Strategic Advisor to Founders & CEOs

You built something real.
Now it needs to run
without you.

Growth-stage companies hit a wall when the founder becomes the bottleneck. I help CEOs build the operating structure, accountability, and leadership clarity to scale — without losing what made them successful.

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The Moment You're In

Fast growth exposes what informal management can't hold together.

Most founders who reach $10M–$100M in revenue built it on instinct, hustle, and personal relationships. That worked. But at a certain point the company outgrows what one person — even a great one — can manage by feel alone.

You're making good decisions. The problem is you're making too many of them, and the team can't move without you in the room.

— You're the decision-maker for things that should have been resolved two levels down
— The leadership team has capability but doesn't operate with consistent accountability
— Priorities shift constantly and execution suffers because nothing stays in focus long enough
— Meetings fill the calendar but don't produce decisions or clear ownership
— The growth that got you here is now creating operational strain you haven't had time to address
— You don't have a true peer to think through the hard calls with

Who This Is For

Founder-led companies at an inflection point.

I work with a small number of founders and CEOs who are navigating the transition from founder-driven to professionally managed — and want a seasoned operating executive in their corner while they make that shift.

This isn't a consulting engagement. It's a working relationship with someone who has sat in your seat, led operations at scale, and can tell you — candidly — what's worth your attention and what isn't.

Revenue $10M – $100M
Team size 30 – 300 employees
Stage Proven PMF, growing quickly
Situation Founder still in the day-to-day
Leadership No COO, or COO is overloaded
Sectors Financial Services, Technology, Services

The Engagement

Topics We Work Through

  • Growth strategy
  • Organizational design
  • Leadership team development
  • Executive hiring decisions
  • Scaling challenges
  • Priority setting & execution
  • KPI and performance review
  • Accountability frameworks
  • Risk identification
  • Board & investor preparation
  • Market expansion
  • Leadership alignment

About Tom

Tom Wondra

Operating Executive

COO  ·  President  ·  SVP Operations
Financial Services & Technology

I've spent more than 30 years as an operating executive — in COO, President, and senior operations leadership roles across financial services and technology. I've built teams, fixed broken organizations, led companies through rapid growth, and helped founders navigate the transition to professional management.

I work with a small number of growth-stage CEOs at any given time. My value isn't a methodology — it's judgment accumulated from sitting in the seat you're in, at companies larger and more complex than the one you're running right now, and knowing what actually matters at each stage.

30+ Years operating
COO President, SVP roles held
FS & Tech Industry depth

Is this the right moment
to have a conversation?

I keep a small roster of advisory relationships. If the profile above sounds like where you are, I'm open to a direct conversation — no pitch, no deck.

tom@tomwondra.com
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