Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
I am a successful business professional forged in the financial world for many years, and with extensive experience in international trade and commerce in Latin American markets. Now, I am implementing data analytics as a transversal skill for all organizational areas. For the last ten years, I have been managing projects and negotiating trade agreements between Asian manufacturers and Latin American factories, distributors, and retailers. I was lucky enough to learn about project management by participating in every part of the sourcing process, starting from the brainstorming, the final product design, prototyping, material sourcing, manufacturing oversight, and quality control in diverse industries. Every new project where I was assigned, helped me develop my research and analytical skills because I had to understand more about their business processes, how I should approach their challenges, and how I could contribute better from my role. What can I bring to the table? An avid learned, problem-solving individual with an impeccable work ethic and willingness to succeed!
As a Senior Project Controller Officer (PCO) in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) department at Scotiabank, my role was to ensure the successful execution and financial management of various projects. These initiatives enhanced the bank's ability to combat financial crime and money laundering. My responsibilities included creating project plans, defining scope and objectives, and coordinating project activities, meetings, and communications among stakeholders. By closely monitoring project progress, I ensured that each project adhered to organizational goals and AML regulatory requirements across all jurisdictions. This was achieved through tracking milestones, deadlines, and proactively identifying potential risks or issues. Alongside planning and execution, I also oversaw the financial management of specific projects in the LATAM region, which were collectively worth $20MM. This responsibility encompassed budgeting, forecasting, accruals management, tracking actuals, conducting variance analysis, and managing invoicing. To enhance transparency and accountability, I created detailed financial trackers, managed budget forecasts, oversaw invoicing and payments, and consistently provided comprehensive financial updates to project managers and stakeholders. Furthermore, I prepared and validated business case presentations and financial reviews, alongside creating project forecasts. This comprehensive approach to project management and financial oversight ensured strict adherence to AML compliance, ultimately driving each project towards successful completion.
• Spearheaded the creation of a best practices manual that served as the foundation for the company's implementation of an ISO9001 framework, resulting in the expansion of the employee count by 10 directs and an increase in sales to USD 5MM • Researched and documented process improvements resulting in a 50% reduction in labour costs during the product development phase and a drop in product development time from 120 days to 60 days • Directed a comprehensive employee mentorship program that focused on team building and skill development, resulting in improved employee retention, and implemented best practices for project planning, budgeting, quality control, and warranty claims, which saved thousands of dollars on new employee training • Managed raw materials sourcing, contract negotiation, prototyping, and quality control, resulting in the development of product-specific project flow that accelerated the procurement process • Developed a wide range of products for clients by implementing a strategic planning, risk management, and quality control program based on simplified agile steps, saving time and money • Designed and implemented a supplier ranking and evaluation methodology, improving product quality and reducing the risks involved in the manufacturing process • Conducted the sourcing process for the first electric vehicle fleet used for car-sharing schemes in Colombia by leading the sustainability branch of one of the major electricity generators in the country. The project evolved, incorporating e-scooters, e-bicycles, and electric buses, resulting in a significant increase in the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions • Researched details on the operations of amusement parks worldwide, analyzed their attractions and daily operational procedures and implemented these findings in a strategic plan for one of the largest theme parks in Colombia. This resulted in a 500% increase in the number of attractions and a 200% increase in ticket revenue
• Increased sales by developing an RFM model that enabled the segmentation of the current clientele and targeted potential new customers based on their practice level and individual traits • Conducted a complete company diagnosis to establish the current data environment, providing a clear understanding of the company's data landscape and identifying areas for improvement. • Developed an improved and effective client-targeting strategy by using data extraction, transformation, and analysis techniques to determine the best variables to model client behaviour and key features • Produced a more focused and effective marketing strategy by creating a Buying Persona that served as a guide for the development of marketing programs
COVID was an inflection point for many people, but from the moment it started, I had already made up my mind to explore other professional interests, and the one that caught my attention was data science. Omnipresent data offers infinite ways to use it, and personally, what led me to choose a new career path was a never-ending interest in understanding things. The change was not straightforward, but the tools and techniques I was being exposed to, were enough to make me go the extra mile and keep learning as much as possible. Some of the results I obtained are: - Use problem-framing and root-cause analysis to amplify the solutions' impact. - Extract, transform, and load data to efficiently support problem-solving and decision-making flows. - Warehouse and mine data from Databases or websites using SQL or Python scripts for business decision-making. - Develop classification and/or predictive models using operational and marketing data to support business decision-making in the banking, finance, retail, and real estate industries. - Determine the most appropriate for each business scenario from various business intelligence tools. - Effectively communicate analytics results to various levels of staff and management.
• Oversaw over 50 investment projects in Medellin, with an annual budget of USD$17 million, successfully delivering projects that improved the city's environmental infrastructure. • Managed the annual contract and acquisition plan and the follow-up of the contract execution and reports for the city's Development Planning Commission, resulting in the successful execution of key development projects and effective resource allocation, leading to an increase of protected areas in the city and the creation of new parks and fauna shelters.