Chief EVIL Officer & Fractional COO
Your right-hand person for building operations that actually fit your brain.
I help women and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities stop forcing themselves into systems designed for someone else and start building operations using science (HumanOp®), not stereotypes.
Based in California and from Arizona, I partner with values-driven, scaling founders as their behind-the-scenes operator & thought partner, so they can lead with courage while their business runs with calm, repeatable systems.
Liz and Banh Mi (her cat)
THE STORY
About Liz Nguyen
I'm a Vietnamese-American, eldest, first-generation daughter of refugees who grew up translating paperwork, systems, and expectations for my family long before I ever stepped into an operations role.
I know what it's like to navigate systems that weren't designed for you. I know what it's like to be the youngest in the room, the only woman, the only person of color, and still get it done. I've been building operations for over 10 years across multiple industries.
I've Spent My Entire Life Trying to Fix Broken Systems
First as a pre-med student (Bachelor of Science in Microbiology).
Then as a teacher (Master of Science in Education).
Then as a tech manager (2021 UA Team Excellence Award receipient).
Now, as a Fractional COO—building operations that actually work for how YOU think.
And I've learned one thing:
Systems stick when they're designed for how YOU actually work, not how someone else thinks you should work.
I have seen too many entrepreneurs and leaders are drowning.
Working 60-80 hour weeks. Being the bottleneck in every decision. Trying productivity system after productivity system—and watching them all fail.
They thought they were the problem.
They aren't. The systems are.
I help entrepreneurs build operations that fit how they actually think, so they can scale without burning out.
I've been building operational systems since I was 17, the youngest person in my community to help lead volunteer-based non-profit event (Lunar New Year) with thousands of participants.
Since then, I've:
- Managed tech teams (won 2021 UA Team Excellence Award in my first year as manager—the only non-COVID team)
- Led programs and initiatives at non-profits
- Built systems across industries: education, tech, non-profits
I've seen what works and what doesn't, across teams, industries, and operational styles.
The power of EVIL
Empathetic, Vulnerable, Impish Leadership
EVIL is my (with the help of the co-conspirator and co-creator, Christina Kalel) cheeky way of naming the kind of leadership required to build businesses that are both operationally excellent and deeply human. It’s a lens I bring into every engagement—whether we’re redesigning your org chart, your decision-making rhythms, or your founder calendar.
Instead of pushing you to “be less emotional” or “move faster,” we get curious about what your emotions and resistance are telling us about the system. Then we design from there.
E — Empathetic
We design systems around how your people actually think, feel, and communicate—instead of forcing them into copy-paste playbooks. Empathy is a strategic advantage, not a soft skill add-on.
V — Vulnerable
We tell the truth about what’s working, what isn’t, and what you’re scared to say out loud. Vulnerability gives us accurate data—so we can make sharper, more grounded operational decisions.
I — Impish
We bring a little mischief and experimentation to how we lead. Impishness is willing to break outdated rules, play with new structures, and design operations that feel unexpectedly kind.
L — Leadership
Leadership is less about control and more about creating containers where people can tell the truth and still feel safe. We are about empowerment leadership, building systems where you no longer depend on us.
A framework that says: You don't have to be a hard-ass to be a good leader.
You can be kind.
You can admit when you don't know something.
You can have a sense of humor.
You can build a business that doesn't destroy you.
That's why I call myself Chief EVIL Officer.
Because I'm not here to build businesses that burn people out.
I'm here to build villages.
Liz (left), Christina (right)
EVIL used to be Leading with Empathy, but that was boring.
Our webinar sold out with over 500+ RSVPs and waitlisted.
Work With Liz
Ready for operations that feel like exhale, not extra weight?
If you’re a values-driven founder who wants a calm, strategic partner in your corner, I’d love to explore what a fractional COO and Chief EVIL Officer engagement could look like for you.
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