John Sousa
Hi, it’s John
I design, plan, execute solutions to complex business problems
I like to make things that deploy quickly, scale easily, and adapt with the realities of our world.
Projects and Initatives
A selection of initiatives completed in 2024 and 2025
Reinventing the sales quote process
Where sales cycles are measured in days and the work is custom, the pressure is on to quickly review proposals for to determine if terms are favorable and economics are feasible. I created a system that solved for both, leveraging AI to support sales teams to close with confidence.
Creating a more useful data asset
Every retail store is a data rich environment that can unlock answers critical to success. To create smarter strategies, I established a new database to pool data that is necessary to contextualize performance, forecast results, and more.
Designing a smarter distribution system
Brands and distributors are often left guessing where distribution gaps exist in a store based on out-of-date and asynchronous data streams. For a major beverage brand, I created a solution that pushes those problems aside to empower faster inventory regeneration.
Modernizing retail interactions with dynamic in-app content
Frontline workers are often left on their own to negotiate the completion valuable work in coordination with store leadership. I redesigned the in-app experience for merchandisers to help them accomplish client goals and build trust with store teams in the process.
Automating change without sacrifices
In an operations organization that moves lightning fast, adapting to change can expose huge risks to a team that fails if they’re standing still. I built a review workflow and custom tool set that unlocked a speedy change review process that improved accountability, transparency, and efficiency at the same time.
Excellence
Ops Org
Operations organization leader building backoffice desks and shared services teams
Product Management
Ship products and features to support custom backoffice systems, tools for frontline workforces, and executive reporting tools
Solutions Engineering
Transform customer problems into actionable plans leveraging AI, machine learning, and data
Program Management
Manage large cross-functional teams to deliver valuable results by leveraging complex, data driven strategies and systems
Experience Overview
Trax Retail delivers real-time data, retail execution, and consumer engagement to increase ROI | traxretail.com
Director of Operations and Delivery
January 2020 – January 2025
Leadership
Lead and developed 6 managers overseeing 300+ operations organization including successfully managing P&L, budgets, training, goals & initiatives, and development.
Delivery
Authored and maintained playbook for project management, implementation, execution, and reporting to support goals and requirements for 120+ active projects.
Product
Developed keen understanding of customers and frontline users to document and schedule new features and requirements. Shipping 6 features and 2 new products in 2024 earning an incremental $16mm.
Engagement
Maintained playbook on PM engagement with customers on live accounts, leading customer engagements on key and flagged accounts, earning 7 renewals in 2024 for and an incremental $9mm in 2025 revenue.
Innovation
Worked directly with customers on opportunities requiring special service, developing custom processes, services, and deliverables outside of product strikezone, earning an incrimental $4mm in 2025
Change Management
Utilized continuous improvement methods to iterate processes and systems including order 2 cash, project planning, scope change management, invoicing, reporting, and logistics.
Survey.com offered market-research, retail planning, and marketing execution services to retail brands in the US
Operations Manager
November 2016 – January 2020
Leadership
Lead and developed 6 managers overseeing 300+ operations organization including successfully managing P&L, budgets, training, goals & initiatives, and development.
Delivery
Authored and maintained playbook for project management, implementation, execution, and reporting to support goals and requirements for 120+ active projects.
Product
Developed keen understanding of customers and frontline users to document and schedule new features and requirements. Shipping 6 features and 2 new products in 2024 earning an incremental $16mm.
Engagement
Maintained playbook on PM engagement with customers on live accounts, leading customer engagements on key and flagged accounts, earning 7 renewals in 2024 for and an incremental $9mm in 2025 revenue.
Innovation
Worked directly with customers on opportunities requiring special service, developing custom processes, services, and deliverables outside of product strikezone, earning an incrimental $4mm in 2025
Change Management
Utilized continuous improvement methods to iterate processes and systems including order 2 cash, project planning, scope change management, invoicing, reporting, and logistics.
Common Software and Tools
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