WILL BAO
Oakland, CA •
SUMMARY
Oakland-based strategy, operations, and technology leader with 10+ years of experience helping organizations make high-stakes decisions across finance, HR, systems, and operations. Background in accounting, enterprise architecture, compliance-oriented product work, and cross-functional advisory leadership. Experienced in evaluating tradeoffs, improving transparency, aligning stakeholders, and translating complex data into practical recommendations. Interested in applying private-sector rigor and public-service mindset to support Oakland’s budget stewardship and fiscal decision-making.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Adobe — Sr. HR Tech Architect
May 2025 – Present
Lead cross-functional initiatives spanning workforce strategy, operations, analytics, and technology, helping leadership evaluate priorities, define success metrics, and make informed investment decisions.
Advise on architecture and governance for complex employee-facing systems, with a focus on scalability, accountability, and long-term operational effectiveness.
Develop strategy for emerging technology capabilities, including evaluation of business value, implementation risks, and cross-functional integration needs.
Bao Ventures LLC — Principal
Jan 2023 – Present
Advise clients on complex business, systems, and operational challenges across HR, finance, and technology functions, translating fragmented processes into scalable, measurable solutions.
Led a large-scale integration effort for a Fortune 10 healthcare organization covering 10,000 employees across HR and finance systems, helping ensure continuity of payroll, benefits, and business operations during organizational change.
Improved onboarding coordination across recruiting, IT, and HR operations, reducing manual handoffs and shortening delays for new employees.
Support publicly traded and privately held companies on process design, data quality, governance, and implementation tradeoffs affecting compensation, equity, recruiting, and organizational operations.
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1 Stripe — Staff Product & Program Manager
Oct 2021 – Nov 2022
Led cross-functional development of an internal talent management product serving executives, managers, and HR, balancing stakeholder needs, implementation feasibility, and measurable operational outcomes.
Directed automation initiatives across equity, payroll, finance, and HR systems to reduce manual processes, improve data integrity, and support time-sensitive company priorities.
Worked across technical and business teams to turn complex operational challenges into structured plans, clear decisions, and durable internal processes.
Workday — Principal Product Manager / Architect
May 2015 – Oct 2021
Led strategy and execution for enterprise software products used at scale, with responsibility for roadmap prioritization, stakeholder alignment, operational risk, and measurable customer impact.
Built solutions that reduced implementation complexity, improved administrative efficiency, and helped organizations navigate compliance and workforce management challenges.
Led product work in regulated and operationally sensitive areas, translating policy and business requirements into practical systems and processes.
PwC / Deloitte — Consulting Roles
Jul 2013 – May 2015
Worked directly with clients on requirements gathering, process design, testing, implementation, and business process improvement.
Supported pricing, proposal development, and cross-functional delivery planning, building a foundation in structured analysis, stakeholder communication, and execution discipline.
EDUCATION
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Business Administration, Accounting
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHS
Budget-adjacent decision support
Cross-functional stakeholder alignment
Process transparency and governance
Operational risk assessment
Data-informed decision making
Complex systems and implementation oversight
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2 COMMUNITY INTEREST
Oakland resident interested in public service, fiscal stewardship, and helping the City make clearer , more effective budget decisions.
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