I'm Michael
I’m Michael
For more than 25 years, I've helped organizations—from Fortune 500 companies to growth-stage software businesses—turn strategy into commercial results.
My career has taken me across automotive, travel, telecommunications, software, professional services, and customer engagement technology. Along the way, I've worked with B2B and B2C businesses, from global brands to growth-stage companies, helping bring products to market, strengthen customer engagement, build teams, and lead through periods of growth and transformation.
I've had the opportunity to work with organizations including Toyota, Expedia, T-Mobile, Microsoft, Centric Consulting, and Manago AI. While the industries and business models were different, many of the challenges were the same: understanding customers, aligning teams, bringing products to market, and turning strategy into execution.
Today, my work focuses on product strategy, market positioning, go-to-market execution, customer engagement, and AI commercialization. Those interests continue to be shaped by experience across multiple industries, markets, and stages of company growth.
For more than 25 years, I’ve helped organizations—from Fortune 500 companies to growth-stage software businesses—turn strategy into commercial results.
My career has taken me across automotive, travel, telecommunications, software, professional services, and customer engagement technology. Along the way, I’ve worked with organizations ranging from global brands to growth-stage software companies, helping launch products, strengthen customer engagement, build teams, and navigate periods of growth and transformation.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with organizations including Toyota, Expedia, T-Mobile, Microsoft, Centric Consulting, and Manago AI. While the industries and business models were different, many of the challenges were the same: understanding customers, aligning teams, bringing products to market, and turning strategy into execution.
Today, my work focuses on product strategy, market positioning, go-to-market execution, customer engagement, and AI commercialization. Those interests continue to be shaped by experience across multiple industries, markets, and stages of company growth.
Michael McNeal
Michael McNeal
How I Work
How I Work
How I Work
Throughout my career, I've found that the strongest results come when people share a clear understanding of where they're going, why it matters, and how they can contribute. While the industries, companies, and technologies have changed, my work has consistently centered on strategy development, bringing products to market, using data to make better business decisions, and helping teams grow.
I've led both direct and cross-functional teams, working closely with product, marketing, sales, customer success, engineering, finance, and executive leadership. My role has often been to bring together different perspectives, simplify complex challenges, and help teams make informed decisions while keeping people aligned and moving in the same direction.
Developing people has been one of the most rewarding parts of leadership. I've found that strong business results and strong teams go hand in hand, and that creating an environment where people can contribute, learn, and take ownership leads to better outcomes for both the business and the people behind it.
Timeline
The experiences that shaped my perspective
Every role broadened my understanding of strategy, leadership, customer engagement, and growth.
Manago AI
VP of Product
Previously: Head of Product Marketing & Strategic Advisor
Joined the company in an advisory capacity, developing a customer maturity framework to help shape its approach to customer growth and engagement. Moved into Product Marketing and ultimately served as VP of Product, leading Product Management and Product Marketing during a period of significant transformation.
Led the launch and commercialization of early AI capabilities and helped shape the broader transformation from SALESmanago to Manago AI, including the company's AI commercialization strategy, market positioning, go-to-market, pricing and packaging. Worked closely across Product and Marketing on the rebrand and positioning of the company as an AI Customer Engagement Platform, translating expanding product and AI capabilities into clearer customer and commercial value.
Centric Consulting
Practice Lead & Capability Lead
Built and grew a Customer Engagement and Marketing Technology practice from 2 to 40+ people into a multi-million-dollar business, with responsibility for P&L, pipeline, business development, delivery, and capability strategy. Advised organizations across industries on customer engagement, CRM, marketing technology, and digital transformation, while developing long-term client relationships and strategic technology partnerships. This included building and expanding a 7+ year partnership with Southeast Toyota and leading the practice's Salesforce AI initiatives.
Microsoft
Consulting & Customer Engagement Leadership
Through embedded consulting roles with Bridge Partners and Centric Consulting, worked closely with Microsoft teams on product launch strategy, customer engagement, adoption analytics, and business growth initiatives. This included evaluating launch effectiveness, analyzing customer adoption and usage patterns, and helping strengthen long-term engagement between Microsoft and consulting teams.
T-Mobile
Customer Engagement & Technology Initiatives
Contributed to customer engagement and technology initiatives across customer communications, merchandising, digital experience, and product launches. Collaborated across cross-functional teams to analyze customer behavior, identify opportunities to improve customer experiences, and strengthen commercial performance. The experience reinforced that lasting business results come from understanding customers and making decisions informed by data.
Expedia
Customer Engagement & Platform Enablement
Worked across loyalty, customer experience, and technology initiatives during a period of rapid growth and transformation. Contributed to loyalty strategy and programs designed to strengthen customer relationships and engagement, while also playing a key role in the global rollout of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) standards across the organization.
Reviewed more than 100 initiatives against the new architecture and helped establish 12 standards in the first year, providing early experience at the intersection of customer strategy, technology, and large-scale business transformation.
Toyota
Customer Engagement & Digital Experience
Embedded consultant, 2003–2008. Worked with Toyota Motor Sales teams, agency partners, and technology providers on customer engagement, digital experience, and direct-to-consumer marketing initiatives supporting multiple vehicle launches. Managed the development and enhancement of consumer-facing website experiences and applied customer segmentation and predictive analysis to inform targeted communications across email, direct mail, SMS, and digital channels, deepening my understanding of customer acquisition, loyalty, and repurchase behavior.
Timeline
The experiences that shaped my perspective
Every role broadened my understanding of strategy, leadership, customer engagement, and growth.
Manago AI
VP of Product
Previously: Head of Product Marketing & Strategic Advisor
Joined the company in an advisory capacity, developing a customer maturity framework to help shape its approach to customer growth and engagement. Moved into Product Marketing and ultimately served as VP of Product, leading Product Management and Product Marketing during a period of significant transformation.
Led the launch and commercialization of early AI capabilities and helped shape the broader transformation from SALESmanago to Manago AI, including the company's AI commercialization strategy, market positioning, go-to-market, pricing and packaging. Worked closely across Product and Marketing on the rebrand and positioning of the company as an AI Customer Engagement Platform, translating expanding product and AI capabilities into clearer customer and commercial value.
Centric Consulting
Practice Lead & Capability Lead
Built and grew a Customer Engagement and Marketing Technology practice from 2 to 40+ people into a multi-million-dollar business, with responsibility for P&L, pipeline, business development, delivery, and capability strategy. Advised organizations across industries on customer engagement, CRM, marketing technology, and digital transformation, while developing long-term client relationships and strategic technology partnerships. This included building and expanding a 7+ year partnership with Southeast Toyota and leading the practice's Salesforce AI initiatives.
Microsoft
Consulting & Customer Engagement Leadership
Through embedded consulting roles with Bridge Partners and Centric Consulting, worked closely with Microsoft teams on product launch strategy, customer engagement, adoption analytics, and business growth initiatives. This included evaluating launch effectiveness, analyzing customer adoption and usage patterns, and helping strengthen long-term engagement between Microsoft and consulting teams.
T-Mobile
Manago AI (previously SALESmanago)
Contributed to customer engagement and technology initiatives across customer communications, merchandising, digital experience, and product launches. Collaborated across cross-functional teams to analyze customer behavior, identify opportunities to improve customer experiences, and strengthen commercial performance. The experience reinforced that lasting business results come from understanding customers and making decisions informed by data.
Expedia
Manago AI (previously SALESmanago)
Worked across loyalty, customer experience, and technology initiatives during a period of rapid growth and transformation. Contributed to loyalty strategy and programs designed to strengthen customer relationships and engagement, while also playing a key role in the global rollout of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) standards across the organization.
Reviewed more than 100 initiatives against the new architecture and helped establish 12 standards in the first year, providing early experience at the intersection of customer strategy, technology, and large-scale business transformation.
Toyota
Manago AI (previously SALESmanago)
Embedded consultant, 2003–2008. Worked with Toyota Motor Sales teams, agency partners, and technology providers on customer engagement, digital experience, and direct-to-consumer marketing initiatives supporting multiple vehicle launches. Managed the development and enhancement of consumer-facing website experiences and applied customer segmentation and predictive analysis to inform targeted communications across email, direct mail, SMS, and digital channels, deepening my understanding of customer acquisition, loyalty, and repurchase behavior.
Timeline
The experiences that shaped my perspective
Every role broadened my understanding of strategy, leadership, customer engagement, and growth.
Manago AI
VP of Product
Previously: Head of Product Marketing & Strategic Advisor
Joined the company in an advisory capacity, developing a customer maturity framework to help shape its approach to customer growth and engagement. Moved into Product Marketing and ultimately served as VP of Product, leading Product Management and Product Marketing during a period of significant transformation.
Led the launch and commercialization of early AI capabilities and helped shape the broader transformation from SALESmanago to Manago AI, including the company's AI commercialization strategy, market positioning, go-to-market, pricing and packaging. Worked closely across Product and Marketing on the rebrand and positioning of the company as an AI Customer Engagement Platform, translating expanding product and AI capabilities into clearer customer and commercial value.
Centric Consulting
Practice Lead & Capability Lead
Built and grew a Customer Engagement and Marketing Technology practice from 2 to 40+ people into a multi-million-dollar business, with responsibility for P&L, pipeline, business development, delivery, and capability strategy. Advised organizations across industries on customer engagement, CRM, marketing technology, and digital transformation, while developing long-term client relationships and strategic technology partnerships. This included building and expanding a 7+ year partnership with Southeast Toyota and leading the practice's Salesforce AI initiatives.
Microsoft
Consulting & Customer Engagement Leadership
Through embedded consulting roles with Bridge Partners and Centric Consulting, worked closely with Microsoft teams on product launch strategy, customer engagement, adoption analytics, and business growth initiatives. This included evaluating launch effectiveness, analyzing customer adoption and usage patterns, and helping strengthen long-term engagement between Microsoft and consulting teams.
T-Mobile
Customer Engagement & Technology Initiatives
Contributed to customer engagement and technology initiatives across customer communications, merchandising, digital experience, and product launches. Collaborated across cross-functional teams to analyze customer behavior, identify opportunities to improve customer experiences, and strengthen commercial performance. The experience reinforced that lasting business results come from understanding customers and making decisions informed by data.
Expedia
Customer Engagement & Platform Enablement
Worked across loyalty, customer experience, and technology initiatives during a period of rapid growth and transformation. Contributed to loyalty strategy and programs designed to strengthen customer relationships and engagement, while also playing a key role in the global rollout of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) standards across the organization.
Reviewed more than 100 initiatives against the new architecture and helped establish 12 standards in the first year, providing early experience at the intersection of customer strategy, technology, and large-scale business transformation.
Toyota
Customer Engagement & Digital Experience
Embedded consultant, 2003–2008. Worked with Toyota Motor Sales teams, agency partners, and technology providers on customer engagement, digital experience, and direct-to-consumer marketing initiatives supporting multiple vehicle launches. Managed the development and enhancement of consumer-facing website experiences and applied customer segmentation and predictive analysis to inform targeted communications across email, direct mail, SMS, and digital channels, deepening my understanding of customer acquisition, loyalty, and repurchase behavior.
What I've Learned
I've been fortunate to build a career across Fortune 500 brands, consulting, and growth-stage companies. While every role was different, a few themes have remained consistent.
Growth rarely comes from technology alone. It comes from understanding customers, making clear strategic choices, and helping teams focus on what matters most.
Whether launching products, building practices, leading go-to-market initiatives, or helping companies navigate change, I've found that the fundamentals remain surprisingly constant—listen carefully, simplify complexity, and turn strategy into action.
Today, I'm particularly interested in how AI is reshaping product strategy, customer engagement, and market positioning. As technology evolves, I believe organizations that create lasting value will be those that combine innovation with clarity, disciplined execution, and a deep understanding of their customers.
Let's Connect
If you'd like to discuss an executive leadership opportunity, advisory or board role, speaking engagement, or simply start a conversation, I'd be happy to hear from you.
Let's Connect
If you'd like to discuss an executive leadership opportunity, advisory or board role, speaking engagement, or simply start a conversation, I'd be happy to hear from you.