Nick DePalo
About Myself:
I'm a senior staff program/operations manager and tech infrastructure lead with over a decade of experience in strategic roadmap planning, software design, product development, data analytical operations, and executive collaboration across global organizations. I have a proven track record of driving innovation through managing creative design/developer partnerships, product development in new markets, engineering expansion, and scaling programs for global delivery.
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I have extensive expertise in technology software production, pre/post product delivery operations, strategic development design, real-time 3D engineering and developer tools. I'm adept at managing cross-functional teams and aligning strategies to mitigate risk, optimize timelines, and enhance customer experiences.​
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Skills:
Program Management:
Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Release Management, Roadmap Strategy, Legal, Contract Negotiations, Business Planning, Pre-Post Production, Product Education, Supply Operations, Technical Sales Strategy, Budgeting, and Resource Management
Tools & Technologies:
Unity Engine, Unreal Engine, AWS ML Cloud Tools, Jira, Quip, MS Suite, Google Suite, Visual Studio, Dashboards, and LMS
Business Skills:
Onboarding, Performance Tracking, Contract Deals, Fluent in Business KPIs, Design, Scriptwriting, Risk Mitigation and Tradeoff Analysis
Soft Skills:
Ops Mitigation, Hiring, Training, Managing, Stakeholder Collaboration, Analytics, Influencing for Impact, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Adaptability, Customer Focus
Creative Tools:
Adobe Premiere, PowerPoint, Excel, Visual Coding Studio, Final Cut Pro, Keynote, GitHub, Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, Asana, Confluence, Kanban, Figma, and Miro
Dave Mongan
(Senior Narrative Director, Xbox Games Studio)
"It's rare when you meet someone with passion burning so bright that it comes through in every interaction — which is why I truly appreciate the opportunity I've had to build a relationship with Nick. He is driven by curiosity and empathy and unwavering persistence, the three most valuable traits I look for in any creative and innovating individual. Nick isn't afraid to dig deep, to ask probing questions and really listen to the answers; he's thoughtful about the experiences he wants to create for others, and how to leave a lasting positive mark on the world; and he meets each moment — not to mention each challenge — with a genuine smile that's a testament to his enthusiasm for learning and growing personally/ professionally.”
Mo Elshenawy
(President and CTO, Cruise/General Motors)
“I am very supportive of Nick’s projects and his approach on innovating outside the box. His drive, insight, and approach on keeping project roadmaps simple, while understanding the technical hurdles help us deliver on goals quickly. His initiative has consistently delivered very impactful projects and I appreciate his leadership across our teams that has led to scalable solutions, while helping us think bigger on new ideas.”
Career Overview
You can explore a few examples of my work below.
01 - General Motors/Cruise AVs
Partner Onboarding Operations
I led the project plans, design, development, partner negotiations, and launch of our immersive onboarding experiences built in Unreal Engine. Conducted and directed interviews with CEO and engineering team leads, gathering key insights to inform design strategies and align business projects with creative objectives. This program is now allowing users to explore our mission and business opportunities freely within a “games” model.
02 - Meta
Expansion of Business Operations
Responsible for overseeing and improving global partner program for first party/third party teams regarding our family of apps and product tools through Business Operations. I established the design/development workflows for onboarding new markets and products for education/monetization of new customers within Horizon Worlds.
03 - Xbox Game Camp
Engineering Partner Development
Part of the alumni camp group learning and supporting the collaboration of thriving game projects and communities globally. Working with camp developers and members from Xbox and Xbox Games Publishing to expand developer markets, design, and planning strategic initiatives to prepare the game launch of Crimson Tide.
04 - Amazon / AWS
Product & Business Partner Onboarding
Led adoption of AWS tools across partner events, educating partner executives and increasing large-scale global sales efforts by 80%. Presented pitches to unlock new markets, expanding AWS reach into unrealized sectors and driving strategic partnerships.
05 - Sony
Product Development Strategies
Developed and implemented strategies to measure talent and business metrics, leading to a 50% increase in customer engagement with PlayStation, Bravia, and Alpha cameras. I spearheaded the product content expansion plans in new territories, resulting in a 25% increase in online services.
06 - Parable Words (Game Studio)
Program and Product Development
Oversaw end-to-end product development, collaborating with engineering, design, and leadership teams to build scalable business settings, characters, and worlds. I managed distribution, sales, and partnerships, doubling the customer base with minimal supervision and strategic execution.
07 - Muscle & Fitness Magazine
Media & Design Infrastructure
Directed, edited, and coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution, meeting all project objectives and client expectations for our Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson cover shoot. I achieved a 25% increase in social media engagement across platforms (Twitter, YouTube) within 6 months, reaching over 10 million impressions combined across new markers.
08 - STARZ, Lionsgate (Film Studio)
Production Operations Manager
Successfully led the planning, coordination, and management of relationships and goals between productions. Establish proper development schedules to ensure execution of deadlines and budget. Responsible for handling and coordinating cast with crew to facilitate production launches. Drive the execution and strategy of equipping crew with production information, maintaining production efficiency.
