φαίδρα

As a seasoned leader in Business Operations, Product, and Strategy, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to 4 acquired companies.

I consider myself a deeply technical operator with a creative touch, and diverse experience leading in software and consumer products, and hardware, from Facebook's enterprise software to Skurt's risk & client products, TheraBody's b2c app, to Spero's food inventions and rapid retail growth. My hardware experience spans leadership in systems, operations, and process engineering at Spero and Sikorsky, and med device optimizations at CRBard.

At Spero, I had the honor of serving as founder, CEO and functional COO, leading a remarkable team in revolutionizing the food technology landscape. I oversaw 50 employees and contractors, and raised backing from Bessemer, Valor, YC, Alumni, Soma, and more, to Series B. We sold ~1MM products, and secured thousands of retailer deals including Kroger, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Publix. I developed and led the GTM and brand strategy, designing our brand and partnering with celebrities, like Lizzo. On the operations side, I built our business operations systems, automation, and business analysis, as well as managed our KPIs, and product attributes and roadmap. I also oversaw our supply chain, and manufacturing. On the technical side, I wrote and filed multiple food science patents and developed our first products, led the science and engineering teams, and led the build out of a 35k sq-ft industrial factory and lab, designed with our novel processing automation. 

Spero has been named Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies - Food (2023), Consumer (2022), World Changing Ideas Honoree (2020), NEXTY Best Meat or Dairy Alternative, and Food Network Consumer Supermarket Awards.

Spero was lucky to work and partner with numerous incredible people who contributed to its success over the years, none of which would have been possible without their talents and dedication. I feel immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the team, vendors, retailers, investors, and partners.

💙I love connecting with and helping founders, inventors, and creators.

Reach out for a conversation.👩🏼‍💻 phaedraar {at} gmail

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