Brian Gottschalk
Santa Monica
Summary
Strategic and hands-on program and product leader with 20 years of experience delivering complex, award-winning digital platforms, applications, and campaigns. Deep expertise aligning product strategy, creative, data, and engineering teams to execute at scale. Proven leader of distributed onshore, nearshore, and offshore teams, with a strong technical foundation in modern delivery frameworks, platform thinking, and operational rigor. Recognized for driving measurable outcomes across retail, technology, automotive, and lifestyle brands.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Program Director
VML
01.2024 - 04.2025
- Directed end-to-end delivery across strategy, creative, program management, engineering, and production for enterprise-scale digital applications and campaigns supporting Qualcomm’s AI, Automotive, and Compute business units.
- Oversaw multi-track delivery spanning owned digital platforms, advocacy programs, and social ecosystems, ensuring alignment across product, technology, and marketing stakeholders.
- Managed and mentored 7+ project and program managers across multiple accounts, providing coaching, performance management, and growth plans.
- Led the re-architecture of Shell Mobility’s delivery processes and technology operations, improving application stability, infrastructure reliability, and release confidence for loyalty and rewards platforms.
- Key Engagements: Qualcomm, Shell Mobility
Program Director
Wunderman Thompson
03.2019 - 12.2023
- Delivered large-scale, consumer-facing websites, mobile applications, and digital experiences including Acura.com, SCE.com, Microsoft OneNote, and PGA Championship platforms.
- Served as department lead for a 20+ person project management organization, defining operating models, delivery standards, and accountability structures across Los Angeles–based accounts.
- Championed Agile adoption in partnership with executive leadership, enabling more effective collaboration with nearshore creative and engineering teams and improving delivery predictability.
- Key Engagements: American Honda Motor Co., SCE, PGA, Microsoft, Qualcomm
Program Manager
POSSIBLE
06.2011 - 02.2019
- Led major platform modernization initiatives for Acura.com, driving improvements in UX, performance, and scalability while earning industry recognition.
- Contributed to the design and delivery of the Google Art Project, awarded a Gold Cannes Lions for innovation and execution.
- Key Engagements: American Honda Motor Co., Sony Corporation, Google, Mitsubishi Motors
Sr. Project Manager
Schematic
08.2006 - 05.2011
- Managed cross-disciplinary project teams across TV, web, phone, and automotive product categories.
- Key Engagements: Sony, SanDisk, Time Warner Cable, BBC, Mitsubishi Motors
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
Hamilton College
Clinton, NYSkills
- Agile, SAFe, Scrum, Waterfall
- Atlassian Suite (Jira, Confluence, Basecamp)
- Microsoft Office Google Apps Smartsheet
- Digital Platform Delivery Team Leadership
Accomplishments
- Award-Winning Delivery: Led cross-functional creative and engineering teams on initiatives recognized by J.D. Power, Webby Awards, and Cannes Lions.
- Technical Team Leadership: Built, managed, and mentored distributed teams of 30+ across program management, engineering, and production, fostering accountability, clarity, and high performance.
- Delivery & Process Optimization: Designed and scaled delivery models leveraging Agile, SAFe, and hybrid methodologies to improve prioritization, velocity, and quality across complex digital ecosystems.
Timeline
Sr. Program Director
VML
01.2024 - 04.2025
Program Director
Wunderman Thompson
03.2019 - 12.2023
Program Manager
POSSIBLE
06.2011 - 02.2019
Sr. Project Manager
Schematic
08.2006 - 05.2011
Bachelor of Arts -
Hamilton College