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Colleen Kestner

Product Manager at Square Capital

Professional Background

Colleen (Lynch) Kestner is an accomplished Senior Product Manager with a solid foundation in FinTech and AdTech. With a keen ability to drive vision and strategy for innovative products, Colleen has shown a persistent commitment to building mission-driven, collaborative teams that tackle complex challenges. Over the past five years, she has expertly brought cutting-edge products to market, significantly enhancing the customer experience across various sectors.

At American Express, Colleen made notable contributions as a Product Manager, successfully leading a diverse team across business, engineering, architecture, user research, and design. During her tenure, she orchestrated multiple ideation and strategy exercises aimed at developing a global, customer-centric experience for installment lending. Colleen championed extensive prototype testing in various countries, ensuring the creation of solutions tailored to customer needs. Her leadership was instrumental in coordinating three agile scrum teams of engineers, which led to the successful development and launch of the product across five markets.

Promoted to Senior Product Manager, Colleen transitioned to AmEx's Intelligent Automation group, where she focused on conversational design. By meticulously analyzing data from machine learning and customer care teams, she constructed multi-turn conversational flows for basic servicing. This initiative resulted in an impressive increase in chatbot resolution of customer inquiries, reaching approximately 25%. Additionally, Colleen innovated strategies to gather essential customer information before agent interactions, significantly reducing overall handling time by over 60 seconds per chat. Her efforts in leading the development of Google Assistant's first-party financial services integration also stood out, demonstrating her expertise in conversational AI and user experience.

Recently, Colleen joined Acorns, taking the role of developing the MVP for their insurance marketplace and educational platform, Protect. She undertook comprehensive financial modeling, explored partnership opportunities, and conducted competitive analysis to formulate and present a 12-month roadmap to senior executives, solidifying her capabilities in product management and strategic planning.

Education and Achievements

Colleen's academic journey is marked by prestigious educational experiences that have shaped her understanding of leadership and product management. She studied abroad at University College Dublin, focusing on Irish Studies, which enriched her perspective on cultural and global dynamics. To enhance her leadership skills, she earned a Leadership Certificate from Harvard Extension School.

Her educational foundation also includes a focus on Psychology, Education, Early Interventions, and Cognitive Development from the University of California, Santa Barbara, which equipped her with valuable insights into human behavior—a vital aspect of product management. Additionally, she completed an immersive course in Product Management at General Assembly, honing her skills in managing product life cycles from concept to launch.

Colleen's educational background is complemented by her earlier schooling at Archbishop Mitty High School, where she began to develop her passion for leadership and collaboration.

Professional Affiliations and Contributions

Colleen's career is not just defined by her roles but also by her contributions to the product management community. She served as a Product Manager at Square Capital, where she continued to advance her expertise in developing financial services. Previously, she held multiple roles at American Express, including Senior Product Manager of Conversational AI and Product Manager for Global Lending Initiatives, each adding to her experience and reputation in the industry.

Before her successes at American Express, Colleen was an Associate Product Manager and held various positions at Commission Junction, including Account Manager and Advertiser Account Representative. These roles provided her with a comprehensive understanding of performance optimization and client services, further enriching her qualifications for her current endeavors.

In addition to her direct work experience, Colleen has shared her knowledge as an Expert in Residence for the Product Management Immersive and Part-Time Courses at General Assembly, where she contributed valuable insights to aspiring product managers.

Notable Achievements

  • Successfully led product strategy and execution for American Express's installment lending solutions, impacting five global markets.
  • Innovated conversational flows in AmEx's chatbot, achieving a significant increase in service resolution through AI technology.
  • Directed the development of a pioneering financial services integration for Google Assistant, leading to enhanced customer interaction capabilities.
  • Spearheaded the MVPlaunch for Acorns' Protect platform, influencing critical business decision-making through thorough financial analysis and strategic planning.

Colleen's career is a testament to her dedication to driving product innovation and enhancing customer experiences through collaboration and strategic thinking. Her skills in product management, strategic leadership, and industry knowledge mark her as an influential figure in the FinTech and AdTech landscapes. As she continues to explore new opportunities, her passion for solving complex problems and her commitment to mission-driven collaboration will undoubtedly resonate in her future endeavors.

Related Questions

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In what ways has Colleen Kestner's background in psychology and education influenced her work in product management?
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Colleen Kestner
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Location

Seattle, Washington, United States