Lucy Criddle
All companies eventually hit a wall: an unresolved obstacle blocking the next stage of growth.
I offer strategic and operational support to help leaders name it, tackle it, and break through.
The Growth Plateau
You've proven business success - lifted the business off the ground, celebrated the wins, and satisfied customers - yet you know more can be done.
It's not that there is a shortage of ideas, but maybe prioritisation is the issue, or translating those ideas into execution and results.
Or maybe momentum has slowed down, complexity has crept in, and the threat of new, more nimble competitors is looming.
You need bandwidth to tackle the important, but the urgent always wins.
Another full-time senior hire or project squad risks adding complexity and internal politics, but the existing team is already overwhelmed.
Maybe what you're hoping for is someone you can rely on to truly learn about the challenge, working alongside the team to embed change from within.
This is where I can help.
who I work with
I work with founders, investors and executive teams in early stage to scale-up and exit-stage tech companies, tackling the key challenges they face, including:
Early stage startups
Validating value proposition, ICP and target market
Deciding what to build, buy, hire, outsource, cut or explore
Setting up back-office foundations so leaders can focus on what matters
Businesses in rapid growth phase
Scaling go-to-market without losing control of costs
Expanding into new products and markets without diluting the core offer
Professionalising operations, including building out the team
Scale-ups looking towards exit
Leading international strategy and expansion
Sharpening operating model and structure as complexity grows
Strengthening leadership alignment and strategic decision-making
My deepest experience is in fintech, edtech and professional services, though the underlying expertise travels well to other sectors.
How I work
How I work adapts to your situation — whether that's dedicated senior capacity, an intensive deep-dive, or focused support on a single problem.
Fractional Leadership
Strategic and hands-on execution expertise, embedded in your leadership team on an interim or ongoing basis.
Transformation Project
Extended engagements (3 months+) to crack the challenge that's held growth back: first-principles thinking, through to execution.
Targeted Troubleshooting
A focused workshop or assignment to solve one specific problem, building on your team's existing expertise.
Not sure which model works for you, or would like to discuss something else? Let's talk it through.
Why me
The real blocker to growth is usually the thing everyone's been avoiding — the problem with no single owner, or the unknown unknowns quietly derailing the plan.
I've spent two decades working through exactly these problems - as general manager, consultant, change leader and founder - always inside the business, not above it. My track record combines performance turnaround, transforming complexity into clarity, and tackling the strategic puzzles that had stalled company growth: cutting data in new ways, breaking down barriers between silos, applying first-principles thinking to build a new playbook.I work closely with functional teams to figure out and deliver the right solution - not manage it from a distance. I've done this in global roles across Europe, Asia and the Americas, working hands-on from early-stage startups through to scale-ups planning their exit.
The range reflects how I work: find the true root of the problem, then build and execute a pragmatic, systems-based solution. If your team has been going in circles, or you're ready to unlock the next stage of growth, let's talk.
Contact
Whether you have a clear need in mind or just want to think out loud about how we might work together, get in touch and we'll find time to chat.
lucycriddle.com is part of Voronoi Labs Ltd.
Voronoi Labs Ltd is a UK registered company.
Registration Number: 16416061
Registered Address: 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
VAT Number: 503 8882 78