Results-driven Program and Portfolio Management Leader
Results-driven program and portfolio management leader with 20+ years of experience in healthcare, life sciences, IT, and retail. Specializing in establishing and scaling PMOs, most recently launching Sequel MedTech’s first PMO to accelerate the commercialization of an FDA-cleared device, and boosting process effectiveness at LGC Clinical Diagnostics by implementing Hybrid Agile-Stage-Gate methodologies, governance frameworks, and automated workflows. Recognized for leading cross-functional teams, embedding quality and regulatory SMEs, and delivering data-driven decision-making through centralized dashboards to reduce time-to-market risks and enhance operational efficiency. At Calyx/Parexel, transformed medical imaging delivery through JIRA standardization, improving on-time delivery metrics and elevating client satisfaction, while also leading product management for MyTrials.com to achieve a substantial increase in delivery efficiency. Earned MSc in Management of Projects and Programs from Brandeis and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Conduct and Management from UC Berkeley.
Email:
Email:
Email:
Email:
Ashwin B Venkatesan
Program and Portfolio Management Leader
Phone:
508-667-5581
Email:
Location:
Westborogh, MA
EXPERIENCE
2024-2025
Sequel MedTech
Director, Program Management Office(Consultant Engagement)
Established first PMO at medical device innovator, accelerating commercialization of FDA-cleared flagship device.
2022-2024
LGC Clinical Diagnostics
Director, Program Management Office and Operational Excellence
Established and scaled PMO and Operational Excellence at leading manufacturer of quality management tools.
2008-2022
Parexel International
Associate Director, Delivery Management (21-22)
Senior Product Consultant (2018 – 2020)
Senior Program Manager (2014 – 2018)
Program Manager (2012 – 2014)
Senior Project Manager, Professional Services (2011 – 2012)
Project Manager, Technology Services (2008 – 2011)
Directed delivery management and product launch for clients at a leading global clinical research organization.
2005-2008
Staples Inc.
Senior Programmer and Technical Lead, Enterprise Data Warehouse
Optimized enterprise data warehouse operations at leading office retail company.
2003-2005
Informatica Consultant
Informatica Consultant
Led technical and business consulting projects for clients in a variety of industries.
-
Selected clients: Blue Cross Blue Shield (Pittsburgh, PA), Arch Insurance (New York, NY), ING (Hartford, CT), Schering Plough Healthcare (Kenilworth, NJ)
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Education
2011-2012
Graduate Certificate
University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Conduct and Management
2006-2008
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Masters
Master of Science (MSc) in Management of Projects and Programs
1998-2004
Bachelors
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (WPI)
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Management Information Systems
2024
Certifications
Certificate
Pragmatic Institute
Product Management
2013
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Certificate
Agile Project Management
ACHIEVEMENTS
PMO Leadership and Governance
-
Established & Scaled PMOs @ Sequel & LGC; Optimized @ Parexel: ↑ efficiency 25-30%, ↓50% reporting time, ↑ strategic alignment 100%.
-
Implemented Governance Boards: ↓50% misaligned initiatives via ROI-driven prioritization.
-
Built Ground-Up KPIs: ↓50% reporting @ Sequel (key functional product launch milestones), tracked projects against strategic pillars/ROI/on-time @ LGC, scaled to 80+ releases/month (on-time delivery against first subject/first visit, profitability based on contract value and labor report, short interval control metrics across each step) @ Parexel, ensuring 100% strategic alignment.
Stakeholder and Cross-Functional Management
-
Cross-Functional Orchestration: @Parexel Directed global PMs (US/UK/IN/CN/JP) : Standards ↓20% delays. @ LGC Orchestrated 22+ initiatives (M&A/IT/NPD) : Asana ↓50% charter rework, @ Sequel Led 12 teams (R&D/Clinical/QA): War rooms ↓50% issue resolution
-
C-suite Briefings: C-suite leadership presentation on project status, risk assessment, and mitigation efforts with a focus on ‘decision vs information only’ views – cutting executive meeting time by focusing on actionable items.
Portfolio Delivery and Scalability
-
Automated and Optimization of PM Lifecycle:
-
Intake: JIRA @Parexel/Asana @LGC /MS Forms @Sequel → ↓50% rework (LGC)
-
Execution: Auto-plan generation @LGC + sizing templates (Parexel) → ↑60% efficiency
-
Data Driven Dashboards: Dashboards for 22 initiatives (LGC)/80+ releases (Parexel)/NPD dashboard (Sequel) → ↓50% time
-
Backlog: Milestone/ROI prioritization → ↑100% alignment
-
Complex IT Program Execution and Client Implementation
-
MyTrials.com rollout (Parexel) :↓50% dev time, ↑30% adoption, ↑35% satisfaction
-
LGC DIAGNOSTICS (Asana) ROI-justified project intake : ↓50% rework & ↑ portfolio ROI accuracy
-
Medical Imaging delivery (Calyx) : ↑30% on-time metrics, ↓20% time-zone delays, managed reporting and analytics for over 80 monthly releases, delivering timely insights to 90+ stakeholders.
Resume
ELEANOR KILOSSOVSKI
“Ashwin brought solid project & program management methodology to LGC Clinical Diagnostics. He has been instrumental in setting up the PMO and developing standardized templates, tools, and best practices. I have enjoyed working with Ashwin and his team on several corporate anchor projects to support post-merger integration. He has consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to navigate large complex projects and drive strategic alignment of diverse stakeholders in a highly matrixed environment. His strong leadership coupled with effective communication fosters collaboration, encourages open dialogue, and ensures that key stakeholders work together to achieve project goals. In addition, he has skillfully leveraged the Asana project management tool to streamline key processes and develop various dashboards to keep ELT informed on project status. Due to his success with PMO, he has quickly been given additional responsibilities to lead operational excellence initiatives. I am confident he will continue to excel as a project management leader and make significant contributions to the organization.."
RICHARD BUTTLER
"It was always a pleasure to work with, collaborate with and learn from Ashwin. His knowledge of portfolio and project management and his willingness to share that knowledge was and is a great resource to an organisation. He is always willing to collaborate and consider other points of view.
Most impressive for me was Ashwin's willingness to roll up his sleaves and get into the trenches of new software programs and systems to become an SME and make sure the workflows were developed with end user needs to the fore."
SHANNAN O'NEIL
"I had the pleasure of working with Ashwin at CALYX as a Technical Delivery Manager within the Medical Imaging Department. Ashwin supervised, guided and mentored me through the departments rigorous and transformational change on delivery standardization. With Ashwin's guidance I successfully managed complex project requirements, timelines and risks while providing communication on progress to all stakeholders and KOLs. Ashwin's ability to drive process and identify efficiencies while maintaining his solution focused and positive attitude is his biggest strength."
LEE GAMBLE
“Ashwin is one of those rare people capable of taking complex technical concepts and simplifying them so they are easily consumed by wide audiences. He is client and business focused, with a quality first mindset and someone with a strong background in process improvement, program management and technical delivery.”
JOHAN ARICO
"Ashwin was an exceptional team player whom always put the success of the company foremost. His technical and project management skills allowed him to deliver assignments on time and within budget. He proactively would identify risk and quality issues which allowed him to implement plans to remediate said issues. Ashwin routinely helped rewrite process and SOP documents to improve overall efficiency of the department."