The dark side of operations: Why SMEs can’t afford process without purpose
This session is part of our cONference online spin-off series: five events on the theme of resilience, each exploring it from a different angle.
Scaling businesses often introduce new systems, workflows, and checks with the best of intentions. But when structured processes stop supporting growth and starts slowing it down, operations risk turning into bottlenecks.
Join us for an open, interactive roundtable with Stefano Maifreni, Fractional COO @ Eggcelerate, where we’ll uncover the hidden costs of operational bloat, swap experiences from the trenches, and co-create practical ways to keep operations lean, strategic, and human-centred.
Together, our aims for the session are to:
💡 Spot operational bloat - recognise when processes are hindering rather than helping.
📊 Examine alignment with business strategy - explore how to tell when operations are running in parallel instead of driving growth.
🛠️ Exchange practical tactics - share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) when simplifying, streamlining, or unpicking unnecessary complexity.
👥 Reflect on the human impact - consider how over-engineered systems affect staff morale, growth, and culture.
You should join us if you’re…
✅ A Head of Operations or operations leader in an SME (10–100 employees)
✅ Working in an early-stage to scaling company (Series A–B) navigating growth challenges
✅ Designing or overseeing systems, workflows, or organisational structures, and keen to ensure they stay lean and effective
You’re unlikely to benefit if…
🚫 You’re not directly involved in operations or scaling challenges
🚫 You’re working in a highly mature organisation with stable, well-established operational models
Event details 📝
Agenda (subject to change):
Welcome & Setting the scene | 10 min
Breakouts | 15 min
Group Discussion | 10 min
Breakouts | 15 min
Group Discussion | 10 min
Takeaways | 10 min
Wrap-up | 5 min
This session will not be recorded to ensure open and candid breakout conversations. However, key takeaways will be captured and shared with attendees and the wider ON community.
Meet our host 👋
Stefano Maifreni
Stefano is an accomplished COO known for driving growth in Technology Manufacturing, Drones, IoT, AI, GreenTech, and Fin/InsureTech. He excels in strategic execution and transformative leadership, fostering sustainable efficiency across multiple business domains. A strong advocate for organisational efficiency and diversity, Stefano specialises in people and change management, with a particular focus on AI and automation for operational excellence.
He founded Eggcelerate to revitalise B2B businesses, showcasing his ability to deliver focused and sustainable growth. An Executive MBA alumnus of the London Business School, Stefano also contributes to leading publications including Forbes, The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times’ Raconteur, sharing insights on strategy, operations, and people management.