Chris Wallace

My Work History: Impactful Roles and Contributions to Employers.

Internal Consulting at Morgan Stanley.

After gaining valuable experience as a Business Analyst at the U.S. Department of Commerce and Robert W. Baird Investment Bank, I had the opportunity to take on a contract Internal Consultant role at Morgan Stanley
During my time at Morgan Stanley, I had the privilege of working with the Shareworks platform, a cloud-based software solution that streamlines and automates the management of employee equity plans.
In this role, I played a pivotal role in establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for the Product team. It was crucial to ensure that these goals were fully aligned with the senior leadership's vision for the product.
Furthermore, I meticulously monitored and evaluated the progress of the Shareworks product throughout each iteration, achieving an impressive 95% iteration completion rate. Collaborating closely with Data Stewards in their respective lines of business, I implemented necessary Data Quality controls, guaranteeing 100% compliance with the firm's stringent data quality standards.
These experiences have not only honed my skills in strategic planning, performance evaluation, and data management but have also showcased my ability to drive alignment, achieve targets, and maintain high-quality standards within product development processes.

Management Consulting at element22 Management Consulting.

element22, a distinguished boutique Management Consulting firm specializing in engagements with investment banks and fintech companies, approached me due to my prior experience with one of their former clients.
In this role, I actively assumed responsibility for managing and escalating risks and customer-impacting issues on a day-to-day basis. By effectively communicating these concerns to management, I achieved an impressive 95% resolution rate for these issues and successfully reduced the time taken to escalate such matters by 45%.
Furthermore, I played a crucial role in creating and maintaining essential product documentation, including comprehensive materials such as customer journey maps, technical specifications, and process mappings. These artifacts were instrumental in providing clarity and guidance throughout the product development process.
Recognizing the significance of non-functional requirements in achieving the desired product metrics, I took the initiative to identify and define these key requirements. As a result, the product documentation attained a remarkable level of accuracy and completeness, standing at an impeccable 100%.
These experiences have not only honed my skills in strategic planning, performance evaluation, and data management but have also showcased my ability to drive alignment, achieve targets, and maintain high-quality standards within product development processes.

Product Management at Jefferies.

When I joined Jefferies, I had the advantage of already being familiar with some of the teams I had previously collaborated with during my tenure as a Management Consultant at element22.
During my time at Jefferies, I had the opportunity to work on a product called Madison. This comprehensive solution served as a centralized hub for all departments, leveraging the capabilities of Salesforce CRM to a significant extent.
Within this role, I took charge of defining both functional and non-functional product requirements, prioritizing their completeness, consistency, and integrality. I ensured that user story acceptance criteria were carefully crafted and validated, while also establishing appropriate testing frameworks for robust product feature testing. As a result, the accuracy and completeness of the product requirements reached an exceptional 100%.
Collaborating closely with the Engineering team, I played an integral role in creating technical features that continuously optimized system components and infrastructure maintenance. This proactive approach resulted in a noteworthy 20% increase in system performance, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the product.
Furthermore, I fostered a culture of accountability and ownership within the Product team by empowering them to make decisions as close to the work as possible. This approach not only facilitated timely decision-making but also nurtured a sense of responsibility and autonomy. Additionally, I effectively managed dependencies with other team functions, leading to a remarkable 90% team satisfaction rating and a significant 10% increase in cross-functional collaboration.
These experiences demonstrate my ability to drive product development, prioritize requirements, optimize technical aspects, and cultivate a collaborative and accountable team environment.

About Me: A Snapshot of My Background and Experience.

Hello! I’m Chris Wallace

‍I was born in New York City and raised in Miami, FL. Growing up, I always had a dream of moving to NYC to kickstart my career, as Miami is often considered an extension of The City.

During my childhood, I spent many summers assisting at my grandfather's hardware shop. This experience sparked a passion within me for understanding customers' concerns and providing effective tools and solutions.

Driven by this passion, I pursued careers in Management Consulting and Finance. Being in NYC presented opportunities to engage in Management Consulting projects within the Banking and Financial Services sector.

‍Transitioning from Management Consulting to Product Management

At element22 Management Consulting, I had the privilege of collaborating with prominent banks and fintech companies on Wall Street, including Morgan Stanley, UBS, Scotiabank, Raymond James, Oppenheimer & Co., Ocrolus, Policygenius, Betterment, and Jefferies.
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Through my work in Management Consulting, I discovered a new career path that intrigued me: Product Management.

What appealed to me most about Management Consulting was the opportunity to work with cross-functional teams across various departments, such as Design, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales.
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However, the downside was that Consulting engagements typically lasted only 3-6 months at a time. Although these engagements often renewed the contracts, they would involve different workstreams and stakeholders.

Motivated by these experiences, I set my sights on becoming a Product Manager. I wanted to ensure that the products I worked on as an element22 Consultant for Jefferies would meet both customer needs and business objectives.

In fact, my dedication and performance as a Consultant led my last client, Jefferies, to approach my element22 superiors with a request to hire me full-time as a Product Manager.

‍Hobbies

‍Beyond my professional pursuits, I engage in several hobbies to maintain a well-rounded lifestyle. These include running, exercising, listening to podcasts from renowned sources such as NYT, WSJ, and Planet Money, experimenting with new recipes for dinner and cocktails, and continuously enriching my knowledge through online courses from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Udacity, Wall Street Prep, The Product School, and The Scrum Alliance.

Experienced Product Manager with a Proven Track Record

What I Can Do For You: A Comprehensive Guide to Leveraging My Skills and Expertise.

Market & User Research

Product Vision and Strategy

Teamwork for Product Launch

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.

My Work History: Impactful Roles and Contributions to Employers.

Internal Consulting at Morgan Stanley.

Management Consulting at element22 Management Consulting.

Product Management at Jefferies.

About Me: A Snapshot of My Background and Experience.

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