Thriving in the Chaos: My Journey to Rise & Optimize

Written By Katie Barnes

Hi there! I’m Katie, the founder of Rise & Optimize, and I’m so glad you’re here. If we were meeting in person, I’d probably greet you with a big smile and a “Tell me what’s making you want to pull your hair out right now?” Because that’s what I love—helping founders, startups, and growing businesses go from overwhelmed to operating like a well-oiled machine.

14+ Years in Startups: Building, Fixing, and Scaling

I’ve spent the last 14 years in the thick of SaaS and startups—where everyone wears five hats, processes are built on the fly (or duct tape), and growth is both exciting and chaotic. I’ve worked across operations, revenue, GTM, finance, and leadership, helping companies move from scrappy to scalable without losing their sanity.

I know that scaling a company is messy:

  • Revenue operations get tangled.

  • Hiring feels like a guessing game.

  • Sales, marketing, and customer success start speaking different languages.

  • You spend more time firefighting than actually growing the business.

I’ve tackled these challenges firsthand—helping teams untangle messy operations, build better systems, and create processes that actually work in the real world. That’s why I launched Rise & Optimize—to help founders stop duct-taping their way through growth and start running businesses that scale smoothly and sustainably.

Why Work With Me? Because I’ve Been in the Trenches.

I don’t do fluffy strategy decks that collect dust. I roll up my sleeves, dig into the mess, and help you streamline, fix, and optimize the things that are slowing you down.

But beyond all the OKRs, workflows, and process maps, what really drives me? People. I believe the best operations make businesses run better and make teams feel heard, aligned, and excited to do their jobs. Because when people buy into a process, they actually follow it.

When I’m Not Optimizing Startups…

You can find me exploring St. Louis with my husband and our two-year-old daughter. We love hunting down the best food spots, spending Saturdays at the Magic House, and strolling through the botanical gardens. If you ever need a St. Louis restaurant rec, I’m your girl.


Let’s Talk About Making Your Business Work for You

If you’re feeling stuck in operational chaos, dealing with scaling pains, or just need a fresh set of eyes, let’s chat. No pressure, no hard sell—just a conversation about getting you back in control of your business.

Katie Barnes