Nicole Khouri
Columbus,OH
Summary
Dynamic Financial Services Strategist with extensive expertise in steering multi-disciplinary teams to align with long-term strategic objectives, ensuring that every layer of the organization is synchronized with expected outcomes. Extensive experience in all aspects of project and program management and implementation leadership, including team development, relationship building, product development, testing, requirements elicitation, and cost management while building solutions and increasing revenue. Continually exceeds expectations by building valuable relationships at all levels of an organization.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Retirement Solutions Strategist
Nationwide Financial Retirement Plans
01.2020 - Current
- Developing, leading, and monitoring assigned strategic initiatives critical to organizational sustainability and growth
- Leading cross-functional teams and working with key stakeholders to identify and align on strategic recommendations
- Recommending and gaining alignment on high-level multiyear implementation roadmaps and shorter term deliverables
- Determining key metrics and leading and lagging indicators while tracking and communicating progress on key initiatives
- Providing updates to leadership on progress and suggesting alternative actions to close gaps or accelerate opportunities
- Identifying sequential and key activities needed to drive strategic outcomes necessary to deliver on business goals
- Successfully implementing complex initiatives using expert business project management skills to drive strategic outcomes
- Planning, managing, and executing initiatives against plan for budget, scope, and timeline to achieve agreed-upon benefits
- Developing strong working relationships with executive leaders and business partners to define, launch, and drive initiatives.
Transformation Leader
Nationwide Financial Retirement Plans
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Cultivated team to adopt an Agile mindset, resulting in 98% adoption to over 400 associates in operations and sales
- Pioneered blueprint to research and document hard dollar savings with adoption of new technologies and processes
- Identified over 100 processes and 200 sub processes for 20 operational teams for benefits projected with over 8% IRR
- Implemented an innovation method that created a participant and plan sponsor electronic communication strategy
- Collaborated on an enterprise solution for retirement plans that was successfully leveraged across Nationwide Financial
- Managed all aspects of critical transformation projects including planning, communication, execution, and completion
- Monitored timelines including re-assessing risks throughout the project lifecycle and designing/implementing solutions
- Made recommendations to revise project plans on an ongoing basis to maintain alignment with the overall business strategy
- Maintained awareness of customer and systems requirements and ensured projects fully conformed to those requirements
- Coordinated internal/external resources, oversaw budgeting and cost containment, and ensured quality project delivery
- Developed and implemented complex business processes to support business requirements and promote business strategy
- Provided mentorship and feedback to project team members as well as training on processes to the assigned customer base.
Business Project Manager
Nationwide Financial Retirement Plans
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Formulated strategy to execute Tier 1 Momentum workstream through planning, execution, and closure of project lifecycle
- Build and established key stakeholder and customer relationships and influenced strategic execution for managed programs
- Guided team, leadership, and key stakeholders to create business transformation strategies with technology innovations
- Led and directed process enhancements resulting in foundational program decisions to meet major project milestones
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams of solution architects, infrastructure engineers, and data scientists to drive projects
- Drove governance processes and standards to ensure compliance with security, privacy, and regulatory requirements
- Provided strategic guidance and consultation to project teams and advised on integrations and risk mitigation strategies
- Represented the organization externally by actively participating in industry forums, conferences, and collaborations
- Remained updated on the latest industry trends, shared knowledge, and contributed to industry thought leadership.
Business Architect
P&C Sales
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Planned and developed strategic direction for Enterprise eSignature by partnering with vendors and business units
- Proposed architectural solutions to address challenges across Nationwide Insurance, Nationwide Financial, and Allied
- Led the maturation of the role by documenting and communicating processes as well as work products to stakeholders
- Created model for Enterprise plan, built/ran business operations, and partnered with IT resulting in 30% increase in adoption
- Actively led the development and implementation of enterprise-wide IT strategies, roadmaps, and architecture frameworks
- Defined and promoted architectural principles and standards to ensure consistency, interoperability, and scalability
- Collaborated with executive stakeholders included CIO and business leaders to fully understand their strategic priorities
- Provided technical leadership, coaching, and expertise to drive architectural excellence and foster innovation within IT
- Conducted in-depth analysis of the IT landscape and identified areas for improvement, modernization, and optimization
- Evaluated emerging technologies, trends, and best practices and assessed their value and impact on the IT infrastructure.
Business Consulting Manager
P&C Sales
01.2012 - 01.2013
Financial Program Business Lead Straight Through Electronic Processing
Nationwide
01.2010 - 01.2012
Financial Business Program Manager
iPipeline
01.2008 - 01.2010
Financial Business Lead
Nationwide
01.2006 - 01.2008
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences -
Indiana University, Bloomington
01.1997
Skills
- Strategic Plans & Detailed Roadmaps
- Program & Project Management
- Change Management & Business Transformation
- Team Leadership, Training & Development
- Cross-Matrix Environment Collaboration
- Action Plans, Goals, Achievements & Growth
- Stakeholder & Client Relationships
- Visionary Thinking
Certification
- Fellowship, Secure Retirement Institute
- Associate, Secure Retirement Institute
- FINRA Series 6
- Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute
- Stanford Certified Project Manger, Stanford Center for Professional Development
- PROSCI Change Management
Affiliations
- All Women Associate Resource Group Home Office Chapter
- National Association of Professional Women
Awardsrecognition
- CEO Sell Nationwide Award Nominee
- New Directions Career Center Outstanding Corporate Partner
- IPipeline Industry Leadership Award
- IT Outstanding Contribution Award Nominee
- Employee of Quarter
- Success as One Award
- Leadership Award
- Cambridge’s Who’s Who Professional Women
Community Service
- Member, New Directions Career Center Women of Promise Committee
- Diversity & Inclusion Women Empowered Board Member
- Diversity & Inclusion All Women Associate Resource Chapter Leader
- Troop Leader, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
- Alpha Gamma Delta Alumni Advisor, The Ohio State University
Timeline
Retirement Solutions Strategist
Nationwide Financial Retirement Plans
01.2020 - Current
Transformation Leader
Nationwide Financial Retirement Plans
01.2017 - 01.2020
Business Project Manager
Nationwide Financial Retirement Plans
01.2015 - 01.2017
Business Architect
P&C Sales
01.2013 - 01.2015
Business Consulting Manager
P&C Sales
01.2012 - 01.2013
Financial Program Business Lead Straight Through Electronic Processing
Nationwide
01.2010 - 01.2012
Financial Business Program Manager
iPipeline
01.2008 - 01.2010
Financial Business Lead
Nationwide
01.2006 - 01.2008
Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences -
Indiana University, Bloomington
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