Kaitin Bhakta

Technical Program Manager @Sono Bello

In my current role at Sono Bello, I\'ve had the opportunity to wear many hats and expand my skill set beyond the traditional scope of program management. My work includes building a comprehensive software development program management portfolio, creating efficient process automation systems, and contributing to the hiring and coaching of a growing team. In this multifaceted role, I\'ve developed and implemented key technical and managerial strategies: Portfolio Development, Process Automation & Communication: Created an automated product intake form integrated with SharePoint lists and Smartsheets (including reports and dashboards), streamlining data collection and processing. I created a PowerPoint presentation and a SharePoint Engineering Program site, which together provide a complete view of our product development process. This includes everything from key events and roles to crucial artifacts such as roadmaps. These resources have become essential platforms for stakeholders to gather, discuss strategic initiatives, and stay informed. Team Development: Within my first three weeks, I formulated a complete playbook for the development team. This included clear definitions of events, roles, artifacts, as well as the criteria for \'ready\' and \'done.\' Furthermore, I created a Bug/Incident Priority Matrix and an onboarding process for new team members, contributing to the team\'s productivity and cohesion. Recruitment & Coaching: Ventured into talent acquisition, actively recruiting new staff, and continuously expanding my managerial skills. I\'m proud to coach the team on Agile best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Technical Contributions: To monitor API load & performance, I constructed Azure Dashboards leveraging Azure Monitor Log Queries. In addition, I\'ve taken an active role in writing stories and features, managing stakeholder relationships, and defining requirements to contribute to our product roadmap.