John has more than 20 years of leadership experience unlocking the promise of digital for large and global businesses as a Senior Executive, builder and thought leader. John is a fervent advocate for digitally-enabled operational models that reduce friction in employee experiences, drive customer growth and enable business outcomes.
As a serial entrepreneur, John has extensive experience as an organizational catalyst for high-performance, empathy-driven, successful teams. With multiple exits, his passion is leveraging digitally-based services to drive hyper growth in consulting service providers.
As a Digital Innovator, John has extensive experience in SaaS platforms (ServiceNow, Salesforce, Workday), web and mobile technologies, Robotic Process Automation and Agile methods. He has a proven track record of using these tools to drive tangible improvements in the retail, manufacturing, financial services and professional services industries.
John enjoys helping clients find the ever-evolving balance between scale and growth, innovation and control, service and commoditization, and he understands the importance of advancing the personal and professional lives of people.
Before coming to Schneider Downs, John was a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting and a Product Owner at Freemarkets, where he helped bring the world’s first ever digital reverse auction product to market. He also bootstrapped a Digital Transformation consultancy that sold to a ServiceNow consultancy—which he then guided into an acquisition by NTT Data. Additionally, John founded a Consumer Tech practice at a custom mobile/web development firm.
B.S. - Information Technology, Duquesne University
Do you have a hobby/personal passion?
I would say that my hobby is running… to me, it brings peace, space, and catharsis. The health benefits are pretty good too.
Who is your role model?
I would say that my role model is my mom. She was a music teacher that took a big risk in starting and growing her own financial services firm when my brother, sister, and I were barely out of diapers… I really admire her ambition, grit, and determination.
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your college self?
I would tell myself to invest in Bitcoin, Amazon, and Tesla early. Seriously, I would advise my college self to know your value and always be unapologetic with the perspectives that you bring to a situation.
People would be surprised to know that I…
Was on a music and dance scholarship in college where I did around 150 performances during the year and traveled to every state in the lower 48… all by bus!
What was your first job?
My first job was a Consultant at Deloitte Consulting
Do you have a “motto”? (spoken or unspoken)
“Progress over perfection” – the market and life move at such an accelerated pace today, over analyzing and being waterfall in your actions means that you miss out on so much that timely experience can enlighten.
When you have an hour of free time, what do you like to do?
My default is spending additional time with my kids, and some of our favorite things to do are exploring the local food scene, enjoying the arts (either ballet or the symphony), spending time outside, or playing video games.
Do you have advice for young professionals?
Lean into being uncomfortable – take that stretch assignment; work on the soft skills that are not innate to your personality; take the risk of trying a new career path, a new industry, a new geography, a new role.
Shareholder Jim Yard is Schneider Downs’ practice leader for our Risk Advisory Services Department. Jim specializes in providing risk management, internal audit, and internal control consulting services.
We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a note, and we’ll respond to you as quickly as possible.
Ask us
One PPG Place, Suite 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
[email protected]
p:412.261.3644
f:412.261.4876
65 East State Street, Suite 2000
Columbus, OH 43215
[email protected]
p:614.621.4060
f:614.621.4062
1660 International Drive, Suite 600
McLean, VA 22102
[email protected]
p:571.380.9003
