Experience
Kristen is a proven results-oriented Agilist and IT Servant Leader, with 20 years of Information Technology (IT) industry experience within Blue Chip companies and Government sectors, such as Financial Services and Healthcare. She has delivered successful enterprise-wide implementations in dynamic and challenging environments for blue chip companies including JPMorgan Chase (New York, NY) and BlueCross BlueShield (Baltimore, MD). Kristen has experience directing IT and cross-functional programs/projects, along with corporate initiatives spanning software/hardware development, web portal, system/data integration, business process re-engineering/automation, reporting, procurement, audit remediation and financial management. In these roles, she has liaised vertically and horizontally across the organization, including with executive management and external entities. She has the hard and soft skills to guide cross-disciplinary teams, with diverse resources, to meet strategic Business and IT objectives.
Additionally, she specializes in leading Agile Transformation initiatives for software development and business product development, Agile coaching for teams and enterprises, along with directing system delivery execution using Agile methodologies (e.g. Scrum/Kanban/SAFe/Lean), spanning large-scale programs with global teams and multimillion-dollar budgets. She is an adept problem solver, with an entrepreneurial spirit, who crafts innovative solutions and values excellence. She drives concurrent projects to completion within dynamic environments, while delivering continuous flow of business value to customers.
Education and Certifications
Kristen is a Certified Agile Coach (ICP-ACC), Project Management Professional (PMP®) and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM®) where she integrates agile and project management delivery practices resulting in efficient project implementations.
She holds a M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Spelman College with a Magna Cum Laude honor.
She has also attained the Advanced Project Management Certification from the International Institute of Learning. Additionally, she has earned a Business Systems Analysis Certification from the University of Colorado at Denver and has received the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS®) designation.
Kristen’s technical expertise is also complemented with leadership skills making her a well-versed project management professional.
Awards and Service
Throughout Kristen’s career, she has received various honors and awards.
Outside of the corporate arena, Kristen is dedicated to community service involvement as established in her early years with fond memories of service related activities through church and as a candy striper. Kristen’s current service organization memberships include The Annapolis (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Kristen is particularly passionate about mentoring youth as she is a current mentor as shown with her involvement in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake and has served in various other mentorship capacities. Kristen is also an advisory board member for Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP).
Personally, Kristen enjoys piano playing, music and cultural activities, cardio exercise, traveling and spending time with family/friends.