Hello! I’m Laura.

Laura Jo Hess, fractional COO and founder of LJO & Co

I help small and growing creative teams untangle the chaos—building systems that bring calm, clarity, and more time for the work that actually lights you up.

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My Approach

I started ljo&co because I’ve seen too many creative founders and teams burn out under the weight of operations.

The right systems don’t just create efficiency—they create ease.

My work is about helping people feel less buried. I build human-centered project management systems, dashboards, and CRMs that connect the dots between creativity and structure.

I’m not interested in process for process’s sake. I’m connected to people, not just systems—and I believe when creative people have clarity, they do their best work and live better lives.

  • Quick as Hell

    Results ASAP

  • Advocate of the People

    People-first Approach

  • 10+ Years of Operations Experience

    Spreadsheet Nerd

Operational Diagnostic

Quick assessment of how your business runs today—and where to focus next.

→ Best for: Teams unsure where to start.

How I Can Help

Every business is different. My job is to meet you where you are and build systems that feel intuitive, not overwhelming.

Project Management Build

Tailored (and implemented) project management systems that bring visibility, predictability, and calm.

→ Best for creative studios ready to scale sustainably.

Data Dashboards & Reporting

Turn scattered spreadsheets into decision-making tools.

→ Best for founders who want visibility into utilization, margin, and team health.

CRM + Pipeline Setup

Track leads, clients, and projects in one clear view. Build follow-up automations that keep your work flowing.

→ Best for teams managing growth and client relationships.

5. Ongoing Ops Partner (Fractional COO)

For when you need a strategic partner to keep systems aligned with growth.

→ Best for agencies in motion who want continuous support.

Case Studies

  • Resourcing Revamp

    Partnered with the VP of Project Management to build a scalable resourcing system and master dashboard connecting capacity, allocations, and profitability. Together, we created a clear framework for managing resources efficiently and planning growth with confidence.

  • Asana System Reset

    Partnered with the Creative Director to design a unified Asana + Everhour system that brought clarity to every stage of production. The new framework surfaced team capacity, improved on-time delivery, and gave leadership real visibility into workload and margin.

  • Program & Impact Dashboards

    Worked with the leadership team to centralize survey data from multiple programs into one live Airtable dashboard. The system now tracks engagement, satisfaction, and impact across cohorts—turning feedback into clear, actionable insight.

  • PM and CRM

    Collaborated with the founding partners to streamline project intake, resourcing, and delivery through an integrated Asana and Airtable system.

All the nice things

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All the nice things *

“Laura was an incredible partner in helping us navigate the complexities of project management and resourcing for our agency. She was able to quickly dig deep into our business model and ways of working to provide tailored and effective solutions. Highly recommended for any project management or operations team looking to bring their systems to the next level.”

- Alex Radanovich, VP of PM at Spherical

“Could you figure it out yourself? Maybe (but not right now, you are too busy). Could you do it as efficiently as Laura will? No way. Stop wasting time and just hire her already.”

-Stephanie Crane, Creative Director at SLX

“Laura is one of those rare colleagues who reshape not just how you work but your whole relationship with work. Beyond her leadership and coaching, she ushered in a new era of streamlined project management and financial planning that has contributed to our ongoing success today. I would recommend her to any company looking to make their business more efficient and their team feel more cared for.”

-Lauren Jones, Director of Client Experience at Wide Eye

Get in Touch!

You’re not looking for a 200-page process manual. You want clarity, structure, and calm that still leaves space for creativity.

Let's talk!