That project that keeps getting pushed back. Let's get it done.
Canvus is fractional chief of staff support for founders and leadership teams. I'm the senior operator you bring in for the projects that matter but keep slipping, from programmes and launches to the systems that keep a team moving.
PreviouslyDataform · Google · Founders Forum
Worked withTech Nation · The Observer · Maikai · Outlier
Hi, I'm Josie.
Before founding Canvus, I spent a decade building things across startups and big tech — scaling Dataform from a small team to 150+ customers before its acquisition by Google, running international partnerships and programmes across Asia at Founders Forum, and managing complex cross-functional launches inside Google itself.
I've been the person who works out what needs to happen and then makes it happen — from employee #6 at a startup to inside Google.
Depending on the project, I bring in trusted specialists — so every engagement has exactly the right expertise behind it.
Outside Canvus, I host supper clubs and run Shared Seasons, gatherings that bring together people of different generations to share wisdom.
What I take off your plate
Programmes & Launches
Launches, programmes and accelerators, owned from design to delivery.
Events & Community
Gatherings, strategic convenings and communities built from the ground up.
Systems & AI Workflows
The systems, rhythms and AI workflows that keep a team moving and take admin off your plate.
Partnerships & New Markets
Partnerships with corporates, investors and technology providers, and introductions for growing between the UK and Southeast Asia.
Selected projects
The Observer's Responsible AI Forum
For the launch of The Observer's AI Cities Index, I shaped the forum's format and audience strategy, curated the programme and filled the room, bringing together senior leaders from organisations including Anthropic, Google DeepMind and WPP.
Tech Nation: UK Expansion Programme
Tech Nation needed an experienced operator in Singapore to run its UK expansion programme for Southeast Asian startups: someone who understood both ecosystems and could run the whole thing without hand-holding. I ran four cohorts over two years, working with around 50 startups in total, and owned it end to end: setting how startups were selected and evaluated, matching founders with the right mentors and managing founder relationships throughout. To make matching smarter, I built an AI tool on top of Tech Nation's CRM that identified the best people in the UK for each founder to meet. Startups left with real traction in the UK: incorporations completed, first MOUs signed with UK customers and initial hires made.
Maikai: AI for Schools
Maikai had a vision for a teacher community but no playbook for building one, and no one experienced enough to work it out. I set the community strategy and designed it to outlast me: the newsletter, events series and resource bank were built to scale from day one, so a junior community manager could take it over. Then I built the infrastructure from scratch and onboarded 200+ teachers.
Outlier: Growth & Partnerships
Outlier had won its first customers and needed to turn that early traction into sustained growth, while securing partnerships with technology providers. Working with the founder one day a week for six months, I shaped and ran the growth plan: a founder-led thought leadership strategy on LinkedIn, customer case studies that turned early wins into proof, and technology partnerships I ran end to end.
WhatWeAllAgreeOn: Community Operations
WhatWeAllAgreeOn's community of 120+ experienced people supporting social and environmental ventures lived entirely in WhatsApp, with no clear way to manage requests from ventures or see who was in the community. I designed and built the operational back end that solved both: one system to capture and manage venture requests, and a directory showing who's in the community. It saves the team around 5 hours a week of manual admin.
What people say
Josie helped us shape and execute several key growth initiatives — from refining our positioning and thought leadership to developing customer stories and building partnerships within our ecosystem. She brings a rare mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution and is an absolute joy to work with. She is one of those rare people who combines real talent with genuine warmth — she cares deeply, works tirelessly, and makes every team better for having her in it.
Josie has been instrumental in delivering Tech Nation's UK Expansion Programme in Singapore. She brings deep understanding of both the UK and Southeast Asian startup ecosystems and has played a key role in connecting high-growth Singapore companies with mentors, partners and opportunities in the UK. Her strategic approach and attention to detail ensure the programme consistently delivers meaningful outcomes for founders.
Josie brought our AI for Schools community to life. She shaped the programme from the ground up, onboarded our first teacher cohorts, and grew an engaged community of 200+ educators — while building the infrastructure to scale: newsletter, events, tooling, and a seamless handover. What sets her apart is the ability to hold the strategy and run the execution at the same time — and the result speaks for itself.
Common questions
Canvus is fractional chief of staff support for founders and leadership teams. I'm the senior operator you bring in for the things that matter but never quite make it to the top of the list. I don't just advise: I get stuck in with your team and do the work, whether that's launching a programme, setting up AI workflows, building partnerships or planning a move into a new market.
Founders and leadership teams with more good ideas than hours in the week. I also work with accelerators, ecosystem builders and mission-driven organisations.
I lead every engagement personally and I'm always your main point of contact. For projects that need it, we bring in trusted specialists in facilitation, content, PR and design.
It varies. Some clients bring me in for a focused 4–6 week project, like designing a programme or launching a partnership strategy. Others keep me on as a fractional chief of staff for 3–6 months of ongoing support. The right shape depends on what you're trying to achieve, and it's always the first thing we work out together.
Defined projects are priced as a fixed project fee, and ongoing fractional chief of staff support as a monthly retainer. After a first call, once I understand what you need, I'll send a clear proposal with scope, timings and cost.
Depending on the project, you can expect a programme designed and delivered, AI workflows your team actually uses, a working partnership, or a market-entry plan with warm introductions built in. My background is in execution, so I measure success by what gets done, not what gets recommended.
Yes. I'm based in Singapore and work across the UK and Southeast Asia. I've worked with UK organisations like The Observer and Tech Nation, as well as global teams at Google, and I regularly support teams bridging the UK, Europe and Southeast Asia. Time zones are no problem.
You get senior experience exactly when you need it, without the cost and commitment of a permanent hire. For most teams, that's a better fit than growing headcount before you're ready.
Just get in touch. Send me a note at josie@canvus.co or on LinkedIn with a quick summary of what you're working on and the kind of help you're looking for. I'll get back to you within a couple of days and suggest a short call to see if we're a good fit.
Got a project that keeps getting pushed back? Let's talk.
Tell me what's been sitting on your 'we should really do this' list. I'm always happy to talk it through.