Nice People Spotlight: John Allen

With a depth of experience behind him, this month’s Nice People Spotlight goes to John Allen, Director of Product Development. 

John brings a background in product management, mechanical engineering, and years of hands‑on industry experience. He first joined through HySecurity, where he began contributing his expertise well before it became part of Nice. 

It would be easy to see John as highly self‑sufficient in his work, and in many ways, he is. Still, John believes product management is a humble pursuit, driven by curiosity, continuous learning, and truly listening to customers. He brings a strong coaching mindset to his leadership style, focusing on collaboration and bringing out the best in the people around him. That people‑first approach, paired with his technical expertise, is what makes John such a valued part of the team. 

How did you land at Nice, and how long have you been here? 

I started with HySecurity in 2015, about 6 months before Nice acquired it. I came from a different industry, having spent a decade and a half in barcode scanning. I was drawn to HySecurity as the perfect place to apply my background in product management and mechanical engineering.  

If you were to describe your typical workday, how would you walk us through it? 

My typical workday is spent analyzing the business and planning our future products. I most enjoy when I can get out of the office to meet customers and listen to their needs while looking for innovative ways to solve their problems.  

What’s one thing about product management that might surprise people? What’s one skill you had to develop that made the biggest difference in your career? 

Product management is a humble occupation. The best product managers are experts in their industry but hold their expertise in question, always looking to learn something new. They are hyper-focused on the customer and always looking to improve the customer experience. The most important skill is listening, and looking to answer the question "What do you know that I don't know?" 

Is there a leadership philosophy or principle that guides how you lead product management? 

I'm a strong believer in teamwork, that people bring out the best in each other when they work together and trust each other. My leadership philosophy is based on a coaching mentality, working to bring out the best performance in others, and giving credit for any success to the whole team.   

Can you share a project or product you’re particularly proud of? 

I'm super proud of the new Smart535 gate operators we launched last year. These machines are the best in class and carry with them decades of expertise in both machine design and the application of automation technology at vehicle access points. Developing them was a team effort, and who doesn't love playing for the winning team? 

If we bumped into you outside of work hours, where would we likely find you? 

After hours you will find me covered in saw dust and working in my wood shop, where I enjoy the creative outlet of designing and building my own furniture using salvage and reclaimed materials.