PORTFOLIO
Customer Strategy | Transformation | Innovation
RESUME
SAMUEL WALKER
(+61) 432 051 935
samwalker@outlook.com
Full resume available here
Relocating to London (no visa required)
PROFILE
I am a strategy consultant with over 5 years of experience. I bring deep experience tackling the most important strategic opportunities and challenges for organisations across multiple key sectors. Utilising data-driven insights, I can create compelling artifacts and communications to build momentum, and generate real ‘stickiness’ across an organisation, from the c-suite to the front line.
I am a quick learner who can deliver outcomes, fast. I have worked in dynamic and complex environments with senior leaders, and find myself thriving when given the autonomy to solve problems and build momentum behind them. Combing these things makes my work fun, fulfilling and meaningful.
STRATEGY DESIGN
STRATEGY EXECUTION
PROBLEM SOLVING & INNOVATION
COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATION
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
EDUCATION
BACHELOR DEGREE / 2014 - 2017
University of Technology Sydney : Creative Intelligence & Innovation (Distinction)
BACHELOR DEGREE / 2014 - 2017
University of Technology Sydney : Integrated Product Design (Distinction)
CERTIFICATE / 2022
National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA): Designing Growth Strategies
CERTIFICATE / 2021
Project Management Institute (PMI)®: Digital Strategy
Certification
CERTIFICATE / 2019
Scrum.org: Professional Scrum Master (PSMI)
EXPERIENCE
SENIOR MANAGER / August 2022 - Present
Alchemy Partners: Designing strategy, execution and leading organisations through complex challenges
MANAGER / October 2021 - August 2022
Lightbulb: Shaping and managing large-scale transformation programs
SENIOR CONSULTANT / July 2020 - October 2021
Lightbulb: Facilitating agile at scale delivery, customer journey design and innovation practices
CONSULTANT / January 2019 - July 2020
Lightbulb: Supporting strategic decision making with quantitative and qualitative analysis
GRADUATE / February 2018 - January 2019
Westpac: Human centered design, transformation analysis and project delivery rotations
CUSTOMER STRATEGY Projects
STRATEGY DESIGN BUSINESS MODEL STRATEGY ARTICULATION
I have experience working with C-level and Board leadership teams to define, design and communicate strategy. This spans from transformation program strategy, to organisation / business strategic direction setting.
I have led engagements that cover the full gambit of strategy, from quantitative and qualitative analysis identifying opportunities to leadership alignment on purpose, mission and metrics that matter.
I have created a strategy framework and process whilst leading engagements that helps multiple organisations build and iterate their strategy.
Business growth strategy leading to exit
Industry: Tourism / eCommerce
Year : 2023
Category : Growth Strategy
Collaborating with the executive team of a rapidly growing international experience and ticketing provider, I led the engagement to develop new business models and go-to-market strategies, as part of their 3-year growth strategy. This included exploring M&A options, designing target operating model with offshore delivery centres, modeling business cases and targets, designing prioritisation and innovation funnel, and planning international expansion. The strategy was designed to build an attractive business for potential acquirers.
Designing a companies path to IPO
Industry: Pathology
Year : 2021 / 22
Category : Growth Strategy
Working with the Executive team of a large Australian pathology company, I led the structure and framework to co-design their growth strategy. Coming out of COVID-19, the company had new industry insights and opportunities to pursue, along with recent deliveries in their digital technology products. We set out to build a plan to achieve their target of 10x increase in their valuation (to $1B). This was coupled with a desire to publicly list within 12-18 months. They are now listed on the ASX with a valuation >$1B.
Redesigning Australia’s sports system
Industry: Sports
Year : 2022
Category : Systemic Strategy
Collaborating with the Board of Directors, and Executive team of a government agency, I led a team of consultants and clients to design the high-performance and participation sport systems. We build a customer journeybased 10-year strategy and business model to manage over $1b in government funding for sports. This was a priority for government leading to a home Olympics in 2032, along with the health of the nation declining along with sport participation. This included market research, system interventions, innovation and partnerships strategy, and process and operating model improvements.
STRATEGY EXECUTION Projects
OPERATING MODEL
DELIVERY METHODS
STRATEGIC PLANNING
I have extensive experience in executing strategies, leading crossfunctional teams to align and deliver on company objectives. I have a proven track record of successfully setting up and managing transformation programs, driving operational excellence and delivering results.
I am experienced in using data-driven approaches to monitor progress, identify risks and course-correct when necessary. I have also effectively collaborated with stakeholders across the organisation to ensure buyin and alignment on the strategy and its implementation. My strong project management skills and ability to drive accountability, support organisations to successfully execute their strategic priorities .
Worked closely with the executive team and Board of Directors to build a business case, transformation strategy, and delivery mechanism whilst working through COVID and the Royal Commission. This aged care provided was looking to capitalise in a saturated, but struggling market. To do this, they needed to undergo operating model changes, upskill in delivery methodologies, improve prioritisation of their core and strategic initiatives, and build a business plan for the next 10 years. I Led all aspects of the >$250k engagement end-to-end, including developing proposals, scoping projects, designing approaches, and, resourcing. The project won a Gold Good Design Award for Strategy Design.
Resetting a charities strategy and execution model
Industry: Aged Care
Year : 2021
Category : Organisation Design
Enterprise investment and portfolio execution
Industry: Dept. Defence
Year : 2020
Category : Portfolio Strategy Execution
Designed a strategic integrated investment approach and delivery system, for complex and large-scale ($10m+) portfolios for the Australian Army. This connected senior leaders, contractors and delivery managers from across the Defence Force. The system integrated multiple Branches and Directorates within Headquarters Division, ultimately rallying hundreds of key stakeholders from across Defence. The investment approach and portfolio system improved the visibility and speed at which strategic priorities were being delivered.
Deployed new ways of working
Industry: Finance | Banking
Year : 2019
Category : Delivery Methods
I led the team engagement and change management stream for a customer-centric experience team at a major Australian bank. We were deploying multiple strategic changes that required buy-in and radical shifts in team ways of working. Deliverables included a 100-person launch introducing agile at scale, executive coaching in agility, designing a visual strategic narrative, and embedding new ways of working for 8x squads. Additionally, I built dashboards and task management tools that connected the business units vision to specific outcomes for sprint teams.
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INNOVATION Projects
DESIGN THINKING PROBLEM SOLVING
CUSTOMER JOURNEY
I bring a wealth of experience in innovation to organisations, with a focus on identifying new opportunities for growth. I have a strong understanding of market trends, emerging technologies, and customer needs, which I use to drive the development of innovative products and services. I excel in leading cross-functional teams, utilising agile methodologies, and executing on innovative ideas.
I am also skilled in fostering a culture of innovation, promoting continuous learning, and encouraging experimentation. With my ability to turn ideas into tangible results, I am confident in my capacity to drive growth and create value for organisations.
linkedin.com/in/walkersamuel/
Building the roadmap for business banking
Industry: Finance | Banking
Year : 2019
Category : Customer Journey
Setup a customer journey and innovation lab for the business part of a major Australian bank. This included undertaking interviews and research, concept ideation and prototyping through to funding and implementation of priorities. This program drove customer-led innovation outcomes.
I led the team engagement and change management stream for a customer-centric experience team at a major Australian bank. We were ultimately shifting the way they work in order to deliver in a faster and more iterative way, bring the customer perspective earlier in the process, and to solve business problems in an innovative way. This required buy-in and radical shifts in team ways of working. Deliverables included a customer journey map that drove initiatives, a 100-person launch introducing agile at scale, executive coaching in agility and innovation, designing a visual strategic narrative, and embedding new ways of working for 8x squads.
Shifting company culture to drive customer-led innovation
Industry: Finance | Superannuation
Year : 2020
Category : Customer Journey
linkedin.com/in/walkersamuel/
Building high-school student financial literacy whilst changing company culture
Industry: Finance | Banking
Year : 2018
Category : Design Thinking
A customer advocacy company was looking to rethink how they approached product reviews. I led a team to shift the company towards producing new things, rather than reviewing existing things. They were uniquely placed to leverage their industry insights to find market opportunity. We designed, built and launched a board game for high school students, that not only helped improve their financial literacy, but also demonstrated to our client a series of methodologies and processes they could use to deploy new projects into the world.
COLLABORATION Projects
FACILITATION
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
COMMUNICATION
I have a passion for working with people from all walks of life and making a real impact. My experience in MG Taylor methodology, Agile, and change management has taught me the importance of being adaptable, flexible, and responsive to the needs of my team and stakeholders.
My background in visual design, combined with my written and verbal skills, make me a confident workshop facilitator and communicator. I find joy in simplifying complex information and presenting it in an engaging and accessible manner. I believe that the key to success is having fun and enjoying the journey, and I look forward to bringing this to any team I work with.
linkedin.com/in/walkersamuel/
Leadership change and transformation training
Industry: Dept. Defence
Year : 2022
Category : Facilitation
I led a series of workshops across a branch in Defence to upskill the senior officers through change and transformation leadership. I designed and facilitated the virtual workshops during COVID to build a Branch strategy, and build capability required to deliver the strategy. This included an introduction to Defence wide priorities and strategic focuses, ideation on core focus areas for the Branch, training on agile delivery and project management fundamentals, and alignment on the operating model design. This was followed up with 3 and 6 month follow ups in person.
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Strategy planning and engagement
secondment
Industry: Insurance
Year : 2023
Category : Stakeholder Engagement
Leading a client team of 8x managers through strategic planning and engagement in Technology and Operations. Working on priority projects with the Group COO that spanned portfolio design and delivery, workforce modeling, technology road mapping, results and reporting, data privacy and security, ESG and team culture. My role was to facilitate the team through structured problem solving, stakeholder engagement and delivery. Most initiatives focused on aligning General Managers on their strategic planning, delivery, and operations functions.
linkedin.com/in/walkersamuel/
linkedin.com/in/walkersamuel/
Operating model and team strategy
Industry : Telecommunications
Year : 2021
Category : Leadership Alignment
Connecting a newly merged leadership team, and creating a coherent strategy, in the midst of a COVID lockdown. Delivering a virtual leadership session that built the foundations for a high performing team and connected value proposition. Key streams ran to deliver the final organisation design, team strategies, charters and operating rhythms, as well as leadership alignment. Utilising digital collaboration tools available to our client, we led them towards key outcomes, with a little fun along the way.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT Projects
With my experience in portfolio and project management, I bring a diverse set of skills to the table to help organisations reach their goals. My experience in developing strategy, working with executives, and building business cases, enables me to understand the business value. However, my design background and understanding of technology means that I can often balance this with customer desirability and delivery feasibility.
This has allowed me to effectively plan, prioritise, coordinate, and manage projects to ensure their successful completion. I am confident in my ability to manage complex projects and portfolios, ensuring that all objectives are met, and deliverables are of the highest quality.
Strategic investment and prioritisation management
Industry: Telecommunications
Year : 2019
Category : Enterprise Investment
Re-designing the way a major telecom visualises, links, and collaborates to ensure investment priorities are aligned to key strategic outcomes. We built physical PMO infrastructure to shift how Executive steering groups collaborate and manage their largest investments and national roll outs. The Executive, senior steering groups and program core teams have far greater visibility of linked initiatives across the business and have the tools and capability to drive their projects to better outcomes in accelerated time frames.
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linkedin.com/in/walkersamuel/
Accelerating & integrating company transformation
Industry: Finance | Banking
Year : 2020
Category : Visual PMO
Mapping transformation activity across the entire bank to strategic outcomes to ensure alignment and transparency of progress towards the ‘service revolution’. We visualised the Enterprise visionto-value chain, making it the hub for the planning, delivery and realisation of benefits from strategic and regulatory investment. This visual, collaborative and interactive space, was built to support: investment to Group Strategy, monitoring of key outcomes risks, resolution of system-level or escalated impediments, and the integration of shared capabilities.
Addressing customer complaints
Industry: Technology
Year : 2022
Category : Prioritisation Frameworks
After I led the design of the strategy for an HR platform business, we were asked to setup and embed the delivery mechanism for their strategic initiatives. Primarily this was focused on the organisation design and prioritisation framework. An innovation team was setup to address customer pain points discovered by the business, and we implemented a scalable prioritisation mechanism to assist with the process. This would guide teams in taking initiatives from opportunity, to definition, implementation and scale.
