Tom Szymanski (BCS, PMP, CSM)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninjapm
-(604) 7237390
Over my twenty years’ leadership experience in software development, video games, eLearning,
and online media I have honed an approach that is collaborative, compassionate, creative,
tenacious, and openminded.
I am at ease with agile and waterfall and the hybrids inbetween, and I am proficient at
customizing process to balance business, technical, and creative needs. I find success through
driving clear and firm objectives while being appropriately flexible on the process through which
they are achieved.
I am passionate about nurturing high functioning, multidisciplinary teams that exude widespread
trust regardless of their geographic distribution. My focus is to ensure that any team I work with
has the necessary support and structure to succeed in their roles and meet their commitments.
Work Experience:
Apr ‘15 – Jul ‘18
Demonware / Activision Team Lead
Leading a skunkworks team of ~10 senior Software and Service
Reliability Engineers distributed across two offices and featuring remote
employees. Ensuring alignment on our product roadmap with 20+
stakeholders, driving clarity and priority of business and technical
requirements, and forecasting service capacity. Managing milestone
schedules, operational budget, and coordinating development with
partner teams in multiple time zones. My duties also include hiring,
mentoring, and performance management.
Apr ‘14 – Present
Independent Consulting Project and Product Management
Helping teams reach their goals by providing Project Management
expertise and services customized to their unique requirements,
constraints, and culture. Managing multiple concurrent projects usually
with remote teams and stakeholders.
Jun ‘13 – Mar ‘14
Black Tusk Microsoft Studios Producer
Managing production team of ~20 employees on a AAA console game.
Goal setting, longterm scoping and scheduling, daytoday firefighting
and tracking, ongoing process improvement, and overseeing product
quality.
Nov ‘08 – Mar ‘13
United Front Games Producer / Senior Project Manager
Managing team of ~110 employees through all production stages of
multiple AAA console games. This included a period of 2.5x team growth.
Establishing priorities, setting goals, long and shortterm scheduling,
leading quality reviews, managing creative iteration and polish, managing
budgets and team headcount, mentoring junior Project Managers, and
coordinating directly with remote Publisher and QA.
Feb ‘08 – Aug ‘08
Radical Entertainment Senior Project Manager
Managing preproduction team of ~30 employees on a AAA console
game. Project scoping and risk management, planning and tracking
milestones, managing team budget and resourcing, ongoing process
review and improvement.
Sep ‘07 – Jan ‘08
Lightroom F/X Senior Project Manager
Managing multiple concurrent projects supporting design and production
of sales pavilions for Caribbean resorts including architectural and interior
design, interactive kiosks and video booths, and print collateral.
Coordinating with remote clients and contractors.
Jun ‘05 – Sep ‘07
Chalk Media Project Manager
Managing multiple concurrent projects supporting design and production
of custom eLearning for enterprise clients such as Microsoft, Fuji,
TELUS, and RIM. Responsible for project delivery and expanding client
relationships by ensuring repeat business. Our teams were distributed
across three offices.
Jan ‘02 – Jun ‘05
Communicopia.Net Project Lead
Managing multiple concurrent projects supporting design, production,
delivery and ongoing updates of websites primarily focused on nonprofits
and charity organizations. Working with a distributed and multidisciplinary
team of contractors. Maintaining and expanding client relationships.
May ‘97 – Oct ‘01
Mindquake Software Technical Lead
Database and system architecture. Coding in C++, JavaScript, VBScript
and Perl. Leading teams of software developers.
Education / Certification:
2017
Pragmatic Marketing Certified Level Three (PMCIII)
2016
Essential Management Skills Certificate UBC Sauder
2016
Leading With Energy UBC Sauder
2016
Engaging and Managing Stakeholders UBC Sauder
2015
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
2014
Project Management Professional (PMP)®
2008
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
1997
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BCS)
University of British Columbia
