JOHN B. FURLONG
Mountain View,CA
Summary
A proactive, results-oriented leader with over15 years of program and project management experience in software engineering. Technically-minded leader with a proven track record of managing the internationalization of consumer products. Creates high-quality plans and strategies to meet aggressive product release schedules. Ensures transparency and open lines of communication between global cross functional teams. Defines and collaborates with third-party partners to support budget and project goals. A well-rounded, process-oriented skilled leader with focus, risk analysis, conflict resolution, change management, and solid planning skills.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Technical Program Manager
The Walt Disney Company
06.2022 - 08.2023
- Hired to bring the Reimagine Tomorrow website to International markets
- Working from the ground up, I align myself with the relevant key players, to become an essential member of the Reimagine Tomorrow team
- Created a localization strategy, success framework to make the Reimagine Tomorrow a true global site
- Worked cross functionally with Software Developers, Content Creators, Design and Product teams
- I was tasked with supporting our Content team to help our Software team to migrate their CMS from Craft to WordPress
- Adapted and streamlined existing processes to take advantage of WordPress as well as working with the Content team to create new processes
- Owned the localization strategy and roadmap, schedules for the team
Senior Globalization Program Manager
Wish
07.2020 - 05.2022
- Hired to engage with the various Product teams at Wish
- Working from the ground up, I align myself with the relevant key players to become an essential member of the core cross-functional team
- Worked cross functionally with our Software Developers, Analytics, Design on both the Merchant and Customer sides of our business to create a localization strategy for all teams
- Owned the localization strategy and roadmap, schedules for Merchant Communications team, Wish Local team and well as many other product and creative teams
- Worked with our Software developers to improve our toolset and gain improvements and efficiencies in our processes
- Influenced the Wish.com product teams for a better local experience through collaboration with functional partners on the Localization team
Localization Program Manager
Airbnb
10.2017 - 12.2019
- Hired to start the localization engagement with the Homes team
- Taking it from the ground up, I aligned myself with the relevant product managers and became an essential member of the core cross-functional team
- Created a localization strategy, success framework and scalable workflows in an agile environment
- Worked closely with Software engineers to build the programs to successfully release new languages for Airbnb
- Influenced the product for a local experience through collaboration with functional partners on the Globalization team
- Worked cross functionally with Product, Analytics, Design and Software Engineering
- Owned the localization strategy and roadmap, schedules, budget, and quality for the Homes host team and guaranteed successful language market launches internationally
Localization Manager
Jawbone
02.2016 - 02.2017
- Responsible for setting strategy and overseeing the localization efforts across product areas and UI
- Ensured the global Jawbone product UI was market-appropriate across languages and cultures
- Partnered with Software Engineering, Product Managers and other cross-functional stakeholders to tailor the experience of the target markets' flow, feature, budgets, linguistic and cultural requirements
Project Manager
Apple Inc.
01.2005 - 06.2015
- Lead cross-functional internationalization plans for new Apple software products
- Managed dynamic program schedules, deliverables, risks, contingency planning, and communications on product releases
- Lead a team of offshore localization third-party partners
- Successfully managed Software development projects using Agile methodology
- Set clear goals to deliver an outstanding out-of-the-box quality customer experience; Balanced technical risks with business needs by working closely with various Software engineering teams to drive alignment between product and project goals
- Drove decisions and conducted management reviews/checkpoints
- Directed QA testing, developed test reporting tools, conducted retrospective reviews, and promoted best practices
Education
Bachelor of Administration - Computer and Economics
University College Cork
Skills
- Product management
- Agile project management
- Employee evaluations
- Client relationships
- Developing project strategy
- Training and mentoring
- Continuous process improvements
- Project leadership
- Project management
- Program implementation
- Project planning
Timeline
Senior Technical Program Manager
The Walt Disney Company
06.2022 - 08.2023
Senior Globalization Program Manager
Wish
07.2020 - 05.2022
Localization Program Manager
Airbnb
10.2017 - 12.2019
Localization Manager
Jawbone
02.2016 - 02.2017
Project Manager
Apple Inc.
01.2005 - 06.2015
Bachelor of Administration - Computer and Economics
University College Cork