You stop being the bottleneck
I map where decisions are getting stuck and build the structure that lets your team move without you. Less chaos. Fewer fires. A company that doesn’t stall when you step away.
You built the business. Now it’s running you.
I’ve sat in your seat as CEO, e-commerce operator, and co-founder. I’ve run every part of a company, and I know exactly what that dependency is costing you.
Services
I map where decisions are getting stuck and build the structure that lets your team move without you. Less chaos. Fewer fires. A company that doesn’t stall when you step away.
Most founders are losing money in places they can’t see yet. I get into the P&L, find where margin is leaking, and build financial clarity that drives every other decision. The finances are the foundation. Everything else is built on top.
I turn scattered priorities and tribal knowledge into clear operating systems your team can actually follow. Accountability without micromanagement. Execution without you holding it together.
I’m not coming in to hand you a report and leave. I’m coming in to run the operation alongside you, as an executive partner accountable for outcomes, not just advice.
Best fit
You have customers, a team, and revenue. But you’ve become the system: the one who holds all the answers and keeps things from falling apart.
That’s not sustainable. And it’s not a growth strategy. It’s a ceiling.
I’m not a consultant who has studied your problem from the outside. I’ve been the CEO. I’ve lived it.
You’re a good fit if:
You’re not a fit if you’re pre-revenue or looking for a strategy deck. I work with founders who are ready to build something that runs.
About Emily
I’m Emily Blain. I’ve been CEO, e-commerce operator, and co-founder. I’m not coming in to advise you from the outside. I’ve run companies, touched every part of the operation, and lived the exact problem you’re trying to solve.
I come in as an executive partner, not a consultant, not a project manager, not support staff. I sit inside the operation and do the work.
My lens is financial. A clean P&L is not just a metric. It’s the diagnostic. It tells you where the team is broken, where money is leaking, and what has to change first. I start there, and I build outward.
Most founder-led companies reach a point where the founder’s greatest strength (vision, drive, the ability to build something from nothing) becomes the ceiling. You can’t scale what lives only in your head. My job is to take what you’ve built and make it run without you holding it together.
I’ve scaled brands, rebuilt operations, cut costs without cutting momentum, and helped founders finally step into the role their company actually needs them in. If the business is ready to grow up, I can help you get there.
Results
DTC personal care brand turnaround
From a $480K annual loss to $548K in net profit.
DTC supplement brand turnaround
From $109K monthly losses to break-even in 13 months.
Client names are kept confidential.
What people say
"I had the pleasure of working alongside Emily for multiple years during her time as CEO of Wellnesse. She’s one of the most capable operators I’ve worked with in my career. What set her apart was her rare ability to balance high-level strategy with in-the-weeds execution. She wasn’t the type of leader who simply set direction and delegated. She understood the details, anticipated roadblocks before they became problems, and kept teams aligned around what mattered most. If you’re looking for a talented, capable COO, I cannot recommend Emily enough."
Carly Mansfield
Founder, The Lunchbox Agency
"Emily is the consummate professional. She nails the details, knows how to improve and optimize operations, and is a true pleasure to work with."
Mac Lackey
Founder, ExitDNA
"Emily is not only high IQ but also EQ. She was able to hit the ground running with outstanding financial fluency, delivered immediate tangible results, and built the respect of the entire team. Integrating quickly as a valued operating executive peer, she never once strayed into being the prototypical pontificating consultant. As a leader, she has her sleeves rolled up and does the work."
Mike Lally
Founder, Tech & Manufacturing | E-Commerce Investor
"If every decision, every fire, and every problem in your business comes back to you, Emily is who you want in your corner. I’ve watched her come into an e-commerce business and build the operational structure that lets a founder actually be the founder again. Clear priorities on what matters, real visibility into margins, and accountability across the team. The result is a business that can grow without the founder being the bottleneck."
Nate Mohr
CEO, Wellnesse
"Emily is a great operator with a knack for developing systems and maximizing a company’s operational flow. She has a keen ability to look at a company’s inner workings and quickly determine what needs to change in order for it to operate more efficiently."
Chas Smith
CEO & Co-Founder, Paleovalley & Wild Pastures
Next step
Send me a note about what’s feeling heavy, stuck, or too dependent on you. I’ll tell you honestly whether this is the right fit, and if it is, what I think we should do first.
No pitch. No pressure. Fit matters on both sides.