Strategic Operations + Executive Leverage
Chief of Staff and Operations Management
Fractional and Full-Time Support
I’m Andrew Ward. I help companies build predictable operating procedures, align teams, and get high-stakes initiatives across the finish line. With AWARD, you get senior operational support without the financial overhead of a full-time executive.
Saving companies money, bringing in top talent, clearing operational logjams. That’s the kind of intrinsic value I bring to the table.
Experience Includes
- Cannabis
- CPG
- Agency
- Marketing
- Branding
- Restaurants
- SaaS
- C-Suite Support
- Journalism
- Media
- Content Strategy
- Digital Production
- CBD
- Minor Cannabinoids
- Peptides
Published In
Brands I've Worked With
The Founder's Dilemma
From operations bottlenecks to bandwidth support
and everything in between.
Growth changes jobs and tasks. Past a certain point, the CEO’s bandwidth becomes incredibly tight. Executives run thin too, and the team absorbs the fallout. AWARD gives leadership that bandwidth back.
Working harder and longer can only go so far. Strategy and support is the solution.
Get your time back
I take recurring work off the founder’s plate so leadership can focus on growth. In my last role, I helped reshuffle team workloads, developed training SOPs, and managed new hire onboarding.
Build operating success
I know how to assemble team goals and lead the way to achieving them. At my previous employer, I assembled the company-wide 2026 goals document, achieving 80% of those goals throughout the year.
Special projects
I stabilize operations. During an SEO leadership gap with one client, I implemented workflow changes, cut reporting time in half, and laid the groundwork for the new department director to hit the ground running.
Core Services
Three ways I create operational leverage
Operating rhythm + leadership cadence
- Weekly leadership syncs
- Goal setting + OKRs
- Executive triage
Recent Success Stories
I improved tracked team time by about 45% in roughly two months, giving leadership a clearer view of bandwidth and client budgets.
Strategic initiatives + special projects
- Operational restructuring
- SWOT and market research
- Process optimization
Recent Success Stories
I leveraged AI to build automated Slack alerts for client accounts reaching 80% of their budget and allotted hours, allowing leadership and project managers to see trouble earlier.
Executive support + team alignment
- Cross-team communication
- Decision follow-through
- Hands-on operational support
Recent Success Stories
I built a company-wide onboarding playbook, led new-hire training, and helped rebalance client and project manager workloads.
Meet Andrew
Built inside high-growth operations
I’m Andrew Ward. I’ve spent years inside the cannabis industry as a journalist, author, agency leader and business owner. I’ve written over 1,000 published articles for outlets including High Times, Rolling Stone and Business Insider.
I’ve seen how operational friction slows down fast-growing companies. My job is to remove it by plugging into your operating cadence and helping leadership achieve its goals.
With AWARD, you get a business-minded creative collaborator ready to get in the trenches with your team and watch out for your best interest going forward.
My Books
Track Record
Last 18 Months
Director of Strategy and Operations
A Leading Cannabis Marketing Agency
My title was Director of Strategy and Operations. In practice, much of the job was Chief of Staff work: running the operating cadence, aligning department leads, and owning projects that cut across teams.
Since 2017
Founder + Operator
AWARD
I built and ran a multi-client business, owning intake, scheduling, delivery and business development. From 2021 to 2024, I generated more than $300,000 in revenue while keeping delivery consistent across client accounts.
Where It Started
Operations Manager
90.3 WMSC
My junior year of college, I was elected Operations Manager of the campus radio station. Turns out dealing with student government and finnicky expensive equipment set me on a career path I did not expect.
Plans
Built around your priorities.
Not a template.
Choose what you need to succeed. Each AWARD plan offers dedicated time that’s customized to your needs, providing a plan that offers the most operational and strategic bang for your buck.
Operational Support
~ 10-12 HRS / WEEK
What to Expect
Stop carrying every reminder and follow-up. I’ll keep your leadership rhythm moving, giving you more room for strategy and the work only you can do.
Suggested Focus
- Weekly leadership syncs + follow-through
- Goal setting + OKR tracking
- Executive triage + priority planning
Custom scopes available for this package.
Fractional Chief of Staff
~ 15-20 HRS / WEEK
What to Expect
You get a consistent partner for the work between departments. I turn decisions into action and keep priority projects moving, so you spend less time coordinating people and more time leading.
Suggested Focus
- Leadership cadence + team accountability
- Cross-functional project ownership
- Board + investor preparation
- Process improvement + communication
Custom scopes available for this package.
Deeper Support
~ 25+ HRS / WEEK
What to Expect
You get deeper, hands-on ownership of day-to-day operations and major changes. I stay close to the team, resolve bottlenecks, and lead execution so growth doesn’t depend on you managing every detail.
Suggested Focus
- Embedded operational leadership
- Operational restructuring + systems
- Major launches + change management
- Interim leadership + team coordination
Custom scopes available for this package.
FAQ
Common Questions
What does a fractional Chief of Staff do?
I work as an extension of the CEO. I run the operating cadence, keep leadership aligned on goals, and own the cross-team projects that keep slipping. You get senior support for a set number of hours each week, sized to what your team needs.
What does working together look like?
I embed with your team and help fix what’s slowing it down. You’ll get meetings that run on time, goals with owners, and projects that ship.
How are plans structured?
Plans are built around blocks of time: about 10 to 12, 15 to 20, or 25+ hours a week. Each has a suggested focus, with custom scopes available for every package. The deliverables shift with your priorities.
Which industries do you work with?
My experience includes cannabis and regulated markets, CPG, and agencies. I help founders and executives in any industry who need stronger operating rhythms, aligned teams, and someone to own projects.
How do we get started?
Fill out the short form on this page. I read every answer myself and reply by email to set up a diagnostic call. Your answers set the agenda for that first conversation.
Ready to get your time back?
Answer three short questions.
I’ll read your answers and reply by email.
Confidential. No obligation.