Parceline scale and sale
COO through headcount scale and strategic sale integration planning.
80 to 340 people; sale closed
A professional score
Lena Kowalski
Operating advisor · growth-stage PE
Chicago, ILSelect board and advisory roles
Program notes
I help growth-stage companies install operating cadence that survives a board deck and a bad quarter.
01
Movements
I.
Operating Advisor, Independent
Portfolio ops and diligence.
2021 - present
II.
COO, Parceline
Scale and strategic sale.
2015 - 2021
III.
MBA, Booth School of Business
2011
02
Instrumentation
Advise CEOs and boards on operating models, GTM rebuilds, and diligence.
Principal voices
- 01Operating cadence
- 02Diligence
- 03GTM rebuilds
Current repertoire
- 01Portfolio ops
- 02Board work
- 03Integration
03
Program notes
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.
04
Selected works
COO
Portfolio operating reviews
Installed quarterly operating reviews across multiple portfolio companies.
Still in use post-engagement
Operating diligence slate
Led operating diligence for six targets across two sponsors.
05
Critical notices
8 portfolio companies advised
6 diligence processes led
COO through sale
06
Commissions
Commission 01
Board and advisory
Select roles for growth-stage software and services companies.
Commission 02
Operating diligence
Target review for PE sponsors.
07
Marginalia
Cadence beats charisma
A charismatic CEO without a weekly truth session will still be surprised by the quarter. Build the session first.
08
Performance notes
- What does Lena do?
- She is an independent operating advisor for growth-stage PE portfolio companies, and a former COO who led Parceline through scale and a strategic sale.
- What is her track record?
- Eight portfolio companies advised since 2021, six operating diligence processes led for two sponsors, and a COO seat through a strategic sale.
- Is she taking engagements?
- Select board and advisory roles.
09
Colophon
Score·shown with a fictional demo record
See it on your record →