Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Juan Manuel Otalora Ramirez

Juan Manuel Otalora Ramirez

AI Strategy & Innovation Consultant - Digital Transformation
Escazú

Summary

Experienced IT Senior Auditor & Consultant with 5+ years of expertise in IT governance, AI-driven automation, and cybersecurity. Proven track record in optimizing enterprise processes by reducing manual workloads, enhancing operational efficiency, and achieving strategic cost savings through automation and digital transformation. Demonstrated deep knowledge in risk management and ensuring IT compliance with ISO 27001, COBIT, and NIST frameworks to strengthen security, governance, and regulatory compliance. Committed to leveraging AI, automation, and cybersecurity best practices to drive business transformation. Excels at the intersection of technology, strategy, and innovation.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages

Work History

Senior I.T Internal Auditor

Grupo Nutresa
02.2023 - Current
  • Conducted comprehensive audits of the company’s highest-value IT contracts, identifying billing discrepancies and contractual deficiencies totaling over $225,000 USD, contributing directly to cost recovery and vendor renegotiation.
  • Strengthened cybersecurity and IT compliance across 135+ retail locations by optimizing access governance, resolving segregation of duties risks, and enhancing audit preparedness.
  • Selected through a competitive internal process as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the ‘InnCubo Project’, an intrapreneurship program structured similarly to a tech startup.
    Chosen among 100+ candidates, appointed as one of six full-time team members dedicated to launching an innovation-driven digital business unit over a 5-month development cycle.
    Led end-to-end technical strategy, MVP architecture, and product-market validation.
    Demonstrated cross-functional leadership, agile execution, and tech-forward thinking within a corporate entrepreneurship context.
  • Appointed as an Innovation Promoter within the organization, where I led successful innovation initiatives and regularly conducted internal training sessions on Artificial Intelligence, agile methodologies, and digital transformation practices.
  • Supported the modernization of audit functions by implementing RPA-based controls that enhanced traceability, process automation, and operational efficiency.

Chief Technology Officer – Intrapreneur Program

Grupo Nutresa
01.2024 - 05.2024
  • Selected among 100+ internal applicants for Grupo Nutresa’s intrapreneurship program aimed at launching a scalable, tech-driven business unit.
  • Served as CTO within a six-person core team dedicated 100% to the project for 5 months.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies including cloud platforms ( AWS and Azure ), LLMs and generative AI, RPA tools and satellite-based systems as part of prototyping and strategic evaluation processes within innovation and transformation initiatives.
  • Led the technical architecture and MVP strategy, overseeing platform development, usability testing, and early-stage product-market validation.
  • Collaborated closely with business leads and innovation directors to align the product with strategic goals and validate commercial feasibility.
  • Contributed to cross-functional innovation within a corporate startup environment, applying Agile, Lean Startup, and digital product leadership methodologies.

I.T Audit Consultor 3 - Risk Advisory

Deloitte Costa Rica
01.2021 - 02.2022
  • Conducted IT risk assessments and provided consultative support for organizations across Latin America and the Caribbean, enhancing clients IT governance, internal controls, and overall cybersecurity measures.
  • Worked with a broad range of enterprise systems and databases, including Oracle, SQL Server, Windows, Linux, and SAP, supporting audit and compliance processes.
  • Possess advanced proficiency in data analysis tools, spreadsheets, and reporting workflows, with additional experience in data processing, customer support, and service excellence across cross-functional teams.

Finance Consultor

Jorge Otálora Arq.
01.2019 - 10.2020
  • Advised on the financial structuring and investor presentations for residential housing developments, securing funding for three major construction projects.
  • Developed and implemented cost-optimization strategies for material procurement, reducing total expenses by an average of 10% across projects.
  • Oversaw the financial planning and project management lifecycle, from budgeting and forecasting to execution tracking, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
  • Collaborated closely with engineers, architects, and suppliers to maintain financial control and align construction timelines with investment requirements.

Education

I.T Business Management -

Instituto Tecnológico De Costa Rica
05.2001 -

I.T Business Management -

Universidad Latina De Costa Rica
05.2001 -

Skills

Certified AI for Project Managers and Scrum Masters

AI Strategy Development

Generative AI - Prompt Engineering

Agile Methodologies

Agile / Lean Startup for Innovation

Cloud Platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)

Accomplishments

  • Completed more than 30 executive-level courses through Harvard Business Review and LinkedIn, focused on leadership, AI applications, agile methodologies, and digital strategy
  • Winner of the Best Strategy award in the Campeonato Bursátil 2016, recognized by the Costa Rican Stock Exchange and the Ministry of Public Education among more than 20,000 national participants
  • Audited commercial and portfolio management systems processing over 100M USD transactions annually, ensuring data accuracy, system reliability, and enterprise-wide compliance.
  • Delivered internal training sessions on Artificial Intelligence, RPA, and Agile frameworks, promoting digital innovation and cross-functional collaboration across corporate teams

Timeline

Chief Technology Officer – Intrapreneur Program

Grupo Nutresa
01.2024 - 05.2024

Senior I.T Internal Auditor

Grupo Nutresa
02.2023 - Current

I.T Audit Consultor 3 - Risk Advisory

Deloitte Costa Rica
01.2021 - 02.2022

Finance Consultor

Jorge Otálora Arq.
01.2019 - 10.2020

I.T Business Management -

Instituto Tecnológico De Costa Rica
05.2001 -

I.T Business Management -

Universidad Latina De Costa Rica
05.2001 -

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Juan Manuel Otalora RamirezAI Strategy & Innovation Consultant - Digital Transformation