Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Awards
Publications
Timeline
Generic

JASON LEZNEK

Sammamish,WA

Summary

Dynamic and results-driven technical professional and coach dedicated to articulating the business value of enterprise software to diverse audiences. Expertise in collaborating with customers, R&D and marketing teams to enhance product offerings by integrating customer feedback and ensuring alignment with market needs. Proven ability to drive best practices throughout the product lifecycle, fostering innovation and maximizing impact. Committed to bridging the gap between technology and business objectives to empower organizations in achieving strategic goals.

Overview

29
29
years of professional experience

Work History

Principal Program Manager, Windows Lifecycle

Microsoft Corporation
09.2020 - Current
  • Define servicing lifecycle policies for current and future versions of Windows client, server, and IoT by partnering with executive leadership across engineering and marketing divisions.
  • Lead engineering efforts for end-of-service events for all versions of Windows.
  • Help the largest global organizations modernize their desktop management processes to save costs and keep their devices secure through direct engagement.
  • Led the design and delivery of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) for consumer and commercial customers, ensuring continued security and compliance for millions of devices.
  • Championed the development and rollout of Windows Backup for Organizations, providing a more seamless transition to new or 'reset' Windows PCs in the enterprise and reducing time to productivity.

Principal Program Manager Lead, Microsoft 365 Defender

Microsoft Corporation
01.2017 - 09.2020
  • Developed engineering engagement throughout the customer journey by building a global Customer Experience Engineering (CXE) team of six PMs and two contractors.
  • Closed deals resulting in over millions of seats sold with intent to deploy by leading the team in delivering depth engagements with enterprise customers.
  • Improved field, partner, and customer technical readiness to help drive sales and adoption through a comprehensive and ongoing education program.
  • Influenced the product roadmap through ongoing insights and lessons learned from customer engagements, including pricing, packaging, and feature gaps.
  • Shared best practices with other CXE teams within Microsoft 365 product groups for greater success and consistency.

Director of Product Marketing, Windows Client

Microsoft Corporation
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Delivered Windows 10 business value evidence to drive enterprise adoption.
  • Reduced concerns about privacy by developing and evangelizing narrative for Windows 10 to the field, customers, press, and industry analysts.
  • Improved customer engagement with marketing and engineering by coordinating focus groups and customer meetings with Windows leadership, driving better understanding of customer requirements for product planning.
  • Developed plan to capture greater understanding on how people adapted to Windows 10, as well as how to increase adoption and reduce costs, through long-term, on-site end user research with engineering research team.

Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2016
  • Increased customer and field satisfaction by developing a process for direct engagement between engineering leadership and customer decision-makers. These engagements led to product insights, closed sales, and greater product adoption.
  • Reduced the time to close a sale and encouraged immediate usage of Microsoft Intune through engineering engagement by developing tools and escalation processes for the field sellers.

Senior Director, Product Marketing

SAP Concur
06.2014 - 01.2015
  • Maximized channel and direct revenue, adoption, and portfolio utilization by leading product marketing team focused on Enterprise Americas organization.
  • Identified and prioritized the business unit roadmap by working directly with R&D, Sales, Business Development and Marketing.

Director of Product Marketing, Enterprise Mobility + Security

Microsoft Corporation
08.2011 - 06.2014
  • Created positioning and messaging of Microsoft’s identity, security, and device management strategy.
  • Collaborated with engineering teams to commit to future feature and scenario plans.
  • Coordinated field/partner readiness by developing audience-specific content and training.
  • Delivered a cohesive and predictable cross-organizational disclosure planning process across multiple products.
  • Engaged with industry analysts to understand and support management product value to enterprise customers, including landing leadership placement in the Forrester Waves and the Gartner Magic Quadrants and other ad-hoc reports/guidance.

Director of Product Management, Windows Client

Microsoft Corporation
04.2004 - 08.2011
  • Protected the annuity revenue business by creating and evangelizing the Windows desktop strategy for customers, which included several desktop virtualization technologies and end-user segmentation to fit unique needs of enterprise customers.
  • Created product and vision demonstrations for field and partners to show the value of the Microsoft Windows desktop strategy to customers, press and analysts.
  • Developed and delivered executive keynote presentations and demos for major Microsoft events for internal, press, analyst, and IT audiences.
  • Led product management efforts for Windows 7 Service Pack 1, including messaging, field readiness, disclosure, and launch.

Senior Product Technology Specialist

Microsoft Corporation
12.1996 - 04.2004
  • Contributed to annual enterprise sales quotas for local district by leading technical efforts in evangelizing Windows OS and management tools.
  • Coordinated IT Infrastructure track Windows Server 2003 launches.
  • Developed key messages and content for IT Pros and decision makers for Product Marketing organizations.

Education

Executive Development Program Certificate -

University of Washington School of Business
Seattle, WA

Bachelor of Science - Applied Computer Science

Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL

Skills

  • Customer satisfaction enhancement

  • Product lifecycle management

  • Strategic positioning

  • Project leadership

  • Strategic product launch planning

  • Problem-solving expertise

  • Problem-solving skills

  • Mentorship development

  • Strategic product roadmapping

  • Business analysis

  • Stakeholder management

  • Cross-functional team management

Awards

2019: Performance Excellence - Microsoft Executive Briefing Center (recognition for speaking throughout year), 2017: Performance Excellence - Microsoft Executive Briefing Center (recognition for speaking throughout year)

Publications

  • 2014: Enabling Enterprise Mobility through People-Centric IT
  • 2007: Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Assessment
  • 2006: Enterprise Networking with Windows Vista
  • 2005: Next Generation Patch Management: Introducing Windows Server Update Services

Timeline

Principal Program Manager, Windows Lifecycle

Microsoft Corporation
09.2020 - Current

Principal Program Manager Lead, Microsoft 365 Defender

Microsoft Corporation
01.2017 - 09.2020

Director of Product Marketing, Windows Client

Microsoft Corporation
01.2016 - 01.2017

Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2016

Senior Director, Product Marketing

SAP Concur
06.2014 - 01.2015

Director of Product Marketing, Enterprise Mobility + Security

Microsoft Corporation
08.2011 - 06.2014

Director of Product Management, Windows Client

Microsoft Corporation
04.2004 - 08.2011

Senior Product Technology Specialist

Microsoft Corporation
12.1996 - 04.2004

Bachelor of Science - Applied Computer Science

Northern Illinois University

Executive Development Program Certificate -

University of Washington School of Business

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