Project Manager - Product Manager - Writing Coach -

Project Manager - Product Manager - Writing Coach -

Hi, I’m JoAnna!

I’m a big believer in challenging “the way we’ve always done things” to make way for something better.

Over the course of my 7 years in product and project management, I have honed my ability to lead complex business initiatives that generate profitability and fuel growth through technological innovation.

The Side Hustle

Equipped with a degree in English & Creative Writing from UCLA, I dedicate my time off the clock to my practice as a writing coach. I specialize in personal statements and work primarily with med school applicants.

 Résumé

  • July 2023 - Present

    • Supported the development of a new technical platform powered by AWS cloud services to modernize and centralize the infrastructure of Studio web properties, and reduce their yearly operational run rate by 50%.

    • Launched a Webby-nominated rebuild of FocusFeatures.com, which demonstrated a 13% increase in performance and 18% improvement in accessibility, while leveraging an upgraded, headless CMS and Fandango ticketing API at no additional cost.

    • Coordinated a design agency engagement to reimagine the Universal Pictures Home Entertainment web destination; translated 100+ screens into ~350 product requirements for dev handoff.

  • Aug 2022 - June 2023

    • Developed a 3-year plan with a cross-functional task force to reduce overstocked warehouse inventory by 83%, resulting in an estimated cost savings of ~$592K in storage expenses.

    • Conducted an audit of all company software subscriptions and carried out right-sizing, migration, and retirement efforts, resulting in cost savings of ~$50K for FY 2023.

    • Implemented a new project blueprint in our PM system, automating the creation of ~240 tasks with dependency and approval workflows across 11 departments for each new game title.

  • Sept 2021 - Aug 2022

    • Guided engineers through SCRUM ceremonies, enabling successful launches of new products, content, and features on our custom-coded direct-to-consumer (DTC) website.

    • Assumed the role of de facto Web team lead for six months after the departure of our Director of Engineering. Collaborated with the newly appointed CCO to align the software roadmap with business priorities following EK's acquisition by Asmodee.

    • Partnered with the eCommerce Manager to evaluate, select, and onboard a Shopify agency to execute a complete redesign and restructuring of the DTC store within a four-month timeframe, following the elimination of our in-house engineering team.

  • Nov 2017 - Sept 2021

    • Managed a team of software engineers in executing a multi-million dollar roadmap for a custom logistics workflow management application to optimize the delivery of new Parks & Resorts experiences.

    • Orchestrated pilot launches for high-profile projects, both domestic and international, e.g. Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, and Tokyo DisneySea's Fantasy Springs.

    • Facilitated training and user acceptance testing (UAT) for 20+ active users across warehousing, project coordination, and show management.

    • Consolidated and retired four legacy systems and 10+ offline spreadsheets with one web solution, establishing a source of truth for logistics tracking to enable predicability and efficiency.

  • Jan 2017 - Nov 2017

    • Played a key role in the successful rollout of Microsoft Office 365 across TWDC, providing consultations, training, and technical documentation.

    • Monitored support channels for our portfolio of collaboration tools, troubleshooting technical issues and sharing best practices to enhance their usage experience.

    • Generated monthly analytics reports for the Director of Technology to inform retirement plans for the legacy Enterprise Portal, utilized by thousands of Cast Members for accessing shift schedules, employee guidelines, and company news.