Syed Zohaib Akhter

Technical Program Manager / Project Manager

This site exists to share my journey, my work, and the value I bring to teams.

Give me your big gnarly project and I’ll deliver it.

Hi, I’m Zohaib.

I’ve been managing technology projects and programs for over 6 years, across FinTech, SaaS, IoT, and Government digital transformation.

While tools and methodologies evolve constantly, my favorite “API” is still people. I believe the best approach isn’t about being rigidly Agile or purely Waterfall, it’s about getting the most out of the team and delivering results that matter.

Sure, I’ve delivered complex digital platforms from food delivery ecosystems and IoT vending systems to sustainability platforms and financial applications but what sets me apart isn’t just what I deliver, it’s how it feels to work with me.

I’m not here to write code or design pixels. I’m here to make sure the entire team has clarity, structure, and the right environment to do their best work on time, within budget, and with measurable impact.

With me on your team, you’ll have the confidence that the job will get done, and your workload will feel a lot lighter.

Senior Director Remarks about me:

I am a chaos pilot — comfortable in ambiguity, and skilled at creating clarity.

When the stakes are high, budgets are large, and goals are ambitious, I thrive.

I collaborate closely with engineers, designers, and executives to deliver on bold, ambitious visions.

I understand that the bigger the project, the higher the stakes — and I meet that challenge head-on.

My strength lies in building structure out of chaos, aligning teams, and ensuring psychological safety so people can perform at their best.

My purpose is to create solutions that don’t just work for shareholders, but truly improve outcomes for users and clients.

RECENT Clients

What it Feels Like to Work with Me

“Zohaib was an indispensable partner. He kept teams aligned across time zones, removed roadblocks quickly, and ensured every stakeholder had clarity on deliverables.”

— CouchBase, USA SaaS Project

“Zohaib unites people. His non-confrontational problem-solving approach allows issues to be addressed deeply without ego. This humility and empathy make him a leader people trust.”

— Peer Review, Malaysia Office

“Zohaib can manage almost anything. He’s the perfect collaborator across engineering, design, and clients. It’s rare to find someone who combines strong delivery skills with such a calm, positive presence.”

— Senior Director, IoT Startup, USA

Thought leadership

I’m passionate about the craft of production. A real dork.

Here’s a few of my contributions in some spaces and places:

Your Guide to the Pros and Cons of Agile Methodology

The Agile methodology has turned the approaches toward project management upside down. It is fast, flexible, and ideal for software development and other types of projects. Like everything in this world, it has its good and bad sides.

Article

Exploring the Spiral Model: Combining Flexibility and Risk Management

The spiral model, introduced by Barry Boehm in 1986, blends the structured nature of the waterfall model with the flexibility of prototyping, making it ideal for businesses handling complex, large-scale projects where risk is high and flexibility is key. Each phase, or “loop,” represents an opportunity to refine and enhance the product based on feedback, just like refining a home based on client input.

Article

How to promote an app?

People use applications on their phones for 90% of the time that they are on them. There have been 310 billion app downloads globally as of right now.

Link

Telehealth for Dogs A Comprehensive Guide on Creating a Pet Veterinary App

The advantages of veterinary applications, their current varieties, and the best apps available will all be covered in this article.

Article

Understanding the RAD Model: A Step-by-Step Guide

In the 1980s, a developer, James Martin, wanted something better than the waterfall model. This led him to discover RAD. He wanted to create a more effective approach to software development that could handle quickly changing needs and allow fast application delivery.

Article

Exploring Different Software Development Methodologies

The truth is 68% of companies have already used Agile because this actually delivers faster results, happy clients, and stronger teamwork.

Article

The Key to Performance Tracking in Software Development KPIs

With studies showing that companies using KPIs can improve project success rates by over 40%, these metrics serve as pivotal tools for organizations striving for efficiency, quality, and alignment with business goals. As developers face increasing complexities and demands, the ability to track performance effectively becomes essential for driving improvement and fostering collaboration.

Article

Skills & Certifications

  • Certifications: Google Project Management Certificate, Google Agile with Scrum, PMP® (in progress, exam Sep 2025)
  • Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, S-SDLC
  • PM Tools: Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence, Notion, Asana, Trello, MS Project, ClickUp
  • Collaboration Tools: Slack, MS Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace, Miro
  • Technical Knowledge: GitHub, React, Node.js, CI/CD, AWS, Linux basics
  • Business Skills: Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Budgeting, Vendor Coordination, Client Management, HR & Ops Setup, SEO & Marketing Ops

Contact Me

Interested in working together?

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zohaiblink/

Whatsapp: +60 17-298 0409

Email: contact@syedzohaib.com

Bikerz – Sports Bike Showroom & Booking

Company website: https://bikerz.com

Industry: Retail | Automotive

Region: Saudi Arabia

Role: PM

Scope: Showroom website with inventory, bookings, and lead capture for high-end sports bikes.

Responsibilities:

  • Gathered requirements for inventory display, test-ride bookings, and CRM handoff.
  • Coordinated UX, imagery, and mobile responsiveness.
  • Integrated notifications and analytics for funnel insight. 

Achievements:

  • Improved lead conversion via streamlined booking flow.
  • Enhanced brand presence with modern responsive design. 

Management:

  • Managed vendor content updates and hosting/CDN configurations.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Launched showroom site enabling online discovery and bookings for premium bikes.

Aerialympics – Event Management System

Company website: https://www.aerialympics.com

Industry: Sports Events | SaaS

Region: USA

Role: PM

Scope: Event management platform for aerial sports: registration, scheduling, live updates, score tracking, and logistics coordination.

Responsibilities:

  • Mapped competitor and organizer workflows; designed schedule & scoring modules.
  • Coordinated real-time updates and results publishing.
  • Managed releases around live event timelines.

Achievements:

  • Enabled organizers to manage complex multi-day events efficiently.
  • Delivered reliable live score tracking with minimal downtime.

Management:

  • Ran tight release cadences aligned with event calendars; coordinated support on show days.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Comprehensive platform streamlining high-energy aerial sports event operations.

Texas Haunters Convention – Badge Printing Kiosk

Company website: https://www.texashauntersconvention.com

Industry: Events | Kiosks | Payments

Region: USA

Role: PM

Scope: Self-service wearable badge printing kiosk with online payment and on-site issuance for convention events.

Responsibilities:

  • Managed e-commerce to on-site badge issuance workflow; ensured PCI-aware payment handling.
  • Coordinated hardware peripherals, printers, and badge materials.
  • Planned on-site setup, testing, and support coverage.

Achievements:

  • Reduced registration queues with automated badge printing.
  • Delivered configurable templates and admin controls for event staff. 

Management:

  • Worked with event organizers and venue ops; used runbooks for show-day support.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Smooth on-site registration and improved attendee experience via kiosks.

OneSense – Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN)

Company website: https://onesense.au

Industry: IoT | Sensors Provider

Region: Australia

Role: PM

Scope: Concept and early-stage work for WSN deployment (telemetry collection, dashboards, and alerting).

Responsibilities:

  • Outlined telemetry schema, network topology options, and device onboarding.
  • Coordinated POC with sensor vendors; validated data pipelines.
  • Drafted security and OTA update considerations. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered POC milestones and adoption path for scaled rollout. 

Management:

  • Worked with hardware vendors and cloud engineers; tracked risks around network reliability.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Foundation for sensor network solution with clear roadmap to production.

UVENDTECH (M) SDN BHD – Smart Vending Platform

Company website: https://ratnar.com

Industry: AI & IoT | Vending

Region: Malaysia

Role: PM

Scope: Smart vending software with plugin-based modules for catalog, pricing, imagery, sales reporting, and inventory health.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined plugin architecture and admin controls; coordinated telemetry and payments.
  • Built stock and alerting rules for proactive replenishment.
  • Standardized deployment images and remote updates. 

Achievements:

  • Enabled scalable multi-site operations with centralized control.
  • Improved stock turn and reduced out-of-stock incidents. 

Management:

  • Worked with Malaysian hardware partners and site operators; created rollout checklists. 

Outcome/Impact:

  • Stable vending platform supporting efficient operations and visibility into performance.

Jumbilin – AI-Enabled Self-Service Kiosks

Company website: https://jumbilin.com

Industry: IoT | POS | AI

Region: USA

Role: PM

Scope: Self-service kiosks with AI-driven order-taking and plug and play integrations to major POS providers in the US.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined POS integration strategy and certification path.
  • Led AI-enabled UX experiments to reduce ordering friction.
  • Built customer support and SLA processes for field operations. 

Achievements:

  • Achieved official partnership with SpotOn POS ecosystem.
  • Improved order flow and reduced time-to-order with AI assistance. 

Management:

  • Coordinated engineering, QA, and field teams; ran pilots and feedback loops with retailers.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Production-ready kiosks integrated with leading POS partners; scalable deployment approach.

Donut Trap – Smart Vending & Signage

Company website:  https://www.thedonuttrap.com

Industry: IoT | Retail

Region: USA

Role: PM

Scope: Smart vending solution and digital signage for retail locations; hardware sourcing and integration.

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinated hardware sourcing, device integration, and on-site pilots.
  • Managed payment acceptance, telemetry, and content scheduling.
  • Set up support workflows and remote device management. 

Achievements:

  • Enabled rapid pilot deployment with reusable kiosk image.
  • Improved reliability via proactive monitoring and alerts. 

Management:

  • Worked with supply chain partners in China and US operations; aligned timelines and install playbooks.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Live pilot sites demonstrating automated retail experience and upsell via signage.

Jood – Donation Kiosk Platform

Company website:  https://jood.om

Industry: IoT | Nonprofit ORG

Region: Oman

Role: Project Manager

Scope: Donation kiosk application integrated with client’s existing backend; secured payment and reporting.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined device/peripheral drivers and payment gateway integration.
  • Led acceptance testing, issue triage, and production hardening.
  • Set up remote monitoring and content/update delivery. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered consistent donor experience across kiosk fleet.
  • Reduced on-site maintenance via remote support capabilities. 

Management:

  • Worked with client ops and hardware partners; organized deployment and training.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Deployed donation kiosks with stable operations and reporting for transparency.

Showdrop – Smart Vending & Digital Signage

Company website: https://www.showdrop.com

Industry: IoT | Vending | Digital Signage

Region: USA

Role: Project Manager

Scope: Smart vending platform with device telemetry, digital signage, and supply/inventory workflows; vendor sourcing from China.

Responsibilities:

  • Oversaw product roadmap, prototype trials, and hardware vendor coordination.
  • Managed integrations (telemetry, cashless payments, CMS for signage).
  • Prepared investor demo environments and pitch support materials. 

Achievements:

  • Supported fundraising of USD 3M (New Stack Ventures, Chicago).
  • Delivered repeatable deployment process for pilot sites. 

Management:

  • Coordinated software, firmware, and industrial design vendors; managed pilot rollout plans. 

Outcome/Impact:

  • Operational pilots demonstrating commercial viability and investor confidence.

Approach – B2B Gym Management Suite

Company website: https://www.approach.app

Industry: SaaS | Fitness | B2B

Region: Kansas, USA 

Role: Project Manager

Scope: Front-desk web portal, customer engagement mobile app, and admin system for B2B gyms.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined customer journeys (member onboarding, billing, class bookings).
  • Coordinated mobile + web teams; ensured secure payment integration and notifications.
  • Implemented analytics for usage and churn indicators. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered multi-tenant rollout strategy and admin tooling.
  • Improved operational workflows for gym staff and members. 

Management:

  • Facilitated Agile sprints and UAT with pilot gyms; maintained prioritized backlog.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Launched end-to-end suite enabling streamlined gym operations and member engagement.

Johor Plantations – Sustainability & Incentives Platform

Company website: https://johorplantations.com

Industry: Agribusiness | Government Integration | SaaS

Region: Malaysia

Role: Project Manager

Scope: Web platform to promote sustainable practices, connect users with eco-friendly products, and link with Malaysian government systems for business incentive/redemption.

Responsibilities:

  • Clarified stakeholder goals (sustainability, incentives) and defined KPIs.
  • Managed integration with government services; handled data-sharing agreements.
  • Oversaw UX, content, and verification workflows with compliance in mind. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered features that supported waste reduction and energy-saving initiatives.
  • Enabled businesses to redeem incentives through validated activity tracking. 

Management:

  • Coordinated a cross-functional team and external government stakeholders; maintained integration readiness and SLAs.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Live platform aligning plantation users and businesses with sustainability goals and incentive redemption.

Foodosti – Full Food Delivery Ecosystem

Company website: https://www.foodosti.com

Industry: SaaS | Ecommerce

Region: USA

Role: Program Manager

Scope: Multi-app ecosystem: driver app, customer ordering app, restaurant partner app, customer support portal, and admin dashboard; multi-vendor and multi-city support.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined MVP scope and phased roadmap; prioritized features for launch and scale.
  • Coordinated API design, dispatch logistics, payments, and notifications.
  • Set up monitoring, incident response, and change-management practices for continuous releases.

Achievements:

  • Launched MVP and iterated over two years with continuous improvements.
  • Maintained high service availability and stable post-launch operations. 

Management:

  • Facilitated Scrum ceremonies; coordinated cross-timezone team (engineering, QA, design, support).

Outcome/Impact:

  • End-to-end delivery and operations management for a live marketplace with sustained enhancements over 24 months.

Couchbase – Mobile Database App

Company website: https://www.couchbase.com

Industry: Tech | NoSQL Cloud Database

Region: California, USA

Role: Delivery Manager

Scope: React Native Android app using Couchbase Lite for offline storage with Sync Gateway/Server for remote synchronization.

Responsibilities:

  • Captured requirements with client architect, defined epics and user stories.
  • Owned sprint planning, backlog refinement, and QA cycles; coordinated mobile and backend workstreams.
  • Managed integration of offline-first patterns, conflict resolution, and data sync rules. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered a functional prototype aligned to developer advocacy use-cases.
  • Established coding and testing standards for offline-first mobile flows. 

Management:

  • Led cross-functional team (mobile, backend, QA); facilitated Agile ceremonies; maintained RAID log and risks around data conflicts.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Prototype validated feasibility of offline-first sync; enabled Couchbase demo scenarios and partner enablement.

Red Mango Loans – FinTech Platform

Company website: https://www.redmangoloans.com.au

Industry: FinTech | Lending (IoT-adjacent)

Region: Australia

Role: Project Manager

Scope: Foundational work for lending platform with secure onboarding, document checks, and payout operations.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined onboarding and risk scoring workflows; aligned identity and document checks.
  • Coordinated integrations with payment rails and notifications.
  • Oversaw QA plans for eligibility and payout logic. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered early milestones toward MVP readiness. 

Management:

  • Managed distributed team; maintained stakeholder updates and decision logs.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Clear MVP path and validated core flows for compliant lending operations.

Vendgence – Age Verified Vending

Company website: https://vendgeance.com

Industry: IoT | Age Verification | AI

Region: UK

Role: Project Manager

Scope: Vending machine system for regulated vape products with identity verification and mobile app QR purchasing, compliance with UK regulations.

Responsibilities:

  • Integrated ID verification and age checks, aligned flows with compliance guidance.
  • Managed mobile app linkage for QR-based purchase and device unlock.
  • Coordinated reporting and audit features for regulators. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered compliance-ready MVP suitable for regulatory review.
  • Improved safety and access control in automated retail. 

Management:

  • Synchronized work between hardware, mobile, backend, and compliance stakeholders. 

Outcome/Impact:

  • Secure, compliant vending solution improving oversight and customer experience.

NISJ – Currency Exchange ATM

Company website: https://www.byc.sa

Industry: ATM | FinTech | ATM Client

Region: Saudi Arabia

Role: PM

Scope: Currency exchange ATM concept integrating FX rates, KYC checks, and secure transaction handling.

Responsibilities:

  • Defined compliance-aware transaction flows and audit trails.
  • Coordinated hardware integrations and cash management logic.
  • Prepared UAT scripts for financial operations. 

Achievements:

  • Established requirements baseline for regulated ATM operations. 

Management:

  • Aligned with compliance and hardware vendors, managed milestone reviews.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Documented and tested blueprint for compliant currency exchange ATM operations.

Pragxis Global – ATM Platform

Company website: https://global.pragxis.com/Technology

Industry: ATM Platform | ATM | Finance | Mechanical Equipment

Region: Washington, USA

Role: PM

Scope: Advanced financial transaction platform supporting withdrawals, bill payment, transfers, and multi-currency/language operations.

Responsibilities:

  • Aligned hardware/firmware/software integrations, defined security and compliance checkpoints.
  • Organized end-to-end test plans covering device I/O and failover scenarios.
  • Prepared deployment SOPs and maintenance guides. 

Achievements:

  • Established hardened build and security baselines.
  • Improved time-to-diagnosis for field issues with telemetry and logs. 

Management:

  • Collaborated with mechanical/electrical vendors and fintech partners, maintained risk register focused on security and uptime.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Robust ATM solution with emphasis on security, reliability, and global usability.

Colbr – Portfolio Management Platform

Company website: https://www.colbr.co

Industry: Portfolio Management Platform | FinTech | Wealth Management

Region: France

Role: PM

Scope: Web-based client portfolio management platform including document validation, multi-level approvals, and secure access controls.

Responsibilities:

  • Mapped regulatory requirements into acceptance criteria and workflows.
  • Coordinated security reviews and compliance checkpoints.
  • Oversaw integration with identity/document services; ensured auditability. 

Achievements:

  • Delivered secure workflows aligned to EU financial regulations.
  • Improved operational efficiency with automated approval routing. 

Management:

  • Managed Agile sprints; stakeholder demos; tracked risks related to compliance and data privacy.

Outcome/Impact:

  • Production-ready platform with bank-grade controls supporting compliant onboarding and portfolio operations.