LAURIE BREWER
Baltimore, MD |- |-| LinkedIn | www.glowupconsult.com
Professional Summary
A dynamic and results-driven executive with over 15 years of experience driving organizational success, coaching executives, startup consulting, talent, and people operations, leading high-performing teams, and executing strategic initiatives that propel business growth and profitability. Adept at navigating complex business landscapes, scaling startups, fostering innovation, transforming operations, and cultivating strong stakeholder relationships. Proven track record of transforming underperforming businesses into market leaders through strategic planning, operational efficiency, and relentless focus on customer satisfaction and seeking to leverage extensive experience and leadership skills to drive further success in a challenging executive role.
Core Skills and Competencies
Strategic Planning and Execution: Expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive business strategies that align with organizational goals and drive long-term growth.
Financial Acumen: Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L oversight, ensuring fiscal responsibility and profitability.
Chief Operations Officer: Proven ability to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance productivity through process improvements, automation, and technology integration.
Leadership and Team Building: Exceptional leadership skills with a focus on building and mentoring high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
Talent and HR Management: Oversight of all talent acquisition, leadership development, strategic workforce planning, HR Legal and Compliance functions.
Customer Relationship Management: Strong ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive loyalty.
Change Management: Expertise in leading organizational change, managing mergers and acquisitions, and driving transformation initiatives.
Risk Management: Proficient in identifying potential risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies to safeguard company assets.
Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Innovation and Technology: Advocate for leveraging technology and innovation to create competitive advantages and drive business success.
Startup and IPO Launch: driving startups through stabilization, IPO preparedness, resource strategy, SEC evaluations, and oversight of all variables pre and post-IPO launch. Including operational framework, financial management, people, strategy, acquisitions, and negotiation strategies.
Key Accomplishments
1. Revenue Growth: Spearheaded a strategic growth plan that resulted in a 50% increase in annual revenue over three years, from $100 million to $150 million.
2. Operational Efficiency: Implemented process improvements and technology solutions that reduced operational costs by 20%, saving the company $5 million annually.
3. Market Expansion: Led the expansion into three new international markets, increasing the company's global footprint and contributing to a 30% growth in market share.
4. Profitability Enhancement: Improved EBITDA margin by 15% through cost control measures, strategic pricing, and optimized product mix, resulting in an additional $10 million annual profits.
5. Customer Satisfaction: Launched a customer experience initiative that increased Net Promoter Score (NPS) from 60 to 75, enhancing customer loyalty and retention rates.
6. Innovation Leadership: Reengineered and launched a product line that generated $11 million in first-year sales and positioned the company as a market leader in innovation.
7. Digital Transformation: Led a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that increased online sales by 40% and improved overall digital engagement by 35%.
8. Talent Development: Developed and implemented a leadership development program that increased employee engagement scores by 25% and reduced turnover by 21%.
9. Talent Management: Implemented a dynamic, performance-based incentive program for the engineering and development teams, leading to a 20% increase in productivity and a significant improvement in employee satisfaction rates. Launched Leadership Development Program, increasing internal mobility by 33% YoY.
LAURIE BREWER |- |- Page 2
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Glow Up Consulting, Baltimore, MDPresent
Elevating start-ups, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and high-growth clients through launch, scale, brand, marketing, operational and financial strategy. Amplify results through profitability acceleration. Empower entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. Leaning in as a fractional COO, CPO, and CEO to amplify results. Launched in 2020 with an average annual revenue of $5.7 million.
FOUNDER | CEO | MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Fractional Executive for startups and scaling businesses needing expert-level strategy, operational, and human resources consulting. Provide operational, HR, talent, financial, marketing, product design, outcomes, and team readiness strategic leadership and coaching. Increase leadership efficiency and effectiveness.
Key Roles:
As a fractional COO, I spearheaded strategic initiatives for scaling AI, Tech, and Fintech startups, increasing platform engagement by 40% in the first year. Led remote, cross-functional teams to launch new products, boosting the user base by 25%, gained operational efficiency through automation improving scalability, drove the integration of investment platforms to launch new products and services, and increased revenue by 41% in 6 months.
As an investor relations coach, I built and maintained relationships with key industry players, VCs, and incubator programs, significantly expanding network and partnership opportunities.
As interim CEO and a management consultant, I’ve led five startups to IPO, including underwriter selection, due diligence, SEC reviews and roadshows, IPO pricing, launch, stabilization, and transition to top market competitors.
As Chief Talent Officer, of a Fintech startup, established HR policies, compliance, and legal requirements for an IPO reaching $200MM in capital investments, scaling globally, and hiring 750 employees in year one.
Tech, Division of M&T Bank, Buffalo, NY
Bank holding company operating 1,000+ branches in 12 states across the Eastern United States.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY, OPERATIONS and Talent
Led innovative strategies, including acquisition, programming, and branding, hiring over 550 graduates and 1383 experienced technologists in four years. Implemented Agile software delivery across the Tech department, including implementation and ongoing monitoring for continuous improvement. Successfully increased employee engagement and satisfaction from 82% to 95% YoY through the development of mentorship programs, technical training, leadership development, and workforce strategies to engage employees in innovation, product, and digital transformation initiatives.
CITI, New York, NY
Multinational investment bank and financial services corporation.
Senior Vice President | Global Trade Floor Product Lead
Managed a global organization of 375 employees with 17 direct reports, overseeing key transformation initiatives across IT Operations, software development, automation, testing, integration, and quality insurance functions.
Led global PMO responsible for a technology portfolio value of $127MM with 10 Portfolio Managers and 55 Project Managers. Our role was aligned with the worldwide trade floors, implementing new software, streamlining mobile and digital applications, and reducing active applications from 115 unique applications to 37 consistent applications across the global workforce. The application disparity created regulatory risks and significant expenses in maintaining and servicing.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Executive Leadership Certification – Cornell University, NY
6 Sigma Black Belt Certification, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Digital Marketing Certification, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
PMP Certification, PMP Institute, Washington, DC
SHRM-SCP – Society for Human Resources Management
Leading Agile Certification, General Assembly
