Ryan Stevens

Led business operations and organizational change through first-round private equity funding, BPO partner integration, COVID-19, The Black Lives Matter movement, and sharp revenue impacts due to the War in Ukraine.

Advised the Founder and leadership team at Subscribed on building a content marketing and SEO strategy aligned to their B2B marketplace model, delivering a structured playbook to support demand generation, and go-to-market execution.

Executive responsible for leading revenue generation, customer experience, marketing, and business operations functions. Built and scaled lean, high-performing teams while overseeing budgets and forecasts to improve operational efficiency, consistently deliver 50%+ EBITDA margins, and achieve P&L objectives.

Established and executed a strategic research partnership between Digital Reference, Purpose Jobs, and Start Midwest to better understand the experiences, challenges, and priorities of professionals across the startup ecosystem. The initiative combined survey research, community engagement, and ecosystem collaboration to generate actionable insights for founders, operators, hiring teams, and professionals while advancing Digital Reference's mission of increasing transparency and access to professional data.

Led the MVP design process by communicating a clear product vision and working closely with design and development teams to bring it to life—making key decisions on scope, user journeys, and priorities to ensure alignment and momentum.

Built and led an internship program at Digital Reference as a creative way to bootstrap the business—expanding operational capacity while providing meaningful, hands-on experience to early-career talent from communities I care deeply about.

Served as Vice President of Operations during a transformational stage of company growth, overseeing operational infrastructure across revenue operations, customer support, CRM administration, marketing and sales automation, BPO management, and business development. Helped scale the organization from $35M to $45M in revenue while navigating constrained budgets, organizational restructuring, private equity expansion, and executive leadership transition. Known for building scalable operational systems, driving cross-functional alignment, and introducing AI-enabled efficiencies across core busine

Served as CEO of Influencer Marketing Hub, leading a strategic revitalization of the business by modernizing its technology stack, improving content infrastructure, and positioning the platform for long-term scalable growth. Focused on introducing best-in-class tools and systems to enhance performance, user experience, and operational efficiency.

Served as an advisory board member for Marketplace Risk Advisory Board, contributing strategic guidance on trust & safety, marketplace operations, and risk management across digital platforms. Collaborated with industry leaders to shape conversations and best practices around fraud prevention, user trust, and platform integrity.

Served as an active member of the McIntire Advisory Board, providing strategic guidance to school leadership on student engagement, industry alignment, and alumni-driven programming. Contributed to initiatives that strengthen connections between students, alumni, and employers.

Key leader in the incorporation and strategic development of Hoos4Commerce, establishing the organization as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and building the foundation for long-term community engagement, alumni connectivity, and institutional impact. Partnered with alumni leadership to define organizational vision, governance structure, and programming strategy to support Black students and alumni across the McIntire ecosystem.

Served as a consultant and workshop facilitator with Milestone Growth Capital Institute, working directly with early-stage founders to help them transition from operator to CEO. Designed and led structured sessions focused on product-market fit, financial fundamentals, and building scalable business systems.