Portfolio
Kristina Borzhimskaya
Strategy & Operations Manager 
Portfolio
Kristina Borzhimskaya
Strategy & Operations Manager 
Portfolio
Kristina Borzhimskaya
Strategy & Operations Manager 
 

Kristina Borzhimskaya

Strategy & Operations Manager 

I build the operational systems that allow businesses to scale without breaking. I bring the financial discipline of corporate giants, the agility of a digital founder, and the diagnostic precision of a consultant.


What I solve for your business:


Strategic Growth: I bridge the gap between "where we want to be" and "how we actually get there" by designing Go-to-Market strategies and scalable infrastructures.


Operational Efficiency: I eliminate waste and chaos, turning disorganized workflows into high-margin systems.


Program & Portfolio Delivery: I take full ownership of complex, cross-functional delivery tracks, ensuring teams stay aligned and projects hit on time.

  • Skills: Process Optimization & Lean, Change Management, Operational Infrastructure Setup, Risk Mitigation, Performance Management, Stakeholder Management.
  • Methodologies & Tools: Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, OKR, KPI, Jira, Confluence, Asana, Notion, Miro, Power BI, QlikView, Airtable, Excel.

Experience & Education

Cases
1. Strategic Launches & GTM Programs
  • Digital Agency Launch:
    Situation (S)
    Transitioning into a fast-paced digital sector, the agency lacked a structured delivery framework. A disconnect between high-level strategic goals and daily manual actions created high uncertainty and prevented the business from scaling.

    Task (T)
    Build a robust operational foundation from the ground up to establish scalable digital delivery processes, align the team, and secure stable long-term revenue.

    Action (A)
    Conducted a workflow audit to design the core process architecture and GTM strategy. Implemented a centralized tech stack (Asana/ClickUp) and developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Introduced Agile ceremonies and a weekly OKR tracking system to align remote, multi-timezone teams with P&L goals and ensure service quality.

    Result (R)
    Established a highly efficient, 100% transparent remote operating model that enabled the successful launch of two new business divisions. Doubled revenue within the first year, successfully reaching and sustaining a €300,000 annual revenue run rate for 5 years with high client satisfaction.
    1
  • Management Consulting Practice:
    Situation (S)
    While the agency focused strictly on digital marketing execution, I identified a critical gap: SMB clients lacked the operational maturity to handle rapid growth. This led to wasted marketing ROI and high client churn, presenting a strategic opportunity for a new revenue stream.

    Task (T)
    Build a business case and launch a new Management Consulting arm to help clients build their operational "skeletons," targeting €200,000 in new annual revenue.

    Action (A)
    Designed a proprietary consulting methodology (Audit → Strategy → Process Architecture) focused on org structures and OKR/KPI systems. Aligned the new service portfolio directly with client P&L needs and built a scalable library of SOPs and automated reporting templates to ensure high-quality, repeatable delivery.

    Result (R)
    Generated €200,000 in new revenue within the first year. Transformed "one-off" marketing clients into long-term strategic partners, significantly increasing their Lifetime Value (LTV) and reducing business failure rates by equipping them with robust operational systems.
    2
  • International Brand GTM:
    Situation (S)
    A strategic business pivot required transitioning from a service-based model to physical product manufacturing. The new furniture brand was starting from zero—lacking any existing operational structure, manufacturing capabilities, or Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy.

    Task (T)
    Build the operational and manufacturing foundation from the ground up, design a profitable GTM strategy, and successfully execute a global market entry via major international design exhibitions (Europe & New York).

    Action (A)
    Acted as Strategy & Operations Lead to orchestrate the end-to-end launch. Designed the financial framework, including the pricing model and SKU matrix. Built the entire physical supply chain from scratch, and coordinated complex cross-border logistics alongside business development efforts for the brand's global debuts.

    Result (R)
    Successfully launched the brand on the international stage, securing the first global clients and validating product-market fit. Transformed a conceptual pivot into a functioning physical business, establishing a robust operational backbone ready for further international scaling.

    3

For me, Operations is not routine — it is strategy in motion. I turn complexity and chaos into high-performing systems where growth becomes predictable and results are measurable.

2. Operational Scale & Transformation
  • New Distributor Launch (€100M):
    Situation (S)
    A new strategic distribution unit was launched to serve as the primary regional growth engine. However, the lack of an operational system and reliance on manual data created bottlenecks, making decision-making slow and reactive, which hindered the ability to scale.

    Task (T)
    Lead the end-to-end operational launch and build a scalable, data-driven ecosystem from scratch to drive the annual revenue from 0 to €100M in Year 1.

    Action (A)
    Acted as Programme Manager to align cross-functional teams (Finance, Sales, Logistics) and designed the core operational infrastructure. Established a unified OKR/KPI framework and built automated Power BI and QlikView dashboards to create a "Single Source of Truth." Implemented structured sales forecasting and a rigorous rhythm of business reviews to turn metrics into strategic actions.

    Result (R)
    Reduced the reporting cycle by 30%, giving leadership real-time visibility into business performance. This robust, data-driven backbone successfully transformed manual chaos into a predictable machine, allowing the unit to hit the €100M target in Year 1 and eventually scale to €100M in annual revenue.
    1
  • Data-Driven Decision Enablement:
    Situation (S)
    A lack of centralized analytics for a new distributor caused significant delays, with strategic quarterly decisions stalling until the end of the first month.

    Task (T)
    Implement a systemic Data-Driven approach. Create a KPI framework and automated dashboards to drastically reduce the lead time for strategic decision-making.

    Action (A)
    Defined key performance metrics and automated data collection. Deployed interactive dashboards (QlikView/Power BI) and established a cadence of weekly/quarterly reviews to align operations with real-time data.

    Result (R)
    Slashed decision-making time by 30% (from 4 weeks to 1 week). This provided leadership with 3 weeks of additional "strategic runway" each quarter for proactive adjustments.

    2
  • Operational Infrastructure:
    Situation (S)
    A Health-Tech startup was paralyzed by a strategic deadlock between key stakeholders: investing entirely in new R&D versus fixing operational chaos. This conflict, combined with manual day-to-day processes, blocked all business growth.

    Task (T)
    Resolve the leadership conflict through data-driven insights, build a scalable operational infrastructure from scratch, and create a unified roadmap to fund and launch the new product.

    Action (A)
    Performed deep financial modeling to demonstrate that inefficient manual operations were draining R&D capital. Proposed and gained buy-in for a phased "Ops-first" strategy. Implemented a unified digital workspace (Asana/CRM) and engineered an automated sales flow, ensuring high-quality delivery without constant owner oversight.

    Result (R)
    Successfully aligned stakeholders and transitioned the business into a systemized, tool-driven environment. The new independent operational "skeleton" generated the necessary capital, directly enabling the successful development and market launch .
    3

Operational excellence must reflect on the bottom line. I look at processes through the lens of profitability, ensuring every system I build directly contributes to margin growth and cost efficiency.

3. P&L Optimization & Systems Design
  • Manufacturing Transformation:
    Situation (S)
    A consumer goods brand was bottlenecked by operational chaos and an overwhelming reliance on manual B2C sales (Instagram DMs). The team was overworked, profitability was stagnant, and there was zero capacity to explore strategic B2B opportunities.

    Task (T)
    Automate the B2C sales channel, restructure internal operations for scalability, and unlock the team's capacity to launch and secure a major B2B retail partnership.

    Action (A)
    Led the end-to-end launch of an e-commerce platform with automated payment and delivery integrations. Rebuilt the organizational structure, introduced weekly business reviews, and revised the product matrix to focus on high-margin items. This systemic overhaul eliminated manual sales bottlenecks and aligned cross-functional teams.

    Result (R)
    Fully automated the B2C channel, drastically reducing manual workload and stabilizing the P&L. The freed-up capacity enabled the successful launch of the B2B channel, securing a major contract and multi-SKU listing with a leading national retail chain.
    1
  • Operational & Cost Efficiency:
    Situation (S)
    A fragmented distribution network relying on 13 direct partners created excessive logistical complexity and inflated administrative overhead.

    Task (T)
    Redesign the supply chain model to simplify operations, drive cross-functional accountability, and drastically reduce costs without sacrificing market presence.

    Action (A)
    Led a Lean transformation to consolidate the network into a 3-tier Master Distributor model. Acted as the central coordinator across Legal, Logistics, and Finance to seamlessly migrate workflows, and standardized new interaction protocols to guarantee 100% market coverage.

    Result (R)
    Slashed administrative and logistical costs by 30% within 12 months. This optimization directly improved the business unit's P&L and freed up team resources from manual coordination to focus on strategic growth.
    2
  • Margin & Pricing Strategy:
    Situation (S)
    Destructive price dumping among 13 distributors in the HoReCa channel led to market chaos and critically low profit margins.

    Task (T)
    Eliminate the "price war" by establishing a unified, transparent pricing model to increase channel margin by 12% and shift focus to service quality.

    Action (A)
    Spearheaded the pricing standardization project. Conducted complex negotiations to ensure Stakeholder Alignment across all 13 partners. Introduced a one-year client exclusivity incentive to secure distributor buy-in.

    Result (R)
    Successful adoption of the model by 100% of partners. Achieved a 12% increase in channel margin and stabilized the market, allowing distributors to focus on service and territorial expansion.
    3

The ultimate goal of any system is to free up the business’s most valuable resources: capital, people, and time. I optimize the 'operational skeleton' so that leaders can stop firefighting and start innovating.

4. Resource, Cost & Time Optimization
  • Budget Management & ROI:
    Situation (S)
    Operating in a highly competitive FMCG market, driving aggressive sales growth required extreme financial discipline over a €2M+ annual budget and a portfolio of 60+ concurrent initiatives.

    Task (T)
    Transform the budget from a reactive "spending pot" into a strategic investment tool to drive 20% YoY sales growth, ensuring every Euro was allocated to high-impact activities.

    Action (A)
    Built a real-time ROI tracking framework to shift allocations from "gut-feeling" to data-driven prioritization. Implemented "anchor-date" planning to eliminate costs of delay during critical market windows, and synchronized marketing spend directly with supply chain capacity to guarantee product availability.

    Result (R)
    Consistently achieved the 20% YoY sales growth target and optimized ROMI by eliminating wasteful spend, ultimately aligning Sales, Marketing, and Operations toward a single strategic goal.

    1
  • Operational Transformation:
    Situation (S)
    An operational growth crisis triggered by a lack of systematic personnel management, resulting in high attrition and a lack of standardized training.

    Task (T)
    Conduct a deep audit and build a systemic HR infrastructure (Hiring, Training, Performance Management) to enable delegation and scalable growth.

    Action (A)
    Acted as Process Owner. Designed and implemented three core systems: Hiring/Onboarding, Training/Certification, and an OKR/KPI framework. Established a cadence for regular strategic planning.

    Result (R)
    Reduced attrition by 20% and accelerated onboarding time by 35%. Improved execution discipline, with quarterly goal completion increasing by 15%.

    2
  • Process Optimization:
    Situation (S)
    A 5-store retail chain was operating at a loss due to operational inefficiencies and an outdated market strategy.

    Task (T)
    Achieve urgent financial stabilization (break-even) and transform operations to restore scalable growth.

    Action (A)
    Conducted a financial audit and closed an unprofitable division. Revised the product matrix and purchasing strategy. Developed and implemented operational systems to ensure supply stability. Introduced key performance indicators to track SKU profitability and inventory turnover.

    Result (R)
    The transformation drove a 25% increase in sales across remaining locations. Successfully transitioned the chain from a loss-making entity to a profitable, systemized & profitable business.


    3

2х2 MANAGEMENT

My strengths
  • Strategic Adaptability — I thrive in high-uncertainty environments. My experience—from navigating complex corporate shifts to relocating my life and business to Portugal—has built a unique resilience. I don’t just react to change; I calmly recalibrate strategies and action plans to ensure business continuity under any conditions.
  • Systems Thinking & Problem Solving — I excel at deconstructing complexity. My approach is to strip a problem down to its core components and rebuild it into a manageable, disciplined system. Whether launching a new market or restructuring a company, I turn ambitious goals into a series of precise, achievable execution steps.
  • Data-Driven Decision Leadership — I rely on evidence, not intuition. I am proficient at identifying patterns within data, uncovering hidden inefficiencies, and translating numbers into actionable business intelligence. I don’t just propose solutions; I defend them with solid analytics, ensuring that every priority is backed by a measurable ROI.
Location & Availability: Currently based in Lisbon, Portugal, with full EU work authorization. Open to hybrid or remote opportunities across Europe.

Target Roles: I am seeking to apply my expertise as a Strategy & Operations Manager, Delivery Manager, or CS Operations/Enablement Manager.


I thrive in Tech, SaaS, and FinTech environments where data-driven transformation and structured Change Management are key to delivering verifiable ROI.

Let’s connect:
+351 963 825 853
Kristina Borzhimskaya
k.borzhimskaya@gmail.com