Strategic Operations
for Growing Startups


I partner with founders to turn strategy into clear execution - creating focus, momentum, and calm as their teams scale

How I support Founders

I work alongside early-stage and growing startups to bring clarity, focus and operational rhythm to the work that matters most - drawing on two decades of experience supporting founders, CEOs, boards, and global teams throughout growth and change.

Engagements are typically time-bound and lightweight - designed to create momentum without adding overhead.

Operating Focus & Priorities

  • Clarifying what matters now (and what doesn’t)

  • Turning strategy into a realistic roadmap

  • Establishing quarterly and weekly operating rhythm

Execution Support

  • Program structure for key initiatives

  • Bringing calm to complex, functional work

  • Acting as a thought partner to the founder

Team & Role Clarity

  • Defining ownership and decision-making

  • Reducing friction across founders and teams

  • Creating lightweight structure that scales

Hi, I’m Erin

I’m a strategic operations advisor with 20 years of experience helping founders and leadership teams turn vision into executable reality.

I spent a decade at Xero as Chief of Staff to the founder and CEO, supporting global operations, board meetings, executive offsites, strategic planning, and international expansion across the Americas, Australia, UK and Asia. Most recently, I was a Principal Program Manager at Smartsheet, leading complex cross-functional programs at scale.

I started Erin Connolly Advisory to work more closely with founders in the critical early stages of growth, where a disciplined approach to strategic operations helps startups scale with clarity and focus.

I live in Seattle with my partner and three young boys. I’m originally from New Zealand.

Testimonals

“Erin worked alongside me for more than a decade at Xero as a trusted partner and Chief of Staff during some of the company’s most important years of growth. She played a central role in turning our strategic plans into operational reality — supporting acquisitions, capital raises, global expansion, and the establishment of our operations across the Americas.

Erin traveled extensively with me, helped shape and run our executive offsites, supported board and leadership work, and built strong relationships across the executive team and directors. She has an exceptional ability to see both the big picture and the practical steps required to make it happen.

I relied on Erin as a sounding board and steady operational leader in fast-moving and complex environments. Her judgment, discretion, and ability to bring clarity to ambiguity made her an invaluable part of Xero’s journey”.

— Sir Rod Drury

Founder & Former CEO, Xero.

“Erin is one of the most capable operational leaders I’ve worked with. She has a rare ability to bring clarity and calm to complex, high-stakes initiatives while keeping teams aligned and moving forward.

During our time at Smartsheet, Erin led critical work across M&A integration, global expansion into Australia, Costa Rica, and Japan, the company-wide transition to remote work during COVID, and the establishment of our OKR and ESG programs — including our first published ESG report. In each case, she brought thoughtful structure, steady leadership, and a deep understanding of how to turn strategy into real execution across diverse teams.

Erin operates with a level of maturity, judgment, and pragmatism that makes her an invaluable partner to leadership teams. Any founder or executive would be fortunate to have her guiding their operational work.”

— Kara Hamilton

Former C-Level Executive, Smartsheet

Let’s talk

If you think this kind of support might be helpful, I’d love to hear from you.

You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.