Dr Kam Star

C-Suite Product & Tech Leader

Chief Product Officer

Chief Technology Officer

Product Portfolio Expert

AI & ML Commercialisation

Coach and Mentor

Product Strategist

Insightful Entrepreneur

Dr Kam Star

C-Suite Product & Tech Leader

Chief Product Officer

Chief Technology Officer

Product Portfolio Expert

AI & ML Commercialisation

Coach and Mentor

Product Strategist

Insightful Entrepreneur

Dr. Kam Star :: NextGen Product & Tech

Welcome to My Journey of Creating Products Users Love!

Remember that rush of excitement when you first solve a complex problem? For me, it all started at twelve. Picture this: my dad’s bustling architectural office, filled with the scratch of pencils and the rustle of blueprints. Amid the organized chaos, I spotted a group of engineers, hunched over their desks, laboriously calculating steel beam dimensions for a skyscraper.

 

Armed with nothing but curiosity and my trusty ZX Spectrum (yes, I was that kid!), I took on a challenge that would change my life. I created a program that slashed their 10-minute calculations (of which there were thousands) to mere seconds. That software wasn’t just my first product; it was the spark that ignited my lifelong passion for technology and innovation.

 

Fast forward to today, and that same spark still drives me. I’m not just a strategic product leader; I’m a relentless innovator with a track record of achieving 10x growth in emerging global technologies. From scaling startups to steering global ventures, I’ve navigated the exhilarating journey from $50m to $250m ARR in just three years, culminating in a $1.6b company sale.

 

My Mission

To drive transformative growth by building, coaching and leading high-performing teams that create products and solutions users truly love. To harness bleeding edge emerging technologies and design thinking to simplify complex problems, delivering outstanding value across industries and propelling businesses from start-ups to scale-ups to enterprises to truly global scale.

My key skills and experience (ask me about any of them!)
Product Management Leadership

With over 25 years of experience and well over 50 products loved by millions of users, I am a visionary product leader and product coach, capable of driving innovation and growth. With topics that include :

  • Product Vision and Strategy: Developing and implementing transformative product strategies, including 'Intelligent Visualisation Accelerating Creativity' at Chaos, 'Human-Centred Automation' at Blue Prism, 'Celebrating Outstanding Creativity' at Digital Shoreditch, and more besides, spanning multiple industries and driving significant ARR growth.
  • Portfolio Management: Successfully managing complex product portfolios, including the expansion of Blue Prism's automation suite from $50M to $250M ARR in three years, and managing portfolios of Chaos and PlayGen.
  • User-Centric Development: Establishing User Research Labs and implemented customer-facing ideation portals to ensure products truly meet user needs and expectations.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Leading and coordinating across product, engineering, sales, marketing and customer success teams to ensure aligned, efficient product development, launch and growth.
  • Agile Methodologies: Implementing and scaling agile practices across organisations, super charging product development velocity and quality.
  • Product Lifecycle Management: Expertly managing products from conception through maturity, making strategic decisions on sunsetting and replacing legacy offerings.
  • Innovation Pipeline: Creating and maintaining robust innovation pipelines, balancing short-term improvements with long-term, disruptive innovations.
  • Metrics-Driven Decision Making: Implementing comprehensive product analytics frameworks to guide data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.

Technology Leadership

From my early days coding on a ZX Spectrum to leading cutting-edge AI and cloud initiatives, I maintain a passion for leveraging technology to solve problems worth solving, and create user-centric solutions. Some of my key tech leadership competencies including :

  • Enterprise Architecture: Leading the development of scalable, cloud-native architectures, including the transformation of Blue Prism's legacy on-premises software to a modern SaaS platform. Aligning multiple M&A tech stacks.
  • AI Integration: Spearheading the integration of AI capabilities across product portfolios, significantly enhancing product capabilities and user experiences.
  • Cloud Transformation: Guiding organisations through cloud migrations, optimising for scalability, security, and performance.
  • Technology Stack Optimization: Making strategic decisions on technology stacks, balancing cutting-edge capabilities with maintainability and scalability.
  • R&D Leadership: I established and led AI labs (at both Chaos and Blue Prism) and many R&D initiatives, focusing on building a culture of innovation and commercially viable technological advancement.
  • Vendor Management: Leading strategic technology partnerships and vendor selections, optimising for cost and capabilities.
  • Cybersecurity and Compliance: Ensuring robust security measures (I did use to hack in my teenage years!) - and focusing on compliance with industry standards across initiatives.
  • Emerging Technology Adoption: Consistently identifying and implementing emerging technologies to maintain competitive advantage, including early adoption of AI and machine learning capabilities.

Design Thinker

Leveraging my background in architecture and years of product development experience, I'm an advocate and practitioner of design thinking methodologies. Using tools such as :

  • User Empathy: Developing and implementing comprehensive user research programs, including the establishment of User Research methodologies, to deeply understand user needs, pain points, and desires.
  • Rapid Prototyping: Championing the use of rapid prototyping techniques to quickly iterate on ideas and gather user feedback early in the development process.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Facilitating design thinking workshops bringing together diverse teams to build streamlined solutions to complex problems.
  • Journey Mapping: Creating detailed user journey maps to get to the heart of the customer pain points and discover opportunities for product improvement and innovation.
  • Insight-Driven Innovation: Translating user and market insights into truly differentiated product features and entirely new product concepts.
  • Iterative Design Process: Implementing iterative design processes, continuously refining products based on user feedback and real-world usage data.
  • Design Systems: Developing comprehensive design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across larger product portfolios.
  • Accessibility and Inclusive Design: Championing inclusive design principles to ensure products are accessible and usable by the widest possible targeted user base.

Go-To-Market Strategist

My approach to crafting and executing comprehensive go-to-market strategies combines deep market analysis, customer segmentation, innovative positioning, articulated in value driven communication - to ensure products enter the market successfully and achieve sustainable growth. My key GTM competencies include :

  • Market Entry Strategy: Developing and executing strategies for entering new markets, including geographic expansion and new customer segments. Focusing on 10x expansion of the products.
  • Channel Strategy: Expertise in designing and optimising multi-channel distribution strategies, including direct sales, partner networks, and digital platforms. For instance at Blue Prism, working closely with channel partners to accelerate market penetration for our automation solutions.
  • Pricing Strategy: Developing differentiated, tiered and where possible value-based pricing models. Maximising revenue while ensuring market competitiveness. Implemented tiered pricing structures and freemium models to drive adoption and upsell opportunities.
  • Product Positioning: Skilled at crafting compelling product narratives and positioning statements that resonate with target audiences. Led the positioning of AI-powered solutions at Blue Prism, differentiating our offerings in a crowded market.
  • Launch Planning & Execution: Experienced in orchestrating global product launches, coordinating across marketing, sales, and customer success teams to ensure seamless execution. Successfully launched multiple products at Chaos, Blue Prism, PlayGen and Digital Shoreditch.
  • Metrics and Analytics: Implemented data-driven GTM approaches, utilising key metrics to continuously refine and optimise strategies. Developed dashboards to track and improve GTM performance across the product portfolio.
  • Customer Acquisition: Designed and implemented strategies to efficiently acquire and onboard new customers, leveraging digital marketing, content strategy, and sales enablement tools.
  • Market Expansion: Successfully led market expansion initiatives, including the growth of Enscape's Serviceable Addressable Market by 300% at Chaos, with plans for further significant expansion.

AI/ML Productization Expert

Commercialising AI is one of my specialities, with over 10 products and add-ons that leverage machine learning and actually make money! (Unsurprisingly because they deliver measurable advantages and value to customers, and are robust and easy to use!). Some of my AI/ML expertise includes:

  • AI Strategy: Developing comprehensive AI strategies for organisations, aligning AI initiatives with broader business goals and product visions.
  • AI Team Leadership: Building and leading high-performing AI teams in multiple organisations - focusing on bridging the gap between innovation and tangible business outcomes.
  • Scaling Machine Learning Implementation: Leading the development and deployment of MLOps including use cases in computer vision, natural language and process synthesis applications to name a few.
  • AI Ethics: Leveraging my postgraduate degree in AI Ethics from LSE, ensured ethical considerations are at the forefront of AI development and implementation.
  • Deep Learning: Expertise in deep learning techniques, including many types of neural networks, such as GANs, transformers, RNN, SSL, CNNs, LSTM, SVM, and agent based models, applied to real-world business problems.
  • AI Infrastructure: Designing and implementing scalable infrastructure for AI model training and deployment, leveraging cloud or on-prem tech stacks for optimal performance.
  • AI-Human Interaction: Focusing on developing AI systems that augment and enhance human capabilities rather than replace them, particularly in enterprise automation and creativity contexts.

Simulation & Serious Games Innovator

With over two decades of experience in creating engaging simulations and serious games, I've pushed the boundaries of interactive digital experiences for learning, training and exploration across multiple platforms and interactions genres.

  • Diverse Portfolio: Developed 30+ simulations & serious games, ranging from single-player experiences to complex multiplayer environments. Creating experiences for various platforms including online, web-based, mobile, desktop, and console, adapting design principles to suit each medium.
  • Serious Games: Pioneering the use of game mechanics in non-entertainment contexts, developing simulations for training, education, and behaviour change in sectors such as healthcare, finance, defence, public policy, behaviour and physical sciences.
  • Innovative Mechanics: Designed unique gameplay systems, including a meta-game for game design itself (a game making game!), enabling others to go beyond conventional game structures.
  • AI Integration: Leveraging AI and machine learning to create adaptive game environments and intelligent NPCs, enhancing player engagement and replayability.
  • Scalable Architecture: Developing robust, scalable architectures for online multiplayer simulations, supporting millions of concurrent users.
  • Analytics Integration: Implementing comprehensive analytics systems within the solutions to gather actionable user data, enabling data-driven design iterations and personalised user experiences.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Leading truly multidisciplinary teams of designers, artists, programmers, and sound engineers as well as sales and marketing to deliver neatly polished final products.
  • Gamification Strategies: Applying game mechanics to many non-game applications, prolonging user engagement and motivation in products and services.

Fun Facts
£3B+ Products Delivered
Multi-award winning
Millions of happy customers
Creating products users love
A 'small' selection of customers I've worked with directly
Resume
Experience
Chief Product Officer
2023 - Now
Chief Product Officer
Chaos

Leading the charge in developing ground-breaking visualization technologies that enable 400K+ creators, architects, designers, and businesses to turn their ideas into stunning realities. I’m fortunate to work with a brilliant team of professional innovators who share my enthusiasm for excellence as we manage our diverse product line-up, which includes V-Ray, Phoenix, Cosmos, Corona Renderer, Enscape 3D, Chaos Cloud and Cylindo.

At Chaos, we’re on a mission to transform the way people see and interact with digital environments, and as a result, our products consistently set new benchmarks in rendering, visualization, and virtual reality. My responsibilities include :

  • Defining strategic vision and direction for our company’s portfolio of awesome products
  • Overseeing every aspect of the product life cycle, from concept to launch, while continuously enhancing our offerings
  • Building and nurturing cross-functional teams committed to delivering phenomenal products and fostering a spirit of innovation and collaboration
  • Collaborating closely with sales, marketing, and customer success teams to perfect product positioning and drive user adoption
  • Keeping a close eye on market trends, competitors, and client feedback to guide product development and decision-making
VP Product Porfolio
2020 - 2023
VP Product Porfolio
SS&C Blue Prism

I oversaw the entire product portfolio and led the product org. I strategized the lifecycle of products, ensuring they aligned with the company’s broader vision and offered market value. Key responsibilities included:

  • Crafting and upholding the portfolio’s vision and strategy.
  • Steering the product portfolio to a leading position in core markets, highlighting its comprehensive customer value.
  • Meeting internal functions’ requirements for organizational success.
  • Enhancing the skills and capabilities of the product managers, offering mentorship and ensuring their growth.
  • Fostering a cohesive team with clear objectives, training, and personal development.
  • Keeping stakeholders well-informed, valuing their feedback, and incorporating their insights into the portfolio’s direction.
  • Collaborating with key internal teams to address cross-organizational facets of the portfolio, such as commercial aspects, support, training, and distribution.
Founder and Chief Product Officer
2004-2020
Founder and Chief Product Officer
PlayGen

As founder and chief product officer of PlayGen, I built and managed the organization to deliver outstanding value to the business and customers across many products, leveraging data, AI, simulations and gaming technologies and reaching over 2 million customers and users. Developed the product vision and strategy, drove innovative new solutions, and differentiated the organization based on insights to set unique customer values. Provided cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management.

Successfully led the company through £100m+ worth of join ventures and development, from pitching and business development through to product direction and mentoring multidisciplinary teams of developers, designers and subject matter experts.

I led product vision, strategy, design, development & delivery of 50+ digital solutions in applied games, gamification, apps and SaaS and cloud based platforms, across edtech, fintech, health, datatech, corporate, enterprise, government, media and entertainment sectors.

Founder
2010 - 2015
Founder
Digital Shoreditch

I founded and led a large annual festival celebrating the outstanding creative, technical and entrepreneurial talent of the UK. I conceptualised, directed and hosted over 100 events with 2000+ speakers to audience of 40,000+ participants. In the process I strategised, designed and built the brand, achieved £2m annual turnover from zero without external investment within 3 years.

2003 - 2004
Graphics Supervisor
BBC Time Commanders

I led the graphics supervision for Time Commanders. Devising and delivering an hour of broadcast quality animation per week using cutting edge game engine, working closely with client, producers, game developers, editors, historical researchers and on set teams.

Visualisation and Digital Transformation Manager
1999 - 2003
Visualisation and Digital Transformation Manager
RMJM

RMJM is one of the largest architecture & design networks in the world. I built and managed teams of visualisation and graphics designers delivering over 100 projects. I also spearheaded the modernisation of the company’s digital strategy and IT infrastructure.

Game Designer
1998 - 1999
Game Designer
Deep Red / Hasbro

I was the Game Designer on Hasbro’s Monopoly Tycoon and Risk 2 AAA game titles. Delivering game mechanics, layouts, environments, characters and interfaces.

EDUCATION
PhD in Gamification, Interdependence, Personality & Performance
2012-2015
PhD in Gamification, Interdependence, Personality & Performance
Serious Games Institute

How can we increase team performance in online social creativity platforms? A randomised controlled experiment with 38,180 sessions to maximise the performance of teams through personalising UX to each individual using gamification and AI, and based on personality and interaction preferences. Demonstrated potential increase in performance by up to 300%

Artificial Intelligence Ethics
2022
Artificial Intelligence Ethics
London School of Economics (LSE)

Gained a much deep understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of ethics of AI, so that I can now adeptly diagnose the challenges and opportunities posed by AI in various domains. Armed with the tools to identify and evaluate inequalities of resources, opportunities, and power in the workplace arising from AI applications. Honing my critical thinking skills on key ethical issues inherent in AI, enabling me to contribute meaningfully to discussions and actions concerning AI’s societal impact.

2005 - 2006
APM Software Development
Open University

Completed with merit. This was a nine month distant learning course for becoming an APM in software development. The course covered :

  • PRINCE2 Methologies and Practice
  • Agile project management life-cycle
  • Product management leadership and team development
Masters in Architecture
1992 - 1998
Masters in Architecture
Sheffield

I have a Masters in Architectures, as well as BA and Post Graduate diploma in Architecture from Sheffield University.

My Master thesis was on Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment.

 

1995 - 1996
Post Grad Diploma in Critical Theory
Nottingham University
1998-2022
Product Innovation Domains

In the last 20 years, I’ve successfully delivered product innovation, development, launch and growth in B2B and B2C environments including solutions on SaaS, Mobile, Desktop, AR, Apps and platforms in many domains, including ; Enterprise Automation, Processes and task mining, Intelligent Document Processing, Business Process Management, Robotic Desktop Automation, Robotic Process Automation, Innovation portfolio management, Data Insights, API Platforms, Social Network Platforms, Brand Transformation, Leadership Development, Festivals and Event Management, Anti Money Laundering, Historical battles, Data Security, Environmental concerns, Public Policy Engagement, Situational awareness, Onboarding, Climate Change, Social Creativity, Designing Games, ProSocial Skills, Interview skills, Curing Cancer, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Career choices, Floods in the UK, Teenage pregnancy, Floodplain management, Violence and Extremism, Nanotechnology, Architectural Visualisation and Global Health Policy.

My Skills & Expertise (ask me about any)
Product Leadership
  • Product and Portfolio Strategy
  • Product Life Cycle
  • Customer Centricity
  • Vision, Strategy, Roadmap
  • Go-to-Market & Evangelising
  • Discover, Design, Build
  • Product Operations
  • Team Structure and Leadership
Design Skills
  • User Experience Design
  • Creative Strategy
  • Interface Design
  • UX Innovation
  • UX/UI Optimization
  • Game & Gamification Design
  • Storytelling
  • Sales & Marketing Content
Business
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Startups & Scaleups
  • M&A Negotiation
  • P&L Responsibilities
  • Pricing & Monetisation
  • Collaborative Leadership
  • Value Engineering
  • Performance Management
Technical
  • System & Cloud Architecture
  • Enterprise Systems
  • Programming
  • Machine Learning
  • eCommerce
  • Web Technologies
  • Cloud & Distributed Systems
  • Authoring Tools
Artificial Intelligence
  • Machine Learning
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Computer Vision
  • Robotics & Control Systems
  • Coding (Python/C++/...)
  • Cognitive Computing
  • Data analysis and visualisation
  • Neural network architectures
Innovation Tools
  • Brainstorming & Mindmapping
  • Design Thinking
  • SCAMPER & TRIZ
  • SWOT & PESTEL
  • Six thinking hats
  • Lateral Thinking
  • New Useful Feasible
  • Systematic Inventive Thinking
Some of the products I've created ...

A lot of my works and products are bound by confidentiality. However here is a small selection of products I’ve led. Feel free to explore and ask me for more information if you’d like to find out more.

Insights and ramblings
Building what customers need!

How do you drive your product development to improve customer satisfaction and attract new customers? Simple – make sure you prioritise solving their most important problems and address the areas that they’re least satisfied with today!

Don’t prioritise product like this!

Product prioritisation advice is full of what to do! But what about what you really shouldn’t be doing?

Feature-based vs Outcome-based Roadmaps

As a product manager, you may be tempted to create a roadmap purely based on customer feedback and requests, and what’s wrong with that?

What You Should Know About 10x Thinking

Are you ready to take your problem-solving skills to the next level? If you’re tired of the same old incremental improvements and want to aim for solutions that are truly groundbreaking, then it’s time to embrace the power of 10x thinking!

Contact info
  • Location: London
  • Email: kamstar1@gmail.com
  • Call: +44 7950 4000 65
  • Outlook: Bright eyed and bushy tailed