Bill Hayes
Builds Products.
Product Development leader focused on improved revenue generation, more efficient scrum processes, and energizing user engagement through innovation and simplicity.
The Seat Between idea and reality.
Filling the gaps between Engineers, Designers, Operations, and Marketing to turn fuzzy briefs into shipped products that serve Users while moving the Brand forward.
I'm based in Chicago but excel while working remotely. PMP-certified since 2012. Scrum-certified four times over. I'm strategic and data-driven but still thrive on the details found in Lighthouse reviews and bug reports.
What Drives Me
“My focus can range from full-scale *Digital Transformations* to regression testing defects.”
Years spent shoulder-to-shoulder with Development Teams, Stakeholders, and Industry Leaders taught me that a detailed backlog is just as important as the big picture.
20 Years of Delivering Results.
From team building to product leadership for Fortune 50 brands – inputs are critical. Outcomes are required.
MX is a Chicago-based B2B Marketing Agency with an international presence and stellar Strategy, Digital, and Creative resources. My tenure here has helped shine a light on how unique the B2B industry really is.
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Punchkick was a Native Apps Development Agency that has been acquired and absorbed by Eidra. It was here that I was fully immersed in the distinct requirements and procedures of building Native Apps.
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Devbridge was a full service Software Development Agency that was acquired by Cognizant. The Product Thought Leadership and Workshop Facilitation skills I gained there took my abilities from fair to stellar.
Manifest is an ever-changing Digital Agency. While they now focus more on Content Marketing, it's here that I learned how much Agency culture matters and what it truly means to have your teammates' backs.
Working at Leo was my dream in college. The level of persistence and tenacity needed to gain that experience was as invaluable as what I learned there. A global Agency with a focused mission cannot be beat.
From AI Engineering to *Platform* Development.
Eight examples, one pattern: ship what the Business needs while creating a seamless experience for Users.
BHBP Portfolio
WF vs. HSS
Motors & Mesh
Online Banking
Insider Rewards
Forge Ahead
Lottery Redesign
Hospitality Connections
What I Bring to *The Room.*
Project management rigor, UX sensibility, strategic guidance — three critical needs of a Product team.
As a certified and seasoned PM I run lean ceremonies, keep backlogs refined, and protect the team’s focus so velocity stays predictable.
More on Agile DeliveryTwo decades working at Agencies has taught me to keep all parties aligned to one plan. And that collaboration between both Internal and External team members is a Non-Functional requirement.
More on Collaborative ExecutionI start with the ideal business outcomes, then work backwards to a Roadmap the team can actually deliver – understanding clear success metrics before a line of code is written is crucial.
More on Product StrategySometimes the best answer is the simplest one. Sometimes it's the most complicated. Choosing the right solutions takes priority over the incremental efforts to get there.
More on Feasibility AnalysisI design and facilitate collaborative sessions that start from a blank canvas and end with prioritized requirements the whole room agrees on.
More on Workshop Facilitation
Agile is more than a buzzword; it's a way of thinking. It's removing blockers, affording time for bug bashing and handling tech debt. It's daily scrums that are beneficial, not just a 15-minute time suck.
There are many different team structures. Some are basic – PM, Designer, Engineer. Others make decisions by a committee of 20 people. Collaboration requires prioritization, in all scenarios.
Whether it's a complete Digital Transformation, a new Loyalty Program, or a Research initiative to validate your Product/Market Fit – Strategy that creates outcomes is the goal.
Product Development is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Choosing the right technologies is as nuanced as deciding which features to build next. Luckily, there is a coherent method to the madness.
Workshop Facilitation
I have facilitated dozens of Workshops over the years. The most productive ones include focused attention of the group, an array of different perspectives, and a willingness to hear each other out.
Industries – Consistent Results.
From Insurance to Bio-Pharma. The domain changes but the methodologies remain proven.
Multiple implementations of end-to-end banking and credit platforms.
Multiple implementations of Native App versions of online banking platforms.
Intranet Portal containing organizational resources, program data, and news.
End-to-end programs for web, newsletter, and proactive outreach implementations.
Concept to execution of steel, vehicle, and promotional programs savings calculators.
Strategy and execution of multiple Micro-sites to increase product awareness.
From Registry to Lists, Email Templates to Checkout – features defined and delivered.
Product Catalogs to Rewards, Discounts to Fulfillment – Roadmaps completed.
Social Media campaign strategy and execution for major market brands.
Strategy for new Loyalty programs given specific margin attribution.
Competitive and market position analysis used to create a unified House of Brands.
Scientifically accurate overviews of novel technologies and CDMO offerings.
Promoting the use of proper CPG packaging in a [digitally] natural habitat.
Utilizing research and interviews to create Brand Archetypes and Personas.
From managing a resume and profile to tracking the entire interview process.
Automated matching of Candidates to Employers based on algorithmic inputs.
Extending a Contentful implementation to manage 38 sites across 9 states.
Connecting MLS, Zillow, and RealPage to the Multi-Site CMS for real-time updates.
Complete overhaul and redesign of the apps - including 8 new features in year 1.
Extending the existing business model to include exclusive rewards & experiences.
Extending the life and warranty of vehicles based on predictive metrics and analytics.
Automated device-vehicle onboarding, configuration, and software updates.
Workshop facilitation leading to solution requirements and Roadmap planning.
Prototype creation for Persona validation and real-time iteration monitoring.
Individual redesign and incorporation of 8 sites into a single unified eCommerce hub.
Combining 4 disparate scrum teams into a lean agile framework within four months.
Whatever the goal, brainstorming together and melding minds produces results.
B2B Decisions are challenging. Providing proper guidance changes the game.
Building rapid prototypes and gathering instant insights make all the difference.
From SAFe to scrum and everything in between. Maybe Kanban is the answer?
Notable Clients, *from A–Z.*
Twenty household names, each with its own stakeholders, constraints, and definition of success.
Workflow Routing & Approval solution to reduce decision-making and review cadences.
Complete eCommerce redesign and platform migration to SAP Hybris.
Customer Experience strategy and redesign for the Registry and Lists features.
Social Media marketing campaign management and Creative oversight.
Website redesign and Machine Learning Data Lake to promote vehicle maintenance and warranty utilization.
Brand Refresh and Website Redesign for Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services.
Multi-Site CMS implementation across 9 states within a shared component library.
Native Apps redesign, 3 years of Roadmap implementation, and the build & release of a net new Loyalty Program.
Mobile app redesign and net new Loyalty Program Discovery phase and Strategy recommendations.
Public-facing website redesign, development, and optimization.
B2B Marketing Campaign production for Lysol Pro industry brand.
iCare program strategy and engagement tracking.
Global User Experience Team process improvement initiative.
Social Media marketing campaign management and Creative oversight.
Website redesign Discovery and Strategy deliverables via Lean Requirements Workshop.
Lean Requirements Workshop & Business Requirements Document delivery for a B2B Portal and B2C website.
Social Media marketing campaign management and Creative oversight.
Lean Requirements Workshop to define the scope of a Mobile App Redesign.
5-year employee, 6-month Contract Consultant – focused on Digital Routing Solutions for Legal and Creative work.
Product Information Management (PIM) migration and schema overhaul.
Ask the Team.
A client, a coworker, and a manager on what it's like to build with me.
Bill brings a sense of calm and professionalism to projects that can make the largest initiative feel approachable. His insights, context and leadership rally the teams to get things done.
Working with Bill is like watching someone spinning plates. He advocates for the user, balances business needs within budgets, keeps deliveries on time and he puts team morale above all else.
I actively recruited him because of his professionalism, technical skills, and his willingness to learn. I never regretted that decision.
Let's Build *What's Next.*
Reach out to discuss product leadership, partnerships, and your biggest challenges that are worth solving.
