Sarah Ried
South Bend,IN
Summary
Dynamic, self-motivated individual with hands-on experience in team leadership, program management, with talent for navigating operational challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and is passionate about turning innovative ideas into tangible results. Known for adaptability, creativity, and results-oriented mindset. Committed to making meaningful contributions, maintaining a high say/do ratio, and advancing organizational goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Lead Event Coordinator
Seamless Day Events
05.2022 - Current
- Create and execute event timelines for non-profit events and weddings for guest counts 200+
- "Go-to" and liaison for all vendors hired for event 60 days before the event and day-of event
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility
- Work effectively in fast-paced environments
- Identify where risks are located within each timeline and put an execution plan in place to mitigate ahead of time
- Problem solve any issues day of event
Principal, Program Manager, Central Operations Team
IRI
01.2022 - 09.2022
- Drove success of the IRI global operations strategy and transformation programs through program leadership, project management, problem solving, analytic support, and overall performance tracking
- Served as the Program Manager for the Factory Transformation global initiative, equating in a $8MM cost savings for the company
- Reported KPIs, project status, and decision making opportunities to ELT and SLT bi-weekly
- Served as mentor and thought leader to junior members of Central Operations Team
- Accountable for producing and publishing thought leadership pieces internally or externally
- Delivered successful projects within budget and on time by employing effective resource allocation and risk mitigation strategies.
- Implemented continuous improvement initiatives, identifying areas for optimization and driving process enhancements throughout the program lifecycle.
- Optimized resource utilization by reallocating underutilized assets to other projects or tasks as needed, increasing overall efficiency across programs.
- Applied agile methodologies to enhance flexibility in project planning, accommodating changes in scope or requirements without compromising timelines or quality standards.
- Resolved conflicts between team members or departments through mediation and negotiation tactics, promoting harmony within the organization.
Principal, Retail Client Service & Operations Team Lead
IRI
03.2018 - 12.2021
- Supervised and supported 3 Client Service and Operations team leads and 10 indirect reports who oversaw two of the top, multi-year contract retailers in the U.S
- ($200MM+ contract value) by providing tools and resources which allowed them to support their clients and deliver a flawless execution
- Responsible for quality control and on-time execution of 15 custom retail IRI solutions on weekly basis; achieved key target SLAs of 98% on-time and accurate in 2019 and 2020
- Facilitated leadership development and Shingo best practices sharing sessions with team to create a culture where we learn, grow, and apply to our day-to-day workstreams
- Set clear objectives and goals each year for client support and delivery based on Critical Success Factors outlined by ELT and measured by monthly performance metrics
- Served as the communication liaison between C-Suite client key stakeholders and IRI senior leadership team on a weekly cadence
- Actively sought & identified process improvement opportunities for delivery, quality control, and team management to enable IRI teams to execute with excellence and efficiency
- Maintained high levels of employee morale through effective communication, recognition, and coaching initiatives.
Project Management Team Lead, U.S Retail Implementation Services
IRI
10.2016 - 03.2018
- Managed a team of 2 project managers who successfully implemented 50+ custom solutions for major U.S
- Retailers; retail is largest revenue generator at IRI as of 2021
- Responsible for success of simultaneous, highly complex technology implementations valued between $5MM - $10MM
- Created extensive implementation project timelines using MS Project used to report metrics to senior and executive level management
- Conducted process improvement initiatives with cross-functional leadership to resolve process gaps and mitigate risks for future projects
- Worked directly with the Project Coordinator to staff project management resources against all current and upcoming projects in the pipeline
- Reported on project management metrics and pipeline weekly during Retail Obeya; a meeting with SVP, COO, and all cross functional leadership to review and evaluate metrics within retail operations
Consultant, Project Management, U.S. Implementation Services
IRI
12.2014 - 10.2016
- Executed 15 medium to highly complex SaaS implementations for new IRI clients with a $3-$7MM contract value
- Developed the implementation project plan using MS Project, and collaborated daily with a dynamic team of 4-6 cross functional partners within IRI Operations
- Served as the communication liaison between the client, IRI Senior Executive and project team
- Selected with European peer by the IRI Global COO to implement global operations performance metrics, which are reported weekly to Senior ELT via "Obeya" (2015-Present)
Analyst, Client Service
IRI
11.2011 - 11.2014
- Accountable for on-time and accurate delivery of client data assets for 4 multi-year contract, mid-market CPG clients across Dairy, Salty Snacks, and Confections
- Presented pricing, promotion, and distribution recommendations drawn from IRI POS data and other secondary sources to client teams
- Efficiently and effectively managed all aspects of the project including identifying client business need, composition of proposal, data collection, collaboration with internal cross-functional teams, and final analysis and delivery
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business, Marketing & Advertising
Indiana University South Bend
South Bend, IN06.2009
Skills
- Team Leadership
- Entrepreneurial and Innovative
- Strategic Thinking
- C-Suite Communication
- Execution
- Risk Mitigation
- Client Management
- Problem Solving
- Mentoring & Coaching
- Process Improvement & Scalability
- SaaS implementations
- High Say/Do Ratio
Professional Achievements
- NextUp Rising Star, ELT, 2022
- 5 Year Client Contract Renewal, $80MM, 2021
- IRI Lead the Way Award Winner, IRI, 2016
- Global Leadership Development Graduate, IRI, 2016
- Co-Developer of the IRI Operations Obeya, IRI, 2015
- Co-Developer of the IRI Restatement Working Sessions, IRI, 2012 - 2014
- Topic Leader and Trainer for IRI Client Service On-Boarding Program, IRI, 2012 - 2014
Philanthropy
- Cultivate Food Rescue, Monthly Donator, 2019 - Present
- OUR (Operation Underground Railroad), Donator, 2020 - 2022
- Midtown Educational Foundation Auxiliary Board, Committee Coordinator and Executive Chairman, 2013 - 2018
- Metro Achievement Center for Girls, Volunteer tutor and mentor, 2010 - 2014
Timeline
Founder & Lead Event Coordinator
Seamless Day Events
05.2022 - Current
Principal, Program Manager, Central Operations Team
IRI
01.2022 - 09.2022
Principal, Retail Client Service & Operations Team Lead
IRI
03.2018 - 12.2021
Project Management Team Lead, U.S Retail Implementation Services
IRI
10.2016 - 03.2018
Consultant, Project Management, U.S. Implementation Services
IRI
12.2014 - 10.2016
Analyst, Client Service
IRI
11.2011 - 11.2014
Bachelor of Science - Business, Marketing & Advertising
Indiana University South Bend
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