Senior Program Leader Finance & Transformation

BLAKE SWENSON,MBA,PMP

*****@*****************.**** 763-***-**** Delano, USA 55328 www.linkedin.com/in/blake-swenson

Summary

Senior program management executive with a proven track record of delivering enterprise-wide operating model transformations in Fortune 500 organization. Skilled at steering cross-functional teams to improve efficiency and manage large-scale technology initiatives.

Skills

Digital transformation leader

Client & Wealth Management User Experience

15 years enterprise program leadership

Data and Analytics,

Agentic AI, and workflow automation.

Strong acumen for cybersecurity and regulatory compliance within life insurance industry.

Sales Enablement and Performance Optimization

Performance Improvement Strategies

Strategic Planning and Change Management

Enterprise applications (CRM, HCM, ERP, Datalake)

Agile DevOps (DORA, CI/CD)

High-Performance Team Building

Experience

Management Consultant SWENSON MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC. 12/2024 - Current

Led advisory team for multinational financial services organization, delivering technology talent assessment and roadmap for new technology operating model. The assessment indicated that 25% of staff needed extensive retraining and reorganization. Dozens of critical administrative platforms lacked key skills and support personnel.

Conducted business process and technology assessments for tech startups and fast-growth wealth management firms, identifying key areas for improvement.

Advised firms on transformation programs, facilitating transitions to new operating models and enhancing operational effectiveness.

Outcomes were the reduction of redundant staff and investment in new talent and training to align with the target architecture.

Vice President Sales Technology and Operations THRIVENT - Minneapolis, USA 09/2016 - 12/2024

Recruited by CIO and COO to fill a critical role supporting Advisors Technology Platforms and revitalizing a struggling CRM program.

Expanded span of influence in 2021 to guide additional product delivery teams with ~ 80 engineering and product management professionals as well as scrum masters supporting Thrivent's sales and marketing technology organizations.

Directed the Digital marketing & lead generation programs: Reduced the Lead generation to Advisor contact from 2 days to 4 minutes through implementing Salesforce leads and event triggers on all web properties. Overall, Salesforce opportunity management increased by one-third. Rebranded all campaign and email management content, rebuilt advisor web experience to Microsoft from outdated technology.

Developed and implemented a Sales Enablement platform (Allego and Salesforce) to reduce new advisor onboarding by 25% through digital coaching curriculum and just-in-time coaching.

Leverage ML and LLMs to automate significant portions of Advisor pre- and post-meeting notes and follow-up steps.

Authored and drove multi-year technology strategy with roadmap to implement a common advisor technology ecosystem and eliminate redundant SAAS solutions.

Transformed the Distribution Technology organization from project-based delivery to a product operating model, establishing 30 persistent delivery teams.

Earned Top Firm Innovator 2024 and 2005 Luminary Award in Financial Planning.

Developed and released the Thrivent Financial Planning platform that delivered a 200% increase in comprehensive financial planning accounts, generated higher closing rates, grew average case size, and increased product placements per household.

Consulting Manager, Sales Force Effectiveness DELOITTE - Minneapolis, USA 05/2015 - 09/2016

As the program’s Salesforce Product Manager at Transamerica, drove the migration of its Retirement Services Sales division from Microsoft Dynamics to Salesforce. Upon completion of the foundational build, the client was able to complete the subsequent releases to add more business units.

Facilitated divestiture of HPE services to CSC by creating a playbook for separating global sales agreements and splitting sales operations, ensuring smooth transition.

Identified and recommended replacement technology for mainframe finance and accounting operations at Cushman Wakefield to enhance operational capabilities.

Director of Field Compensation and Administration THRIVENT - Minneapolis, USA 01/2010 - 05/2015

Provided steady leadership to a team that implemented three major compensation plan changes to the sales organization while delivering a 99% Advisor Retention rate, reducing overpayments, driving YoY membership growth, lowering financial risk, increasing practice profitability, and providing a balanced sales mix.

Guided 40 employees and contractors in implementing and maintaining go-to-market incentives, producer profitability, and succession planning programs.

Generated cost savings of $3M+ annually by streamlining fraud detection and automating processes.

Identified and implemented workflow automation to enhance operational efficiency.

Successfully realigned territories and sales hierarchies to optimize coverage and incentives for sales leaders.

Directed industry research and benchmarking studies with the Life Insurance Marketing Research Association.

Consulting Program Manager ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL - Minneapolis, USA 03/2008 - 01/2010

Restructured multi-year post-merger strategic initiative at Thrivent for new sales performance management platform to align with organizational goals.

Managed cross-functional teams to enhance project delivery and collaboration.

Developed and implemented project plans to guide operational efficiency.

Coordinated resources and schedules to meet diverse client needs.

Consulting Program Manager PROJECT CONSULTING GROUP - Minneapolis, USA 04/2007 - 03/2008

Led new product engagements for Ameriprise banking division, enhancing client product and service offerings.

Led cross-functional teams to coordinate project deliverables and timelines.

Managed stakeholder communications, aligning project objectives with business goals.

Developed comprehensive project plans using industry-standard tools and methodologies, ensuring timely execution.

Director of Technology and Finance Operations GMAC RESCAP - Bloomington, USA 02/2001 - 04/2007

Directed project management and Sarbanes Oxley 'SOX' compliance for Finance division, ensuring regulatory adherence and reducing potential risks.

Restructured business unit to enhance development and maintenance of reusable enterprise integration services, improving overall service delivery.

Led technology strategy to enhance operational efficiency across business units.

Directed software development initiatives to support core business processes.

Managed IT infrastructure to ensure system reliability and security compliance.

Project Manager GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT - Chicago, USA 01/1998 - 02/2001

Led data conversion projects for custom-developed institutional trading platform and analytical reporting platform for Goldman Sachs' wholesalers, enhancing data accessibility and reporting capabilities.

Led project teams to implement strategic investment initiatives at a global financial firm.

Managed timelines and budgets for multiple asset management projects simultaneously.

Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project objectives.

Senior Business Analyst Consultant AON-HEWITT - Lincolnshire, USA 05/1995 - 01/1998

Developed cash balance retirement solution for Monsanto divestiture, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitating a smooth transition for affected employees.

Stock Analyst Intern GRUPO BITAL - México City, México 09/1995 - 12/1995

Conducted detailed analysis of major Mexican packaging and consumer goods companies to identify market trends and investment opportunities.

Analyzed market trends to inform investment strategies and recommendations.

Evaluated financial reports for accuracy and compliance with regulations.

Collaborated with team members to develop comprehensive stock portfolios.

Education

DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business Chicago, IL

MBA: Finance

Concordia College Moorhead, MN

BA: Double major business administration and Spanish

Websites, Portfolios, Profiles

linkedin.com/in/blake-swenson/

swensonconsulting.tech

Professional Training & Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Digital Marketing Sales Technology Group Committee Member for Insurance and Wealth Management Industry

WealthTech Executive Cohort Member for Senior Executive Accountable for Wealth Technology Strategy

LIMRA Distribution Management Committee Executive Member

MDA Leadership Executive Coaching Program Recipient

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