About

Technology leader. Strategic advisor. Hands-on partner.

I'm Rachel Smith-Osborne, founder of Talis LLC. I've spent 15+ years leading product strategy, digital transformation, and AI/ML initiatives across energy, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and SaaS — helping organizations turn complex technology challenges into measurable business outcomes.

Our background

Built from the inside out.

My career spans the full arc of technology leadership — from business analyst and project manager to Principal Consultant driving multi-million dollar programs across cloud infrastructure, energy, fintech, and SaaS. I've owned roadmaps, led engineering delivery teams, managed Agile and Waterfall programs, and guided organizations through the kind of transformation that doesn't come with a playbook.

I've led discovery and design for automating KPI calculations across data center hardware quality and reliability — work projected to save over $750K annually. I've spearheaded the digital transformation of legacy optimization engines, enabling co-optimization of energy assets that generated $1.5M+ in additional revenue. I've directed citizen-builder AI programs using low-code/no-code tools to extend engineering capacity across entire organizations.

I founded Talis LLC to bring that same depth of experience to organizations that need a trusted technology partner — not a generalist consultant with a framework, but someone who has done the work, understands the trade-offs, and can operate at both the strategic and tactical level.

How we work

A few things we believe deeply.

Strategy without execution is just a document.

I stay in the work. Every engagement I take on includes hands-on delivery — not just recommendations. I've owned backlogs, led delivery teams, and managed UAT through production deployment. If I can't help you execute it, I won't recommend it.

Technology serves the business, not the other way around.

The best technology decisions are business decisions. I evaluate every option — build vs. buy, migrate vs. modernize, automate vs. simplify — through the lens of what actually moves the needle. I've run weighted vendor analyses and buy-vs-build assessments that saved organizations millions.

Clarity is a competitive advantage.

Most technology problems are communication problems in disguise. I translate between engineering, product, and business leadership — turning ambiguous requirements into clearly documented functional specs that delivery teams can actually execute against.

AI is a tool, not a strategy.

I'm a pragmatist about AI. I've built ML-enabled reporting systems, directed citizen-developer AI programs, and led AI/ML product roadmaps. My job is to help you identify where AI creates genuine leverage — and where it creates expensive distraction.

Experience & credentials

15+ years across energy, cloud, fintech, and SaaS.

Selected roles

Fintech / Lending

Principal Technical Product Manager

Fintech

Cloud Infrastructure

Sr. Technical Product Manager

Enterprise

Energy SaaS

Sr. Technical Product Manager

Energy

Energy Management

Sr. Technical Product Manager

Energy

Veterinary SaaS

Director of Product Management

Startup

Areas of expertise

Technical RoadmappingDigital TransformationAgile & Waterfall PMAI / ML ProductsLow-Code / No-Code PlatformsData Pipelines & BIPlatform MigrationsVendor & Stakeholder ManagementScrum Master & Product OwnerRequirements AnalysisProcess EngineeringCustomer Experience

Education

Bachelor of Science, Operations Management

Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland

Primannum Academic Honor Society (Alpha Lambda Delta & Phi Eta Sigma)

Let's work together.

If you're navigating a technology challenge and need a partner who can think strategically and execute practically — we'd love to talk.

Get in Touch