Who We Are
You didn’t build your business to spend your days chasing progress, unblocking decisions, and stepping in whenever something slows down or goes off track.
You didn’t build it to work reactively, constantly responding to the next issue as it appears.
You built it to lead with intention. To make strategic, proactive decisions about where the business is going and how it gets there.
The Focused Fox is led by Emma Cripwell, a Fractional COO and Online Business Manager with over 20 years’ experience in operational leadership across the private, public, and charity sectors.
Emma works with established, service-based businesses that need someone senior to take ownership of operations. She brings clear planning, steady oversight, and practical leadership so projects move forward, teams know what they’re responsible for, and progress doesn’t rely on one person holding it all together.
“We could all do with an Emma.”
- Clinical Manager, NHS Community Hospital
What Those Titles
Actually Mean
You might see the terms Fractional COO or Online Business Manager (OBM) used in different ways.
In simple terms, both describe a senior operations role.
As a Fractional COO, we provide part-time executive-level leadership. We take ownership of how the business runs day to day, without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.
As an Online Business Manager, we focus on making that leadership work in practice. Planning priorities, leading projects and launches, and making sure delivery happens through the team.
In practice, this means acting as the Director of Operations for businesses that don’t have one. Someone senior who can hold the full operational picture, plan ahead, and make sure progress doesn’t rely on constant founder involvement.
01
Operational Clarity Assessment
High level clarity on what is slowing growth
A focused strategic review of your operations to identify the key bottlenecks and ownership gaps affecting progress.
So you know what needs attention first and what can wait.
Best suited for businesses that need direction quickly.
02
Full Operations Audit
A full operational health check across the whole business
A comprehensive review of your business end to end, covering foundations, revenue, marketing, team, systems, delivery, and finance.
So you can see what is strong, what is at risk, and what to strengthen next.
03
Confident Delegation and Operational Readiness
Delegate with confidence
Put the right tools, systems, and processes in place so work can be delegated safely and service delivery stays steady.
So progress doesn’t wobble when responsibility is shared.
04
Project, Event, and Launch Leadership
Lead important work from plan to delivery
Plan and lead projects, events, and launches end to end, with clear timelines, ownership, and decision points.
So high-stakes work lands properly without last-minute panic
05
Strategic Priorities and Planning
Get the plan out of your head and into action
Turn ideas, goals, and pressure points into a clear 90-day and 12-month plan.
So the business knows what matters now, what comes next, and what can wait.
06
Fractional Operations Director Support
Senior strategic support without a full-time hire
Ongoing operational leadership, decision support, and calm direction.
So the business can keep growing without relying on one person to hold it all together.
Operational Impact
Clear results. Calm leadership. Proven operational impact.
What this looks like in practice.
Smooth, reliable delivery
Events, projects, and launches delivered on time, without last minute chaos.
Stronger team performance
Clear processes, defined ownership, and systems used consistently across the business.
Improved client experience
Fewer operational issues, steadier communication, and better retention.
Less founder pressure
Reduced admin load, fewer repeat problems, and more time to focus on strategy and growth.
What Changes When You Work With Us
When you have the right operational leadership in place, the pressure on you starts to lift in very practical ways.
Decisions are made once and stick.
Ownership is clear, so questions and approvals stop circling back to you.
Projects stay on track and within scope.
Plans are realistic. Progress is managed. Problems are addressed early, not rescued at the last minute.
Your team knows exactly what they are responsible for.
Everyone works to consistent systems and tools, so work flows instead of fragmenting.
You are no longer the glue holding everything together.
Issues are handled before they escalate.
Work moves forward without constant checking or chasing.
And over time, this gives you something many growing business owners quietly lose.
Space.
Space to think.
Space to plan.
Space to step away.
To take the holiday you have been postponing.
To spend time with family and friends.
To focus on strategy rather than firefighting.
Because when operations are led properly, the business becomes more efficient.
Growth becomes steadier.
Pressure reduces.
And success no longer depends on you holding everything together.
“Emma keeps us aligned, drives decisions forward, and introduces improvements that make the organisation stronger.”
- Clare Stokes, Exhibition Coordinator & Founding Member, ABLE
Why Work with the Focused Fox
Calm, senior leadership without micromanagement.
You get clear direction and steady oversight, without someone taking over or adding another person you need to manage.
Clear boundaries that strengthen your existing team.
We work with your current people, tools, and systems, so capability grows and delivery becomes steadier, rather than being replaced.
Experience operating in complex, high pressure environments.
From events to regulated sectors, we know how to keep things moving when the stakes are high.
A trusted partner who holds the operational picture.
While you focus on vision and direction, we make sure the moving parts stay aligned.
Online Business Manager & Fractional COO Support for Growing Service-Based Businesses
Senior operational leadership that brings clarity, structure, and steadier progress.
Senior operational leadership for growing businesses that want progress without added pressure.
Growth is exciting. It is also demanding.
Sometimes everything still runs through the founder.
Sometimes there is a team, but progress feels slow, reactive, or harder than it should.
In both cases, the issue is not ambition. It is operational structure.
The Focused Fox acts as the Director of Operations for businesses that do not have one, bringing clarity, planning, and steady execution so growth does not depend on you holding everything together.
“Working with Emma is effortless because she just gets it. She turns big ideas into real outcomes.”
- Frances Rowland, Director ABLE