Sarah N.

Partner to the CEO in building Refoxy’s operational backbone — leading cross-functional initiatives across IT, compliance, finance, HR, and vendor management to create scalable systems and efficient execution. Managed M365 migration and adoption guidelines for a scaling team Relaunched and administered the company website with full GDPR compliance Designed and scaled onboarding and offboarding processes from the ground up Built automated People and Finance workflows using Google Workspace and Apps Script, reducing manual administration and improving transparency Created a central internal knowledge hub for documentation and team information Led ESG reporting, supported funding management, and served as primary liaison to the CFO Coordinated board meetings, on-sites, and team development initiatives​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Bright Scale exists because most early-stage founders hit the same structural wall: they're the bottleneck in their own company, running on depleted capacity, and watching small misalignments compound into real crises without anyone helping them see it early enough. I work with founders as an operational thinking partner. Twenty years inside the engine rooms of organisations like AXA, Ericsson, and Electronic Arts gave me a sharp eye for where systems quietly break — decision flows, capacity limits, co-founder friction. I help founders map those failure points before they become expensive.

As a board member of Female Leadership 2.0, I contributed to the initiative's strategic direction and further development. I supported planning and decision-making processes, advised on organizational structure and initiatives, and helped strengthen collaboration across the network to advance female leadership and visibility.

Built the unit from 2 to 35 employees alongside the VP during pandemic. Lead cross-functional collaboration, end-to-end project execution, and budget oversight across teams. Took point on the Koelnmesse Visitor Chatbot as lead key user, driving continuous improvements in internal processes and visitor experience. Partnered directly with the VP on strategic prioritization, team coordination, and high-stakes decision-making.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Delivered full operational management of the COO Office, establishing structured C-suite support processes that enabled executive-level decision-making and efficiency. Led end-to-end planning and execution of executive and VIP events as team lead, consistently delivering high-stakes experiences on scope and on time. Drove Microsoft 365 adoption at executive level as key user and central liaison — bridging leadership, IT, and external partners to ensure a smooth, organization-wide rollout

In this role, I supported board committee work and executive-level governance processes. I managed VIP stakeholders and ensured professional coordination in high-level executive contexts. I led teams during leadership and executive events, overseeing planning and on-site execution. I served as the Executive Office liaison for the Salesforce implementation, coordinating between leadership, internal teams, and external partners. In addition, I managed the CEO Office, ensuring structured operations and reliable executive support.

supported the Vice President Operations and the Vice President Client Office as a project assistant, with a strong focus on PMO activities. I coordinated team management initiatives across the Benelux region, including kick-offs, offsites, and project meetings, ensuring structured planning, clear communication, and effective execution across distributed teams.