Operations Director specialising in creating systems that help innovation teams thrive
As an Operations Director, my role is to empower teams by ensuring they can focus on what they do best—creating, testing, and delivering innovative ideas.
I specialise in simplifying complex workflows, managing the behind-the-scenes processes, and providing the infrastructure teams need to thrive.
With over a decade of experience in tech, startups, and innovation-driven companies, I’ve developed a deep understanding of how to combine creative ambition with operational reality.
Core competencies
⚙️ Streamline operations
Designing and implementing systems that transform complexity into clarity, making day-to-day tasks seamless and efficient.
🤝 Manage vendor relationships
Building and maintaining strong partnerships with external vendors, ensuring smooth procurement, compliance, and project execution.
⚡ Optimise processes
Refining workflows to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance productivity across departments.
📈 Oversee budgets
Coordinating financial planning and resource allocation to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
👥 Enable collaboration
Bringing teams together through clear communication, goal alignment, and integrated processes that drive shared success.
💡 Support innovation
Laying the operational groundwork for creativity to thrive by fostering scalable systems that enable teams to bring innovative products to market and drive growth
Experience
2024 - NOW
Operations Director / Kindy
Kindy is an innovative e-commerce startup helping kids build independence and gain essential life skills
Kindy creates Montessori-inspired home essentials for children aged 2 to 6, designed to build confidence, foster independence, and teach essential life skills. Their products transform everyday routines into opportunities for hands-on learning and purposeful play.
I came on board to help Kindy build their e-commerce operations from the ground up. After an initial testing phase and a successful funding round, Kindy’s small team needed to streamline their e-commerce operations in preparation for their brand launch in Q2 2025. I am creating the operational systems and processes to ensure a seamless launch and to keep everything running smoothly post-launch.
📌 Building core operational systems
Implemented operational systems across cash flow, inventory tracking, customer support, shipping logistics, and vendor coordination to enable smooth day-to-day operations.
📌 Customer service management
Developed and implemented a customer service system on Shopify with streamlined processes for managing inquiries, returns, and refunds, ensuring a smooth and positive customer experience.
📌 Shipping and logistics
Streamlined shipping processes by selecting reliable carriers, negotiating competitive rates, and ensuring timely and efficient deliveries.
📌 Inventory & budget planning
Tracked inventory predictions and cash flow to plan ordering schedules and quantities, ensuring smooth operations between available funds and inventory needs.
2020 - 2024
Operations Director / Seldon AI
Seldon AI is a company helping organisations deploy, monitor, and scale machine learning models.
Seldon AI helps enterprises deploy, monitor, and scale machine learning models. Backed by leading investors like Bright Pixel Capital, Uncharted Ventures, and Cambridge Innovation Capital, Seldon provides the tools organisations need to implement and manage AI-driven solutions.
As Operations Director, I worked closely with the CEO, CFO, and key stakeholders to strategise and establish the operational systems, processes, and policies to supported Seldon’s growth. I led due diligence for Series A and B funding rounds, collaborating with legal advisors and investors to secure critical investments.
Barclays Entrepreneur Awards 2019 ‘Rising Star’
📌 Operational efficiency
Simplified workflows across teams, introduced automation to save time, and ensured operations supported the company’s growth goals effectively.
📌 International expansion
Oversaw entry into US and European markets, managing payroll compliance, legal frameworks, and logistical operations
📌 Funding and investor relations
Led due diligence for Series A and B funding rounds, collaborating with legal advisors and investors to secure critical investments.
📌 Multi-department coordination
Helped different departments work together by improving communication and fixing logistical issues to keep projects on track.
📌 Cost optimisation
Reduced operating costs through waste reduction, resource allocation improvements, and supplier negotiations, boosting profitability.
📌 Talent and HR systems
Implemented HR policies and systems to attract, retain, and support key talent during rapid organisational growth.
2017 - 2020
Operations Manager / Seldon AI
I joined Seldon as the first dedicated operations hire, focusing on building the foundational systems to prepare the company for scaling.
📌 Building operations at Seldon
As one of the first operations team members at Seldon, I joined when the company had just 8 people. I began creating foundational systems and processes to support its growth, focusing on streamlining workflows, improving team communication, and establishing efficient operations to help scale the business effectively.
📌 Hiring key team members
Led recruitment for senior roles such as Head of People and VP of Product. Created HR policies and implemented tools to support hiring and employee management, ensuring the company was ready for growth.
📌 Brand repositioning
Managed the company's rebranding project, improving its market presence and customer engagement. Collaborated with design agency to develop and execute ideas that enhanced brand recognition.
📌 Event & community management
Organised industry events to enhance visibility and strengthen partnerships, driving engagement and establishing the company as a thought leader in its field.
📌 Building industry partnerships
Established partnerships with major organisations and hosted high-profile events, such as the TensorFlow London meetup sponsored by Google. Increased community engagement by 45%, boosting the company’s visibility.
📌 Cross-department support
Supported different departments, like marketing and finance, to help them work better together during a key growth period. Made sure everyone’s efforts were focused on the company’s goals.
2015 - 2017
Central Saint Martins / MA Innovation Management
With a passion for managing innovative projects, I earned a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Innovation Management at Central Saint Martins. There, I developed expertise in research, strategic thinking, and creative problem-solving, culminating in a dissertation exploring the impact of AI. Throughout my studies, I had the opportunity to work on high-impact innovation projects through internships and placements.
I completed a research placement with the creative team at Google Zoo, exploring innovative digital solutions and shaping forward-thinking campaigns. At HereDesign, I worked on an innovation project for a beauty brand, delivering strategic insights to guide their future direction. I also contributed to a trend forecasting project at Pearlfisher, identifying key insights to shape the brand’s upcoming offerings. Additionally, I collaborated with EDF Energy on a two-month project, developing an Innovation Strategy Proposal with actionable recommendations for long-term organisational growth.
Internships at:
2011 - 2014
Publishing House “Santa“ / Marketing Project Manager
Publishing House Santa is a leading media company in Latvia, creating some of the most loved magazines in the country.
As Marketing Project Manager, I led marketing projects for the company’s five flagship magazines, overseeing campaigns from concept to execution. I developed annual marketing strategies in collaboration with editors and creative teams, ensuring alignment with the company’s goals while managing budgets and resources effectively. My responsibilities included coordinating sales campaigns, executing advertising initiatives across radio, TV, and print, and planning in-person events to drive engagement and boost sales.
This experience allowed me to spearhead impactful marketing strategies for some of the most influential magazines in Santa’s portfolio, contributing to their growth and strengthening audience connections.
2008 - 2011
Turība School of Business Administration / BA in Communication and Public Relations
I graduated with a Professional Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Public Relations Management from Turība School of Business Administration. The programme provided me with in-depth knowledge of public relations, digital marketing, media, and crisis communication, as well as practical experience in the communication and creative industries.
During my studies, I gained hands-on experience through projects in public relations and integrated marketing, which focused on real-world problem-solving in agencies and corporate environments. The curriculum also included strategic planning, social psychology, and multimedia communication, which equipped me with the skills to design and execute impactful campaigns and build successful communication strategies. This strong foundation prepared me for my career in managing communication and innovation processes effectively.