Welcome to the EVP Talent blog! This fortnightly blog series exists to demystify common startup roles, create clearer pathways into startup roles, and tell the stories of exceptional operators within the EVP Portfolio.
Interested in joining one of Australia's leading B2B SaaS Startups? sign up to Talent_OS now.
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Lyndsay Reyn is the Business Operations Lead at Explorate – a digital freight forwarder, giving businesses greater visibility and control over their freight.
1 // What is a Business Operations Lead, and what does a Business Operations Lead do at Explorate?
Explorate's Business Operations team aims to create a positive work environment by focusing on processes, culture, and learning & development. We streamline business processes, promote the Explorate culture, and empower our employees to take ownership of their learning. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our employees feel confident and satisfied in their work.
My role is to set the strategy and priorities to how we achieve this. My goal in the role is to ensure employees feel connected and part of the Explorate team, that they enjoy working with us, it challenges them and their input and feedback contributes to what Explorate have set out to achieve.
2 // Explorate raised its Series A round in 2022, what does a day in your week look like working in a startup at this stage?
There is never a dull moment! My day can range from conducting employee training courses, recruiting new employees, developing communication plans, implementing employee wellness programs to playing music to lift people's energy levels or making sure the lolly jar is full.
My priorities shift depending on what the company needs most at any given time.
A start up is constantly growing and finding the need for new roles and processes. Business Operations act as a hub for new opportunities to be defined, we are an incubator, often completing the tasks involved in these roles before we have the capacity to employ for the position.
3 // What is your professional background, and how did it lead you to become a Business Operations Lead?
I’ve worked within the Government, Finance Sector and Tourism industry in various roles. The main roles I draw upon my experience for the Business Operation role are; Executive Assistant, Project Manager and Marketing Manager.
I joined Explorate with no freight logistics experience and since being a part of the Explorate team have worked across Freight Operations, Marketing, Product and HR teams. Having the opportunity to learn and develop skills within these roles lead me into my current role as Business Operations Lead.
4 // Are there specific experiences that you needed to have to be hired for the role?
As the company grew it became clear that there was a requirement for someone to work across departments to align teams, set goals, execute initiatives and improve processes, essentially helping Explorate run efficiently and effectively.
After spending two years in different roles across the business and setting foundations in the departments, I was asked to step into the Business Operations Lead role.
I thrive on processes, that by implementing a repetitive process, the business can build confidence in the quality and efficiency of how it works. This releases resources to focus on new opportunities, but always maintaining an awareness for continual improvement. But allowing day to day to be easy, repetitive, means employees are engaged on more interesting tasks and challenges and the day to day activities are not overly burdensome.
5 // What are complementing professional backgrounds that could be suitable pathways for getting into the role?
Anyone with a passion for processes, who is organised and can juggle multiple tasks and personalities. More importantly, anyone who loves seeing people grow and be happy, working alongside the individual to help them achieve their goals.
Every start-up needs an individual who is essentially a generalist with knowledge of every aspect of the business. Qualifications in Business Management, Administration or Economics are a bonus, however the hands on experience and knowledge of that particular business/start up is what will help you grow.
6 // What are the characteristics or skills that would help someone stand out in pursuing this career?
There’s no cookie-cutter personality that neatly maps onto the role of a Business Operations Lead, nor is there a common career path that leads straight to it.
However, people who are successful in this role are often quick decision-makers, good problem solvers and savvy relationship builders.
7 // How did you determine which startup to join? What did you look for?
I was not actively on the lookout for joining a start-up. Being friends with the founders, and hearing about their vision and determination to achieve their goals, ultimately sold me the opportunity.
Explorate is the first start-up I have worked for, and I will say as someone who likes processes and structure, I definitely needed to adjust and learn to go with the flow and work with the relevant people to form processes along the way.
What we implemented back in 2021 has changed numerous times to where we are now, and no doubt will continue evolving as we grow.
8 // What are the best resources to read or listen to about becoming a Business Operations Lead?
Joining communities and forums such as Culture Amp and AHRI have been a great guide and provided reassurance that the cultural initiatives we have implemented are on the right track.
This year I’ve enrolled in a Human Resources course to help bolster my skills and experience.
We use Slack and Atlassian at Explorate, I enjoy their product updates and webinars. There have been some great tips and tricks to improve our admin efficiency.
Podcasts worth listening to; HR Breakfast Club, Culture First and In Depth.
If you haven't already enrolled in EVP’s Mates & Mentors, I strongly suggest you do. I’ve met some amazing people in similar roles. It’s a great way to bounce ideas off with people and companies who are at similar stages as your own.
I am always on the lookout for new ways to improve and develop the ways we do things at Explorate.
****
Here are five current active roles in the EVP portfolio:
- Zipline is hiring Business Development Representatives in Sydney
- Ignition is hiring an Account Executive, SMB in London
- Deputy is hiring a Senior Manager, Analytics in Sydney
- EatClub is hiring a Business Development Manager for Queensland in Brisbane
- VendorPanel is hiring a Product Design Intern in Melbourne
Interested in one of the above positions or getting an operation role in a Startup? Reach out to Fred or Charmaine from EVP's Talent Team or sign up to Talent_OS.
Welcome to the EVP Talent blog! This fortnightly blog series exists to demystify common startup roles, create clearer pathways into startup roles, and tell the stories of exceptional operators within the EVP Portfolio.
Interested in joining one of Australia's leading B2B SaaS Startups? sign up to Talent_OS now.
****
Lyndsay Reyn is the Business Operations Lead at Explorate – a digital freight forwarder, giving businesses greater visibility and control over their freight.
1 // What is a Business Operations Lead, and what does a Business Operations Lead do at Explorate?
Explorate's Business Operations team aims to create a positive work environment by focusing on processes, culture, and learning & development. We streamline business processes, promote the Explorate culture, and empower our employees to take ownership of their learning. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our employees feel confident and satisfied in their work.
My role is to set the strategy and priorities to how we achieve this. My goal in the role is to ensure employees feel connected and part of the Explorate team, that they enjoy working with us, it challenges them and their input and feedback contributes to what Explorate have set out to achieve.
2 // Explorate raised its Series A round in 2022, what does a day in your week look like working in a startup at this stage?
There is never a dull moment! My day can range from conducting employee training courses, recruiting new employees, developing communication plans, implementing employee wellness programs to playing music to lift people's energy levels or making sure the lolly jar is full.
My priorities shift depending on what the company needs most at any given time.
A start up is constantly growing and finding the need for new roles and processes. Business Operations act as a hub for new opportunities to be defined, we are an incubator, often completing the tasks involved in these roles before we have the capacity to employ for the position.
3 // What is your professional background, and how did it lead you to become a Business Operations Lead?
I’ve worked within the Government, Finance Sector and Tourism industry in various roles. The main roles I draw upon my experience for the Business Operation role are; Executive Assistant, Project Manager and Marketing Manager.
I joined Explorate with no freight logistics experience and since being a part of the Explorate team have worked across Freight Operations, Marketing, Product and HR teams. Having the opportunity to learn and develop skills within these roles lead me into my current role as Business Operations Lead.
4 // Are there specific experiences that you needed to have to be hired for the role?
As the company grew it became clear that there was a requirement for someone to work across departments to align teams, set goals, execute initiatives and improve processes, essentially helping Explorate run efficiently and effectively.
After spending two years in different roles across the business and setting foundations in the departments, I was asked to step into the Business Operations Lead role.
I thrive on processes, that by implementing a repetitive process, the business can build confidence in the quality and efficiency of how it works. This releases resources to focus on new opportunities, but always maintaining an awareness for continual improvement. But allowing day to day to be easy, repetitive, means employees are engaged on more interesting tasks and challenges and the day to day activities are not overly burdensome.
5 // What are complementing professional backgrounds that could be suitable pathways for getting into the role?
Anyone with a passion for processes, who is organised and can juggle multiple tasks and personalities. More importantly, anyone who loves seeing people grow and be happy, working alongside the individual to help them achieve their goals.
Every start-up needs an individual who is essentially a generalist with knowledge of every aspect of the business. Qualifications in Business Management, Administration or Economics are a bonus, however the hands on experience and knowledge of that particular business/start up is what will help you grow.
6 // What are the characteristics or skills that would help someone stand out in pursuing this career?
There’s no cookie-cutter personality that neatly maps onto the role of a Business Operations Lead, nor is there a common career path that leads straight to it.
However, people who are successful in this role are often quick decision-makers, good problem solvers and savvy relationship builders.
7 // How did you determine which startup to join? What did you look for?
I was not actively on the lookout for joining a start-up. Being friends with the founders, and hearing about their vision and determination to achieve their goals, ultimately sold me the opportunity.
Explorate is the first start-up I have worked for, and I will say as someone who likes processes and structure, I definitely needed to adjust and learn to go with the flow and work with the relevant people to form processes along the way.
What we implemented back in 2021 has changed numerous times to where we are now, and no doubt will continue evolving as we grow.
8 // What are the best resources to read or listen to about becoming a Business Operations Lead?
Joining communities and forums such as Culture Amp and AHRI have been a great guide and provided reassurance that the cultural initiatives we have implemented are on the right track.
This year I’ve enrolled in a Human Resources course to help bolster my skills and experience.
We use Slack and Atlassian at Explorate, I enjoy their product updates and webinars. There have been some great tips and tricks to improve our admin efficiency.
Podcasts worth listening to; HR Breakfast Club, Culture First and In Depth.
If you haven't already enrolled in EVP’s Mates & Mentors, I strongly suggest you do. I’ve met some amazing people in similar roles. It’s a great way to bounce ideas off with people and companies who are at similar stages as your own.
I am always on the lookout for new ways to improve and develop the ways we do things at Explorate.
****
Here are five current active roles in the EVP portfolio:
- Zipline is hiring Business Development Representatives in Sydney
- Ignition is hiring an Account Executive, SMB in London
- Deputy is hiring a Senior Manager, Analytics in Sydney
- EatClub is hiring a Business Development Manager for Queensland in Brisbane
- VendorPanel is hiring a Product Design Intern in Melbourne