Open to opportunities

Ellie Kovacs

@elliekovacs

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COO and CRO-level operator driving growth and building high-performing teams.

Zimbabwe

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What I'm looking for

I seek a role where I can leverage my leadership skills to drive growth and foster a positive company culture.

With over 15 years of experience as an executive leader, I specialize in building structures that drive growth and enhance operational efficiency. My journey has taken me through various leadership roles, where I have successfully led revenue, operations, customer success, and people strategy. I am passionate about creating high-performing teams and scalable systems that yield compounding results, whether it’s increasing profitability, expanding markets, or aligning execution with strategy.

In my most recent role as President and Chief Revenue Officer at Spur, I took ownership of revenue, sales, marketing, and customer success during a critical growth phase. My strategic focus led to a remarkable 28% increase in revenue and a 146% boost in net profit within the first year. I have a proven track record of transforming complexity into clarity, designing structures that empower both individuals and organizations to thrive.

Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my ability to lead with integrity, communicate with clarity, and inspire those around me. I thrive in dynamic environments where I can leverage my skills in strategic operations, cross-functional leadership, and people development to drive meaningful change and achieve exceptional results.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

President & Chief Revenue Officer

Current

Spur

Sep 2023 - Present (1 year 10 months)

Led Spur through a critical growth stage, taking executive ownership of revenue, sales, marketing, and customer success. Built the company's sales, marketing, and customer success functions from the ground up.

Revenue Sales Marketing Customer Success Go To Market Strategy Financial Forecasting Organizational Design

Chief Operating Officer

Tango Tango

Oct 2021 - Sep 2023 (1 year 11 months)

Promoted to COO to scale Tango Tango’s operations and infrastructure during a period of rapid growth. Led day-to-day business operations with a focus on clarity, accountability, and cross-functional alignment.

Operations Management Infrastructure Scaling Financial Modeling Business Alignment Business Operations Performance Management Data Analysis Process Improvement

Chief Revenue & Growth Officer

Tango Tango

Jan 2020 - Oct 2021 (1 year 9 months)

Identified and resolved growth bottlenecks across sales, marketing, and revenue operations. Rebuilt the company’s sales strategy, improving lead-to-demo rates from 5% to 10%.

Sales Strategy Revenue Operations Growth Hacking Performance Analysis ROI Tracking Customer Feedback Integration Lead Generation Sales Performance

Director of People Operations

Spur

Aug 2018 - Jan 2020 (1 year 5 months)

Led People Operations during a period of rapid growth and product evolution, overseeing HR strategy and execution for 2,700+ hourly workers and 80+ corporate employees. Rebuilt recruiting and onboarding systems to support 27% team growth and 90% corporate retention.

People Operations HR strategy Recruiting Onboarding Compliance Benefits Administration Performance Management Employee Experience Policy Development

Director of Talent Strategy & Product Development

Spur

Feb 2017 - Aug 2018 (1 year 6 months)

Joined Spur at its earliest stage to lead workforce growth and infrastructure development. Built the systems, teams, and tools needed to scale worker acquisition, onboarding, and engagement.

Workforce Development Infrastructure Development Onboarding Employee Engagement Product Development Credentialing System Implementation Process Optimization

Director of Program Operations, Instructional Services

Appleton

Jan 2016 - Feb 2017 (1 year 1 month)

Promoted to lead Appleton’s extended learning and instructional services portfolio. Managed day-to-day operations for programs serving 1,200+ students across multiple districts.

Program Operations Instructional Services Budget Management Staffing Program Strategy Student Impact Hiring Training

Program Director, Extended Learning

Appleton

Nov 2013 - Jan 2016 (2 years 2 months)

Oversaw the design and delivery of extended learning programs for K–8 students. Co-developed and launched a STEAM curriculum across 20 school sites in just 60 days.

Program Design Curriculum Development Staffing Operations Management STEAM Curriculum Marketing Campaigns Online Registration Budget Management

Branch Director, Tutoring & Test Prep

Appleton

Jul 2012 - Nov 2013 (1 year 4 months)

Launched and led two regional tutoring centers, overseeing business development, service delivery, and team performance. Developed and executed a local growth strategy that increased revenue and improved student outcomes.

Business Development Service Delivery Team Leadership Revenue Operational Excellence Growth Strategy Academic Support Customer Experience Efficiency Improvement

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Alabama in Huntsville

Bachelor of Arts, English

Grade: Summa Cum Laude

Graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. This program provided a strong foundation in critical thinking, analytical skills, and effective communication.