Margarita Brose

Presentation: Transforming the Way the SEC Works: Building a Business/Technology Partnership

Abstract: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is an 87-year old agency staffed primarily by lawyers and accountants. It has a proud tradition of teams working together to bring cases, develop policy or implement new programs for the protection of investors. The implementation of technology at the agency over the last 25 years has used traditional waterfall methodology. This waterfall approach traditionally limits communications between business and technology, resulting in slower development, some frustration, and inconsistent confidence in systems. The agency has decided to implement agile approaches to improve communications and the delivery of product to internal customers.

Concurrently, the agency is maturing its program and project management across the divisions and offices. The coordination of project management and agile practices is intended to drive excellence across the organization.

Learnings:

  • Developing Product Owners in an organization of lawyers and accountants requires a commitment to developing that skill set in the agency.
  • Agile teams need to work closely with business and IT project managers to get work done.
  • Momentum takes time to build, but once you find the willing to build your case, their enthusiasm can motivate their colleagues to adopting change.

PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working


Biography: Margarita Brose leads the Agile Transformation and Program and Project Management (PPM) Community of Practice in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She previously served as Program Management Office lead in the agency’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis. Since joining the OCOO in June 2021, she has launched the PPM Community of Practice and the Agile Transformation initiatives as part of the agency’s three year roadmap as it continues is agile journey.

Ms. Brose has twenty-five years of experience in the financial markets, as a regulator, and as a consultant/advisor to financial services companies.