<![CDATA[Operating on PURPOSE]]>We’re two fractional COOs who have spent our careers inside growing, complex businesses helping founders and leadership teams turn strategy into execution. While we share the same seat, we bring very different operating lenses, including different instincts, backgrounds, and approaches to solving the same problems.

Alongside candid conversations between the two of us, we interview operations leaders, founders, and practitioners who live in the execution layer of business. This is a space for thoughtful, real-world discussions about how the work gets done right.

]]>http://www.operating-on-purpose.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Thu, 21 May 2026 20:34:59 GMTThu, 26 Feb 2026 23:06:29 GMT60Sarah Wilson and Penny Cook<p>We’re two fractional COOs who have spent our careers inside growing, complex businesses helping founders and leadership teams turn strategy into execution. While we share the same seat, we bring very different operating lenses, including different instincts, backgrounds, and approaches to solving the same problems.</p><p>Alongside candid conversations between the two of us, we interview operations leaders, founders, and practitioners who live in the execution layer of business. This is a space for thoughtful, real-world discussions about how the work gets done right.</p>episodicSarah Wilson and Penny Cooksarah@tesseraleadership.cano<![CDATA[Managing Operations Managers]]>The conversation explores the transition from managing individual contributors to managing managers, highlighting the challenges, one-on-one check-ins, cultural check-ins, and performance check-ins as key aspects of effective leadership.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

OP Website

]]>4b8da945-cfcb-4ebc-a3de-821794cc54aaTue, 19 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the transition from managing individual contributors to managing managers, highlighting the challenges, one-on-one check-ins, cultural check-ins, and performance check-ins as key aspects of effective leadership.</p><p></p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://operating-on-purpose.com/" target="_blank">Operating on Purpose</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://operating-on-purpose.com/" target="_blank">OP Website</a></p>no00:16:18115Managing Operations Managersfull<![CDATA[How to Gamify your Operations]]>The conversation delves into the connection between culture and performance, emphasizing the importance of teaching the number before chasing the number, making recognition bigger than the reward, and building a rhythm for success. Real-life examples and practical insights are shared, highlighting the impact of operational excellence on business metrics and the role of culture in driving performance.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

OP Website

]]>1119781f-b2fe-4a3a-b932-c89bed743797Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation delves into the connection between culture and performance, emphasizing the importance of teaching the number before chasing the number, making recognition bigger than the reward, and building a rhythm for success. Real-life examples and practical insights are shared, highlighting the impact of operational excellence on business metrics and the role of culture in driving performance.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://operating-on-purpose.com/" target="_blank">Operating on Purpose</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://operating-on-purpose.com/" target="_blank">OP Website</a></p>no00:12:01114How to Gamify your Operationsfull<![CDATA[Great Project Sponsors Do This]]>The conversation highlights the critical role of project sponsorship and the impact it has on project success. It emphasizes the need for sponsors to define and protect the project mission, know when to step in and when to step back, and ask the right questions to support the project team effectively.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

OP Website

]]>ea4cc6da-a920-4e22-bca8-9d364ba9afcaTue, 05 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation highlights the critical role of project sponsorship and the impact it has on project success. It emphasizes the need for sponsors to define and protect the project mission, know when to step in and when to step back, and ask the right questions to support the project team effectively.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://operating-on-purpose.com/" target="_blank">Operating on Purpose</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://operating-on-purpose.com/" target="_blank">OP Website</a></p>no00:14:23112Great Project Sponsors Do Thisfull<![CDATA[BONUS: Get to know Us]]>Penny Cook and Sarah Wilson, fractional COOs, share insights into their backgrounds, philosophies, and operational superpowers. They also reveal surprising facts about themselves and discuss their childhood business experiences, providing a unique perspective on operational leadership.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>7599e779-efb0-4c98-86cb-6f2d0deaeb15Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>Penny Cook and Sarah Wilson, fractional COOs, share insights into their backgrounds, philosophies, and operational superpowers. They also reveal surprising facts about themselves and discuss their childhood business experiences, providing a unique perspective on operational leadership.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p>no00:16:221BONUS: Get to know Usbonus<![CDATA[Engagement Surveys: Best Practices]]>The conversation explores the limitations of annual surveys and the need for real-time feedback. It delves into the implementation of pulse surveys and the utilization of AI for feedback analysis, emphasizing the importance of timely and actionable feedback for organizational improvement.

Takeaways

  • Real-time feedback
  • Pulse surveys

Chapters

  • 00:00 Utilizing AI for Feedback Analysis
]]>2aa0f08d-0b72-4d7a-834b-e78749b7b047Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the limitations of annual surveys and the need for real-time feedback. It delves into the implementation of pulse surveys and the utilization of AI for feedback analysis, emphasizing the importance of timely and actionable feedback for organizational improvement.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Real-time feedback</li><li>Pulse surveys</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Utilizing AI for Feedback Analysis</li></ul>no00:12:00112Engagement Surveys: Best Practicesfull<![CDATA[Are your metrics making you better?]]>The conversation explores the challenge of using metrics effectively in decision-making, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right metrics, understanding lagging and leading indicators, setting thresholds for metrics, and using context to understand metrics.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>9e36ce76-9708-4c3e-8bd1-86417c08af15Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the challenge of using metrics effectively in decision-making, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right metrics, understanding lagging and leading indicators, setting thresholds for metrics, and using context to understand metrics.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p>no00:12:00111Are your metrics making you better?full<![CDATA[Fostering Accountability]]>The conversation explores the challenges of the accountability conversation in businesses and provides practical moves to address the root cause of accountability issues. It emphasizes the systemic nature of accountability, the importance of aligning actions with expectations, and the role of leadership in modeling accountability and vulnerability. The discussion concludes by highlighting the transformative power of accountability in building organizational resilience.

Also - congratulations to the duo for reaching the double digits in episodes! Thank you to all of those who tune in.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>115a00b6-b2b3-4f69-bbce-400ba1258673Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the challenges of the accountability conversation in businesses and provides practical moves to address the root cause of accountability issues. It emphasizes the systemic nature of accountability, the importance of aligning actions with expectations, and the role of leadership in modeling accountability and vulnerability. The discussion concludes by highlighting the transformative power of accountability in building organizational resilience.</p><p></p><p>Also - congratulations to the duo for reaching the double digits in episodes! Thank you to all of those who tune in.<br /></p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!<br /></p>no00:12:01110Fostering Accountabilityfull<![CDATA[How to Buy AI - A Practical Guide]]>The conversation provides insights on navigating the AI landscape, asking the right questions, understanding AI training and industry relevance, evaluating fit with workflows, managing the pressure to adopt AI, evaluating the impact on work processes, and running a pilot within your organization. Key takeaways include asking specific questions, evaluating fit with workflows, and running a pilot before committing to AI solutions.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>ce95f6f7-a0d0-43e1-9c19-a8a7b38d8742Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation provides insights on navigating the AI landscape, asking the right questions, understanding AI training and industry relevance, evaluating fit with workflows, managing the pressure to adopt AI, evaluating the impact on work processes, and running a pilot within your organization. Key takeaways include asking specific questions, evaluating fit with workflows, and running a pilot before committing to AI solutions.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p>no00:12:4919How to Buy AI - A Practical Guidefull<![CDATA[Practical Change Management for Founders]]>The conversation explores the challenges of managing change in business and provides actionable steps to effectively manage change. It emphasizes the importance of communication, identifying change champions, and empowering managers to lead change authentically.Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>27b9198b-dba5-4d60-a817-edba10bd6363Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the challenges of managing change in business and provides actionable steps to effectively manage change. It emphasizes the importance of communication, identifying change champions, and empowering managers to lead change authentically.Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p><p></p>no00:13:0418Practical Change Management for Foundersfull<![CDATA[Vendor Management]]>The conversation explores the challenges of managing vendor relationships and provides actionable advice on evaluating, negotiating, and measuring vendor success. It emphasizes the importance of intentional and purposeful engagement with vendors to build strong and mutually beneficial relationships. Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>1ec74465-9b3d-4fd5-8044-5b55e885c20dTue, 24 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the challenges of managing vendor relationships and provides actionable advice on evaluating, negotiating, and measuring vendor success. It emphasizes the importance of intentional and purposeful engagement with vendors to build strong and mutually beneficial relationships. Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p><p></p>no00:12:0417Vendor Managementfull<![CDATA[Bridging the Data and Execution Gap]]>The conversation explores the importance of data visibility and the challenges of balancing data with execution in organizations. It delves into the data trap, the limitations of dashboards, and the significance of operational feedback loops in driving behavior change.

Are you experiencing this issue in your business? Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>4bd00898-fb2d-4c74-9aad-b8be75301338Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the importance of data visibility and the challenges of balancing data with execution in organizations. It delves into the data trap, the limitations of dashboards, and the significance of operational feedback loops in driving behavior change.</p><p>Are you experiencing this issue in your business? Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p>no00:11:2016Bridging the Data and Execution Gapfull<![CDATA[Blinds spots that hit Margin]]>The conversation delves into the operational blind spots that quietly erode margin in growing companies. It explores hidden complexity, decisions made without the right data, and misalignment between teams as key themes impacting operational efficiency and margin erosion.

Are you having these challenges, in your business? Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>260e0caf-4cd5-4646-8cda-22fcb6383dd0Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:34:10 GMT<p>The conversation delves into the operational blind spots that quietly erode margin in growing companies. It explores hidden complexity, decisions made without the right data, and misalignment between teams as key themes impacting operational efficiency and margin erosion.</p><p>Are you having these challenges, in your business? Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p>no00:15:2115Blinds spots that hit Marginfull<![CDATA[Mastering Difficult Conversations]]>The conversation explores the importance of building leadership courage and the framework for having difficult conversations. It also emphasizes the significance of timely and respectful conversations in a leadership role.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>53961557-39c5-4a12-b1d9-4fd6dfc9e67eTue, 10 Mar 2026 19:00:00 GMT<p>The conversation explores the importance of building leadership courage and the framework for having difficult conversations. It also emphasizes the significance of timely and respectful conversations in a leadership role.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p>no00:13:0814Mastering Difficult Conversationsfull<![CDATA[Busy vs. Productive]]>The conversation delves into diagnosing organizational challenges while asking, is this busy or productive? It explores the signs of recurring problems and firefighting, providing insights into addressing these issues effectively.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>c55d07d8-2399-4049-9c4f-6dbfdf992551Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:19:51 GMT<p>The conversation delves into diagnosing organizational challenges while asking, is this busy or productive? It explores the signs of recurring problems and firefighting, providing insights into addressing these issues effectively.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p><p></p>no00:17:0813Busy vs. Productivefull<![CDATA[Getting Ready for AI]]>The conversation explores the impact of AI on operations and the importance of preparing teams emotionally for AI integration. It delves into the significance of documenting processes, understanding roles and responsibilities, and the criticality of data cleanup for AI implementation.

Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect!

]]>55da59d8-897c-47ce-9a23-7bff04f66413Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:15:07 GMT<p>The conversation explores the impact of AI on operations and the importance of preparing teams emotionally for AI integration. It delves into the significance of documenting processes, understanding roles and responsibilities, and the criticality of data cleanup for AI implementation.</p><p>Reach out to <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennycook/" target="_blank">Penny Cook</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.linkedin.com/in/fractional-executive-sarah-wilson" target="_blank">Sarah Wilson</a> on LinkedIn to connect!</p>no00:14:0712Getting Ready for AIfull<![CDATA[Operations that Scale]]>In this conversation, Sarah Wilson and Penny Cook discuss the key factors that help put business operations in order as a business scales. They emphasize the importance of setting clear goals and execution plans, effective communication and tracking of results, and dealing with the unexpected through cohesive teamwork and open communication.

]]>4704ec33-6bd0-41bd-b1ac-6a63a70b5e52Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:08:25 GMT<p>In this conversation, Sarah Wilson and Penny Cook discuss the key factors that help put business operations in order as a business scales. They emphasize the importance of setting clear goals and execution plans, effective communication and tracking of results, and dealing with the unexpected through cohesive teamwork and open communication.</p><p></p><p></p>no00:14:2611Operations that Scalefull