Main Menu
Twitter Linkedin Instagram

WHO IS CHRIS KIKLAS?

Who is Chris Kiklas?

As the Vice President of Product Management for UKG, Chris Kiklas is responsible for leading the strategy for UKG’s SMB and International HCM solution, UKG Ready. With extensive experience in product management, operations, and corporate leadership roles, Chris has a proven track record of driving business growth and exceeding revenue targets while engaging and retaining top talent. Chris works closely with all cross-functional teams to ensure the growth of the product, the delivery and support, and also marketing and messaging of the product. In addition, Chris is accountable for growing the product team, which is known in the industry as one of the best product teams in the SMB HCM space. Chris’s dedication to human capital management, leadership, and workforce management is evident in his approach to product development and his focus on innovation, collaboration, and customer satisfaction.
Chris has over a decade of experience in product management, operations, and corporate leadership roles. Prior to his current position at UKG Ready, Chris served as President of Emlogis, Inc. and EmLogis Philippines, where he led the expansion of the business internationally, created an internationally recognized employee scheduling brand, and led a multi-year design and development project of EmLogis’ next-generation employee scheduling solution. In addition, Chris has held a variety of positions at UKG, including Director of Product Management, where he led the strategy for UKG Ready’s Workforce Management modules and platform and introduced the first AI products to market, and Senior Business Analyst at Attachmate-NetIQ, where he managed the maintenance, support, and application development of internal business intelligence solutions.
Chris’s proudest accomplishments include launching multiple new modules for UKG Ready that led to exceeding revenue targets every year and helped sustain revenue growth of over 20%. Chris also established and developed a high-performing international product team of 40+ members, resulting in a significant increase in product delivery efficiency and quality. Chris is also proud of his work building strong relationships with key industry influencers and thought leaders, resulting in increased brand awareness and recognition for UKG Ready in the marketplace.
Chris has extensive expertise in human capital management, leadership, and workforce management. He is a transformational, goal-oriented product executive who uses a big-picture perspective, process optimization, and sound motivation techniques to help people and companies solve complex problems, refine their vision, and unlock potential they may not have known was there. His approach to product development is focused on innovation, collaboration, and customer satisfaction, and he believes that by working closely with cross-functional teams, he can ensure the growth of the product, the delivery and support, and also marketing and messaging of the product.
Chris is a frequent speaker and presenter, both internally at sales summits, analyst events, and customer conferences and externally at industry conferences, on the topics of the Ready product and strategy, human capital management, artificial intelligence, leadership, and workforce management. He is passionate about creating products that help businesses treat people better and believes that the right HCM solutions can change people’s lives.
When Chris isn’t busy driving product strategy and business growth, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with his friends and family. Covertly, is also a lover of ridiculously difficult board games. He is also an avid reader and enjoys learning about new technologies and trends in the HCM industry. Chris is dedicated to giving back to his community and volunteers his time as a mentor and advisor to young professionals. He is passionate about making a positive impact on the world and believes that everyone has the potential to do great things.
In addition, Chris leads Landmark Worldwide’s Wisdom Unlimited course, which is designed to provide participants with powerful tools and strategies for achieving personal and professional success. The course combines a unique blend of interactive exercises, group discussions, and expert guidance to help participants unlock their full potential and achieve their goals. Chris is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and believes that by working together, we can all achieve great things.
Chris is dedicated to creating products that help businesses treat people better and believes that the right HCM solutions can change people’s lives. With extensive experience in product management, operations, and corporate leadership roles, Chris has a proven track record of driving business growth and exceeding revenue targets. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and is committed to making a positive impact on the world.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Chris’s professional background, expertise, and approach. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to reach out via the contact page or LinkedIn.

Experience

July 2022

UKG VP, Product Management

  • Led the strategy for UKG’s SMB and International HCM solution, UKG Ready, including the launch of multiple new modules that led to exceeding revenue targets every year and helped sustain revenue growth of over 20%

  • Managed the overall management of headcount, budget, and metrics for the entire Ready Product Management team

  • Established and developed a high-performing international product team of 40+ members, resulting in a 40% increase in product delivery efficiency and quality

  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive the development of the product roadmap and strategy, increasing customer retention and product usability and satisfaction

  • Built strong relationships with key industry influences and thought leaders, resulting in increased brand awareness and recognition for the product in the marketplace

July 2022

January 2021

UKG Sr. Director, Product Management

  • Led the strategy for UKG Ready’s Workforce Management modules, Platform, Admin Services products, AI/ML, Documentation, and Suite Experience platform

  • Contributed to the overall management of headcount, budget, and metrics for the entire Ready Product Management team

  • Collaborated on decisions around new products to bring to market, products to sunset, and which areas should increase or decrease investment.

  • Ran international Product Management leading to changes in the product that resulted in Sales achieving more than 100% of quota quarter after quarter

  • Worked with cross-functional groups to better align strategies to release more products more frequently and with better quality that delivered value to customers and UKG

  • Implemented a continuous planning process in Product Management that created more agility and the ability to deliver just-in-time solutions to customers

  • Created a continuous feedback loop with Sales, Pre-Sales, Marketing, Sales, and Services to drive innovation, collaboration, and improvement to the Ready suite

  • Partnered with Engineering on designing, implementing, and executing agile practices

  • • Spoke and presented frequently both internally at sales summits, analyst events, and customer conferences and externally at industry conferences on the Ready product and strategy, Human Capital Management, Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, and Workforce Management topics

January 2021

May 2016

UKG Director, Product Management

  • Led the strategy for UKG Ready’s Workforce Management modules

  • Responsible for the Workforce Ready platform

  • Created and led the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics group for the UKG SMB solution

  • Managed the technical publications team and oversaw the transition to online documentation

  • Insured that innovation was always at the forefront of product and engineering thinking and

    responsible for the consistent release of innovative products in the market

  • Redesigned the product management process to make it more efficient and streamlined

  • Managed the Workforce Ready partner marketplace program

May 2016

April 2014

EmLogis President

  • Prepared and presented monthly and quarterly updates to the EmLogis Board of Directors and Investors.

  • Expanded the EmLogis business internationally by opening and growing an Asian subsidiary, creating an internationally recognized Employee Scheduling brand.

  • Responsible for all G&A, Marketing, Engineering, Product Management, Services, and Support areas of the business.

  • Led a multiyear design and development project of EmLogis’ next-generation employee scheduling solution

  • Frequent guest speaker and moderator on workforce planning, employee engagement, motivation, creating change, and employee scheduling.

  • Participated in prospect and customer interactions

  • Expanded and refined a robust international remote working program

  • I transitioned from a high-cost offshore development team to a cost-effective, high-productivity team.

  • Forged relationships with partners in various industries

April 2014

September 2013

EmLogis VP Operations & Corporate Treasurer

  • Evaluated all company expenditures and processes, ultimately reducing corporate expenses by 30% without losing employees while at the same time increasing output.

  • Responsible for all G&A, Marketing, Services, Business Development, and Support Areas of the business.

  • Sponsored project to streamline SaaS-based implementations

  • Built a comprehensive financial model to create a more predictive, future-looking strategic plan

  • Assisted in the creation of a robust remote working program

September 2013

2011

EmLogis VP, Service and Support & Corporate Treasurer

• Evaluated and revamped all employee benefit programs to make them more financially viable, increase their competitive nature and increase employee satisfaction.

  • Instituted Marketing and Sales metrics to better align activities in those areas to corporate goals.

  • Managed all Services, Training, Marketing, and Support employees

  • Promoted operational efficiency by cross-training all employees to have secondary responsibilities

  • Spearheaded organizational restructuring for more comprehensive support and services with fewer employees.

  • Built streamlined processes between Development and Services teams

  • Implemented a SaaS-based support site to reduce the number of needed support staff by 50%

  • Created a run book process for Customer Support

2011

2010

EmLogis Manager, Consulting Services

  • Managed all day-to-day activities of Consulting Services and Support teams

  • Led customer-facing data warehousing project

  • Created comprehensive customer and employee training programs

  • Oversaw all customer interaction and support during Pre/Post-Sales process.

  • Managed support, telephone, and marketing vendors

2010

2008

EmLogis Manager, Pre-Sales

  • Created entire Pre-Sales process

  • Redesigned sales process to achieve more complex and extensive sales

    Developed initiative to reformat and improve customer demos

  • Provided constant customer support throughout Pre-Sales/Sales Process

  • Produced sales and marketing newsletters to engage new and potential customers.

2008

2005

Attachmate Project Manager & Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst

  • Created new employee, ongoing and on-demand training for all Business Intelligence applications and corporate workflows.

  • Provided team leadership for NetIQ’s Sales Operations team

  • Led maintenance, support, and application development of internal Business Intelligence solution

  • Managed end-to-end lead process, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of leads

2005

1999

M.D. Anderson

Crystal Enterprise Lead – Applications Systems Analyst Technical Lead – Software Systems Specialist
General Systems Support – Software Systems Specialist

• Provided team leadership for critical business intelligence infrastructure

1999

Boards of Directors

  • Guidepost Consulting (2023 - Present)
  • Sky Ryders Arts & Education (2023 - Present)
  • On Demand Marketing Concepts (2018 - 2023)
  • Einstein Marketing Concepts (2016 - Present)
  • Friends of the Houston Public Library (2014 - 2017)

Associations

  • The Center for Clinical Workforce Planning Professionals (September 2015 to Present)
  • Society of Health Systems (May 2013 - May 2016)
  • Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (May 2013 - May 2016)
  • Management Society of the Philippines (2016)
  • Mensa International (October 2011 - Present)

Chris Kiklas

Creative + Leadership

Twitter Linkedin Instagram

Privacy Policy