Hello! I'm Farrah
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As a seasoned senior manager with nearly two decades of experience in program and portfolio management, I have built a career on my ability to lead transformative change, solve complex business challenges, and drive innovation at the intersection of business strategy and technology. Recognized for my detail-oriented, solutions-driven approach, I have earned the trust of executive teams by consistently delivering high-impact, enterprise-level results across industries.
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My journey began with a focus on managing large-scale programs that integrate cutting-edge technologies with business processes. Early on, I was hand-picked by executive leadership to turn around underperforming programs, a responsibility that taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, and cultivating strong stakeholder relationships. My success in these initiatives allowed me to build a reputation as a strategic problem solver, capable of bridging the gap between business objectives and technical execution.
One of my core strengths lies in leading Program Management Offices (PMOs) to deliver high-quality programs that not only solve business problems but also drive sustainable change. I have had the privilege of managing complex, concurrent projects, particularly in areas such as AI and digital transformation, security & compliance, and legacy system modernization, all of which required a balance of technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership.
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Throughout my career, I have honed a deep understanding of how to direct teams and resources to achieve desired outcomes, particularly in industries with intricate financial systems and workflow infrastructures. By leveraging my background in Lean Six Sigma and change management, I continuously focus on process optimization, risk mitigation, and the seamless integration of new technologies that add long-term value.
I am driven by the belief that great leadership means being a trusted advisor who understands both the big picture and the details, and who inspires others to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
Today, I am proud to be a leader at the forefront of AI transformation, digital strategy implementation, and operational excellence, guiding teams to not only meet but exceed expectations. My work is a blend of strategic insight, innovative problem-solving, and a commitment to delivering tangible results that fuel organizational success and growth.
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Let's connect to discuss how I can help drive your organization’s strategic transformation and technological evolution.
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Farrah T Zargar, MBA Philanthropist | Operations & Strategy Leader | Senior Technical Program / Product Manager
With nearly 20 years of experience, I focus on AI and digital transformation, security, compliance, and process optimization. I build advanced products while leveraging my knowledge in data governance and data management. As a Senior Technical Program Manager, I lead global initiatives that align technology with business strategy, utilizing Lean Six Sigma for operational excellence. I actively support philanthropy, especially with Children’s Rights, and advocate for ethical AI governance. My expertise includes AI, M&A, security, cloud strategy, and data analytics, ensuring organizations thrive in the digital landscape. Let’s Connect If you need a leader for AI transformation, compliance, or operational improvements, I’d love to discuss how I can help your organization succeed.
Bay Area, CA
EDUCATION
2009-2010
Master's Degree
American University
AIU
MBA, Emphasized in Project Management
1997-2001
Bachelor's Degree
Tehran University
General Biology (Genetics)
PROJECT DOCUMENTS / ARTIFACTS
ACTIVE DIRECTORY AZURE
ONE CLOUD MIGRATION
STATUS REPORT TEMPLATE
OFFICE 365 MIGRATION
SAMPLE PROJECT PLAN
TABLEAU
DASHBOARD REPORTS
EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
With extensive experience in leading cross-functional teams across enterprise environments, I specialize in AI/ML, data governance, analytics, and security. I deliver technical and leadership solutions, driving operational efficiencies and aligning IT with business goals. I have a strong track record in software development, project management (waterfall & agile), and PMO implementation, ensuring seamless transitions and impactful results across technology, banking, healthcare, and life sciences industries. My expertise in data management and industry best practices strengthens processes, drives growth, and optimizes performance.
2018 - 2019
Director Of Operations and Strategy, Philanthropy Cloud (Community)
Global Children's Rights
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At Global Children Rights, I took the lead in developing a new platform aimed at automating manual processes, which significantly enhanced collaboration and streamlined data collection. part of this initiative, I introduced new technology solutions by implementing AWS services, which further optimized our. This effort resulted in a scalable system that provides both historical and real-time performance reporting, ultimately reducing manual efforts for sales, marketing teams, developers, and analysts by an impressive 60%. I had the privilege of directing large, cross-regional teams across diverse disciplines, including technical, product, legal, compliance, marketing, finance, and business. By employing meticulous planning and, I was able to foster a cohesive strategy among team. Additionally, I addressed risk factors through root cause analysis and applied my leadership skills to assess impacts. This flexible approach enabled us to deliver outstanding results in a fast-paced, dynamic business environment.
2018-2019
Sr. Project/Porgram Manager
McKesson,ReallyHealth
Lead multi-functional across the organization, to delivered solutions to support integration projects for merger and acquisitions. As a Program and Project Manager, I successfully delivered McKesson/Relay health’s largest and most complex Cloud Application Development and Migration. I was also responsible for leading a project team in delivering a solution to the client by managing scope, cost analyses, schedule, and contractual deliverables, which included applying techniques for planning, tracking, and change control. I interfaced with all levels of executive leadership, business partners, technical engineers, trainers, support teams, information security, and others to successfully integrate acquired organization.
▪ Utilized the Stage Gate process and other existing tools to manage multiple development projects from project approval to customer delivery.​
â–ª Developed benchmarks for comparing projects and their cost.
â–ª Established a framework to outline the parameters of the cost analysis.
â–ª Compare cost and benefits using aggregate information.
â–ª Responsible for managing the integration of a project, so that project objectives are met by utilizing the right resources, in a timely and cost-effective manner.
â–ª Supported activities related to migration of One-cloud to Azure.
â–ª Supported activities related to migration of office (Network, security, Cisco network, Webex, VPN,etc)
â–ª Supported activities related to migration of office 365 migration, skype, MS Team, SharePoint, etc.
â–ª Supported activities related to migration of domain.
â–ª Supported activities related to migration of Salesforce (CRM).
â–ª Supported activities related to rebranding old URLs, API.
â–ª Worked with the Change Healthcare (new entity) support organization in transitioning new products/services, defining SLAs, and in developing continuous improvement plans.
â–ª Provided day to day direction to the project team and regular project status to the clients and management.
2016-2018
Senior IT Manager
Global Children's Rights
Implement and managed project for building an application to collect the data around beneficiaries, volunteers and funders.I worked and developed detailed program/project execution plan and manages all implementation processes including resource allocation, progress tracking, monitoring change control process, testing, documentation, training and on-time delivery within budget constraints to support.
â–ª As the Head of PMO, leaded IT Project Managers, Business Analysts and Quality Assurance Engineers to establish high performing project teams.
â–ª Supported SaaS projects and automated project workflow services.
â–ª Support Infrastructure and integration projects for new financial application.
â–ª Analyzed and resolved issues in application deployment activities.
â–ª Suggested and implemented workflows for operational efficiency.
â–ª Formulated and executed monitoring strategies for application services.
â–ª Worked with networking security team to gather requirements and design authentication and authorization services.
â–ª Generated and reported project status and updated to seniors.
2015-2016
Senior IT Manager/Program Manager
Hewlett Packard/ TCS
Program/Project-managed large-scale initiatives involving the transition of programs to new platforms and the merger of disparate systems from acquired new entity and existing group through a merger with aggressive deadlines.
â–ª Managed over 450 applications ran on both cloud and non-could platforms (ERP, Oracle, Tibco, Apache, Oracle fusion applications, etc)
â–ª Achieved seamless migrations and integrations that were transparent to client customers, accomplished with no unscheduled downtime and delivered by as much as $500K under budget.
2012-2015
Senior Program Manager
Kaiser Permanente/ TCS
Implemented $6 millions complex scalability project including enhancement on both HW and SW, data canter, Disaster recovery center, cloud, networking and security.
â–ª Defined and managed hardware upgrade to new claim legacy application.
â–ª Designed and successfully executed DB2 upgrade plan.
â–ª Assisted in upgrading all hardware and software to support new infrastructure.
â–ª Reduced operating cost of claim legacy application by 125% through replacement of old models.
â–ª Improved the consistency, recoverability and accessibility of data, and generating additional 1 million claims a day.
2012 -2013
Release Manager
Kaiser Permanente
Responsible for managing end of service infrastructure and software remediation projects to upgrade the technology and to supported new versions of software and hardware for KPHC HealthConnect (Electronic Medical record) Application & supporting infrastructure.
â–ª Managed all phases of product qualification and problem report tracking, and effectively reduced new and legacy issues.
â–ª Recognized for creativity and teamwork in planning and executing projects.
â–ª Provided detailed documentation to corporate resulting in reduction resolution time.
â–ª Managed designated customer accounts for multifaceted engineering issues. Effectively worked onsite with customers on qualification, configuration, and repair.
2012-2012
Project Manager Principle Lead
Kaiser Permanente
In my role as a Program Manager, I had the privilege of overseeing large-scale initiatives that impacted over 12 million patients across the country. Serving as a key liaison between the Business teams specifically Inbound Sales and Customer Care and IT management, I ensured that all projects adhered to SDLC and ITIL methodologies. This collaboration was critical in driving alignment between business needs and technical execution, ensuring seamless communication and timely project delivery.
One of my key achievements was creating and providing detailed documentation that directly contributed to reducing resolution time for critical issues. This effort not only streamlined internal processes but also improved response times, leading to increased customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
I was consistently recognized for my creativity and ability to foster teamwork, especially in the planning and execution of complex projects. By bringing together cross-functional teams, I led initiatives that exceeded expectations and delivered impactful solutions, always keeping the focus on results and collaboration.
2005 - 2011
Project Manager
Business Image Management
My journey as a Project Manager began with a passion for learning and quickly adapting to the complexities of managing large-scale projects. Early on, I immersed myself in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), gaining a deep understanding of how to manage each phase planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance to deliver high-quality solutions. Over time, I honed my skills in budgeting, resource allocation, and stakeholder management, which allowed me to successfully manage multiple high-stakes projects.
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A key highlight of my role was leading the design and multinational rollout of secure, scalable ERP and POS systems for international clients. This project required careful coordination of cross-functional teams to ensure that the solutions met diverse needs while maintaining high standards of quality and security.
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In one particular project, I led a cross-functional team of financial, technical, and business experts to identify and resolve a business operations leak, ultimately driving a 25% increase in revenue and significantly improving operational efficiency. This experience reinforced my ability to combine technical expertise with strategic insight to deliver tangible, impactful results.
SKILLS
JIRA & Waterfall Methodology
Microsoft Project
Power Point & Visio - Proficient
Cloud & SaaS Platforms: Oracle, Workday, Salesforce, AWS
HPALM, JIRA, Confluence, Clarity, SAP FI, BI software and metrics
RACI chart & KPI tracking