"You were always willing to go above and beyond what was expected. Your commitment was very inspiring: you pushed the boundaries and made those around you consider new and better approaches. I look forward to seeing what you do next!"- Erik Eliason | Co-Founder & CEO of Storefront | Linked
"Roarke is a team player and an excellent communicator." "I highly recommend Roarke for any product management role. His exceptional skills in collaboration, strategic thinking, and user-centered decision-making make him a valuable asset to any organization."
- Nicholas Jayanty | Advisory Design Researcher at IBM | LinkedIn
"An area where Roarke particularly excels is understanding of customer perspectives. He has an intuitive ability to comprehend their needs, articulate these requirements effectively to stakeholders, and then channel this insight into the creation of impactful products."
- Valerio Merlini | Sr. Product Manager at Amazon | LinkedIn
Passion for Problem Solving
Every product challenge opens a door to new possibilities. My path in product management is fueled by a relentless curiosity to find these opportunities. I'm driven to create solutions that not only ease user challenges but also propel business growth. It's about turning obstacles into stepping stones for success.
User-Centric Mindset
Experiencing a user's 'aha!' moment is profoundly rewarding. It's this connection, these stories and feedback from users, that keep me focused on their needs in every product decision. There's immense satisfaction in knowing that a feature I contributed to can make someone's day just a bit easier or more enjoyable
Continuous Learning & Innovation
In the constantly shifting terrain of technology and consumer behavior, there's always something new to learn. This dynamic environment energizes me to stay ahead, always seeking innovative approaches and solutions that can redefine user experiences.
Collaborative Synergy
Collaboration is where the magic happens. The combined wisdom of diverse teams, the richness of varied perspectives, and the joy of shared achievements - these are the elements that make the product development journey so fulfilling. Together, we can achieve more than we ever could alone.
Impactful Outcomes
For me, it's not just about the metrics or KPIs; it's about the real-world impact our products have. From simplifying complex tasks to enhancing business revenue or crafting delightful experiences, the tangible results of our decisions are what truly drive me. It's about making a difference, one product at a time.
Over the years, I've honed a diverse set of skills essential for modern product management. Here are some areas where I excel:
Identifying Market Needs
My approach begins with a deep dive into market dynamics. I analyze market trends, benchmark against competitors, and segment markets to understand diverse customer groups. Through user research and ethnographic studies, I uncover what customers truly need. This foundation allows me to develop user personas, gather and analyze requirements, craft user stories, and create functional specifications that are rooted in real-world needs and expectations.
Strategizing
& Building the Product
Developing a product is like crafting a story – it starts with a vision. I align this vision with our company’s mission, articulating it clearly and translating it into a strategic roadmap. This roadmap guides release planning, milestone definition, and timeline management. I oversee the entire product lifecycle, manage product portfolios, and plan for product end-of-life. My focus also encompasses designing user experiences, prototyping, and iterating products to perfection.
Executing
& Leading with Agility
In execution, agility is key. I implement agile methodologies, incorporating Scrum and Kanban (scrumban) practices for effective sprint planning and backlog grooming. Leading cross-functional teams, I foster collaboration and resolve conflicts, ensuring smooth interdepartmental coordination. My role involves managing stakeholders, engaging influencers, building consensus, and developing strategic communication strategies to keep everyone aligned and moving forward.
Launching
& Ensuring Market Success
The launch phase is where data becomes crucial. I analyze metrics, utilize predictive analytics, and develop KPIs to guide decision-making. My work includes mapping customer journeys, refining personas, and analyzing touchpoints to design outstanding experiences. I conduct SWOT analysis, position products in the market, develop value propositions, and manage financial aspects like budgeting, cost control, and ROI analysis. My go-to-market strategies are comprehensive, covering channel strategy, sales enablement, and market penetration.
Maintaining Quality
& Continuous Improvement
Quality and continuous improvement are my mantras. I focus on detailed feature specification, technical writing, API documentation, and creating user guides. Quality assurance, user acceptance, and performance testing ensure our products meet the highest standards. I establish feedback loops, analyze customer satisfaction and NPS, and adhere to regulatory, industry, and legal standards. My commitment extends to risk management, crisis management, and applying continuous improvement practices like Kaizen and Lean methodologies to optimize processes.
When I'm not shaping products, you'll find me surfing, hiking, volunteering at alohatreealliance.org, or geeking out at product management meetups 🤓