2021 - present
Operating Advisor, Independent
Portfolio ops and diligence.
Operating advisor · growth-stage PE
Lena Kowalski
I help growth-stage companies install operating cadence that survives a board deck and a bad quarter.
Chicago, ILSelect board and advisory roles
I
The Atelier
Advise CEOs and boards on operating models, GTM rebuilds, and diligence.
Operating cadence · Diligence · GTM rebuilds · Portfolio ops · Board work · Integration
II
The House
I trained as an industrial engineer, took a Booth MBA, then spent a decade at Parceline building customer operations into a COO seat through a strategic sale. Since 2021 I have worked independently with PE sponsors and portfolio CEOs. The work is unglamorous on purpose: who owns the number, how often the team meets the truth, and what happens when growth slows.
III
The Seasons
2015 - 2021
COO, Parceline
Scale and strategic sale.
2011
MBA, Booth
IV
The Collection
COO
Parceline scale and sale
COO through headcount scale and strategic sale integration planning.
80 to 340 people; sale closed.
Advisory
Portfolio operating reviews
Installed quarterly operating reviews across multiple portfolio companies.
Still in use post-engagement.
Diligence
Operating diligence slate
Led operating diligence for six targets across two sponsors.
V
In Figures
8 portfolio companies advised
Since 2021.
6 diligence processes led
For two PE sponsors.
COO through sale
Parceline strategic sale.
VI
Commissions
Board and advisory
Select roles for growth-stage software and services companies.
Operating diligence
Target review for PE sponsors.
VII
Enquiries
What does Lena Kowalski do?
Lena is an independent operating advisor for growth-stage PE portfolio companies, and a former COO who led Parceline through scale and a strategic sale.
VIII
Notes
Cadence beats charisma
A charismatic CEO without a weekly truth session will still be surprised by the quarter. Build the session first.