People before process
Every system I build starts with understanding the humans who have to live inside it. Work styles, strengths, and communication patterns are the real foundation.
Founder & CEO — Roux
Operations
that honor
the people.
I partner with founders to build the operational backbone their business needs — without losing sight of the humans inside it.
About Jen
A strategist who leads with empathy first.
I'm Jen Yates — founder of Roux and a fractional operations leader for purpose-driven founders who want to build businesses that actually work for the humans inside them.
I bring the strategic clarity of a seasoned COO paired with a genuine belief that the best operational systems are the ones people actually want to use. My work begins with listening — to your team, your goals, and the rhythms that already exist in your business.
The name Roux is intentional. In cooking, a roux is the base that holds everything together. That's exactly what I do for your business.
My philosophy
Clarity is kindness
Vague expectations and undefined roles create friction. I help teams build shared language and clear accountability so everyone can move with confidence.
Sustainable over fast
A business that operates at a sprint pace indefinitely is one that burns people out. I design for the long run — operations that scale without breaking the people inside them.
What I offer
Services
Each engagement is shaped around your business. These are the primary ways we can work together.
I
I
Fractional COO
Strategic operations leadership, without the full-time overhead.
Embedded partnership where I function as your Chief Operating Officer — attending leadership meetings, guiding team structure, building systems, and serving as the strategic thinking partner every founder deserves.
- Weekly leadership collaboration
- Organizational design
- Cross-functional team alignment
- KPI and performance frameworks
II
II
Operations Assessment
A clear map of where you are, and where you need to go.
Before building anything new, I map your current state. This deep-dive assessment surfaces the friction points, gaps, and opportunities hiding in your existing operations — and delivers a custom roadmap to address them.
- Current-state operations audit
- Team capacity and workflow review
- Priority gap analysis
- Custom 90-day roadmap
III
III
Project Management
Complex initiatives, delivered with calm and precision.
End-to-end ownership of your most critical projects. I bring structure, communication cadences, and clear accountability to initiatives that are too important to leave to chance.
- Project scoping and timeline development
- Stakeholder communication plans
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Launch support and retrospectives
IV
IV
Change Management
Guiding your team through transitions with care.
Organizational change is rarely technical — it's human. I help your team navigate shifts in structure, systems, and strategy with empathy, transparency, and real momentum.
- Change readiness assessment
- Communication strategy
- Team coaching and mentorship
- Adoption tracking and support
How it works
A process built around your reality.
No cookie-cutter playbooks. Every step starts with curiosity.
1
Listen & Learn
Every engagement starts with a discovery conversation. I listen to your challenges, your goals, and the people involved before suggesting a single thing. No templates, no assumptions.
2
Map the Current State
I conduct a thorough operations assessment to understand where things stand today — what's working, what's fractured, and where the biggest opportunities for change live.
3
Build a Custom Roadmap
Using what I've learned about your team and your goals, I create a tailored strategy that integrates your people's strengths with the operational needs of your business.
4
Implement with your team
I don't hand you a document and disappear. I work alongside you and your team to implement changes, coach through transitions, and adjust in real time.
5
Sustain & hand off
The goal is always independence. By the end of our engagement, your team has the tools, habits, and confidence to maintain what we've built together — without me.
10+Years in operations leadership
40+Businesses transformed
100%Human-centered approach
Get in touch
Ready to build something that lasts?
Whether you have a clear challenge in mind or you're not quite sure where to start — reach out. The first conversation is always just a conversation.
LinkedIn — Jen Yates
Roux — Strategic Management Services