Vanessa Drewlo

I have spent over 13 years as the operational right hand to founders and CEOs. The work I do best is the kind that makes their job smaller, not just by managing the calendar, but by thinking ahead, building structure, and making sure the right things get the right attention at the right time. I think of it a little like being an air traffic controller. Not everything can land and take off at once, and part of my job is knowing what needs to move now, what can wait, and what needs to be rerouted entirely. The best part of this work is the trust that builds over time. When a founder stops worrying about the details because they know they are handled, that is when the real partnership begins. At FloodMapp, that trust meant full inbox access and drafting authority on behalf of the CEO, a promotion from EA to Business Operations Manager because I kept finding more ways to contribute, and ownership of everything from vendor negotiations and fundraising support to the documentation and systems the team relied on daily. I have supported fundraising cycles, led successful grant applications, and cut meaningful operational spend when it mattered most. I have lived and worked in the US and Canada and supported distributed teams across North America and Australia. I understand the practical realities of operating across borders because I have been there. I use AI tools daily and believe they are only as useful as the thinking you bring to them. If you are a founder or CEO looking for someone who will protect your focus, take real ownership, and quietly become the person the whole operation depends on, I am looking for my next team.