Digital, Design & Business Transformation Executive

Builder of high performing teams and products

Leader of businesses, channels, and studios

Change Agent, intrapreneur, and innovator

A track-record of driving business results, designing award-winning customer experiences, and enabling legacy companies to adopt, scale, and capitalize on new business models and technologies

I have always been a builder finding ways to bring ideas to life. As a systems thinker, I am deeply curious and fascinated by how things work and connect. I like to ask “how might we?” then take calculated risks and collaborate to build a better tomorrow.

  • Building Teams

    My teams are respected for being “talent magnets.” But consistently high performance stems from more than simply attracting and retaining top talent. I create environments that empower and motivate individuals while fostering shared accountability and strong focus on the collective achievement of business outcomes and results.

    “Designers who never considered working for a Bank joined because of Stephen’s vision and passion. They stayed because they felt supported, empowered, and valued by a leader who encouraged them to grow.”

    Martin Davidson, Director, Key Design Studio

  • Building Products & Experiences

    My teams have designed, built, and launched dozens of new products. Some have been industry firsts like the first mobile app for a Top 5 US Bank. Several have won awards. Many have digitized or re-imagined legacy products and services. All have followed a design-led approach that is cross-functional, collaborative, and leads to products that delight customers and stakeholders alike.

    “Stephen was the catalyst for changing how KeyBank approached digital products and experiences. He connected dots, knocked down barriers, and championed a new operating model. After clearing a path for us he entrusted his teams to focus on outcomes over output. This resulted in major leaps in both business results and customer satisfaction.”

    Mark Rothbaum, Venture Builder & Founder

  • Building Functions & Ops Models

    Standing up new functions and models for legacy organizations to help them capitalize on new technologies and business models has been some of my most rewarding work. Examples include building out a digital insights and analytics function and implementing scrum agile for product management and software delivery, I have also been brought in to help turnaround and optimize existing functions for digital, marketing, and technology by introducing new management routines and operating models and improving talent, performance, and morale.

As a leader my teams are respected for their high performance, strong partnership and collaboration, and continuous delivery of business impact and results.

  • Leading Channels & Businesses

    I learned to grow and maintain a book of business in lending where I started with one branch and grew it into a 42 branch portfolio. Since then I have managed channels and P&L businesses for some of the largest North American banks. I have managed annual budgets of >$125 million and distributed teams of 200+. I have a track record for generating revenue, driving business results, and improving operational effectiveness.

    “Stephen gets &^% done. He built a high-performing team that consistently delivered; breaking Bank records for digital adoption, usage, and customer experience and taking our consumer digital business from 4th to 1st quartile. His maniacal focus on business results deepened client relationships, generated millions in incremental revenue and accelerated our delivery and speed-to-market.”

    Jamie Warder, Chief Digital Officer

  • Leading Corporate Functions

    I have managed a variety of different Corporate functions including teams in digital, technology, marketing, strategy, customer experience, design, and analytics. Most of these were new departments that I built from the ground up. Others were functions for which I was charged with improving performance or introducing new operating models.

    “Businesses often struggle with centralized shared services but not with Stephen’s teams. Stephen leads best-in-class shared services that are exceptional partners. When I work with Stephen’s teams I know they are going to make my problems their problems and truly collaborate to drive the best outcomes for the business and our clients.”

    Kim Snipes, EVP Commercial Onboarding & Servicing

  • Leading Incubators, Labs & Studios

    I have founded business incubators, innovation labs and in-house design studios; ways for large, legacy companies to pilot emerging technologies, generate new products and services, accelerate the adoption of new business models, and attract new talent. Most recently, I founded an award-winning in-house design studio growing it from one designer to a team of 50 and establishing a model for scaling and democratizing user-centered design in a consistent and cost-effective way. This Studio led the ideation of new products and sales models, generated millions in incremental revenue, and improved the user experience for customers and employees across all platforms and segments.

Being different used to feel like a curse. Now it feels like a superpower. When you see things differently you can be the change agent who inspires and motivates others to think and act differently; you can re-imagine and make the possibilities of the future the realities of today.

  • Intrapreneur

    Intrapreneurs are tasked with creating entirely new products or businesses within established firms. I have been an intrapreneur within multiple companies applying entrepreneurial skills like creativity, initiative, and risk-taking to radically change company product offerings, processes, business models, and even Corporate culture.

    “Stephen’s ability to see problems, opportunities, and foster desired outcomes is uniquely differentiated. He is exemplary in his ability to effectuate systemic change from ideation through implementation and deftly partner with stakeholders and detractors alike with clarity, influence, empathy, and education.”

    Gabrielle Aryeetey, EVP & Chief Risk Executive

  • Catalyst

    My passion for transformation and change is infectious. I love to ask “how might we?” to build energy and drive ideation for ways to collectively make step-change improvements for customers, teammates, and stakeholders. I am known for inspiring others, across all teams, levels, and roles, to think and act differently.

    “Stephen and his team always help me gain a more holistic view by stepping into a different environment, looking at the problem from a different perspective, and collaborating with teammates with whom I don’t normally interact. I think of myself as a creative thinker but the Studio environment, combined with the exercises the team facilitates, consistently make me constructively uncomfortable”

    Rob Elmore, Chief Strategy Officer, KeyBank

  • Innovator

    Innovation is generating new ideas, methods, products, services, and solutions to drive positive impact and value. While my teams have driven several first-to-market products and services, and been recognized with multiple innovation awards, some of our most impactful innovation has been low profile despite its high impact. This includes innovative enhancements to existing products, re-imagining legacy sales and service models, and new ways to improve and enhance back-office processes and operations.

    “Stephen is a visionary leader, a creative thinker, and an unwavering advocate for progress. He is an invaluable asset to any team or organization looking to drive innovation and transformation.”

    Mia Lin, UX Principal & Director