MEET THE MAESTRO: Fractional COO Australia

Chad - COO & Startup Advisory

At Maestro, we know there’s more to life than work. In fact, it’s the experiences, relationships and pursuits we have outside of work that can often give us an edge in what we do each day. We are kicking off an interview series called “Meet the Maestro” where we interview our Maestros and get an insight to who they really are and what makes them tick - beyond the CV.

Chad is a seasoned startup operator with a track record that speaks for itself: 3 successful exits, investments in 100+ startups, and platforms scaled to millions of users. Today, he channels that experience into startup advisory, founder mentoring and fractional COO roles. Known for thriving in the chaos of early-stage ventures, Chad has a unique ability to cut through noise, identify the few things that really matter and get them running smoothly. In short, he’s the steady hand that keeps the wheels on while founders focus on building the rocket ship.

Chad is passionate about working with ambitious people solving real problems; whether you’re navigating early-stage turbulence, preparing to scale, or just need a trusted sounding board who’s been there before.

1. Tell us about a career highlight to date...

Selling my first company 1Form was a big one. Partly because it was a successful exit, but also because that journey taught me how to survive everything a startup can throw at you. From scrappy beginnings to scaling fast, to ultimately exiting… It was the full founder rollercoaster.

2. Talk us through an unusual career choice you’ve made along the way...

Jumping from hospitality, where I was happily running a very successful restaurant, into the chaos that is the startup world. A lot of people, including my family, thought I was crazy... And I was!

3. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A tennis player. Unfortunately, I peaked at local tournaments. Turns out, my skills were better suited to table tennis in a startup rather than the grass at Wimbledon.

4. What are your passions outside of work and how do you make time for them?

Tennis is still my first love, although an injury has me on a forced break at the moment. So I’ve been finding creative ways to get my cardio in. I also love watching AFL and spending time with my family.

5. If you could instantly master any skill or hobby, what would it be and why?

It would have to be coding or a foreign language. Knowing how to code would have saved me millions of dollars in wages over the last 20 years...

6. What’s a personal value or belief that guides the way you live your life?

Give more than you take. Whether it’s founders, family, or friends, if you focus on helping others win, success has a funny way of circling back.

7. What’s a challenge you’ve overcome outside of work that shaped you?

Recovering from injury and being sidelined from tennis is always tough. It reminds me that identity can get wrapped up in things you do, and that resilience means finding new ways to stay positive (and fit) when your usual outlets are off the table.

8. What do you think your job will look like in 10 years time?

Fractional execs will be the norm, every founder will have one on speed dial. And if AI really does take half our jobs… I’ll probably just be the guy making sure the robots are working efficiently.

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and what would you do?

Italy. I’d eat and drink my way from north to south, and provide free fractional work to some Italian business so I can write it all off! 

10. What does success look like to you?

Helping founders build great companies and still making it home for dinner. Success is about impact, but also about balance, otherwise, what’s the point?

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