Get to Know: Eric LaPlante, Director of Product Management

Eric LaPlante has led numerous product launches and believes great software starts with listening to users. At Shield, he leads our product team, gathering feedback, shaping the roadmap, and working with developers to deliver new features. With a decade of banking experience, he understands the real-world challenges our clients face every day. Here’s how Eric is approaching his role at Shield and how he unwinds outside of work.

Where do you see opportunity in the product management role? 

It’s clear that the users of Shield Engage and Shield Assure are experienced and talented bankers. My goal is to support our end users by working with our internal team to drive features that deliver meaningful insights for each FI user, drive even greater efficiency for our users that allows them to focus on retaining and winning clients, and ensure the expansion into other high-risk industries is seamless.

How have your past experiences prepared you to work in high-risk areas like cannabis or money service businesses (MSBs)? 

I’ve been in software for 18 years, with 14 of those in product management. Before that, I spent a decade in banking, so I’ve been in the trenches and can relate to the pressure and challenges our clients face. I’ve also worked with software in the medical field, where the accuracy of information can literally impact someone’s health. That same mindset applies here: precision matters.

What do you like to do when you're not working? 

I’m big on fitness. I think staying active is the key to a good life. But I also love brewing beer. In fact, I had the chance to participate in Oktoberfest in Munich, which was an absolute blast.