Azad Nalajala
Allen,TX
Summary
Experienced product and engineering leader with 20+ years of cross domain experience. Delivers innovative digital solutions, builds and leads teams, and implements strategies to meet business goals. Specializes in Healthcare IT and excels in product delivery, strategic planning, and leadership. Expertise includes Utilization Management and Payer-Provider Portals, Eligibility and Benefits, Provider Network, Revenue Cycle Management. Technical proficiency in API Enablement, Application & Data Integration, Low/No-Code Platforms, FHIR, EDI, and Cloud platforms.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
8
8
Certification
Work History
Director of Technical Product Management, API Products & Platform
Availity
Jacksonville, FL
11.2022 - Current
- Created and secured business case approval for API enablement and RPA management, generating 6 million in annual revenue in the first year of execution.
- Led API-first strategy and governance, managed API roadmap and GTM activities to ensure rapid operationalization and increased third-party APIs catalog twofold.
- Oversaw end-to-end customer API journey, collaborating with cross-functional teams to define product strategies, features, and improvements.
- Defined standard contracting and streamlined pricing models to streamline growth activities and revenue capture.
- Conducted API competitor analysis, refined solutions through discovery, and enhanced communication channels between technology and market-facing teams.
- Monitored key performance indicators for user growth, retention, continued product use, and led operational process improvements to increase onboarding speed and retention.
- Directed API platform choice aimed at improving self-service capabilities and analytics.
- Established strategic alliances with market leaders to drive API expansion.
- Built and managed a global team of product managers, and fostered a culture of innovation and data-driven decision making.
Solutions Advisory Architect, Health Plan & Life Sciences
NTT Data Services
Plano, TX
09.2021 - 10.2022
- Served as a senior technical advisor for Health Plan clients and aligned strategic objectives to technical solutions architecture and delivery.
- Direct client delivery teams on digital transformation, API enablement, cloud migration, interoperability, data, and system integration.
- Support pre-sales teams with RFP responses as a strategic advisor for Health Care and Life Sciences client pursuits.
- Lead product design and architecture for NTT Data's showcase product offerings, such as Chronic Disease Predictor and Health Databank.
Sr. Technical Product Manager, - Utilization Management
BCBS TX/IL/OK/NM/MT
Richardson, TX
01.2016 - 03.2021
- Led Digital Transformation of Utilization Management product line using low-code and API management platforms (Appian and MuleSoft) from ideation to operations, supporting 6000+ users.
- Partnered with clinical operations, intake user groups, enterprise architects, platform vendors to define and execute a multi-year product roadmap to digitally transform Prior-Authorization Intake & Clinical operations and enhance provider experience.
- Recruited and built a team of managers, architects, and developers. Created an in-house Appian practice, reducing the Product ownership costs, while supporting the largest Appian implementations in the healthcare domain.
- Championed an MVP and lean product mindset to accelerate product TTM, increase ROI, and rapid operational adoption.
- Led digital transformation of provider self-service using Availity Portal, EDI 278, and FHIR APIs on the MuleSoft platform.
- Implemented transformational features like Clinical Recommendation API, workload automation using RPA, and AI/ML.
- Led Appian platform adaptation and Cloud migration of on-premises applications.
- Managed relationships with stakeholders, vendors, and delivery partners to achieve positive outcomes.
- Managed product line finances, including departmental allocations, project, vendor, software, and infrastructure expenses.
- Handled hiring, coaching, performance/pay management, and career planning guidance for direct reports.
- Earned CIO recognition for exceptional contributions to IT.
TECHNICAL ARCHITECT (Integration Services, Provider & Care Mgmt.)
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of TX/IL/OK/NM/MT
Richardson, TX
01.2008 - 01.2015
- Led capability assessment and technology selection of Appian as Care Management workflow platform
- Defined micro service strategy and enabled best practices for API asset creation, canonical messaging formats, standards, and initiated API COE
- Led implementation of enterprise services and APIs for Provider and Care management domains
- Led implementation of major corporate initiatives, including HIPAA 5010 and legacy application migration to IBM ESB with proof-of-concepts, reference Implementations, impact assessments and other architecture artifacts to advance innovation, reuse
- Created Integration requirement intake process to standardize platform onboarding and improve execution efficiency
DELIVERY MANAGER
Latitude Consulting Group
Saline, MI
01.2003 - 01.2008
- Built a Data and Analytics practice that generated 1 M+ annual revenue
- Managed a multi-tenant SaaS LMS for Chrysler, GMAC, and other clients
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Commerce One
Ann Arbor, MI
01.2001 - 01.2003
- Developed Single sign-on & Portal solutions for Chrysler Automotive
PROGRAMMER
Ajilon
Dearborn, MI
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Developed Pricing applications for FORD Motor Company using ASP technologies
Education
M.S - Computer Science
Eastern Michigan University
B.S - Computer Science
Nagarjuna University
Skills
- Digital Transformation
- Product Management
- Leadership
- Solution Architecture
- Technology Delivery
- API Enablement
- Cloud Computing
- Integration
- Platform Management
- Business Analysis
- Vendor Management
- Resource Management
- Proposal Development
- Contract Negotiation
- Scrum Framework Expertise
- Program Management
Websites
Certification
- Pragmatic Certified Product Mgr, 2023
- Certified Scrum Master, 2014
- MuleSoft Certified Architect, 2020
- TOGAF 9.1, 2012
- Certified Axway Associate, 2010
- MuleSoft Certified Developer, 2020
- Sun Certified Business Component Developer, 2002
- Sun Certified Web Component Developer, 2001
- Sun Certified Developer, 2001
- Sun Certified Programmer, 2000
Recent Accomplishments
- API Enablement Strategy
- Prior Auth Digital Transformation: Ideation, Architecture, and Delivery with Low-Code Platforms
Accomplishments
- 5-Star: CIO recognition at HCSC for leadership, prior authorization, and digital transformation
- Spotlight: CTO recognition at Daimler Chrysler for Dealer Scorecard solutions
Timeline
Director of Technical Product Management, API Products & Platform
Availity
11.2022 - Current
Solutions Advisory Architect, Health Plan & Life Sciences
NTT Data Services
09.2021 - 10.2022
Sr. Technical Product Manager, - Utilization Management
BCBS TX/IL/OK/NM/MT
01.2016 - 03.2021
TECHNICAL ARCHITECT (Integration Services, Provider & Care Mgmt.)
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of TX/IL/OK/NM/MT
01.2008 - 01.2015
DELIVERY MANAGER
Latitude Consulting Group
01.2003 - 01.2008
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Commerce One
01.2001 - 01.2003
PROGRAMMER
Ajilon
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Pragmatic Certified Product Mgr, 2023
- Certified Scrum Master, 2014
- MuleSoft Certified Architect, 2020
- TOGAF 9.1, 2012
- Certified Axway Associate, 2010
- MuleSoft Certified Developer, 2020
- Sun Certified Business Component Developer, 2002
- Sun Certified Web Component Developer, 2001
- Sun Certified Developer, 2001
- Sun Certified Programmer, 2000
M.S - Computer Science
Eastern Michigan University
B.S - Computer Science
Nagarjuna University
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