Christian Golecki - Product Owner – Redesign of an iOS and Android SaaS Application Platform

Zeuthen, Germany

Experience

Apr 2023 - Oct 2023

7 months

Product Owner – Redesign of an iOS and Android SaaS Application Platform

iApps Technologies GmbH

Led the redesign of an iOS and Android B2B SaaS solution.
Developed the product vision and strategy as well as designed the platform architecture.
Worked closely with cross-functional teams to create a user-centered and future-proof product.
Identified market trends and analyzed feedback from stakeholders and customers.
Developed a well-thought-out feature set.
Led the product design and development process.
Created Balsamiq wireframes.
Conducted comprehensive market and competitive analyses.
Defined the product roadmap and feature scope and managed and prioritized the backlog.
Conceptualized and wrote epics and user stories.
Briefed UI designers and reviewed and approved Figma layouts.

Jun 2022 - Sep 2023

1 year 4 months

CIO Consultant – Development of an IT Strategy and IT System Landscape

Entrenco GmbH & Bioenergie Wegscheid GmbH

Developed and implemented an IT strategy and an overarching system architecture for two internationally operating plant engineering companies specialized in combined heat and power plants.
Conducted an as-is analysis of the IT infrastructure and system landscape.
Carried out requirements analyses to adjust IT processes.
Gathered requirements through interviews, workshops, and meetings with key stakeholders.
Developed an overall IT strategy and defined fields of action (ERP, CRM, SharePoint, collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams), also with a view to a future merger of the companies.
Took IT security aspects and requirements into account.
Created and tracked work packages in Asana for employees and external partners.
Worked with stakeholders and management to successfully integrate the measures.
Documented processes with the help of BPMN modeling tools.
Supported change management and organized and facilitated workshops.
Created reports and presentations in PowerPoint and Word.

Jan 2022 - Apr 2022

4 months

Requirements Manager – Backend Platform with Data Migration

Süddeutsche Zeitung

Managed the requirements gathering process for various backend and data migration projects in the company.
Collaborated closely with stakeholders to analyze business requirements.
Developed the system architecture and translated it into technical specifications.
Led coordination meetings, workshops, and series of meetings with clients and software architects.
Conducted detailed requirements analyses and created concepts and documentation.
Defined, reviewed, and validated the RESTful API with endpoints and JSON requests to deliver content.
Supported the virtualization of the infrastructure.
Created proposals and requirement specifications.

Aug 2021 - Apr 2023

1 year 9 months

Senior Project Manager – Digital Publishing Platform (Backend, Web, iOS and Android Apps)

SWP, LR and MOZ

Responsible for developing and implementing a digital publishing platform with backend support and iOS/Android apps.
Led the cross-functional agile team of Java, Swift, HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, and Kotlin developers as well as the DevOps unit.
Managed the platform development in terms of time, cost, resources, and quality.
Created epics and stories.
Oversaw customer approvals and change requests.
Handled stakeholder management with the client.
Managed sprints and the backlog.

Jul 2021 - Mar 2023

1 year 9 months

Product Owner and Project Manager – Fully Automated SaaS Publishing Platform

Led the development of a fully automated SaaS publishing platform for small and mid-sized publishers from ideation and design through implementation to launch and release.
Mapped necessary IT processes and designed the platform and its architecture.
Managed agile software development and test-driven development as well as the implementation strategy.
Identified and tracked technical project risks.
Carried out project documentation.
Coordinated test management and bug analysis.
Created and maintained project documents including reports, minutes, and documentation.
Defined the product roadmap and prioritized features.
Enhanced the platform based on customer feedback.

Feb 2021 - Aug 2022

1 year 7 months

Process Manager – Optimization of project management processes, Jira workflows and Confluence

Led the process analysis with a focus on project management processes, Jira workflows, and knowledge management and documentation in Confluence.
Evaluated action recommendations and aligned them with product owners and development teams.
Implemented Jira Scrum and Kanban boards and Jira workflows in coordination with product owners.
Introduced collaboration tools like Trello and Slack, replacing Skype.
Introduced standardized templates and checklists in Confluence to speed up and standardize project execution, improve release quality, and minimize launch risks.
Developed ticket templates for faster setup and standardized project execution.
Created and maintained process documentation, including reports.
Improved project scheduling, reduced costs, and enhanced controlling in new developments.
Built a structured documentation architecture in Confluence.

Dec 2019 - Jul 2023

3 years 8 months

HR Recruiter – Executive and Team Acquisition

Specialized in recruiting IT executives as well as product and project managers within a staffing consultancy.
Developed and implemented effective recruitment strategies.
Conducted interviews and evaluated candidates.
Acquired talent for C-level positions, team leads, product and project managers.
Sourced potential candidates directly through recruiting platforms like LinkedIn Recruiter.
Coordinated and managed the interview processes.
Prepared candidate reports for management.

Aug 2019 - Oct 2021

2 years 3 months

Senior Project Manager – Tagesspiegel iOS/Android Apps and Portal

Tagesspiegel Verlag

Responsible for the development and enhancement of the iOS and Android news apps and the e-paper portal in collaboration with Tagesspiegel product managers.
Created high-level and detailed concepts considering agile methods and customer requirements.
Provided direct customer support within an agency relationship.
Led the technical implementation, including developing and adapting features in collaboration with frontend, backend, mobile, and DevOps teams.
Continuously improved and optimized the applications based on user feedback and new customer requirements.

Aug 2019 - Jun 2021

1 year 11 months

Technical Project Lead – Multimedia Premium Offering "Die ZEIT"

Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co. KG

Led the technical project management for developing the multimedia iOS and Android premium offering "Die ZEIT".
Responsible for the implementation and customization of a new content management system (CMS) to fit editorial processes.
Conducted process analysis and captured editorial workflow processes.
Implemented the CMS at the client and across the entire production pipeline, delivering via CDN.
Worked with REST (JSON) APIs between the CMS backend and frontend, as well as connecting applications.
Implemented innovative features for a premium user experience.
Conducted trainings and workshops for editorial teams.

Sep 2018 - May 2020

1 year 9 months

Product and Project Manager – AI-based Text-to-Speech B2B SaaS Solution

iApps Technologies GmbH, Ippen Verlag, F.A.Z Verlag

Defined the product vision and developed the concept and requirements for an AI-based text-to-speech B2B SaaS solution.
Prioritized the backlog and collaborated with cross-functional teams.
Rolled out the solution to clients such as F.A.Z. and the Ippen Group (Münchener Merkur, Frankfurter Rundschau, HAZ).
Developed a scalable cloud-based platform, taking IT security requirements into account.
Created a detailed project plan with milestones, timelines, and resource planning.
Managed risks by identifying potential issues and developing mitigation strategies.
Set up feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement of the AI tool implementation.
Planned and managed the infrastructure project.
Regularly reported to management on project progress, challenges, and outcomes.

Jun 2018 - Nov 2019

1 year 6 months

Senior Project Manager – Audio CMS with iOS and Android Applications "ZEIT Audio"

Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co. KG

Leading the development of an audio CMS and related audio apps for "ZEIT Audio".
Collaborating with stakeholders to gather requirements.
Creating epics and stories.
Monitoring the project budget.
Implementing innovative features to improve the user experience.
Ensuring quality assurance and on-time product releases.

Mar 2018 - Oct 2022

4 years 8 months

Chief Product Officer (CPO)

iApps Technologies GmbH

Leading the product management, project management, and QA teams.
Responsible for developing and improving product strategies and products like CMS systems, analytics platforms, portals, and iOS and Android apps.
Driving the company's product strategy, vision, and innovation management.
Developing and improving existing products and product lines, as well as planning the product lifecycle.
Performing PMO tasks such as project planning and coordination (defining milestones, tasks, and resources).
Identifying potential risks and developing strategies to mitigate them.
Advising the executive board on the company's strategic direction.
Optimizing software development processes and managing change management.
Handling direct customer support and stakeholder management, as well as moderating events.
Conducting pitches, creating RFP documents, and preparing proposals.
Coaching and developing team members.

Jan 2018 - Jun 2022

4 years 6 months

Product Manager and Project Manager – p4p Analytics SaaS Business Intelligence (BI) Platform

iApps Technologies GmbH

Responsible for developing and improving the p4p Analytics platform.
Using strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of data structures and their dependencies.
Efficiently preparing and presenting large data sets.
Developing product features and the UX concept based on Balsamiq wireframes.
Creating the product roadmap.
Developing user stories and defining relevant acceptance criteria for the agile development cycle.
Assisting in modeling the database structure using UML.
Managing the product backlog, including prioritizing epics and stories with GDPR compliance.
Leading the development teams using Kanban and resource planning.

Nov 2017 - Jul 2018

9 months

Senior Product Manager – SSO & Paywall Solution for Paid Offerings

iApps Technologies GmbH, Axel Springer SE, Ippen Verlag

Leading the development and implementation of an SSO and paywall solution for paid offerings in the publishing sector.
Conducting requirements analysis and managing the development team.
Integrating an external payment service provider (Payone).
Creating documentation using sequence diagrams and test cases.
Working closely with stakeholders to define the product roadmap and support the rollout.
Implementing agile frameworks to optimize the development process.

Sep 2017 - Feb 2022

4 years 6 months

Senior Project Manager – E-Publishing Solution with Web, Backend, and iOS & Android Apps

Ippen Verlag

Leading the development and implementation of an innovative digital e-publishing platform for titles like Münchener Merkur and Frankfurter Rundschau.
Managing a cross-functional agile team of Java backend developers, full-stack frontend, iOS (Swift), and Android (Kotlin) developers.
Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and the client's project management for the seamless delivery of 11 portals and 22 applications.
Creating and maintaining project documents, including reports, meeting minutes, and documentation.
Reporting project status through status reports to management and clients.
Responsible for project budgets and release schedules.

Nov 2016 - Feb 2020

3 years 4 months

Senior Project Manager – Development of iOS and Android apps for a specialist publisher

Handelsblatt Fachmedien GmbH

Responsible for the design and development of iOS and Android apps in collaboration with UX/UI designers and development teams.
Managed the project from concept phase through implementation to market launch.
Analyzed, prioritized, and documented requirements.
Coordinated and aligned with external project partners.
Provided customer support and continuous product improvements after launch.
Developed the software architecture using UML.

Sep 2016 - Jun 2018

1 year 10 months

Product Manager and Project Manager – SaaS CMS Publishing Platform (IT service provider / F.A.Z)

Designed and implemented a new CMS and publishing product as a SaaS solution.
Worked closely with a major client (F.A.Z), as well as editorial and product management teams.
Successfully managed product and project from concept phase to market launch.
Analyzed customer requirements and processes, and carried out requirements and process analyses with the editorial team and stakeholders.
Created and tested interactive prototypes using Axure RP.
Led the agile development process and developed test procedures and acceptance criteria.
Defined the product roadmap and prioritized features.
Stakeholder management.

Feb 2016 - May 2016

4 months

Strategy Consultant – Premium Educational Offerings

Cornelsen Verlag

Developed a comprehensive app strategy to increase revenue and reach for premium educational offerings.
Conducted market and competitor analyses.
Analyzed and developed new digital business models.
Performed a status analysis of the existing offerings and reported results to management and program leadership.
Developed an overall app strategy.

May 2015 - Jun 2017

2 years 2 months

Senior Project Manager – Development of an SSO and Paywall extension

Handelsblatt GmbH

Senior project manager and development lead for an SSO and paywall platform extension for Handelsblatt.
Responsible for successfully integrating the app stores with the CCI and SAP systems.
Managed the project and requirements for extending the existing single sign-on and paywall solution for mobile applications.
Coordinated and managed interfaces with multiple service providers and the client.
Continuously monitored and controlled project progress, considering time, budget, and quality requirements.

Mar 2015 - Mar 2018

3 years 1 month

Senior Project Manager – Platform for Digital Brochure Advertising

RP-Online / MhN Digital

Responsible for defining and elaborating client product requirements for a platform for digital brochure advertising.
Aligned product and project goals with the project stakeholders.
Coordinated collaboration between the publisher, IT service providers, and UI/UX teams.
Ensured a smooth project workflow.

Dec 2014 - Aug 2022

7 years 9 months

Scrum Master – iKiosk.de platform (Web, iOS and Android apps)

iApps Technologies GmbH, Axel Springer SE, Schweitzer Fachinformationen

Responsible for coordinating the Scrum development team to further develop the iKiosk platform.
Introduced and established Scrum to improve collaboration and increase development speed.
Facilitated stand-up meetings, planning meetings, and coordinated sprint planning and retrospectives (daily stand-ups, reviews, retros, sprint planning).
Managed the backlog and prioritized sprints together with the Product Owner and stakeholders.
Collaborated with development teams in Poland, Ukraine, and India, as well as QA teams in Germany and Romania.
Implemented agile best practices for continuous improvement.

Nov 2014 - Jun 2015

8 months

Hamburg, Germany

Strategy Consultant – Mobile online offerings & Hamburg.de applications

Hamburg.de / Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

Focused on mobile online offerings and Hamburg.de applications in the public sector.
Developed optimization strategies for mobile online services and applications.
Identified and designed solutions for public administration.
Worked closely with teams and stakeholders.
Implemented measures to increase user and partner satisfaction.

Oct 2014 - Nov 2018

4 years 2 months

Leipzig, Germany

Lecturer – "Location Based Services as a Business Model"

Leipzig School of Media / University of Leipzig

Developed curricula and teaching materials in the field of location-based services.
Led lectures and seminars.
Supervised students in project-based learning.
Prepared and administered exams.
Explained the potential of location-based services as a business model and their impact on various industries.

Oct 2014 - Jun 2018

3 years 9 months

General Manager & Senior Consultant – Start-up Joint Venture

Axel Springer SE / Deutsche Bahn AG / Content Fleet or Ströer SE & Co

Responsible for the strategic direction and overall success of a start-up joint venture.
Developed and implemented the product strategy.
Reorganized the team.
Created business plans and carried out cost-saving measures.
Conducted market analysis and research.
Managed stakeholders, including project sponsors and top management of the involved companies.
Successfully launched the product after five months.

Jul 2010 - Sep 2014

4 years 3 months

Berlin, Germany

Head of Product Management / Platform Management BILD

BILD GmbH & Co. KG

Responsible for product and project management at BILD.
Developed and implemented the product roadmap.
Oversaw platform optimization and integration.
Responsible for IT program management and CI/CD product management.
Managed external vendors and service providers, including drafting work contracts and service agreements.
Created tender documents.
Led cross-functional teams.
Identified and leveraged market trends.

Sep 2009 - Jun 2010

10 months

Germany

Head of BILDmobil Portal

Axel Springer SE

Leading the portal and application management team for BILDmobil.
Responsible for maintaining and improving the mobile portal.
Developing and optimizing iOS and Android applications for BILD.
Continuously enhancing the mobile portal.
Managing external suppliers and service providers.
Applying and expanding comprehensive knowledge in digital media and mobile technologies.

Sep 2007 - Jul 2009

1 year 11 months

Germany

Head of Business Development WELT Group / Berliner Morgenpost

Axel Springer SE

Responsible for identifying and implementing new business opportunities to increase growth and revenue.
Leading a team of product managers for innovation projects.
Developing the digital satellites for WELT (mobile portals, apps, Smart TV applications).
Developing and executing strategic plans to boost revenue and reach.
Establishing transaction-based partnerships.
Developing content syndication and portal management for B2B clients like AOL and MSN.
Developing and implementing growth strategies.
Expanding market reach through partnerships.
Managing the tendering processes for IT services and contract management (contracts for work, service contracts).
Managing external vendors and service providers.
Leading a team in executing strategic plans.

Aug 2006 - Aug 2007

1 year 1 month

Germany

Senior Product Manager, Content Syndication & Mobile – WELT Group / Berliner Morgenpost

Axel Springer SE

Developing and implementing a new content syndication strategy.
Designing and launching a mobile platform.
Managing external vendors and service providers, including contract management (contracts for work, service contracts).
Managing tenders.
Negotiating contracts and managing service providers.

Jun 2005 - Jul 2006

1 year 2 months

Germany

Key Account & Project Manager, International B2B Clients

Jamba GmbH

Building and maintaining relationships with international B2B clients such as O2 (Germany), Vodafone (Netherlands, UK), and Proximus (Belgium).
Leading complex international projects from conception to completion.
Developing the first music flat-rate offering with more than 3 million tracks.

Feb 2002 - Nov 2009

7 years 10 months

Germany

Entrepreneur / Self-Employed

Developing and hosting social media platforms such as Gratis-Forum.de, Free-Guestbooks.de, and Bulletin-Boards.de.
Responsible for operating one of the largest web platforms for social media hosting in Germany.
Planning, developing, and ongoing maintenance of e-commerce projects.
Developing, implementing, and further enhancing custom software solutions.
Hosting and administration of self-developed platforms with system redundancy and database replication across multiple data centers (on-premise).
Founding and building the social media platforms with over 118,000 connected websites.
Comprehensive software development using PHP, Perl, HTML, CSS, and MySQL for responsive and user-friendly web applications and admin systems.

Summary

With over 19 years of experience in product management and project management and as a CPO, Product Owner, Product Manager, and Senior Project Manager, I have successfully planned and implemented projects and solutions such as Content Management Systems (CMS), SSO & paywalls, as well as backend applications, B2B/B2C portals, and iOS and Android apps.

In my previous roles as Head of Product Management at BILD, where I was also responsible for project management, and as Head of Business Development at the WELT Group, I managed complex digitalization projects with eight-figure budgets and led teams.

My knowledge of agile software development methods like SCRUM and Kanban, and my confident use of project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Asana, and Trello, allow me to successfully carry out projects.

Skills

Product Management
Project Management
Agile Development
Process Consulting

Technologies & Frameworks

Jira
Confluence
Scrum
Kanban
Asana
Trello
Redmine
Ms Project
Ms Visio
Microsoft 365 / Ms Teams / Ms Office
Slack
Figma
Balsamiq
Axure Rp
Mindmamanger
Html
Uml
Bpmn
Css
Json
Xml
Rest Api
Php
Mysql
Mariadb
Sql
Chatgpt
Midjourney
Debian Administration
Opnsense

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Education

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Diploma in Business Administration · Business Administration · Jena, Germany

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Experience

Product Owner – Redesign of an iOS and Android SaaS Application Platform

iApps Technologies GmbH

CIO Consultant – Development of an IT Strategy and IT System Landscape

Entrenco GmbH & Bioenergie Wegscheid GmbH

Requirements Manager – Backend Platform with Data Migration

Süddeutsche Zeitung

Senior Project Manager – Digital Publishing Platform (Backend, Web, iOS and Android Apps)

SWP, LR and MOZ

Product Owner and Project Manager – Fully Automated SaaS Publishing Platform

Process Manager – Optimization of project management processes, Jira workflows and Confluence

HR Recruiter – Executive and Team Acquisition

Senior Project Manager – Tagesspiegel iOS/Android Apps and Portal

Tagesspiegel Verlag

Technical Project Lead – Multimedia Premium Offering "Die ZEIT"

Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co. KG

Product and Project Manager – AI-based Text-to-Speech B2B SaaS Solution

iApps Technologies GmbH, Ippen Verlag, F.A.Z Verlag

Senior Project Manager – Audio CMS with iOS and Android Applications "ZEIT Audio"

Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co. KG

Chief Product Officer (CPO)

iApps Technologies GmbH

Product Manager and Project Manager – p4p Analytics SaaS Business Intelligence (BI) Platform

iApps Technologies GmbH

Senior Product Manager – SSO & Paywall Solution for Paid Offerings

iApps Technologies GmbH, Axel Springer SE, Ippen Verlag

Senior Project Manager – E-Publishing Solution with Web, Backend, and iOS & Android Apps

Ippen Verlag

Senior Project Manager – Development of iOS and Android apps for a specialist publisher

Handelsblatt Fachmedien GmbH

Product Manager and Project Manager – SaaS CMS Publishing Platform (IT service provider / F.A.Z)

Strategy Consultant – Premium Educational Offerings

Cornelsen Verlag

Senior Project Manager – Development of an SSO and Paywall extension

Handelsblatt GmbH

Senior Project Manager – Platform for Digital Brochure Advertising

RP-Online / MhN Digital

Scrum Master – iKiosk.de platform (Web, iOS and Android apps)

iApps Technologies GmbH, Axel Springer SE, Schweitzer Fachinformationen

Strategy Consultant – Mobile online offerings & Hamburg.de applications

Hamburg.de / Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

Lecturer – "Location Based Services as a Business Model"

Leipzig School of Media / University of Leipzig

General Manager & Senior Consultant – Start-up Joint Venture

Axel Springer SE / Deutsche Bahn AG / Content Fleet or Ströer SE & Co

Head of Product Management / Platform Management BILD

BILD GmbH & Co. KG

Head of BILDmobil Portal

Axel Springer SE

Head of Business Development WELT Group / Berliner Morgenpost

Axel Springer SE

Senior Product Manager, Content Syndication & Mobile – WELT Group / Berliner Morgenpost

Axel Springer SE

Key Account & Project Manager, International B2B Clients

Jamba GmbH

Entrepreneur / Self-Employed

Summary

Skills

Languages

Education

Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Diploma in Business Administration · Business Administration · Jena, Germany

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