Program Manager Analyst Iii

Oluwafunke Folarin

Pea Ridge, Arkansas ***** 336-***-****

*********@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/oluwafunke-folarin-PhD SUMMARY

Versatile professional with a strong track record of delivering results across tech operations, merchandising, and retail. Combines strategic vision with sharp analysis to solve complex problems, streamline workflows, reduce risk, and boost efficiency. Thrives in fast-paced environments, managing competing priorities while driving growth and profitability through smart, forward-thinking ideas.

EXPERIENCE

WALMART GLOBAL TECH Bentonville, Arkansas

Analyst III, Technology Operations, ECE Strategy and Operations 2022-2025

• Facilitated Agile transformation efforts for Global Engineering teams, instilling Scrum values, facilitating all Agile ceremonies, and driving culture of transparency, accountability, and shared ownership.

• Acted as program manager (six-month assignment) for Cycle of N initiative, ensuring seamless continuity during colleague’s leave.

• Coordinated team workflows, mitigated blockers, and aligned strategic execution with company goals. Co-led Windows 11 in-place upgrade project, collaborating with cross-functional peers to plan, prioritize, and track progress.

• Produced and deployed custom Excel-based Gantt charts to streamline task visibility and team collaboration, eliminated tool access barriers, and reduced licensing costs for third-party project management tools.

• Led profile cleanup and storage management projects, improving device performance, reducing ticket volume, and achieving over 98% compliance on Windows 11 23H2 deployment through strategic change management alignment.

• Enhanced backlog and task management by designing advanced Jira filters and dashboards to prioritize sprint goals, track due and overdue tasks, and streamline urgent intake requests, boosting team alignment and overall efficiency.

• Cultivated strong partnerships with product owners, engineers, and interns by leading onboarding, training, and change management walkthroughs to accelerate team readiness.

• Drove cultural excellence by earning Culture Champion and Inspire peer badges, a testament to collaborative leadership and advocacy for team member growth.

• Fostered culture of recognition and psychological safety through peer shoutouts, retrospectives, and active feedback loops, resulting in stronger team morale and effectiveness.

• Served as Scrum Master for Windows Engineering OS team, facilitated Agile ceremonies, and ensured continuous delivery of quality outcomes through collaborative team dynamics and structured sprint planning.

• Directed cross-functional teams to successfully deliver strategic technology initiatives, including Windows 11 in- place upgrade and HD cleanup projects, directly impacting operational readiness and customer satisfaction.

• Championed Agile best practices by creating comprehensive retrospective checklist for Scrum coaches, improving feedback loops and processing transparency across multiple teams.

• Mentored new team members and product owners during onboarding, streamlining access to tools (Jira, Confluence) and promoting Agile fluency. Built strong onboarding frameworks, improving associate ramp-up times by providing structured tool access, Agile training, and mentorship. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO Greensboro, North Carolina Graduate Assistant, The Graduate College 2020-2022

• Managed administrative tasks to support the graduate admission school operations

• Coordinated office procedures to enhance efficiency within the graduate school

• Provided administrative support, ensuring smooth graduate school operations. Oluwafunke Folarin, Page 2

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY Greensboro, North Carolina Graduate Assistant 2016-2019

• Designed workflow processes, improving organizational efficiency and staff capacity development.

• Developed strategic tracking system, aligning workshops with departmental vision and performance goals.

• Coordinated training sessions, ensuring cross-functional collaboration with faculty and administrative staff.

• Served as graduate research assistant for Leadership Empowerment, Apprenticeship, and Diversity in Information Technology (LEAD-IT) program.

• Collaborated with professors on research initiatives, contributing to data analytics and business intelligence studies, and promoted cross-functional communication and workshop efficiency.

• Conducted literature reviews, leveraging data-driven insights to support strategic research projects.

• Offered administrative support for national conferences and workshops, promoting knowledge-sharing excellence.

• Conducted data analysis, supporting informed decision-making in project execution.

• Provided project coordination and documentation management, ensuring smooth workflow. COVENANT UNIVERSITY Ota, Nigeria

Manager, Strategic Business Services 2009-2016

• Managed retail operations for SBS Supermarket, CU Bookstore, and CU Female Buttery, overseeing sales, merchandising, customer engagement, and service delivery.

• Led hospitality services for CU Guesthouse and Camphouse, ensuring high-quality accommodations, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency by increasing guest turnover and profitability.

• Increased bookstore profitability by 30% through strategic vendor negotiations and optimized inventory management.

• Boosted retail revenue by 25% in SBS Supermarket by expanding product offerings and improving merchandising strategies.

• Achieved 40% growth in food service revenue at CU Female Buttery by introducing new dining options.

• Improved employee performance by developing training workshops, resulting in a 20% increase in efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Directed staffing, recruitment, and training, ensuring top-class employees and reducing turnover by 15%.

• Guided cross-functional teams, optimizing business processes, team workflows, and stakeholder collaboration.

• Implemented risk management strategies, ensuring compliance and operational stability.

• Applied Agile principles to improve service delivery, team alignment, and continuous improvement. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

COVENANT UNIVERSITY, Ota, Nigeria, Supervisor, Guest House, 2007-2009. Supervised more than 60 employees, optimizing daily operations and service quality standards. Improved staff training and hospitality initiatives and boosted guest satisfaction rates by 35%. Increased occupancy rates by 20%, driving profitability and enhancing service efficiency. EDUCATION

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY, Greensboro, North Carolina Ph.D., Leadership Studies

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO, Greensboro, North Carolina M.S., Informatics and Analytics (Computational Analytics) COVENANT UNIVERSITY, Ota, Nigeria

M.S., Public Administration

Oluwafunke Folarin, Page 3

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, Ibadan, Nigeria

B.A., History

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Scrum Master (CSM) – Scrum Alliance (2026) Professional Scrum Master (PSM), Scrum.org, no expiration Business Analysis for Project Managers, LinkedIn, no expiration

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