How OnTop made every employee an AI operator — without a single layoff | Maria Camila Ramirez, COO

She went from ops analyst to COO — without an MBA, without a safety net, and while her mom was going through cancer treatment.Maria Camila Ramirez is the Chief Operating Officer of OnTop — a YC-backed global payroll and fintech platform that helps companies hire and pay people anywhere in the world. In just a few years, she grew from founding team member to leading the company's financial infrastructure, AI transformation, and new product launches.In this episode, we go deep on what it actually takes to lead from the inside — and what most people never see.What we cover:→ How Camila went from Accenture consultant to COO of a $17M+ ARR startup→ The real role of a COO — why it's the hardest job in the company→ How OnTop built a company-wide AI culture without laying off a single person→ Managing stress, cancer in the family, and high pressure — all at once→ The startup growth arc: family → village → city and what breaks at each stage→ Imposter syndrome as the youngest leader in the room→ Why she turned down Stanford MBA — and what she learned instead→ The therapy, psychedelics, and coaching that changed how she leads→ How to find mentors and take career leaps with nothing to lose"We are building the global bank for the future of work." — Maria Camila RamirezChapters00:00 – Introduction & Welcome 01:04 – What is OnTop? Building the financial infrastructure for remote work 04:35 – The reality of the COO role vs. the CEO role 08:39 – How to make every employee an AI operator (without layoffs) 12:28 – The 3 non-negotiable qualities of a successful startup executive 15:10 – "Organized Chaos": Managing extreme stress and personal hardships 22:54 – Independence, family dynamics, and the drive to be self-made 29:51 – Why "Work-Life Balance" is a myth (Adopt Work-Life Integration instead) 33:27 – The exact stages of a startup: From "Family" to "Village" and beyond 44:29 – Executive coaching, psychedelics, & separating your identity from your job 51:29 – Why Camila abandoned her Stanford MBA application to stay at OnTop 54:41 – Final advice for young professionals: Know yourself & find a mentor 👇  CONNECT  WITH MARIA CAMILA RAMIREZMaria Camila Ramirez ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariacamilaramirezr/ Ontop ► https://www.getontop.com/ 👇  CONNECT  WITH  SHAMILShamil Malachiyev ► [www.linkedin.com/in/shamilmalachiyev](http://www.linkedin.com/in/shamilmalachiyev)FluidLabs ► https://fluidlabs.com/🎙  LISTEN to The Founder’s Code onSpotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/7v6YOQ77R1xzbOiiHsDawdApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-s-code/id1797768317🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for more unfiltered conversations with the founders and engineers building the future of tech.#founders #startup #COO #ycombinator #fintech #AI #leadership #entrepreneurship #remotework #founderstory