Ann was stuck in endless meetings, juggling stakeholder demands and operational tasks, leaving no time for strategic work. By hiring a Product Ops Assistant, she streamlined communication, reduced interruptions, and reclaimed 20+ hours a week, allowing her to focus on driving the company’s growth.
The challenge
As VP of Product at a growing tech company, Ann was stretched thin. She managed a team of product managers and UX designers while also handling HR responsibilities for the development team. On top of that, she spent most of her time in meetings — educating stakeholders on the product suite, capturing their needs, keeping them informed, and addressing frustrations.
Ann’s calendar was packed, leaving her little time for strategic work. She found herself constantly reactive, firefighting instead of proactively driving the company’s growth. Critical initiatives, like market expansion and long-term product vision, were delayed simply because she didn’t have enough time in the day. She knew something had to change.
The solution
After missing a key strategic opportunity due to her overwhelming workload, Ann realized she needed to delegate. She hired Filip, a Product Ops Assistant, to take over time-consuming operational tasks and free up her schedule.
Key actions taken in the first 60 days:
- Prioritized delegation: Ann identified stakeholder management as a key area where she needed support first.
- Stakeholder interviews & analysis: Filip conducted in-depth discussions to understand recurring challenges, pinpointing that poor communication was leading to excessive demands on Ann’s time.
- Streamlined communication: He established structured updates and clear processes for product launches, reducing the number of ad-hoc meetings Ann needed to attend.
- Product launch process overhaul: By introducing better coordination, Filip helped the team decrease delays and reduce last-minute escalations.
- Stakeholder mapping: With a clear database of stakeholders and engagement strategies, the team could proactively manage relationships without relying on Ann’s constant involvement.
The results
- Reclaimed 20+ hours per week: Ann was able to cut down on unnecessary meetings, freeing up time for high-impact strategic work.
- 70% decrease in delayed releases: A more efficient launch process reduced last-minute issues, meaning Ann didn’t have to step in to resolve them.
- Fewer interruptions: Stakeholders had access to the information they needed, reducing urgent requests that used to disrupt Ann’s day.
- More engaged product team: With clearer processes, team members took ownership of stakeholder interactions, reducing the need for Ann’s direct involvement.
Conclusion
By hiring a Remote Product Ops Assistant, Ann successfully delegated time-consuming operational work, reclaiming 20+ hours a week within the first 60 days. With Filip managing processes and stakeholder communication, Ann was finally able to step out of the weeds and focus on the strategic direction that would drive the company forward.
At Sharpa, we offer premium operational support tailored to Product Leaders and designed to help you reclaim your time. Our trained Product Ops Assistants are ready to contribute after only a brief onboarding. Get started today and we’ll set you up with a dedicated professional to help you focus on what matters most.