EP 11 [BONUS] With Sasha Crabtrey: Strong Operations Don't Slow Nonprofits Down — They Keep Them Standing

What does it take to build operations that keep your organization running smoothly and at scale — even in challenging times? In this Force Multiplier episode, Tanja Horan sits down with Sasha Crabtrey, Founder of Remote COO, to explore why operations is not overhead — and what nonprofit leaders can do right now to build a stronger foundation for sustainability and impact. With 25+ years of experience spanning nonprofit operations, small businesses, and leading her own company, Sasha has seen firsthand what happens when programs outpace infrastructure. Growth without systems does not build strength. It magnifies existing problems. Through practical insight and real examples, you will hear why most operational challenges are not about bad leadership. They are about missing structure. Sasha shares why the bottleneck almost always runs through the top, how fractional operational support is one of the most underutilized tools available to nonprofits, and introduces three guiding questions every leader should ask to identify where to focus first. This conversation explores the real challenges nonprofit leaders face. The scarcity mindset around operations funding. The grants lost because processes were not in place. And why fixing the most fragile point first is always the right place to start. If you are carrying too much on your own, reacting instead of responding, or wondering where to start — this episode is for you. Build the organization your impact demands. By being the business you are. Key Takeaways Operations is not overhead — it is capacity, risk mitigation, and insurance for leadership. Growth without infrastructure does not build strength. It magnifies existing problems. Most operational challenges are not about bad leadership. They are about missing structure. Clear ownership and defined workflows free up leadership and eliminate the bottleneck. About Sasha Crabtrey Sasha Crabtrey is the Founder of Remote COO, where she and her team of Core Operations Optimizers help small business owners and nonprofits do more of what they love. After 25+ years of experience in operations and project management — ranging from nonprofit operations to leading her own company — Sasha knows a "normal day" doesn't exist. Remote COO helps leaders pivot, prioritize, and make sure everything important is accomplished with excellence. Sasha's favorite kind of work includes developing strategies that build strong business foundations, handling complex operational challenges, and fostering collaborative partnerships. She is a generous listener, relating to business owners' struggles, providing solutions, and driving productivity. Sasha holds a BBA in Management from Texas A&M University's Mays School of Business and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Sasha Crabtrey LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/crabtrey About Remote COO Remote COO provides strategic and tactical operational support for nonprofit leaders who are carrying too much on their own. Through their Core Operations Optimizers, they embed as a hands-on fractional administrative partner — taking ownership of systems, workflows, and day-to-day execution so leaders can step out of the weeds and stay focused on mission and impact. Remote COO website:  https://remotecoo.com Websites & Social Company Website: https://www.tacosa360.com Impact Catapult: www.impactcatapult.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Tacosa360 Connect with Tanja LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/tanjahoran Topics: nonprofit operations, nonprofit leadership, nonprofit sustainability, nonprofit strategy, operational excellence, nonprofit capacity building, fractional operations, nonprofit infrastructure, nonprofit growth, scaling nonprofit impact