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At Wallow, a venture-backed AI company, I lead strategic initiatives that integrate Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Multimodal Language Intelligence to redefine how organizations identify, predict, and eliminate delivery risk. By combining advances in multimodal reasoning, vector-retrieval architectures, and autonomous agent collaboration, Wallow builds intelligence systems that don’t just surface friction—they understand it, anticipate it, and act on it.
Our technology enables teams to shift from reactive issue management to proactive flow intelligence, improving delivery predictability, decision velocity, and cross-functional alignment. My work centers on designing adaptive, human-centered AI frameworks that unify cognition, automation, and collaboration—helping enterprises operate with greater clarity, resilience, and measurable business impact.
[ About John ]■
Beyond Wallow, my work has spanned global enterprises at the intersection of AI, data, and large-scale modernization—including Cisco Systems, American Express, MetLife, and Merck & Co. Across these organizations, I’ve led programs that unify analytics, automation, and human insight to strengthen resilience and accelerate transformation. From building cloud-native ecosystems and AI-driven fraud detection to advancing data-centric decision frameworks, my focus has remained constant: architecting systems that make complexity visible and progress measurable. Each initiative reflects a commitment to operational clarity, institutional trust, and the belief that technology, when guided by purpose, can help organizations think faster, decide smarter, and move as one.
Featured Companies
Director, AI Programs
New York, New York
Wallow
At Wallow, I lead enterprise AI programs that integrate Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Organizational Intelligence to reinvent how companies identify, interpret, and prevent delivery risk. My work centers on transforming product operations into adaptive, self-learning systems—where every signal becomes intelligence, and every insight accelerates execution at scale.
In this role, I unify AI strategy, automation, and experience design to shape how organizations apply autonomous agents to coordinate work, anticipate delays, and optimize flow across complex delivery ecosystems. By bridging product development, data science, and DevOps practices, I ensure AI acts as both a diagnostic and prescriptive force within modern engineering organizations.
I work closely with cross-functional leaders, engineers, and product strategists to scale Wallow’s intelligence platform across industries—helping teams shift from reactive workflows to proactive, predictive delivery. These efforts enhance clarity, velocity, and organizational resilience, advancing Wallow’s mission to make operational intelligence autonomous, actionable, and indispensable.
IT Program Manager
Raleigh-Durham
Cisco
At Cisco Systems, I led enterprise modernization initiatives that unified legacy infrastructure with hybrid cloud platforms—advancing the company’s mission to deliver secure, scalable, and intelligent network solutions. My focus was on enabling operational resilience through technology transformation, automation, and disciplined delivery.
In this role, I directed cross-functional DevOps, engineering, and security teams to architect a $12M hybrid cloud ecosystem across AWS and Azure, achieving 99.98% uptime while aligning with SOC 2 and ISO 27001 standards. I championed the deployment of Zero Trust architecture, ensuring security and compliance across global environments, and implemented CI/CD automation frameworks using Docker, Terraform, and Jenkins to reduce release cycles by 35%.
I also mentored a distributed team of project managers across time zones, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. These efforts improved delivery predictability by 22% and positioned Cisco to scale its infrastructure programs with greater speed, visibility, and trust.
Sr. AI Project Manager
Phoenix, Arizona
American Express
At American Express, I led large-scale AI and machine learning initiatives within the AMP Authorizations group—advancing the company’s mission to deliver secure, intelligent, and real-time financial decisions at global scale. My focus was on transforming authorization workflows through applied data science, automation, and enterprise-grade product design.
I directed 11 cross-functional product squads across data science, engineering, and UX to deliver Amex’s intelligent fraud detection engine, developed using PyTorch and Hugging Face. The platform achieved <400ms real-time authorization latency while cutting false positives by 31%, improving both customer experience and operational efficiency. I also introduced agile OKR alignment to strengthen delivery cadence and visibility, increasing quarterly throughput by 42%.
Beyond delivery execution, I championed AI literacy across the enterprise, conducting enablement programs for over 120 stakeholders to deepen understanding of LLM integration and model governance. These efforts helped position American Express as a leader in responsible AI adoption—balancing innovation with regulatory trust, and ensuring every transaction carried both intelligence and integrity.
My career has been dedicated to reshaping the narrative of business, product, and technology through precision-driven strategy and purposeful innovation—yet equally grounded in contemporary aesthetics and cultural depth.
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About John
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I lead strategic programs that unify data, automation, and AI to create measurable enterprise impact. My mission is to help organizations modernize intelligently—advancing how insight, compliance, and performance intersect across global operations.
I collaborate with cross-functional teams spanning product, engineering, and analytics to design systems where governance meets innovation. My method blends enterprise architecture with emerging technologies—leveraging Generative and Agentic AI, automation frameworks, and human-centered product strategy to translate complexity into clarity.
I measure success by alignment—when data becomes trusted, teams become autonomous, and insight drives measurable progress. Each initiative I lead reinforces a culture of precision, transparency, and responsible innovation—helping organizations move faster, decide smarter, and operate with enduring confidence.
[ TESTIMONIALS ]“John’s vision shaped Wallow into more than a product—it became a movement toward clarity, intelligence, and human-centered performance. His ability to translate AI strategy into measurable impact elevated how teams work, learn, and lead.”
Charles Polanco, President & Founder, Wallow
“John brought a level of strategic focus and calm precision that elevated every aspect of Cisco’s modernization journey. His leadership unified engineering, security, and operations around a shared goal — resilience through intelligence. The success of our Zero Trust rollout and CI/CD transformation wasn’t just technical; it was cultural. John helped teams see automation not as a tool, but as a path to clarity, accountability, and measurable progress.”
Alicia Romero, Senior Director, Cloud & Infrastructure Programs, Cisco Systems
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