technology and Digital Transformation Officer

Directed various high-level digital transformation and process automation initiatives as management consultant and advisor for several international organizations. Served as World Bank’s senior digital transformation consultant for projects in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia; UNDP digital transformation advisor for Ministry of State for Administrative Reform in Beirut, Lebanon; lead UNESCO management consultant for digital transformation at Ministry of Education in Baghdad, Iraq and Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq; and lead UNESCO management consultant for managing Illiteracy Eradication and Education for All initiatives for Ministry of Education in Baghdad, Iraq. Drove digital transformation and Education Management Information System (EMIS) implementation for Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Beirut, Lebanon, as senior UNICEF management consultant. Oversaw local and international consultants engaged in project management, strategic planning, and risk management and mitigation.

  • Led the design, development, and implementation teams for nationwide Education Management Information System (EMIS) supporting illiteracy eradication initiative, public education, and vocational training in Iraq and Lebanon.
  • Led the development of the digital transformation strategy and implementation plan at 15 African universities on behalf of the World Bank Group (WBG), in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU).
  • Led the development of the digital transformation strategy and implementation plan in the higher education sectors of Tunisia on behalf of the WBG.
  • Led design, development, and implementation teams for nationwide Education Management Information System (EMIS) supporting illiteracy eradication initiative, public education, and vocational training in Iraq and Lebanon.
  • Providing technical assistance, as part of the WBG team, for the development of the digital transformation strategy and implementation plans in the higher education sectors of the Gambia and the Philippines.
  • Conducted digital economy research for the WBG to benchmark several countries including China, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Malaysia, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States.
  • Spearheaded national digital transformation strategy and implementation planning for Lebanon, totaling 82 projects with $250 million budget, in collaboration with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, World Bank, UNDP, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other stakeholders.
  • Conducted requirements and gap analysis for Education Management Information System (EMIS) implementation for Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Baghdad, Iraq.
  • Designed and developed statistical indicators for the Ministry of Education to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-4) for inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
  • Assessed data classification and security to protect information of schools, students, and employees as part of needs analysis.
  • Consulted with UNESCO and UNICEF in Iraq to support Iraqi Public Sector Modernization Program (IPSM) to automate processes for managing and monitoring schools, employees, teachers, and students.
  • Guided process automation to manage schools, teachers, and students for Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon with ILO and UNICEF.
  • Instituted national data systems to measure student learning achievements and human resource performance.
  • Strategized and led implementation of national data system with performance indicators for the Educate A Child Initiative (EACI) enrolling out-of-school children in Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) to complete primary education.
MoneyCam Corporation, , Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.
(2018 – 2021)

Interim Chief Executive Officer

  • Started the company for investors and established all legal and operational policies, processes, and procedures.
  • Helped raise seed funding to launch operations and product development.
  • Led the design and development of an enterprise solution using Amazon AWS, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, accessible from Web, Android, and iOS apps.
Lebanese American University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
(2015)

Chief Executive Officer Consultant

  • Provided management consulting services to the CEO.
  • Conducted needs assessment and gap analysis of systems and processes.
  • Defined requirements and prepared strategic and corrective action plans for data classification and security, implementing clinical applications, electronic medical records (EMR), and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
  • Led team in vendor and solution evaluation, and gap analysis for Electronic Health Records (EHR) selection and procurement.
American University of Beirut, Beirut, LEBANON
(2011 – 2013)

Associate Chief Information Officer

  • Spearheaded task force that conducted requirements analysis, vendor and solution evaluation, and gap analysis for Electronic Health Records (EHR) implementation supporting newly constructed 600-bed medical center at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.
  • Reduced recurring IT operating expenses from top 10 suppliers by 39%.
  • Implemented new Ellucian Banner solution for Advancement, Financial Aid, and Student Self-Service.
  • Extended Oracle eBusiness Suite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution into new departments within university, medical center, and New York office, including supply chain management and endowment funds management.
  • Increased automation 40% to 95% for transactions affecting cash inflows and outflows across AUB and AUBMC by adding more governance and controls.
  • Improved customer responsiveness by integrating 23 heterogeneous systems and consolidating 16 dispersed information technology departments into a central organization.
  • Instituted process improvements that reduced corrective action items list 72% by defining corrective actions based on seven years of external and internal audits and consultant reports as part of Institutional Change Control Board (ICCB).
  • Led IT organization in meeting 85% of committed SLAs by developing service level agreements and performance metrics for IT resources in alignment with strategic objectives.
  • Assumed interim roles as Chief IT Quality and Compliance Officer, Director of IT Customer Success, and Director of Applications Management and Administration.
eSharing Corporation, RENO, NEVADA, U.S.A.
(2008 – 2011)

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

  • Oversaw global operations and strategy to grow product and solutions offering. Crafted strategic plans to improve market positioning and expand into new vertical markets and territories.
  • Increased revenue more than 72% and doubled customer base within 18 months through targeted market expansion initiatives.
  • Broadened customer base internationally by growing markets in eight different countries.
  • Achieved year-to-year profit growth rate of 29% for three years running.
  • Led development of cloud-based media asset and document management systems.
PacRim Venture Partners, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.
(2000 – 2011)

PacRim Venture Partners (www.pacrimpartners.com) is a professional venture capital firm that invests primarily in Silicon Valley-based information technology companies. Venture Partner Focused on firm’s enterprise and wireless software deal flow; assessed and evaluated all deals and potential investments.

  • Angel investor, advisory board member, and lead investor in CafePress.com (now public company Nasdaq: PRSS), an e-commerce portal for virtual merchandising stores featuring a catalog of more than 250 million products.
  • Founder and angel investor of a social networking technology company, which was sold to a publicly traded company one year later for $18 million.
Agile Software Corporation, San Jose, California, U.S.A.
(1997 – 2006)

Agile (www.agile.com), a provider of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions for the supply chain. Oracle Corporation acquired Agile in 2008.

Senior Vice President & General Manager, SME Solutions Division
(2003 – 2006)

Led the division focused on developing and marketing PLM solutions for the Small and Medium Enterprises; managed and grew an organization generating $40 million in business; established an offshore software development center in China with a development team in San Jose; built a global eco-system consisting of value added reseller and implementation partner channels.

  • Created a Cloud-based solution offering for product lifecycle management solutions.
  • Exceeded quarterly revenue targets by more than 10% for eight consecutive quarters.
  • Attained 14% average sequential revenue growth for eight consecutive quarters.
  • Reached $650,000 in annual revenue per employee and reduced cost of goods sold from 14% to 3% of license revenue.
  • Beat operating expenses and cost of goods sold targets by 12% for eight consecutive quarters.
  • Reduced cost of goods sold from 14% to 3% of license revenue.
  • Achieved an average net contribution margin of 27% for two consecutive years.
  • Implemented compliance strategies for Sarbanes-Oxley SOX 404, Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), FDA 21 CFR Part 11 on electronic records and signatures, Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and ISO 9001 for customers that require compliance.

Senior Vice President, Products & Technology
(2001 – 2002)

Officer of the company leading a 350-person organization and a 120-person outsourced services team; led product development and product management team with a $27 million annual budget across six countries (U.S., Canada, Germany, China, India, and Hong Kong).

  • Reduced operating expenses by 45% (10% in 2001, 33% in 2002, and 8% in 2003).
  • Established offshore software development centers in China, Hong Kong, and India, and increased head counts by 83% while reducing R&D costs by 45%.
  • Integrated six acquired companies in the Products and Technology organization, five of which in 2003, while instituting agile development processes that improved efficiencies and reduced cycle times across all development centers.
  • Implemented the Agile enterprise applications at electronics manufacturing service providers in Suzhou, China.
  • Led the development of customer-centric solutions for computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), design for manufacturability (DfM), design for reliability (DfR), and design for supportability (DfS).
  • Executive sponsor for Hitachi, the largest Agile customer, generating $14 million in revenues, as well as for GlaxoSmithKline, resulting in more than $4 million in incremental sales.
  • Exceeded MBOs in every single quarter since joining the company.
  • Improved product and service quality and increased customer satisfaction index from 3.4 to 4.6 (out of 5) over a period of eight quarters. According to AMR Research, an independent enterprise software research firm, Agile had the highest customer satisfaction in the industry.
  • Timely delivery of releases: 40% ahead (~13 days), 22% on schedule, and 38% delayed (~11 days).
  • Added four new product lines and migrated the entire product lifecycle management solution footprint from a proprietary architecture to a standards-based J2EE architecture in 18 months.

Vice President, Marketing & eServices
(1997 – 2000)

  • Led product marketing and portal development teams.
  • Built up Agile’s marketing and product management organizations; and defined and communicated positioning to customers, prospects, industry and financial analysts, and the press.
  • Secured extensive press coverage for Agile and instituted corporate identity processes and guidelines.
  • Developed and launched hosted eServices solutions for public and private exchanges enabling electronics manufacturers and their supply chain partners to source and procure components and parts.
  • Assisted the CEO and CFO with investor relations and SEC filings; contributed to the Initial and Secondary Public Offering efforts, which raised more than $300 million.
Others

Prior to joining Agile, I held various positions in software engineering, software quality engineering, solutions consulting, and sales management with Borland and Starfish Software (Scotts Valley, California, USA), Prime Computer (United Arab Emirates), Data General (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon), and Honeywell Information Systems (Boston, Massachusetts, USA).