FOR INVESTORS, BOARDS & CEOs

Turn operating complexity into enterprise value.

For PE sponsors, boards and leadership teams, the starting point may be an operating diagnostic, an integration sprint or fractional executive leadership. I stay involved through execution.

Clear priorities. Decisions that move.

01 / Diagnose the constraint

Find what is limiting performance and what needs to change.

02 / Align the operating agenda

Set the decisions, owners and measures that matter.

03 / Lead through execution

Build the cadence and accountability to move the work forward.

Michael Schnapf
Founder & Principal · Former CEO, President & CTO

Operating focus

Software & SaaS

Marketplaces

Commerce

Technology-enabled services

HOW I HELP

A focused mandate. A practical path forward.

Start with the work the business needs done. The engagement can be a diagnostic, an execution sprint or sustained executive leadership.

01 / ENGAGEMENT

Operating diagnostic

When priorities compete and the root cause is unclear. Get a view of the constraint, the decisions required and an actionable 90-day agenda.

02 / ENGAGEMENT

Integration & value-creation sprint

When acquisitions, teams or systems need to operate as one business. Turn the investment thesis into an accountable execution plan.

03 / ENGAGEMENT

Fractional executive leadership

When the business needs experienced CEO or CTO leadership through growth, modernization or transition.

EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE ADVICE

An operator's perspective. Across the whole business.

Experience as an owner, CEO, President and CTO informs how I work with management teams and investors.

OpenSky

Business-model transformation

As President and CTO, led the transition from online retailer to marketplace and worked across product, technology and operations.

Alibaba / MoreCommerce

Ownership & operating change

Led the management buyout of Alibaba’s U.S. commerce business and held companywide operating and P&L responsibility.

eBay / GSI Commerce

Enterprise platform leadership

Led product, technology and enterprise delivery for commerce platforms supporting more than $1 billion in annual sales.

OPERATOR NOTES

Useful questions before the next big decision.

Practical frameworks for investors and management teams working through growth, integration and technology decisions.

VALUE CREATION

Before another roadmap, identify the operating constraint.

Five questions to turn a list of projects into a management agenda.

M&A INTEGRATION

Integration starts with decisions, not systems.

Define how the combined business should operate before selecting the tools.

TECHNOLOGY & AI

Put an operating owner behind the AI initiative.

Connect a use case to a baseline, a decision and a measurable business result.

START WITH THE BUSINESS PROBLEM

What is standing between your business and its next stage?

Bring the constraint, the decision or the transition. We can work out whether a focused executive mandate is the right next step.