Gerald Ferry

Background

About Gerald Ferry

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of great products and the organizations that build them. From designing user-first experiences in Microsoft’s Windows and SharePoint teams, to leading eCommerce transformation at Brooks Running and consulting with retail icons like Starbucks and lululemon, my focus has always been on delivering value people can see and feel and building the operational muscle behind the scenes to make it repeatable at scale. What I Do Best - I help organizations prioritize the right bets through portfolio planning and strategy, so we invest in what truly matters- I lead teams through the messy middle of product development, where research, design, engineering, and delivery collide- I build frameworks and PMOs that give organizations consistency without killing creativity- I bring customer empathy into boardroom conversations, ensuring the voice of the user informs both product and business decisions. A Track Record of Impact - Helped Microsoft transition from waterfall to Agile, influencing how flagship products were shipped worldwide- Built and scaled a digital PMO at Brooks Running, reducing defect rates by 32% and cutting intake cycles from weeks to days—while improving the customer experience across eCommerce and omnichannel- Directed partner programs and transformations with consulting firms like Accenture/Avanade, managing portfolios exceeding $10M annually and leading globally distributed teams of 5–50+- In startup environments, advised on product strategy, market positioning, and AI-enabled solutions, bringing new ideas to life under lean, high-velocity conditions. Why I Lead the Way I Do I’m a believer that great products start with people, the customers who use them and the teams who build them. My leadership style is people-first, rooted in mentoring, coaching, and creating cultures where cross-functional teams thrive. I draw on my background in computer science, human-centered design, and business leadership to bridge strategy with execution, and technical depth with customer empathy. The Roles I Gravitate Toward Senior Manager and Director-level opportunities where I can shape strategy, drive transformation, and still stay close enough to the product to see the impact on users. Roles where storytelling, leadership, and operational rigor come together to deliver experiences customers love built on optimizations that organizations can scale.