John is available for hire
Hire JohnJohn Gauch
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Management Consulting Expert
Toronto, ON, Canada
Toptal member since March 10, 2022
Expertise
Bio
John is an operator and fractional COO who partners with leaders to scale their businesses. His expertise covers go-to-market, product, HR/people, finance, and legal. A former corporate attorney, John brings a lawyer's precision, a coach's relational skills, and an operator's judgment and ability to execute—skills developed over 20+ years of company building. So far, he's helped build a high-impact startup that has exceeded $100 million in revenue and a second that's approaching that benchmark.
Career Highlights
Founder | Operating Parntner and Fractional COO
John Gauch Consulting
Head of Operations (via Toptal)
FreshAhead (The Forward Thinking Company)
General Manager
Axiom
Education Highlights
Juris Doctor
New York University, School of Law
M.Phil.
Cambridge University, Peterhouse College
Bachelor's Degree
Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences
Certification Highlights
Certificate, Disruptive Strategy
Harvard Business School Online
Case Studies
Expertise
- Business Process Improvement (BPI)
- Consumer Insights
- Fractional COO
- Growth Strategy
- Operations
- P&L Management
- Product Growth
- Startup Consulting
Work Experience
Fractional Chief Operating Officer
2025 - PRESENT
Velarium LLC
- Guided the company through a strategic engineering investment, modernizing the product.
- Notched exponential gains in product performance (three orders of magnitude in one algorithm, e.g.).
- Executed operating model optimization program impacting 25%+ of business in the first year.
- Built a day-to-day operating rhythm, taking the burden off the founder, freeing his time for strategic work.
Focus areas: Business Development, Growth Strategy, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, COO, Process Improvement, Finance, Business Operations, Pricing, Team Coaching, B2B Sales, Fractional COO, Structure & Organizational Design, Technology, Human Resources (HR), HR Operations, Scalable Operating Models, Sales Management, Facilitation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Product-market Fit, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, Sales Enablement, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Contract Negotiation, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Deal Execution, Entrepreneurship, Marketing Operations, Market Research, Research, Microsoft Excel, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy, Strategy Planning, Pricing Strategy
Fractional Chief Operating Officer
2022 - PRESENT
Synervoz
- Orchestrated over $1 million in SR&ED R&D credits financing Synervoz's voice AI innovations.
- Supported >50% profitable revenue growth in 2025 through disciplined selling and operations.
- Served as partner on day-to-day business operations, freeing the founder for his most strategic work.
Focus areas: Business Operations, Sales Operations, Operations Strategy, Sales, Sales Growth, Sales Planning, Business to Business (B2B), Business Design, Startups, Lean Startups, Startup Funding, Startup Consulting, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Finance, Legal, Human Resources (HR), Intellectual Property, Change Management, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Organizational Structure, Leadership Coaching, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Interim COO, Operations Management, Sales Strategy, Cold Calling, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Sales, Sales Consulting, Cash Flow Management, Organizational Design, Structure & Organizational Design, Technology, HR Operations, Scalable Operating Models, Sales Management, Facilitation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Product-market Fit, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, Sales Enablement, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Contract Negotiation, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Deal Execution, Investor Relations, Entrepreneurship, Marketing Operations, Market Research, Research, Innovation, Microsoft Excel, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy, Strategy Planning, Pricing Strategy
Founder | Operating Parntner and Fractional COO
2019 - PRESENT
John Gauch Consulting
- Served as hands-on operator and fractional COO for founder-led companies and CEOs.
- Provided embedded growth and operations support on-site, remotely, and hybrid.
- Partnered with the Board of an educational nonprofit to rebuild its finance function and enable its Executive Director to focus on fundraising.
- Improved the financial performance of—and prospects for—an online health business via P&L improvements and a new product offering.
- Set up a SaaS fintech's foundational operations, processes, and systems for the CEO and founding team.
- Advised the founder of an online peer coaching platform on finding problem-solution fit, including the creation and testing of prototypes at Harvard University.
Focus areas: Business Design, Business Models, Business Modeling, Lean Startups, Lean Canvas, Design Thinking, Customer Journey, Customer Research, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Operations, New Products, Marketing, Product Owner, Innovation, P&L Management, Business Development, Business Consulting, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, Agile, SaaS, Consumer Insights, Product Management, New Product Rollout, User Research, Consumer Trends, Consumer Behavior, Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Business (B2B), Product Design, Prototyping, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Design Research, Market Research, Innovation Management, New Business Development, Due Diligence, Business Planning, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Growth Strategy, Launch Strategy, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Empathy, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Business Setup, Strategic Planning, Client Presentations, Process Design, Primary Research, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, New Product Business Cases, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Accounting, Corporate Finance, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Analysis, Financials, User Testing, Sprints, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Sales Planning, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Management Consulting, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Software, Software Sales, Hardware, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Leadership, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Marketing Strategy, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, EMEA, Consumer Health, Organizational Design, Financial Modeling, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Small Business, Fundraising, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Fundraising Strategy, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups, Design, Startup Consulting, Jobs to be Done (JTBD), Customer Interviews, User Interviews, Seed Fundraising, Negotiation, Healthcare, Apps, Sales Effectiveness, Sales Commission Structure, Digital Health, TOM, Organizational Strategy & Design, Operational Efficiency Improvement, Psychology & Mental Health, Finance, B2C, Hiring Process Development, Performance Management, Market Research & Analysis, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Competitive Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), Team Management, Business Transformation, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), B2B2C, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue & Expense Projections, Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Crisis Management, Venture Capital, Startup Funding, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Early-stage Venture Capital, Pitch Deck Consultant, Sports, Advisory, Business Advisory, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Human Resources (HR), Fractional COO, Growth Strategy Consultants, Software as a Service (SaaS), Mobile, Fractional CCO, Recruitment, HRIS, Recruiting, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Startups, Client Relations, Sales Pipeline Management, Customer Acquisition, Project Management, B2B, Intellectual Property, Change Management, Sales Operations, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Organizational Structure, Leadership Coaching, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Interim COO, Operations Management, Sales, Cold Calling, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Sales, Sales Consulting, Cash Flow Management, Structure & Organizational Design, Technology, HR Operations, Scalable Operating Models, Sales Management, Facilitation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Product-market Fit, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, Sales Enablement, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Valuation, Deal Execution, Investor Relations, Entrepreneurship, Marketing Operations, Microsoft Excel, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication, Strategy Planning, Pricing Strategy
Sales Performance Coach
2023 - 2026
Somersault Innovation
- Taught sales teams to use design thinking problem-solving methodology.
- Improved the speed of securing meetings with decision makers.
- Expanded products to new lines of business, broadening the solution footprint.
- Increased deal size and renewed team members' passion and motivation for their work.
Focus areas: Sales, B2B Sales, Sales Growth, Sales Planning, Coaching, Team Coaching, Sales Coaching, Business Coaching, Executive Coaching, SaaS, Software Sales, Tech Sales, Design Thinking, Sales Strategy, SaaS Sales, Sales Management, Facilitation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Product-market Fit, Operational Audits, Sales Enablement, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Research, Market Research, Microsoft Excel, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication
Head of Operations (via Toptal)
2024 - 2025
FreshAhead (The Forward Thinking Company)
- Replatformed the organization on the Rippling system and updated HR processes.
- Hired a new tax and finance team, restated three years of financials, and overhauled financial infrastructure.
- Supported go-to-market motions, including events, new business development, and sales.
- Took on finance, people, compliance, and legal, and overall business functions.
Focus areas: COO, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Operations, Business Planning, Business Design, Fractional COO, New Business Development, Recruiting, Finance, Financials, HRIS, People Development, QuickBooks Online, Market Research, Advisory, Business Advisory, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Human Resources (HR), SaaS, Growth Strategy Consultants, Software as a Service (SaaS), Mobile, Fractional CCO, Recruitment, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Startups, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Fundraising, Project Management, Organizational Design, B2B, Intellectual Property, Change Management, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Organizational Structure, Leadership Coaching, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Interim COO, Operations Management, Sales, Sales Strategy, Cold Calling, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Sales, Sales Consulting, Cash Flow Management, Structure & Organizational Design, Technology, HR Operations, Scalable Operating Models, Facilitation, Product-market Fit, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Contract Negotiation, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Entrepreneurship, Research, Innovation, Microsoft Excel, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy Planning
Strategy Advisor (via Toptal)
2023 - 2025
Feldspar
- Provided strategic business advice to the founder and CEO of a company digitizing the sport of track.
- Advised on the initial business setup, business design, recruitment approach, and organizational design.
- Served as a sounding board and thought partner on the business strategy and go-to-market approach.
Focus areas: Strategy, Business Setup, Board Membership, Recruiting, Recruitment, Organizational Design, Go-to-market Plans, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Business Design, Early-stage Venture Capital, COO, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Fractional COO, Market Research, Fundraising, Pitch Deck Consultant, Sports, Advisory, Business Advisory, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Human Resources (HR), Growth Strategy Consultants, Fractional CCO, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Startups, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Business Development, Customer Acquisition, B2B, Intellectual Property, Change Management, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Organizational Structure, Leadership Coaching, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Interim COO, Operations Management, Sales, Sales Strategy, Sales Consulting, Structure & Organizational Design, Technology, Scalable Operating Models, Facilitation, Product-market Fit, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Valuation, Investor Relations, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Strategy Planning
Advisor (via Toptal)
2024 - 2024
Safe Start Child Proofing
- Provided on-demand counsel to the founder and CEO during a critical transition for the child safety business.
- Advised on capital structure, M&A, and business operations.
- Coached the founder on negotiations and interpersonal dynamics.
Focus areas: COO, Strategy, Operations Strategy, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Equity Capital, Equity, Business Operations, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Fractional CCO, Advisory, Business Advisory, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Fractional COO, Growth Strategy Consultants, eCommerce, Recruitment, Recruiting, Startups, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Fundraising, Intellectual Property, Mentorship & Coaching, Retail & Wholesale, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Organizational Structure, Leadership Coaching, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Interim COO, Operations Management, Sales, Sales Strategy, Sales Consulting, Cash Flow Management, Organizational Design, Structure & Organizational Design, Facilitation, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, Workflow Design, Valuation, Entrepreneurship, Executive Consulting
VP, Product
2014 - 2019
Spartan Race
- Joined Spartan the year it doubled its events, supporting its mission to make obstacle racing a global pastime.
- Grew training revenue 10x, footprint 10x, partners 0 to 200+, as part of Spartan push to $100 million.
- Achieved recognition as a "fitness authority" by 80% of Spartan followers.
- Designed and executed product experiments: Spartan Gym (Starwood), Daily Burn, and LifeTime.
- Owned sport and training P&L; hired, led, and developed a cross-functional team; and presented to the board.
Focus areas: Product Owner, New Products, Marketing, Innovation, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Business Planning, Product Growth, Growth Strategy, Growth, Growth Analysis, User Research, Market Research, Design Research, Financials, User Testing, User Experience (UX), Sprints, User Empathy, Process Design, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Customer Journey, Journey Mapping, Prototyping, Product Design, Launch Strategy, Business Development, New Business Development, New Product Development, New Product Business Cases, New Product Rollout, P&L Management, Management, Product Management, Project Management, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Startups, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Scrum, SaaS, Consumer Insights, Consumer Trends, Consumer Behavior, Business to Consumer (B2C), Process Improvement, Performance Improvement, Innovation Management, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, Contract Negotiation, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Primary Research, Interviews, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Business Models, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Google, Sales, Operations Improvement, Business Setup, Accounting, Due Diligence Consultant, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Joint Ventures, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Marketing Strategy, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, EMEA, Consumer Health, Financial Modeling, Small Business, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups, Design, Startup Consulting, Jobs to be Done (JTBD), Customer Interviews, User Interviews, Seed Fundraising, Negotiation, Sales Effectiveness, Sales Commission Structure, Digital Health, TOM, Organizational Strategy & Design, Operational Efficiency Improvement, Psychology & Mental Health, Finance, B2C, Hiring Process Development, Performance Management, Market Research & Analysis, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Competitive Analysis, Software, Business Intelligence (BI), Team Management, Business Transformation, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), B2B2C, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue & Expense Projections, Board Decks, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Crisis Management, Venture Capital, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Sports, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Growth Strategy Consultants, Recruitment, HRIS, Recruiting, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Client Relations, Sales Pipeline Management, Customer Acquisition, B2B, Intellectual Property, Sales Operations, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Retail & Wholesale, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Operations Management, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Sales, Sales Consulting, Technology, Scalable Operating Models, Sales Management, Facilitation, Product-market Fit, Startup Accelerators, Operational Audits, Sales Enablement, Workflow Design, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Valuation, Deal Execution, Entrepreneurship, Marketing Operations, Microsoft Excel, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy Planning, Pricing Strategy
General Manager
2009 - 2012
Axiom
- Relaunched the Boston office of a $130 million startup, validating a city-by-city growth strategy.
- Grew MRR over 10x, scaling from 1 to 20+ employees over 30 months and achieving plan goals.
- Led global team at top-10 investment bank in a precedent-setting $60 million services engagement.
- Owned full P&L; led sales and marketing; built the team; sat on the company leadership team.
- Identified product-market fit; created word-of-mouth growth flywheel via consultative sales.
Focus areas: P&L Management, Sales, Business Development, Marketing, Business Consulting, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, Project Management, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, Product Owner, Business Planning, Sales Planning, Growth Strategy, Growth, Growth Analysis, User Research, Market Research, Design Research, Financials, User Experience (UX), User Empathy, Process Design, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Growth Marketing, Customer Journey, Launch Strategy, New Business Development, New Product Rollout, Startups, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, New Products, Innovation, Consumer Insights, Product Management, Consumer Behavior, Business to Business (B2B), Product Design, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, Contract Negotiation, Business Setup, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Primary Research, Interviews, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, Business Models, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Interviewing, Management Consulting, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Market Entry, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Microsoft, New Product Business Cases, P&L Forecasting, Accounting, Product Growth, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Marketing Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Financial Modeling, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Value Proposition, Business Plan Consulting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups, Design, Startup Consulting, Jobs to be Done (JTBD), Customer Interviews, User Interviews, Negotiation, Corporate Law, Sales Effectiveness, Sales Commission Structure, TOM, Organizational Strategy & Design, Operational Efficiency Improvement, Finance, Hiring Process Development, Performance Management, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Competitive Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), Team Management, Business Transformation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue & Expense Projections, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Crisis Management, Venture Capital, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Growth Strategy Consultants, Recruitment, HRIS, Recruiting, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Client Relations, Sales Pipeline Management, Customer Acquisition, B2B, Intellectual Property, Change Management, Sales Operations, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Operations Management, Cold Calling, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Sales, Sales Consulting, Cash Flow Management, Technology, Human Resources (HR), HR Operations, Scalable Operating Models, Sales Management, Facilitation, Product-market Fit, Operational Audits, Sales Enablement, Workflow Design, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Deal Execution, Marketing Operations, Microsoft Excel, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy Planning, Pricing Strategy
Retail Client Manager
2006 - 2009
IBM
- Turned around the troubled Staples relationship following a difficult IBM technology implementation.
- Grew revenue nine points above the industry benchmark annually following a relationship reset.
- Won key advisory role overseeing BJ's $100+ million systems modernization effort.
- Owned P&Ls; achieved sales peaking at >$55 million, signings >$15 million, and >$30 million gross profit.
- Embedded at client headquarters; led two teams of 15+ brand specialists, serving Staples and BJ’s.
Focus areas: Business Consulting, Sales, Project Management, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Strategy, Growth Analysis, Sales Planning, Software Sales, Hardware, Business Planning, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Operations, P&L Management, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, SaaS, Consumer Insights, User Research, Consumer Trends, Business to Business (B2B), Operations Improvement, Process Improvement, Performance Improvement, Market Research, New Business Development, Competition Research, Competitive Intelligence, Launch Strategy, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Strategic Planning, Client Presentations, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Accounting, Financials, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Customer Journey, Journey Mapping, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Market Sizing, Software, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Business Services, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Market Research Analyst, Discovery, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, EMEA, Financial Modeling, Value Proposition, Business Plan Consulting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Design, Customer Interviews, User Interviews, Negotiation, Sales Effectiveness, Organizational Strategy & Design, Operational Efficiency Improvement, B2C, Competitive Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), Team Management, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), B2B2C, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue & Expense Projections, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Crisis Management, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Growth Strategy Consultants, Software as a Service (SaaS), Mobile, Recruitment, Recruiting, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Business Development, Client Relations, Sales Pipeline Management, Customer Acquisition, B2B, Intellectual Property, Change Management, Sales Operations, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Retail & Wholesale, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Organizational Structure, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Full Cycle Sales, Sales Consulting, Technology, Sales Management, Facilitation, Sales Enablement, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Deal Execution, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting
Senior Professional Financial Analyst
2001 - 2005
IBM
- Created and streamlined pricing processes for a global $500 million software consulting business.
- Collaborated with sales to close $75 million lab services contracts and $5 million in yearly channel revenue.
- Structured and negotiated strategic alliances: AOL, AT&T, and Avaya.
- Owned business model and financial strategy on engineering, product, and marketing teams.
- Partnered with the executive team on new product development investments and M&A evaluation.
Focus areas: Business Consulting, Business Setup, Project Management, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Analysis, Software Sales, Business Models, Business Planning, Pricing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, New Products, M&A (Buy-side), Joint Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, Marketing, Product Owner, Innovation, Business Development, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, SaaS, Consumer Insights, New Product Rollout, User Research, Business to Business (B2B), Product Design, Prototyping, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Performance Improvement, Design Research, Market Research, Innovation Management, New Business Development, Due Diligence, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Growth Strategy, Launch Strategy, Company Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Empathy, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Client Presentations, Process Design, Primary Research, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, New Product Business Cases, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Accounting, Corporate Finance, Financials, User Testing, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Customer Journey, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Sales Planning, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Management Consulting, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Due Diligence Consultant, Market Sizing, Software, Hardware, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, Business Services, Market Research Analyst, Discovery, Business Operations, Product Launch, EMEA, Financial Modeling, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Board Reporting, Hiring, Early-stage Startups, Design, Startup Consulting, User Interviews, Seed Fundraising, Negotiation, Corporate Law, Sales Commission Structure, TOM, Organizational Strategy & Design, Operational Efficiency Improvement, Finance, Performance Management, Market Research & Analysis, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Competitive Analysis, Business Intelligence (BI), Team Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue & Expense Projections, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Startup Funding, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Pitch Deck Consultant, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Software as a Service (SaaS), Mobile, Recruitment, Recruiting, Fundraising, Intellectual Property, Sales Operations, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Operations Management, Technology, Scalable Operating Models, Operational Audits, AI Tools, AI Agents, Workflow Design, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Valuation, Deal Execution, Investor Relations, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy Planning, Pricing Strategy
Business Development Manager
2000 - 2001
Internet Appliance Network (IAN)
- Leveraged transactional skills to help release a visionary consumer device on tight timelines with 10,000+ users at launch.
- Developed, negotiated, and closed strategic tech relationships powering Virgin Entertainment's VirginConnect service.
- Analyzed the company market, products, and positioning; created a business intelligence system.
Focus areas: Business to Business (B2B), Business Development, New Business Development, Sales, Negotiation, Financial Modeling, Customer Research, Competition Research, Fundraising, Investment Ideas, Value Proposition, Fundraising Strategy, Pitch Decks, Investor Presentations, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Hiring, Early-stage Startups, Design, Startup Consulting, Corporate Law, Sales Effectiveness, B2C, Market Research & Analysis, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Competitive Analysis, Software, Business Intelligence (BI), Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), B2B2C, Board Decks, Venture Capital, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Market Research, Early-stage Venture Capital, Pitch Deck Consultant, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Software as a Service (SaaS), Mobile, Recruitment, Recruiting, Buyer Personas, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Startups, Client Relations, Sales Pipeline Management, Customer Acquisition, Project Management, B2B, Intellectual Property, Sales Operations, Mentorship & Coaching, Data Analysis, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Sales Strategy, Cold Calling, Full Cycle Sales, Outbound Sales, Technology, Scalable Operating Models, Product-market Fit, Workflow Design, Contract Negotiation, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Valuation, Deal Execution, Entrepreneurship, Research, Innovation, Microsoft Excel, Pricing Strategy
Technology Transactions Associate
1998 - 2000
Morrison & Foerster
- Advised on venture capital investments, including i-traffic in $1.6M preferred stock financing.
- Advised on mergers and acquisitions, including EarthWeb in the $10 million acquisition of Microhouse.
- Advised on partnership agreements, including Bull Dog Research's strategic data license agreement.
- Counseled founders on entity formation, equity matters, financings, IP, M&A, and compliance.
- Drafted and negotiated business contracts, licenses, and transaction documents.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Corporate Finance, Early-stage Venture Capital, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Law, Intellectual Property Licensing, Contract Negotiation, Contracts, Term Sheets, Terms & Conditions, Partnerships, Human Resources (HR), Software as a Service (SaaS), Startup Funding, Business Setup, Business Design, Startups, Startup Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Microsoft Excel, Communication, Communication Strategy
Corporate Associate
1996 - 1998
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
- Advised on acquisitions, including Palladium Equity in a $600 million-revenue lighting business purchase.
- Advised on IPOs, including Morgan Stanley, in Overnite Transportation's planned $450 million offering.
- Advised on debt financing, including Citigroup, in Veronis Suhler's around $140 million Yellow Book acquisition.
- Counseled F500 corporations and investment banks on M&A, securities offerings, and financings.
- Drafted and negotiated transaction agreements; managed compliance and prepared SEC filings.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Corporate Finance, Contracts, Contract Negotiation, Term Sheets, Term Sheet Negotiations, Partnerships, Investing, Debt Raises, Equity Raises, Private Equity, Private Placements, Reg S Private Placement, Securities Regulation, Global Banking, Microsoft Excel, Communication, Communication Strategy
Education
1993 - 1996
Juris Doctor in Corporate Law
New York University, School of Law - New York, NY, USA
1992 - 1993
M.Phil. in International Relations
Cambridge University, Peterhouse College - Cambridge, UK
1986 - 1990
Bachelor's Degree in History
Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences - Ithaca, NY, USA
Certifications
APRIL 2023 - PRESENT
LEANSTACK Continuous Innovation Coach
LEANSTACK
NOVEMBER 2020 - PRESENT
Convu Connect (Peer Coaching Program)
Convu
MAY 2019 - PRESENT
Certified Professional Scrum Product Owner
Scrum.org
AUGUST 2018 - PRESENT
Certificate, Disruptive Strategy
Harvard Business School Online
MARCH 2017 - PRESENT
Specialization, Design Thinking and Innovation
University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
JANUARY 2015 - PRESENT
Core Coach Training
Wellcoaches
JUNE 2014 - PRESENT
Conducting the ITC Approach with Teams
Minds at Work
SEPTEMBER 2013 - PRESENT
Immunity-to-Change (ITC) Facilitator Workshop
Minds at Work
MARCH 2008 - PRESENT
Retail Executive Program
Santa Clara University, Leavey School of Business, Retail Management Institute
MAY 2007 - PRESENT
Business Insights Program
IBM
Skills
Finance
Market Research, Due Diligence, Budgeting, P&L Forecasting, Fundraising, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Advisory, Data Analysis, Interim COO, Corporate Finance, Pricing, Financial Modeling, Seed Fundraising, Business Intelligence (BI), Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Startup Funding, Equity Capital, Pricing Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Accounting, M&A (Buy-side), Valuation, Debt Raises, Equity Raises, Private Equity
Industry Expertise
Small Business, Early-stage Startups, Sports, Software, Healthcare, Venture Capital, Retail & Wholesale, Technology, Startup Accelerators
Output Software
Microsoft Excel
Data & Analysis Software
QuickBooks Online
Geographic Expertise
EMEA
Other
Startups, Research, Analysis, Creative Problem Solving, Strategy, CX Strategy, Customer Research, Operations, New Products, Innovation, P&L Management, Sales, Business Development, Business Consulting, Consulting, Management, Team Leadership, Project Management, Consumer Insights, New Product Rollout, User Research, Consumer Trends, Consumer Behavior, Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Business (B2B), Performance Improvement, Business Planning, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Growth Strategy, Company Strategy, Team Development, Customer Segmentation, Market Segmentation, User Empathy, User Experience (UX), Contract Negotiation, Business Setup, Business Design, Strategic Planning, Lean Startups, Process Design, Primary Research, Interviews, Interviewing, Customer Experience Management, New Product Business Cases, Product Growth, Growth, Growth Analysis, Financials, UX Design, Customer Analysis, Customer Journey, Journey Mapping, New Product Development, Sales Planning, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Management Consulting, Go-to-market (GTM) Strategy, Market Entry, Partnerships, Strategy Development, Storytelling, Due Diligence Consultant, Market Sizing, Software Sales, Leadership, Design Thinking, Business Strategy, Sales Growth, Product Strategy, Customer Data, Sales Strategy, Customer Experience, Business Services, Marketing Strategy, Market Research Analyst, Discovery, COO, Business Operations, Go-to-market Plans, Product Launch, Consumer Health, Organizational Design, Negotiation, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Value Proposition, User Interviews, Customer Interviews, Jobs to be Done (JTBD), Pitch Decks, Business Plan Consulting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Hiring, Startup Consulting, Sales Effectiveness, Operational Efficiency Improvement, Market Research & Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Team Management, Annual Planning, Objectives & Key Results (OKRs), Business Coaching, Coaching, Executive Coaching, Chief of Staff, Operational Excellence, Process Optimization, Operations Strategy, Recruiting, Recruitment, Fractional COO, Fractional CCO, People Development, Pitch Deck Consultant, Advisory, Startup Growth Strategy Development, Business Process Improvement (BPI), Growth Strategy Consultants, Buyer Personas, Customer Insights, Client Relations, Sales Pipeline Management, Customer Acquisition, B2B, Intellectual Property, Change Management, Consultative Selling, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Outbound Prospecting, Reporting, Sales Leadership, B2B Sales, Mentorship & Coaching, Business Analysis, Standard Operating Procedures Development, Operations Management, Full Cycle Sales, Scalable Operating Models, Sales Management, Facilitation, Product-market Fit, Sales Enablement, Workflow Design, Contract Review, Term Sheet Advisory, Deal Execution, Entrepreneurship, Google, Microsoft, Corporate Law, Early-stage Venture Capital, Marketing, Product Owner, SaaS, Product Management, Product Design, Prototyping, Process Improvement, Operations Improvement, Design Research, Innovation Management, New Business Development, Launch Strategy, Quantitative Analysis, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Client Presentations, Business Models, User Testing, Sprints, Growth Marketing, Pricing Plans, Pricing Models, Joint Ventures, Modeling, Business Modeling, Lean Canvas, Product Consultant, Product Strategy Consultant, eCommerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Investment Ideas, Fundraising Strategy, Investor Presentations, Board Reporting, Design, Apps, Sales Commission Structure, Digital Health, TOM, Organizational Strategy & Design, Psychology & Mental Health, Finance, B2C, Hiring Process Development, Performance Management, Business Transformation, Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), B2B2C, Excel 365, Notion, Slack, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Board Decks, Crisis Management, Fractional Chief Strategy Officer, Equity, Board Membership, HRIS, Human Resources (HR), Mobile, Software as a Service (SaaS), Marketing Analytics, Sales Operations, Sales Coaching, Organizational Structure, Leadership Coaching, Cold Calling, Outbound Sales, Sales Consulting, Cash Flow Management, Structure & Organizational Design, HR Operations, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Operational Audits, AI Tools, AI Agents, Investor Relations, Marketing Operations, Executive Consulting, Strategy Consulting, Communication, Communication Strategy, Strategy Planning, Agile, Scrum, Economics, Political Analysis, International Affairs, History, Critical Analysis, Critical Thinking, Writing & Editing, Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Hardware, Xero, Legal, Team Coaching, Sales Coaching, Tech Sales, SaaS Sales, Intellectual Property Law, Intellectual Property Licensing, Contracts, Term Sheets, Terms & Conditions, Term Sheet Negotiations, Investing, Private Placements, Reg S Private Placement, Securities Regulation, Global Banking
Collaboration That Works
How to Work with Toptal
Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.
1
Share your needs
Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2
Choose your talent
Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3
Start your risk-free talent trial
Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.
Top talent is in high demand.
Start hiring