Desiree Lemons
Suwanee,GA
Summary
Innovative and goal-oriented global leader setting product vision and committed to delivering on business objectives. Drives market growth through focus on delivering on customer demands via collaboration with key partners and cross-functional teams. A leader in datacenter interconnection products and services, leading a dynamic team of 20 across three regions. Strategic development of a global product roadmap that generates over $1 billion in annual revenue at 100% margin. Leveraging advanced data analytics and customer insights for product enhancement and discontinuation.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Global Interconnection Product Management
Equinix Datacenters
01.2017 - Current
- Strong leadership of dynamic team of global and regional product managers and cross-functional experts to exceed $1B Y/Y product revenue with 400K cross connects
- Deliver global annual product roadmap harmonizing operational efficiencies with innovative features to meet 95% compliance targets
- Strategically drive initiatives to meet 2% Q/Q revenue growth targets
- Managed large-scale projects and introduced new processes to achieve operational efficiencies and grow margins
- Evaluated hiring and promotions requests
- Implemented productivity benchmarks across all departments to maximize company revenue
- Led senior and junior-level personnel working in marketing, operations and sales capacities
Senior Management, Managed Security Services
QTS
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Created vision, strategy and execution of managed security services overlay to grow offer adoption by 1% QoQ
- Monitored product performance and presented quarterly reports to leadership
- Managed third-party partner relationship to retain margin growth with challenging revenue targets
- Led network and security teams to infrastructure to enable adoption of managed security services strategy
- Clear and concise communication skills to convey complex security concepts, strategies, and product roadmaps to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including clients and internal teams.
- Partnered with marketing to design clear and concise security model to enable sales teams to sell the services to customers
Cloud Consultant, CDN
Comcast
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Subject matter expert (SME) for video transcoders who demonstrated leadership by implementing solutions with minimal resources while ensuring high performance.Collaborated with deployment team to design and implement a cloud DVR solution that delivered streaming video to the building
- Led local deployment team to deploy cloud-based DVR platform, storage solutions, and data management strategies.
- Researched and understood emerging technologies and end-user needs
- Collaborated with upper management to drive strategy and implement new processes to reduce deployment times
Senior Product Manager, Mobility Solutions
Cisco Systems
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Drove the development and delivery of $25 million small cell provisioning system as part of a comprehensive $200 million solution for AT&T partner
- Created product positioning pricing strategies designed to achieve optimal market penetration
- Led cross-functional teams both onshore and offshore, comprising members from finance, sales, and engineering
- Engaged in ongoing negotiations, strategic bargaining, and formulation of solution and pricing strategies to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery.
Senior Quality Lead, Passive Optical Networks
Cisco Systems
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Led 5-person Integration team as SQA Technical Team Lead, optimizing project planning and resource allocation within .25 million quarterly capex budget
- Played key role in customer-facing activities, transitioning verified products to customer lab
- Successfully engaged cross-functional teams, both internally and offshore, ensuring adherence to schedule and budget
- Also served as OEM Engagement Lead, showcasing leadership across diverse responsibilities.
- Acted as key point of contact for all QA aspects of releases by providing QA services and coordinating QA resources internally and externally
Solutions Engineer Lead, PON Technologies
Hitachi Telecom
01.2003 - 01.2007
- Demonstrated leadership by meticulously planning and budgeting resources for data and video integrity in Triple Play ATM and Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Networks (BPON and GPON) FTTH transport systems
- Successfully adhered to project schedule and $1 million capex budget, I implemented cost-saving strategies by leveraging multiple vendors for testing solutions
- Maintained communication with internal stakeholders and provided mentorship to processes
- Designed and prepared technical presentations and recommended solutions for client issues
- Worked with software development and testing team members to design and develop robust solutions to meet client requirements for functionality, scalability, and performance
Solutions Engineer, Data, Voice Video HeadEnd (CMTS)
Arris Group
01.2003 - 01.2000
- Spearheaded design and implementation of a comprehensive test environment for triple-play traffic, encompassing data, VoIP, and video testing.
- Focused on testing Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS) and cable modem access technologies, ensuring robustness and efficiency of broadband solutions.
- Consistently adhered to test project schedule and effectively managing within allocated budget.
- Technologies and tools: Cisco routers/switches, CMTS, RF test tools, TCL Scripting, Spirent, IXIA.
Education
Applied Generative AI For Digital Transformation -
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA11.2023
Business Strategy, Problem Solving -
McKinsey Leadership Program
New York, NY05.2022
PMP -
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA06.2017
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – major: Global Business Operational Strategies -
Georgia State University, Robinson School of Business
Atlanta, GA12.2010
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA05.2000
Skills
- Global Leadership - Lead Teams across 3 Regions
- Strategic Planning - Roadmaps, Customer Satisfaction KPIs
- Budget Oversight - Prioritize Programs and Optimize Resources
- Reporting Oversight - Quarterly Product Performance with KPIs
- Operations Planning - Target programs that build efficiency
- Cross-Functional Collaboration - Global oversight of Product Managers and Teams across three regions
- Data Analytics - Monitor and report on product performance
- Architectures: Full Stack, Proprietary Cloud Platforms, Access Technologies, Database, Colocation, Interconnection
- Development Environments/Tools: Aha!, Miro, JIRA, Oracle Siebel/CPQ, Customer Portal
- Data Analytics: Tableau, Qualtrics, Amplitude, Excel
- AI: ChatGPT 35/4, Glarity, Promptheus, ChatGPT Writer, Predictive Modeling
- Systems: Oracle Siebel, Equinix Customer Portal, MAC/Unix, MS Windows
- Technologies: OSI Model, Polatis Optical Switch, Cisco routers/switches, Firewalls, MPLS, VMWare, Cloud DVR, DCM, Elemental, Envivio Transcoders, IPVideo, CDN, 3G/4G Mobility, IP Networking, VoIP,
- Datacenter Security: Physical, Firewalls, Web Application Firewalls, DDoS, IDS, IPS, SSL, and IPSec, Vulnerability Scans, Encryption, Data Security, Log Management
Hobbies and Interests
Employee Resource Groups: Equinix Women Leadership Network, Black Connect, Young People Connect
Timeline
Senior Manager, Global Interconnection Product Management
Equinix Datacenters
01.2017 - Current
Senior Management, Managed Security Services
QTS
01.2016 - 01.2017
Cloud Consultant, CDN
Comcast
01.2014 - 01.2015
Senior Product Manager, Mobility Solutions
Cisco Systems
01.2010 - 01.2014
Senior Quality Lead, Passive Optical Networks
Cisco Systems
01.2007 - 01.2010
Solutions Engineer Lead, PON Technologies
Hitachi Telecom
01.2003 - 01.2007
Solutions Engineer, Data, Voice Video HeadEnd (CMTS)
Arris Group
01.2003 - 01.2000
Applied Generative AI For Digital Transformation -
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Business Strategy, Problem Solving -
McKinsey Leadership Program
PMP -
Georgia Institute of Technology
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – major: Global Business Operational Strategies -
Georgia State University, Robinson School of Business
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology