In this special edition of The Executive Outlook we had the pleasure of speaking with Ariana Amparan, Chief Operations Officer at Proveo Automation. Ariana’s story shows how curiosity, flexibility, and leadership can guide organizations through change. Her journey is inspiring and full of practical lessons for anyone working with technology and people.
During a conversation, Ariana shared that, “My journey in technology is very different from most people. I started in the legal field. I thought I would become an immigration attorney because I wanted to help the immigration community in the United States.” She recounted how moving to the Washington, DC area changed her career path. “I found myself in the world of government technology and wasn’t sure where I fit. I had to change direction, and I got my first government contracting job at USCIS, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. In a way, I was still helping the immigration community, just through technology.”
She continued by saying, “I started as a Business Analyst, then moved into Project Management. Later, I became a Federal employee serving as an Acting Branch Chief, and now I work in government contracting as COO at Proveo Automation, a small company that helps government agencies use technology better.” Ariana added, “Each step taught me to solve real problems, work with teams, and stay curious about how things can improve.”
When asked how she finds opportunities when leading large transformation projects, Ariana explained, “Before we bring in any technology, we first try to understand the customer’s goals and problems. Are they updating old systems, replacing them, or creating new ones? During discovery sessions, we define opportunities where AI, automation, or data strategy can eliminate inefficiencies and improve the customer’s decision-making process. We always make sure technology serves a real purpose in the business outcome and not just use it for technology’s sake.”
Ariana shared an example: “We often find teams doing many tasks manually, using too many tools, or storing files in ways that make it hard to track progress. Right now, there is a big knowledge gap because many Federal employees have left Federal service, and the processes they used weren’t well documented. Our role is to understand their current workflows, remove unnecessary steps, integrate systems, and automate tasks. This helps the team save time and work more efficiently.”
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She further defined how her team works from ideas to implementation: “Our process is not a straight line. We have worked closely with our stakeholders from the start. Using agile methods, we begin with discovery, which leads to a roadmap of opportunities for change. We list the most important tasks first and focus on what will bring the most value. Then we start ideation, where our design team works with users. We test ideas, get feedback, and make improvements. We repeat this process until the solution is clear, easy to use, and effective.”
Ariana said, “By including our customers in every step, the process becomes more transparent. It builds trust and ensures people are ready to use the new systems. The staff who do the work test the tools and give feedback, which makes adoption easier.” She added, “This way, we have user buy-in, and the technology is useful from day one.”
She explained the key principles guiding her work: “We focus on alignment, transparency, and adaptability. Alignment means our work directly supports business goals, not just technical milestones. Transparency comes from keeping leadership involved and connected with teams. Adaptability means we can change direction quickly when needed. We use a variety of Agile methodologies and frameworks like Kanban, Scrum, XTREME, Pair programming; and user-centered design to stay organized and flexible.”
Watch the full conversation on YouTube by clicking the link below:
When asked how she measures success, Ariana Amparan replied, “We start every transformation by benchmarking the current state, how long tasks take, which tools are being used, and what they cost. After development, we measure progress against that baseline to see where efficiency and outcomes have improved. But beyond numbers, we look at adoption and trust: are people using the new tools, do they believe in the process, and is collaboration improving as a result? Technology alone isn’t enough. True transformation happens when people embrace the change, give feedback, and keep improving together.”
Ariana shared lessons from challenges: “Change management is the hardest part for any organization. People like what they know and resist new systems. I’ve seen projects where leadership wasn’t fully engaged at the start. Staff went back to old habits, and adoption failed. But when leaders supported the platform and encouraged their teams, adoption improved naturally. Transformation must start with the right mindset at the top.”
When discussing how she advises leaders who may not know where to start, she said, “When leaders aren’t sure where to begin their transformation journey, we start by identifying what’s taking too much time or money, the friction points that slow the mission down. From there, we collaborate with teams to uncover bottlenecks and present data-driven recommendations to leadership for alignment. Once approved, we move quickly into prototyping and user testing, involving staff early to ensure that every solution not only works technically, but is trusted, adopted, and truly improves how people work.”
Ariana shared her advice on future investments: “The smartest investment leaders can make isn’t just in tools, it’s in their people. Technology will keep evolving, but human adaptability is what truly sets organizations apart. Teams need confidence in using data and fluency in working alongside AI. Leaders should cultivate curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking across every level of the organization. The ones who thrive won’t just use AI, they’ll build cultures that understand it, shape it, and grow with it.”
She added, “At Proveo, we actively encourage every team member to use AI in their daily work, no matter their role. I personally use AI tools and agents several times a day to streamline my own work. We also host regular lunch-and-learn sessions where staff share new tools, side projects, and insights. It’s not just about improving the company; it’s about fostering continuous learning and personal growth. There’s always something new to learn, and we believe curiosity should be part of the culture.”
“Successful organizations are built on teamwork,” Ariana explained. “We look for people who are curious, adaptable, and eager to explore new ways of solving problems. True innovation happens when teams feel empowered, supported, and trusted to experiment.”
She added, “Every tool or system is only as powerful as the people behind it. When you include them from the very beginning, listening to their challenges and giving them the right support, transformation becomes meaningful, lasting, and effective.”
Ariana Amparan’s journey from law to leading Proveo Automation shows how curiosity, flexibility, and teamwork create change. Her approach to technology focuses on solving real problems, involving people, and measuring outcomes.
Her story reminds us of that technology alone does not transform organizations; people do. When leaders engage teams, listen to feedback, and encourage learning, change becomes real. Ariana’s advice is clear, practical, and easy to apply in any organization.
For anyone wanting to understand how AI and Automation can improve operations while keeping people in focus, Ariana Amparan provides valuable guidance. Her focus on discovery, collaboration, and empowering teams ensures technology helps people work better, and organizations reach their goals.
A conversation with Ariana Amparan is more than a discussion about technology; it is a lesson in leadership, learning, and making real, positive change in any organization.
Stay connected with The Executive Outlook to learn from leaders like Ariana who are making a difference through technology and people-centered approaches.
Editor Bio
I’m Isha Taneja, serving as the Editor-in-Chief at "The Executive Outlook." Here, I interview industry leaders to share their personal opinions and provide valuable insights to the industry. Additionally, I am the CEO of Complere Infosystem, where I work with data to help businesses make smart decisions. Based in India, I leverage the latest technology to transform complex data into simple and actionable insights, ensuring companies utilize their data effectively.
In my free time, I enjoy writing blog posts to share my knowledge, aiming to make complex topics easy to understand for everyone.
