RUN SMARTER. SCALE FASTER.
BREATHE EASIER. 

Fractional COO, Chief of Staff, and AI-enabled operations for founders and executives who need senior operating leadership without another full-time hire.

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Senior operating leadership for founder-led companies.

At The Helm provides Fractional COO and Chief of Staff leadership for founders and executives navigating growth, transition, or operational complexity. I bring structure to executive priorities, drive cross-functional execution, and put AI into the workflows where it creates measurable leverage. I look at how work gets done and sort it into three lanes: automate it with AI, run it with a person plus AI, or keep it high-touch and human.

Every engagement is led personally by Rachel Christenson, an operator at every stage of the company lifecycle: building a pre-revenue startup to profitability, scaling an Inc. 5000 company through a major AI and digital transformation of operations and product, and helping stabilize a global technology company as Chief of Staff to the CEO. I have lived with the consequences of every process, hire, budget decision, and technology choice, and I bring that same ownership to every engagement.

14 years as a founder/operator • Inc. 5000 growth • 10× recurring revenue • Chief of Staff to a global CEO • AI-led operating transformation

At The Helm logo mark
SERVICES

Engagements built for founder-led companies

Fractional COO

When the operation is the bottleneck. Senior operating leadership without the full-time executive hire. I own the operating rhythm of the business: priorities, accountability, workflows, metrics, and AI-enabled operations.

Fractional Chief of Staff

When you are the bottleneck. Your right hand for the priorities that cannot afford to stall. I structure executive priorities, drive cross-functional initiatives, and make sure commitments turn into action.

Operations & AI Diagnostic

A focused assessment of how your company actually operates, delivered as a prioritized 90-day roadmap: what to fix, automate, eliminate, or redesign first.

Single Mission

One important outcome. Clear scope. Done. I take a critical launch, an AI implementation, or a process redesign from ambiguity to execution.

Executive Offsites & Leadership Sessions

Offsites, investor days, and leadership summits, designed and produced end to end. You lead the room; everything around it is handled.

1-2-3
HOW I WORK

Stabilize ‑ Optimize ‑ Scale

My three-phase model brings order and momentum to complex operations. First, I stabilize the systems that support daily execution so the business runs with confidence. Then I optimize workflows, communication, and decision-making so priorities keep moving. Finally, I scale what works by building automation, AI-ready infrastructure, and operating routines that keep compounding after the engagement ends.

Bring me in for a focused season or as an ongoing operating partner.

Stabilize Operations

Get visibility, ownership, and operating rhythm in place. I map how work actually happens, clarify priorities and accountability, and fix the bottlenecks creating unnecessary friction.

  • Map workflows and surface the top operational gaps

  • Set a steady cadence with clear priorities, owners, and timelines

  • Put a live dashboard on the numbers that matter

Optimize Processes 

Redesign the work itself. I streamline workflows, introduce AI and automation where they genuinely help, and build clearer systems for execution and accountability.

  • Automate repeatable tasks and add AI where it brings speed or insight

  • Clarify ownership with role alignment and scorecards

  • Coach operating habits that hold without micromanagement

Confidently Scale

Build an operating model that can absorb growth. I create the playbooks, AI-enabled infrastructure, metrics, and management routines that let the business scale without adding unnecessary complexity.

  • Build the AI roadmap and integrate systems as demand grows

  • Develop playbooks for onboarding, execution, and team alignment

  • Lead planning and change management that keeps momentum strong

TESTIMONIALS

What it’s like to work with me

“Rachel brought the kind of clarity, structure, and follow-through every leader hopes for. She served as the operational backbone of Selling Energy, translating strategy into systems and leading critical transitions, including our move to online training. From coordinating complex travel logistics and high-stakes events to streamlining daily operations, her ability to manage complexity and deliver results made her an indispensable partner in our growth.”

PRESIDENT, SELLING ENERGY Mark Jewell

"Rachel is a force! Spending time with her is a reminder of what genius looks like when it’s grounded in clarity and execution. Love how she simplifies the complex, especially when it comes to making AI actually work in business. Her insights on operationalizing are smart and transformative. Absolutely keeping her in close orbit."

MANAGING DIRECTOR, REACTIONPOWER Wandia Chiuri

“Rachel transformed SF Green Space into a premier destination for corporate events. Her attention to detail, creativity, and operational precision ensured that every event, whether it was an executive offsite or a multi day training, ran seamlessly. She had a unique ability to anticipate needs, elevate the experience, and make both clients and attendees feel supported from start to finish.”

DIRECTOR, SF GREEN SPACE Sara Collins

Selected Results

HubSpot-Powered Operational Automation
SITUATION

A growing consulting firm was running key operations through spreadsheets, email threads, and disconnected tools. Manual processes slowed down delivery, created inconsistent client experiences, and consumed valuable team bandwidth.

SOLUTION

I conducted a comprehensive process audit, mapping out all backend workflows and identifying automation opportunities. I migrated core operations into HubSpot and connected additional systems using Zapier and Make.com to streamline client onboarding, task management, and internal handoffs.

IMPACT

The firm increased operational visibility, reduced errors, and significantly improved turnaround efficiency. With automation in place, the company scaled by 50% while reducing labor costs by 25%, all without adding headcount.

AI-Avatar Video Training Transformation
SITUATION

Selling Energy, a national sales training company led by a recognized public speaker, relied on outdated PowerPoint voiceover recordings to deliver its flagship programs. The format lacked visual appeal, was time-consuming to update, and limited to English-only delivery.

SOLUTION

I converted the entire training library into dynamic AI avatar-led video content using a digital clone of the speaker’s voice and appearance. The updated content now features modern visuals, streamlined scripts, and is instantly translatable into multiple languages, making global delivery easier than ever.

IMPACT

The new format led to increased learner engagement and improved customer satisfaction. Leveraging AI reduced translation costs by over 95% and cut update cycles from weeks to hours. The company is now equipped with a future-ready training platform that scales without added production burden.

Building an Operations Manual for a Corporate Event & Training Venue
SITUATION

SF Green Space, a newly launched corporate event and training venue in San Francisco, had strong early demand but lacked standardized processes for client intake, event execution, vendor coordination, and facility management. The absence of structure made it difficult to scale while maintaining a premium client experience.

 

SOLUTION

I partnered with the founders to design the business operations from the ground up. This included documenting workflows, building operating playbooks for every major function, and creating a comprehensive operations manual covering client onboarding, event planning checklists, AV setup, staff roles, and post-event debriefs.

 

IMPACT

With the new systems in place, the venue consistently delivered high-quality experiences and ran with operational clarity and efficiency. The foundational work enabled the team to maintain excellence during periods of peak demand and set a strong operational precedent during the business’s active years.

 

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Ready when you are.

Book a conversation and bring the thing that’s stuck. You’ll leave with at least one concrete next step, whether or not we work together. Prefer to start in writing? Tell me what you’re navigating and I’ll reply personally within one business day.

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