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Michael Affronti is a visionary Senior Product Executive with over 20 years of experience…

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  • Salesforce

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Publications

  • Salesforce on Leveraging Data to Help Merchants Gain and Keep Consumer Trust

    PYMNTS

    Customer experience preferences drive consumer loyalty, but maintaining their loyalty is rarely as simple as giving them what they “tend” to want. Consumers’ preferences change without warning, and savvy merchants must be agile enough to meet their evolving needs, according to Michael Affronti, senior vice president of product and payments at Salesforce.

    See publication

  • Retailers: Consider the ‘measure twice, cut one’ approach to reopening

    ITProPortal

    At @Dataminr we work with a number of global organizations to help them build real-time intelligence into their office reopening plans. This is especially important in the retail sector, and it was great to share some of my thoughts with ITProPortal on the topic.

    See publication

  • Why misunderstanding of real-time information is an operational risk

    Information Age

    Why misunderstanding of real-time information is an operational risk
    Michael Affronti, senior vice-president of product at Dataminr, discusses the risks that come with misunderstanding real-time information

    See publication

  • How UK retailers are using AI to enhance safety and operations

    Information Age

    The Covid-19 pandemic has upended the digital transformation plans already underway at many UK retailers, compressing those plans from years to months. I just shared my thoughts with Information Age on what we're seeing at Dataminr in the retail space: many organizations are effectively using AI to enhance their risk and safety operations, rapidly infusing it into their transformation roadmaps.

    See publication

  • Crisis Simulation: Your Best Defense Against Risk

    Corporate Compliance Insights

    On average, large companies experience a crisis every year, and, as COVID-19 has revealed, few organizations are sufficiently prepared when a crisis arises. Dataminr’s Michael Affronti discusses the importance of running crisis simulations.

    See publication

  • Crisis advantage: How real-time alerts reduce the impact of a brand crisis

    PropertyCasualty360

    Having more time to assess and respond to critical data can mitigate and reduce the impact of a pending crisis and lend more opportunity for decision-makers to get in front of the story before it breaks in news outlets.

    See publication

  • In the Nick of Time

    Supply Chain Best Practices

    Early alerts on unexpected events can give supply chain executives precious time to act — shifting supply lines and production plans to minimize costs.

    See publication

  • Using Real-Time Tech to Mitigate Risk

    Inbound Logistics

    Mitigating risk is one of the most challenging aspects of managing shipping logistics. The good news: Help is available.

    See publication

  • Four of the best life hacks from the world's extreme productivity gurus

    Wired

    These extreme life hackers optimise their time for sleep, data analysis and high-stakes risks

    See publication

  • Remote Work: Exploring the Unwritten Rules for Employees

    Dice

    Every workplace has unwritten rules. You know, the unspoken or assumed rules of etiquette regarding communication, or expected behaviors that can only be learned through experience and observation.

    To keep you from committing a career-limiting mistake, here are the unwritten rules and standards that generally apply to off-site tech employees.

    See publication

  • How To Create Digital Inclusivity For Your Frontline Workers

    Forbes

    According to research by Gallup, only 34% of U.S. workers feel engaged in their jobs. I believe that this is largely because frontline workers can feel disconnected to the broader team, while senior leaders can be out of touch with the rest of their workforce. That’s why being mindful about your entire staff’s needs can be critical to avoiding miscommunication or a skewed company vision. Here are some tips to make frontline workers feel connected to the internal company structure and ensure…

    According to research by Gallup, only 34% of U.S. workers feel engaged in their jobs. I believe that this is largely because frontline workers can feel disconnected to the broader team, while senior leaders can be out of touch with the rest of their workforce. That’s why being mindful about your entire staff’s needs can be critical to avoiding miscommunication or a skewed company vision. Here are some tips to make frontline workers feel connected to the internal company structure and ensure that they're included when implementing digital strategies.

    See publication

  • The Changing Company Office

    Raconteur

    Michael Affronti, VP of product at Fuze, explains how businesses can harness the transformation of the workplace to boost engagement and productivity

    See publication

  • Tips For Managing An Increasingly Remote Workforce

    Forbes Technology Council

    I shared my top 5 tips for managing an increasingly remote workforce at Fuze with the Forbes Technology Council. Do these resonate with your organization?

    See publication

  • Dispelling the top four flexible work myths

    TechRadar

    Implementing flexible work policies at your company doesn't need to be an intimidating task.

    See publication

  • The expansion of the international economy is not a foreign invasion

    CBS Marketplace Radio Show

    The way we measure the gig economy isn't right. I shared my thoughts on why with CBS's Marketplace radio show. What do you think? @fuze
    MarketPlace Radio, June 8th: The expansion of the international economy is not a foreign invasion... #radio #gigs https://www.wnyc.org/story/the-expansion-of-the-international-economy-is-not-a-foreign-invasion-it-is-an-american-triumph/

    See publication

  • Product Innovation Leaders: Michael Affronti, VP of Product at Fuze

    Fresh Tilled Soil

    “Innovate or die.” It’s one of many famous quotes attributed to management guru Peter Drucker. 3M, Apple, and many others serve as examples of innovation rescuing companies from the brink of extinction. But innovation shouldn’t just be a lifeline to a failing venture. It should be part of a company’s DNA that inspires and nurtures a culture and environment for creating products, processes, and business models that deliver new value.

    Unfortunately, innovation too often gets swallowed by…

    “Innovate or die.” It’s one of many famous quotes attributed to management guru Peter Drucker. 3M, Apple, and many others serve as examples of innovation rescuing companies from the brink of extinction. But innovation shouldn’t just be a lifeline to a failing venture. It should be part of a company’s DNA that inspires and nurtures a culture and environment for creating products, processes, and business models that deliver new value.

    Unfortunately, innovation too often gets swallowed by ongoing efforts to maintain existing product value. How do product leaders protect innovation, and why is innovation something that needs protecting? Who is responsible for innovation – if everyone is, no one is. These are some of the challenges we probe in our discussions with innovation leaders.

    This week we kick off a new series of discussions with product innovation leaders by sitting down with Michael Affronti, VP of Product at Fuze. We talked with Michael about dividing his time between making sure the product team is moving the ball forward on the short-term product changes and talking to customers about their needs all while continuing to innovate. Protecting innovation is one of the most difficult challenges for a company in the “hyper-growth” stage. Michael reveals how he challenges his team to think longer than three to six months out.

    See publication

  • I Have 428 Offices (and Counting): How To Work From Everywhere

    Inc.com

    How I Actually Manage to Work From Everywhere, and How to Help Your Employees Do the Same

    See publication

  • Left-Brain or Right-Brain: Which Builds Better Products?

    Inc.com

    The balance between logic and creativity in the workplace

    See publication

  • The Enterprise Gets Serious about Connecting its Workforce

    NoJitter

    People are ready for workplace technology to mirror the experiences they’ve become accustomed to within their consumer lives.

    See publication

  • 4 Reasons Why I Still Wake Up at 4:22 A.M.

    Inc.com

    Stay healthy and productive by being proactive before the sun comes up.

    See publication

  • 1 Simple Change to Make Your One-on-One Meetings Instantly More Productive

    Inc.com

    The key to build a healthy, engaged team starts with getting up out of your chair.

    See publication

  • How to Smoothly Transition From Project to Product Management

    AlleyWatch

    If you’re working in project management or technical product ownership, making the switch to a product management role might seem overwhelming because of the various differences. While change can be difficult, it doesn’t have to be completely jarring. The most effective way to make the transition is to experience the key aspects of product management in your current job.

    See publication

  • How I Stay Productive in 8 Hours of Video Meetings

    Inc.com

    Stand up and step back to get the most out of a full day of virtual meetings

    See publication

  • 5 Design Lessons You Can Use to Make Any Part of Your Company Beautiful (and User-Friendly)

    Inc.com

    It's not enough to just think about the design of your products. The appification of everything has made everyone an early adopter. That being the case, companies cannot afford to let the user experience of their apps, services, IT admin portals, their website - or anything else for that matter - suffer as they go about building their products.

    See publication

  • What to Look for When Hiring a Product Manager

    LA TechWatch

    See publication

  • What to Look for When Hiring a Product Manager

    AlleyWatch

    Product managers can make or break organizations, which is why hiring managers must spend time landing the most talented PMs. Great hires help their companies level up.

    See publication

  • Morphing Your Management Style to Drive a Growing Product Team

    AlleyWatch

    A great outcome of any hiring strategy is when it works. You are pulling in amazing people, and they are growing and supporting each other to build a great product organization. That is the world I have been living in over the last several months. Our product team at ThinkingPhones has literally tripled in size over the last year. Given we have all learned during this hyper-growth period, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the best practices and processes we have implemented during…

    A great outcome of any hiring strategy is when it works. You are pulling in amazing people, and they are growing and supporting each other to build a great product organization. That is the world I have been living in over the last several months. Our product team at ThinkingPhones has literally tripled in size over the last year. Given we have all learned during this hyper-growth period, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the best practices and processes we have implemented during that time.

    See publication

  • Morphing Your Management Style to Drive a Growing Product Team

    LA TechWatch

    A great outcome of any hiring strategy is when it works. You are pulling in amazing people, and they are growing and supporting each other to build a great product organization. That is the world I have been living in over the last several months. Our product team at ThinkingPhones has literally tripled in size over the last year. Given we have all learned during this hyper-growth period, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the best practices and processes we have implemented during…

    A great outcome of any hiring strategy is when it works. You are pulling in amazing people, and they are growing and supporting each other to build a great product organization. That is the world I have been living in over the last several months. Our product team at ThinkingPhones has literally tripled in size over the last year. Given we have all learned during this hyper-growth period, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the best practices and processes we have implemented during that time.

    See publication

  • 4 Things Every Product Person Should Do

    AlleyWatch

    It would be a shame if growing in your career took you further away from having an up-to-date perspective of what is happening with your product.You can quickly forget what life is like in the trenches.

    See publication

  • This is How Long it Should Take to Make a Decision

    Fortune.com

    Data alone won’t suffice.

    The Entrepreneur Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in America’s startup scene contribute answers to timely questions about entrepreneurship and careers. Today’s answer to the question “When making a tough business decision, how do you know when to trust your gut?” is written by Tim Flannery, a venture partner at Pilot Mountain Ventures.

    See publication

  • "ThinkingPhones collaboration app integrates with Gmail"

    TechTarget

    ThinkingPhones integrates click-to-call, instant messaging and presence capabilities into Gmail. The collaboration app looks to limit context switch.

    See publication

  • A Product Manager Should Be The Most Curious Person In The Room

    AlleyWatch

    What is the simplest advice that I can give? Do not wait if you are curious about why something is. Get curious and ask questions.

    See publication

  • Eat Your Dogfood

    AlleyWatch

    I remember when I first heard the question “Are you dogfooding?” shortly after arriving at Microsoft in 2004. I was puzzled why anyone would not use their own company’s products, especially when they were on the product team that built them.

    See publication

  • How I Grew My Network By 142 People Last Month

    AlleyWatch

    I’ve always loved meeting new people. When I was a child I walked around the play area at my kindergarten school and offered up whatever toy I had in my hand to other kids to get them to share and play with me. It’s been thirty...

    See publication

  • How I Actually Get Work Done At Work

    AlleyWatch

    It’s here. One of those miraculous days where you only have a few meetings, no travel, and there are some open spots on your calendar. Incredible!

    See publication

  • Earning Your Customers Trust: Act Like Their Butcher

    AlleyWatch

    In the early 1960s my grandfather and his brothers, entrepreneurs in the truest sense, opened a small Italian-style butcher shop on Smith Street in Brooklyn called LosPaisanos Meat Market.

    See publication

  • How I Use LinkedIn As a Personal CRM System

    AlleyWatch

    In addition to the standard ways of using LinkedIn – searching for people you’ve met or will meet, connecting with them and then browsing their co-workers – you can use LinkedIn as a lightweight CRM system that has great mobile integration.

    See publication

  • Why I Wake Up at 4:22 AM

    AlleyWatch

    Routines, established schedules and quality sleep patterns can help boost productivity. Check out this example.

    See publication

  • Crossfit and Startups Are Basically The Same Thing

    AlleyWatch

    “Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary, because health is worth more than learning.” — Thomas Jefferson

    See publication

Patents

  • Predicting preferred communication patterns

    Issued US 10,764,232

    Methods for predicting preferred communications patterns are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a first user to initiate communication with a second user by a first communication method, determining a communication preference hierarchy of the second user based on a plurality of factors concerning the second user, wherein the plurality of factors include a presence state, selecting a second communication method from the communication preference hierarchy, wherein…

    Methods for predicting preferred communications patterns are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a first user to initiate communication with a second user by a first communication method, determining a communication preference hierarchy of the second user based on a plurality of factors concerning the second user, wherein the plurality of factors include a presence state, selecting a second communication method from the communication preference hierarchy, wherein the second communication method is preferred over the first communication method in the communication preference hierarchy, and in response to the request from the first user, providing a recommendation to the first user to communicate with the second user by the second communication method. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

    See patent

  • Sharing Framework for Resource Sharing

    Issued US 7,702,802

    A sharing infrastructure is directed at providing a framework for sharing resources between initiators and participants. The sharing infrastructure is designed to manage and direct various sharing providers, articulate information about sharing relationships, and to provide a framework for pluggable data sharing, data discovery, schema translation, and conflict resolution. The infrastructure allows for common sharing operations to be implemented in a more centralized fashion, and eases the cost…

    A sharing infrastructure is directed at providing a framework for sharing resources between initiators and participants. The sharing infrastructure is designed to manage and direct various sharing providers, articulate information about sharing relationships, and to provide a framework for pluggable data sharing, data discovery, schema translation, and conflict resolution. The infrastructure allows for common sharing operations to be implemented in a more centralized fashion, and eases the cost of implementing new sharing providers. An extensible and pluggable provider model eases remote and local configuration; schema mapping; and protocol handling. A sharing protocol is defined that relates to establishing and managing a sharing relationship.

    See patent

  • Automatic Conversation Techniques

    Issued US 8,402,096

    Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the…

    Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the incoming message to a conversation identifier for the conversation thread, and a conversation manager module communicatively coupled to the conversation identification module, the conversation manager module operative to determine a conversation rule is associated with the conversation thread, and apply the conversation rule to the incoming message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

    Other inventors
    See patent

Honors & Awards

  • Microsoft Technology Research Transfer Award

    Microsoft

    I co-wrote the business case for the Outlook Social Connector (OSC), a v1 social networking project, by defining the overall strategy and pitching the concept for executive leadership buy-in. We had a very fast, compressed schedule, and I led a unique collaboration with the Creative Systems Group within Microsoft Research to prototype and test the OSC outside of the standard Office development process.

    My partnership with Microsoft Research was recognized by my leadership with a…

    I co-wrote the business case for the Outlook Social Connector (OSC), a v1 social networking project, by defining the overall strategy and pitching the concept for executive leadership buy-in. We had a very fast, compressed schedule, and I led a unique collaboration with the Creative Systems Group within Microsoft Research to prototype and test the OSC outside of the standard Office development process.

    My partnership with Microsoft Research was recognized by my leadership with a Microsoft Research Technology Transfer Award.

  • Microsoft Executive Bench Program

    Microsoft

    I was selected as part of the top 1% of employees at Microsoft to participate in a multi-year training and education program that prepared us to enter the executive leadership team at Microsoft. I began the program during my second year and was continually re-accepted each year throughout my tenure at Microsoft.

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