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AYESHA SALEEM

@ayeshasaleem

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Senior Project Manager with 15+ years of global project leadership.

Japan

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What I'm looking for

I seek a dynamic role where I can leverage my project management expertise to drive impactful change and foster innovation in a collaborative environment.

I am a Senior Project Manager and Consultant with over 15 years of experience leading high-impact projects for global organizations such as Rakuten, Philip Morris, Citibank, and the World Bank. My expertise lies in Project Management methodologies including Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall, as well as Digital Transformation and Quality Assurance. I am currently consulting for startups and SMEs, helping them optimize their project frameworks and drive Agile transformations to enhance operational excellence.

Throughout my career, I have successfully managed complex projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. My role as a Project Management Consultant has allowed me to provide valuable insights into project planning, risk management, and change management processes. I have conducted numerous workshops on Agile methodologies and have a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to achieve project goals while maintaining compliance with ISO 9001 standards.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Project Management Consultant

Current

Self-Employed

Mar 2025 - Present (3 months)

Provided consultancy services to startups and SMEs, focusing on project management frameworks, digital transformation, and Agile process setup. Advised clients on project planning, risk management, and change management, while supporting project documentation using JIRA, Confluence, and MS Project.

Project Management Digital Transformation Agile Quality Assurance Jira Confluence ISO 9001 Risk Management Change Management

Senior Project Manager

Rakuten Inc.

Mar 2024 - Feb 2025 (11 months)

Planned and managed project schedules, budgets, resources, and milestones, ensuring critical paths and dependencies were met. Delivered projects by overseeing drafting, change management, risk mitigation, and stakeholder communication, utilizing JIRA and internal Rakuten systems for tracking and quality assurance.

Project Planning Budget Management Resource Management Risk Mitigation Jira Quality Assurance Change Management

Project Manager

Philip Morris Japan

Aug 2019 - Feb 2024 (4 years 6 months)

Prepared and maintained comprehensive project plans, KPIs, and stakeholder communication strategies, managing backlog and legal approvals. Conducted sprint planning, risk tracking, and issue resolution, coordinating cross-functionally and analyzing digital promotions using JIRA and Confluence.

Project Planning KPI Tracking Stakeholder Management Backlog Management Sprint Planning Jira Confluence

Project Manager

Rakuten Inc.

Jan 2019 - Jul 2019 (6 months)

Proposed and managed data governance projects, coordinating closely with Legal, Privacy, Risk, and InfoSec teams. Led weekly and monthly reporting sessions, providing crucial project updates to stakeholders.

Data Governance Project Management Privacy Compliance Risk Management Information Security Reporting Stakeholder Management

Project Manager

Citibank Japan

Sep 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 3 months)

Managed complex migration activities and ensured quality monitoring for retail banking integration projects. Tracked project milestones diligently, contributing to successful system transitions.

Project Tracking Transitions

Quality Assurance Manager

BNP Paribas Cardif

Aug 2015 - Jul 2016 (11 months)

Led software QA testing teams, ensuring adherence to quality standards and ISO 9001 compliance. Designed robust test plans, bug tracking processes, and effective risk mitigation strategies.

Software QA Quality ISO 9001 Test Planning Risk Mitigation Team Leadership

Project Manager – Global ID Project

Rakuten Inc.

Jul 2014 - Jun 2015 (11 months)

Led global user ID migration projects, overseeing backlog management and release reporting. Conducted sprint planning sessions to ensure efficient project execution.

Backlog Management Sprint Planning

Project Manager

Board of Revenue Punjab

Jan 2005 - Sep 2009 (4 years 8 months)

Delivered World Bank-funded land records digitization projects, managing complex cross-government coordination. Oversaw vendor management to ensure successful project completion.

Project Management Land Records Digitization World Bank Projects Vendor Management

Senior Software Engineer

Xavor Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.

Feb 2004 - Dec 2004 (10 months)

Contributed to software development projects, applying engineering principles to design and implement robust solutions. Collaborated with teams to deliver high-quality software components.

Software Development Software Engineering Solution Design Implementation Collaboration Quality Assurance

Software Engineer

CresSoft (Pvt.) Ltd.

Dec 2000 - Jan 2004 (3 years 1 month)

Developed and maintained software applications, performing coding, debugging, and system analysis. Participated in the full software development lifecycle, ensuring functional and efficient systems.

Software Development Programming Debugging Systems Analysis Software Development Lifecycle And Maintaining Applications

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Waseda University

PhD, Information Communication Technology Management

Pursued a doctoral degree focusing on Information Communication Technology Management. The program provided advanced knowledge in managing ICT projects and strategies.

GRIPS

Master of Public Policy (MPP), Public Policy

Completed a Master of Public Policy program, gaining expertise in policy analysis and public administration. The curriculum covered various aspects of public policy formulation and implementation.

Preston University

Master of Science in Information Technology (MIT), Information Technology

Grade: Gold Medalist (Best Student)

Achieved a Master of Science in Information Technology, focusing on advanced IT concepts and applications. Recognized as a Gold Medalist for being the best student in the program.

Hailey College of Commerce, Punjab University

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), Commerce

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree, focusing on fundamental business and commerce principles. The program provided a strong foundation in accounting, finance, and business management.