Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, KC Lakshminarasimham is a highly accomplished Program Management Leader with over two decades of experience. Known for his robust background in driving technical programs, strategic digital transformations, and optimizing global portfolios, KC has consistently delivered value-driven outcomes for leading organizations. His exceptional leadership skills, operational prowess, and strategic acumen have made him a trusted figure in the industry.
Current Role: Director of Program Management at Expedia Group
Currently serving as the Director of Program Management at Expedia Group, KC leads the Engineering Productivity team and the Agile Center of Excellence. Under his leadership, these teams have ensured strategic alignment on goals, objectives, and key results. KC has been instrumental in defining and implementing productivity metrics aimed at significantly increasing engineering efficiency and adoption rates. By fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, including senior executives, KC has driven success and addressed risks effectively, leading to continuous improvement and innovation.
Previous Experience: Head of Program Management Office at Yohana
Before his tenure at Expedia Group, KC served as the Head of Program Management Office at Yohana, a start-up in Palo Alto, CA. He led a team of program managers, achieving remarkable results in delivery execution, increasing program management efficiency, and enhancing the product. KC’s influence as a thought leader and his expertise in Agile training and practice tightening drove significant efficiency gains. He also played a pivotal role in launching the Customer Success initiative, dramatically reducing member issues through automation and policy governance. His strategic insights in data transformation and AI/ML initiatives further enhanced decision-making and ROI per feature.
Career Highlights at Salesforce
KC’s extensive experience includes a six-year tenure at Salesforce in San Francisco, CA, where he held various roles, culminating as Program Director, PMO. During this period, he led a team of program managers, implemented a product roadmap, and enabled data-driven decision-making through the implementation of a SaaS tool. His efforts in setting up program governance and standardizing project artifacts resulted in significant productivity gains. KC’s proactive risk management and budget oversight further contributed to program efficiency and cost reduction.
Earlier Roles at Cognizant Technology Solutions and Infosys Technologies Ltd.
Earlier in his career, KC held key roles at Cognizant Technology Solutions and Infosys Technologies Ltd. At Cognizant, he managed simultaneous software projects, driving operations from conceptualization to delivery. His expertise in Obamacare implementation and Medicare claims submission underscored his ability to drive high-impact programs. At Infosys, KC rose from software engineer to technology lead, delivering multiple projects from discovery to production and coordinating resources and timelines with offshore development teams.
Academic Background and Professional Certifications
KC’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Jabalpur Engineering College, India, and executive education from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He holds several professional certifications, including Certified Scrum Master, Certified Agilist, and Prosci Certified Practitioner. Among others, KC is a Fellow of the Association for Project Management (FAPM), Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), Fellow and Honorary Global Advisor with the American Academy of Project Management (AAPM), and a Senior Member of IEEE.
Thought Leadership and Publications
A prolific thought leader, KC has published articles on project management and program management, covering topics such as navigating challenges in financial institutions, building a robust generative AI future, and Agile program management. He has also been a speaker at the Smartsheet Convention, sharing insights on best-in-class project management and innovative practices.
KC Lakshminarasimham’s distinguished career, marked by strategic vision, operational excellence, and a commitment to continuous improvement, makes him a formidable leader in the field of program management. His ability to drive transformation, foster innovation, and deliver exceptional results continues to make a significant impact on the organizations he serves. Connect with KC Lakshminarasimham to learn more about his expertise and insights in program management and digital transformation.