About Michael Davis

Michael Davis
About the Author

Michael Davis

Enterprise PMO and Operational Transformation Executive

Most PMO transformations focus on process. The ones that stick, focus on people first. My approach is simple. Assess before you address, then build, adopt, or improve from there.
90%+reduction in C-suite escalations
60 → 95NPS improvement through delivery predictability
Up to 20%improvement in resource utilization
$114Mglobal program portfolio governed across four countries
Executive Summary

From hands-on execution to C-suite operating partner

Michael Davis is an enterprise PMO and operational transformation executive whose career has progressed from hands-on project execution to building PMO organizations from the ground up into C-suite strategic advisory capabilities. He governs large-scale portfolios of concurrent engagements and serves as a direct operational partner to CEO, COO, and C-suite leadership on company-wide transformation spanning workforce intelligence, delivery modernization, and AI-enabled operations.

At Arraya Solutions he functioned as a de facto operational partner to the COO, driving initiatives across workforce intelligence, presales financial infrastructure, organizational maturity, platform governance, and executive decision support. At Molex he governed a $114M global manufacturing portfolio spanning four countries and enterprise customers including Google, HP, Dell, Intel, IBM, and Huawei. Along the way he has built high-performing teams, elevating individual contributors to leads and team leads to director-level roles.

What sets Michael apart is the combination of executive leadership depth and genuine fluency in AI-enabled delivery transformation, proven through systems he has designed, deployed, and led in production.

Executive Leadership Endorsement

“You are a rare find, a person with passion for the discipline and heart for the people who practice it. You leave organizations in a better place than where you started. I will never forget your contributions or our conversations. I have learned so much from you and with you.”

Thomas Y., Chief Operating Officer, Arraya Solutions
Leadership Focus Areas

Where Michael leads

Enterprise PMO Transformation

Building and maturing PMO organizations to improve governance, delivery predictability, and operational maturity.

Executive Operating Partnership

Serving as a de facto operational partner to C-suite leadership across transformation agendas that extend beyond the PMO mandate.

Portfolio Governance & Visibility

Establishing prioritization frameworks, executive dashboards, and performance metrics.

Delivery Leadership

Leading cross-functional teams across complex, multi-client and enterprise environments.

Professional Services Operations

Aligning pre-sales, delivery, and operational execution to support revenue growth and scalable delivery performance.

Resource & Capacity Planning

Improving utilization, forecasting accuracy, and delivery performance.

Operational Improvement

Strengthening execution discipline through governance, frameworks, and process optimization.

AI-Enabled PMO Modernization

Designing and deploying Copilot-powered intelligence ecosystems, document analysis, and AI-enabled knowledge infrastructure for delivery and executive decision support.

Leadership Approach

How Michael works

1

Assess before you address

Before recommending changes, redesigning processes, or deploying new tools, Michael invests in understanding the current state deeply: the people, the politics, the data, and the gaps leadership may not yet see. That discipline separates sustainable transformation from change that gets reversed six months later.

2

Influence across the whole organization

At Arraya Solutions he built working relationships across practice directors, sales, marketing, finance, managed services, and application development, none of whom reported to him. The result was a PMO that functioned as an organizational maturity engine, not a departmental governance layer.

3

Lead with data

Every difficult recommendation, from surfacing pipeline distortions to identifying pricing errors to recommending the dissolution of an underperforming product team, was grounded in analysis that made the conclusion undeniable. He presents findings and conclusions, not options for others to interpret.

4

Lead with genuine human investment

His direct reports knew he had their backs. His peers knew he was a resource, not a competitor. His executive partners knew he would tell them what they needed to hear, not what was comfortable.

Signature Results

Measurable outcomes

Improvements delivered across PMO transformation, delivery performance, and operational maturity.

  • 50% reduction in reporting effort through AI-enabled workflow automation and reporting modernization.
  • Reporting cycles cut from days to minutes through a Copilot-powered delivery intelligence ecosystem that eliminated all manual status reporting.
  • C-suite self-service portfolio intelligence giving executives real-time delivery insight without waiting on reports.
  • Up to 20% improvement in resource utilization, avoiding three planned hires, through portfolio visibility, resource planning, and operational alignment.
  • 10 to 15% gains in forecast accuracy and delivery efficiency through an AI-enabled Lessons Learned program.
  • 90%+ reduction in C-suite escalations through governance frameworks and structured escalation management.
  • NPS from 60 to 95 through stronger delivery predictability and executive stakeholder engagement.
  • People development including a coordinator elevated to PM2, a team lead recommended for Director, and development plans and compensation equity advocacy for every team member.
AI-Enabled Delivery & PMO Transformation

Beyond strategy: systems in production

At Arraya Solutions, Michael led the development and deployment of a fully operational Microsoft Copilot-powered delivery intelligence ecosystem that eliminated manual status reporting and gave C-suite leadership real-time portfolio intelligence on demand. The capabilities included:

Workforce Planning Agents

Real-time capacity and demand analysis through ERP data integration.

Portfolio Reporting Agents

Conversational portfolio status and trend visibility at the executive level.

Executive Reporting Agents

Real-time delivery insights delivered directly to C-suite leadership.

Escalation Analysis Agents

Common escalation themes and patterns surfaced across the portfolio in real time.

Lessons Learned Agents

Conversational analysis of delivery patterns and continuous improvement insights.

Document Intelligence Agents

Analysis of SOWs, RFPs, emails, kickoff, and LOE documents for BA, SA, Sales, and Pre-Sales to reduce scope ambiguity and accelerate discovery.

PMO Knowledge Infrastructure Agents

Built on SharePoint and Microsoft Teams so PMs and Practice Directors can conversationally navigate SOPs, templates, and process guidance.

Power BI Analytics

Full analytics across the PMO knowledge infrastructure and escalation framework for executive-level visibility and data-driven decisions.

Career Snapshot

Experience

  • Arraya Solutions, Inc

    Senior Director, Enterprise PMO & Project Management

    Built and transformed the enterprise PMO, governed large-scale portfolios of concurrent engagements, contributed directly to pre-sales execution, and led deployment of a Copilot-powered delivery intelligence ecosystem.

  • Molex, LLC

    Senior Project Manager & Project Management Supervisor

    Led global enterprise initiatives, mentored international teams, and supported PMO governance maturity.

  • CLEAResult

    Business Unit IT Manager / Regional Solutions Delivery Lead

    Strengthened delivery governance and supported operational transformation initiatives.

  • Southwest Power Pool, Inc

    Project Manager & Enterprise PM Solutions

    Contributed to enterprise PMO development and led initiatives supporting $4B infrastructure programs.

  • Acxiom, Inc

    Project Manager, Enterprise PM Solutions Delivery

    Led enterprise delivery initiatives across a diverse commercial portfolio and supported two PMO launch efforts.

Credentials
  • B.S., IT Project Management, Capella University
  • PMP, Project Management Institute
  • Certified Scrum Master
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
  • ITIL v3
  • GWU Certificate in Project Management
Best Aligned With
  • Enterprise PMO & Delivery Leadership
  • PMO Transformation & Organizational Maturity
  • Delivery Modernization
  • Professional Services & Multi-Client Delivery
  • Portfolio Governance & Prioritization
  • AI-Enabled Delivery & PMO Modernization
  • Fractional & Advisory PMO Leadership
Professional Recommendations

What colleagues say

Selected recommendations. See the full list on LinkedIn →

“Michael is a trusted and excellent project management systems and process developer, teacher, and practitioner. He combines deep technical knowledge with strong communication, empathy, and leadership skills to successfully manage complex initiatives. Michael consistently demonstrates a desire to help teams and organizations succeed and would be an asset to any organization.”

Corrie M., PMPDirector, Strategic Initiatives, Molex LLC

“Michael played an important role in establishing and maturing our PMO while partnering closely with delivery and services leadership. He brought greater structure, visibility, and alignment to how we delivered complex technology solutions. Michael’s leadership strengthened delivery execution and helped improve how our services organization operated.”

Ron L.Practice Director, Professional Services, Arraya Solutions

“Working with Michael during his leadership of the Enterprise PMO, I witnessed firsthand his ability to build high-performing teams and drive organizational maturity. He combines strategic thinking, strong communication, and data-driven decision-making to improve visibility, governance, and delivery outcomes. Under Michael’s leadership, the PMO evolved into a highly structured and strategically aligned function that gained executive recognition across the organization. His leadership style empowers teams, encourages accountability, and fosters continuous improvement. Michael leads with integrity, transparency, and professionalism. I would highly recommend him to any organization seeking a strategic PMO leader who can build maturity, strengthen governance, and deliver measurable business value.”

Karen M., PMPIT Project Manager (Retired), Arraya Solutions

“Although we worked in different departments, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Michael on several initiatives. He was always responsive, knowledgeable, and generous with his time. Michael has a strong command of project management, is technically proficient, and quickly masters new tools and systems. He was an invaluable resource across the organization and would be an asset to any organization seeking a strong PMO leader.”

Cassandra B., PMPProject Manager, Arraya Solutions

“Michael excels at building strong client relationships while ensuring delivery is aligned to business goals. During his time as Head of Project Management, he was a true partner to sales, helping bridge pre-sales and delivery to drive successful outcomes. He is a reliable, solutions-oriented leader who consistently focuses on delivering value for both customers and the business.”

Teddy J.Sales Executive, Arraya Solutions

“Michael made a significant impact by bringing strategy, structure, and consistency across practices. His ability to create alignment and improve processes helped teams work more effectively while maintaining focus on broader business goals. He brings a steady, thoughtful leadership style and consistently connects day-to-day execution with strategic outcomes. Michael is a trusted leader who strengthens collaboration and drives meaningful organizational improvement.”

Javier B.AI & Modern Workplace, Architecture & Presales Leader, Arraya Solutions

PM Links is an industry resource hub for project, program, and PMO leaders, featuring practical frameworks, leadership insights, and content drawn from real-world enterprise delivery and transformation experience. Michael contributes to and curates the platform as part of his ongoing commitment to the broader PM and PMO community.

Let’s connect

Michael partners best with organizations seeking stronger delivery governance, improved portfolio visibility, and executive-level operational transformation, where the mandate extends beyond project governance into genuine organizational change and measurable business outcomes. He also takes on a limited number of fractional and advisory engagements for organizations that need senior delivery leadership without a full-time hire. If that describes what your organization needs, the conversation is worth having.