Hey, I’m Zoe.
I help mission-driven startup leaders bridge the gap between vision and execution. Whether you need a high-impact sprint to launch an initiative or ongoing fractional support to optimize operations, I provide executive-level capacity without the full-time overhead.
For over a decade, I’ve operated at the intersection of mission-driven startups and impact investing. Most recently, I spent six years in the trenches of a sustainable agriculture company, navigating the journey from a scrappy startup to a scaled organization. During that time, I wore nearly every operational hat: from partnering with the CEO to build strategic plans and fundraise, managing board relations and investor communications, to leading special projects.
How I Work In the fast-moving, high-stakes environment of mission-driven startups, I am the “calm in the storm.” I am the connective tissue between vision and execution. I bring an ownership mindset to every engagement, treating your organization's goals as my own until the job is done. I operate with a “low ego, high impact” philosophy - where no task is too small if it moves the mission forward.
Beyond the Work I’m a firm believer in the restorative power of the outdoors. When I’m not working, you’ll find me camping, biking, hiking, or skiing. I live in the Bay Area with my husband and three children; they are my daily reminder of why building a more sustainable and just world is the most important work we can do.
My Services
Strategic Architecture
Stop spinning wheels and start moving with intent.
Strategy Sandbox: Facilitating strategic planning to turn “what-ifs” into a sequenced, rigorous roadmap.
Vision Operationalization: Translating your company’s “North Star” into a living system of goals and accountability.
Internal Alignment: High-fidelity strategy decks designed to build conviction and secure board/team buy-in.
Executive Intelligence
Get your brain space back. I’ll handle the high-stakes “backend”.
Board Meeting Boost: End-to-end management of agendas and materials so you can walk in focused on leadership, not slides.
Investor Concierge: Running the “engine room” of your fundraise - data rooms, pipelines and decks - while you focus on the pitch.
Deep-Dive Research: Bespoke research memos that provide the “so what” for your next important decision.
Special Projects
The “gap-filler” or “fixer” for high-priority initiatives that don’t have a home yet.
Incubation & Launch: Dedicated, end-to-end ownership of new pilots or partnerships without distracting your core team.
Finish Line Specialist: Taking stalled, complex, or multi-stakeholder projects and driving them to completion.
Friction-Free Ops: A diagnostic look at your “internal plumbing” to identify and clear bottlenecks for operational efficiency.
Fractional Chief of Staff (Retainer)
Ongoing, high-leverage partnership. Customer tiers (5, 10, or 20 hours/week).
Execution Rhythm: Owning the weekly pulse - meetings, action items and follow-through - so nothing falls through the cracks.
Organizational Glue: Bridging departmental gaps to ensure vision isn’t lost in translation and the team stays aligned.
Force Multiplier: I absorb the “in the weeds” work so you have the mental bandwidth to lead and innovate.
“Zoe has an unparalleled capability to manage multiple complex streams of work at the same time - crafting both strategy and execution on key projects that run in parallel.
She is smart, hard working and dedicated. She defines expectations upfront for her work and she consistently delivers the intended results.
She is a first rate addition to any organization in need of these skills.”
Naveen Sikka
CEO & Founder
Terviva
Testimonials
"If you need someone who can dive into a complex industry and start delivering value on day one, Zoe is that person. I worked with her to help move our nutritional technologies forward, and her learning curve was virtually non-existent. She has the remarkable ability to absorb technical content and distill out clear, actionable strategies.
Beyond her project management skills—which are flawless—her real strength lies in her collaborative spirit. She was irreplaceable for our market discovery and product validation calls with customers showing a keen intuition for problem validation and customer needs. She is a timely, sharp communicator who turns complexity into clarity."
Dr. Jake Olson
Head of Products & Processing
Terviva
"Working with Zoe is like having a secret weapon for your high-stakes special projects. Beyond her sharp strategic and operational instincts, Zoe is simply an incredible partner to have in the room during pivotal chapters of growth.
She's a versatile leader who can jump into the deep and immediately elevate your executive function by translating high-level strategy into actionable plans while managing multiple projects with poise and precision.
Any CEO/founder would be lucky to have Zoe’s brain on their business!"
Kimmy Watson
Former Head of People Operations
Terviva
Let’s chat!
Schedule a free discovery call with me to discuss your operational needs and learn more about how I might be able to support your company.
FAQ
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First things first, we’ll get to know each other better. During our free discovery call, we will discuss your operational needs and see if there is a mutual fit.
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Pricing varies depending on the nature and scope of work. Once we mutually agree on the work, I can share a project fee or monthly retainer fee.
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Engagement lengths are highly variable depending on the scope of work, but typically I take on 2-6 week long project work or set up 3-month minimum retainers.
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If you have something particular in mind that’s not mentioned under “My Services”, happy to chat about it. My website lists my “bread and butter" work but given my extensive experience, it’s very possible we can collaborate in other ways.