Mark Laurent

About Mark Laurent

I\'m a strategic business and technology leader with 15+ years of experience and an MS in IT Management. I’m driven by a passion to improve people’s lives using technology. I believe in the importance of enabling self-sustaining scalability, a perspective shaped by witnessing international development and humanitarian aid efforts growing up overseas. I excel in leading large-scale technology initiatives. My area of expertise is in developing innovative and sustainable solutions for complex operational and digital challenges. I do this by building strong, trusting relationships with stakeholders and clients while maintaining focus on enhancing business value through strategic use of technology. I’m passionate about solving complex problems and progressing towards strategic goals. As an entrepreneurial technologist, I\'m versatile as both an individual contributor and a manager of leaders. I prioritize empathy, self-awareness, and collaboration, leading with a coaching mindset. My strengths include tackling ambiguous tasks and collaboratively devising and implementing thorough measurable plans. Known for my positive attitude and motivational style, I value inclusivity and transparency. Fluent in the languages of both technology and business, I often act as an advisor or mediator. This helps me bridge relationships, fostering trust, understanding, and advancement. I invite you to connect and discuss how we can work together on impactful solutions.AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Strategic Planning | Business Development | People Management | Strategic Leadership | P&L Tracking | Federal Contracts | Forecasting | Resource Allocation Tracking & Reporting | Consulting | Client Relationship Management (Corporate & Federal Clients)| Conflict Resolution | Entrepreneurial | Digital Modernization | Process Optimization | Business Process Management and Improvement

Experience

1. Founder, Advisor

   Crowd Tech Group

   Jan 2019 — Present · Cranston, RI, US

   Crowd Tech Group, Inc.(CTG) is a creative technology studio dedicated to building elegant, interactive experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways. CTG operates as a house of brands, developing products that support crowd engagement at private events, international civic participation, and more - all rooted in the Principles for Good Design.We’ve achieved significant milestones and collaborated with a team of over 10 passionate individuals aligned around our mission. A continuous improvement mindset drives us, with multiple iterations and redesigns ensuring a user-centric product experience.As founder, it’s been an honor to guide the journey from a personal software concept to a publicly available, revenue-generating product. Along the way, I’ve led all aspects of early-stage company building, from validating the initial idea, conducting market and user research, and crafting financial models, to establishing the legal and operational framework, and even managing vendor relationships. This process has involved detailed planning, strategic pivots, and constant iteration, all grounded in a commitment to product excellence and mission alignment.Areas of Focus: Product Strategy & Design | Fundraising & Investor Relations | Market & User Research | Product-Market Fit | Board Leadership | Vendor & Partner Management | Go-To-Market Strategy | Operational Planning

Education

• University of Virginia

  Master of Science (MS), Management of IT

  2012 — 2013

• University of Virginia

  BA, Linguistics

  2003 — 2007