Fractional COO & Chief of Staff support for growing businesses
Helping founders of $1–10M businesses build and run the operating system that makes execution consistent, measurable, and scalable.
Hi, I’m Mike Melody 👋
I work with founders and leadership teams when a business has grown faster than how it operates. When execution starts to feel heavy, fragmented, or overly dependent on one person, I step in to bring structure, clarity, and momentum back into the business.
For the past 16+ years, I’ve been the operator companies rely on during growth, transition, and inflection points. I’ve served as a COO multiple times, supported teams through leadership changes, and worked directly with founders who were carrying too much of the business themselves.
My strength is simple: I find the operational gaps that slow execution down and fix them without adding unnecessary complexity. I build the systems, cadence, and ownership that allow teams to move forward consistently instead of relying on heroics.
Whether the day-to-day has outgrown your systems, priorities aren’t translating into execution, or you need experienced interim coverage, I take ownership of the operating layer so the business can keep moving without everything landing on you.
Feel free to contact me or connect on LinkedIn.
When Growth Starts To Break Execution
These aren’t random issues. They’re what show up when the business has outgrown how it operates.
Leader Overload
Too many decisions run through you. You’re the integrator, the unblocker, and the default owner of progress.
Ideas With No Bandwidth
The strategy is there, but there’s no operating capacity to turn ideas into sustained execution.
Low Margins, High Waste
The team is busy, but effort isn’t translating into leverage. Cost creeps up faster than output.
Siloed Execution
Teams execute in isolation. Ownership is unclear, processes vary, and coordination breaks down.
Execution Drift
Work starts strong then stalls. Deadlines slip, priorities shift, and nobody is steering day-to-day progress.
Leadership Gap
A key leader is missing—or you need an operator now. Without someone owning the ship, momentum and clarity fall apart.
How I Help
I step in to own the operating layer of the business across three areas. Together, they create clarity, momentum, and leverage as the company scales.
Run the Business (COO)
I put structure around how the business runs day to day so execution doesn’t rely on constant intervention.
- Set priorities, cadence, and reporting that keep the team aligned
- Keep cross-functional work moving and unblock issues quickly
- Clarify roles, ownership, and decision paths
- Raise accountability and execution quality across the org
- Remove bottlenecks that slow progress
Outcome: execution becomes predictable instead of reactive.
Improve Revenue (RevOps)
I tighten the operating systems around revenue so effort converts into results.
- Build end-to-end visibility from pipeline to cash
- Create forecasting leaders can actually rely on
- Tighten pricing, packaging, and deal structure to protect margin
- Align sales, marketing, delivery, and finance around one revenue model
- Improve follow-through so deals convert, deliver, and collect cleanly
- Surface the real constraints in the revenue engine and fix them
Outcome: growth adds leverage, not chaos.
Increase Founder Leverage (Chief of Staff)
I reduce the load on the founder so the business can move without everything flowing through them.
- Own day-to-day coordination and execution tracking
- Act as a strategic thought partner on priorities and decisions
- Keep teams aligned without constant founder chasing
- Filter noise and distractions before they escalate
- Reduce context-switching and operational overload
Outcome: the founder stays close to the business without being the bottleneck.
Who I Work Best With
- Founders of $1–10M businesses where growth is starting to strain execution.
- Leaders who are carrying too many decisions and acting as the operating glue.
- Companies that need fractional or interim operational leadership now, not later.
- Teams struggling with clarity, coordination, or consistent follow-through.
- Businesses ready to replace effort-driven execution with a real operating system.
Testimonials
Let's talk about what's holding you back
In 30 minutes, we'll identify your biggest operational bottleneck and map out what fixing it would unlock. If it's a fit, I can start within a week.