Michelle Foss

CFO/ CTO Advisor

Michelle Foss is a globally recognized SAP Program Executive, CFO/CTO Advisor, and transformation leader with more than 26 years of experience delivering end-to-end ERP, SAP S/4HANA, and business process modernization programs across manufacturing, aerospace, energy, retail, medical device, technology, and professional services industries. She is the President of FastForward Solutions, leading complex ERP transformations, carve-outs, S/4HANA implementations, and organizational change initiatives for clients ranging from high-growth startups to multinational enterprises. 

With a unique blend of SAP Program Management, Finance Leadership (CPA), Technology Strategy (CTO), and deep hands-on solution architecture, Michelle bridges business, IT, and executive leadership in a way few consultants can. She has led or architected eight global SAP implementations, dozens of carve-outs and consolidations, and major migrations across Public Cloud, Private Cloud, and hybrid RISE landscapes. 

Her background includes SAP S/4HANA Greenfield & Brownfield, revenue recognition (RAR), global template rollouts, MDG, M&A integrations, complex data migration, Cloud ALM, PMO governance, testing strategy, and multi-application architecture across SAP and non-SAP ecosystems. She has overseen programs for some of the world’s most recognized brands, including McLarens, Acumed, PFC Brakes, Equinor, Stryker, Johnson Controls, PVH, Harley-Davidson, General Motors, Bio-Rad, CSM Bakery, Zoetis, and Microsoft. 

Michelle is known for turning around high-risk programs, establishing enterprise PMOs, and driving executive alignment across Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and IT. Her leadership roles span SAP Program Manager, Senior Solution Architect, CFO/CTO, Data Governance lead, Testing lead, and Change Management advisor

She brings a rare combination of: 

  • Deep functional SAP expertise (FICO, RAR, MM, PP, WM, SD, EWM, Treasury, TRM, MDG, MRP) 

  • Enterprise architecture and integration design (SAP + MES, ETQ, PLM, CRM, POS, custom applications) 

  • Finance leadership (strategic forecasting, cost modeling, operational finance, compliance) 

  • Technical fluency across infrastructure, networks, data, middleware, and cloud platforms 

  • PMO and governance excellence (Activate, Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid, Q-Gates, RAID, cutover orchestration) 

  • Data-driven transformation (data harmonization, MDM, MRP optimization, conversion strategy) 

Michelle holds multiple advanced degrees, including a CPA, a PhD in Biophysics, a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, along with professional certifications such as PMP, Six Sigma Black Belt, APICS, MCSE, CNE, CCIE Design, and advanced executive programs from Wharton (CTO Program) and Columbia Business School (CFO Program). 

Today, Michelle leads organizations through their most complex digital transformations, providing hands-on expertise in SAP architecture, program recovery, PMO governance, Cloud ALM adoption, data readiness, and business process optimization. She is frequently engaged as an Executive Advisor, Board-level SAP strategist, and Program Assurance lead, helping companies reduce risk, accelerate value, and achieve successful, sustainable ERP outcomes.