Commercial & Operations Manager for mission-driven companies

I build customer growth, sales and operating systems that turn early traction into scalable execution.

Built Speak'N'Roll to ~€700k in annual revenue, 500 active students and a founder-independent operating team.

Seeking a long-term, hands-on role with an Africa-focused energy-access or essential-services company. Open to full relocation and extensive field travel.

Pavlo Rybalchenko, Commercial and Operations Manager
Speak'N'Roll results
€700k
annual revenue
~500
active students
~25%
operating margin
~60
team members

About

I am an entrepreneur and hands-on growth operator. Over the past few years, I built Speak'N'Roll, an EdTech company helping Ukrainians adapt abroad through language learning.

My work sits at the intersection of growth strategy, sales, operations and practical AI implementation. I build systems, teams and processes that allow companies to grow without permanent founder dependency.

Today, Speak'N'Roll operates with its own CEO and operational team. I am now seeking a long-term, hands-on role with an Africa-focused energy-access or essential-services company.

BBA, International Business — WSB University, Poznań 2017–2020
MSc, International Business — Lauder Business School, Vienna 2021–2022
Target role: a full-time commercial, customer operations, market development or strategy and operations position with meaningful execution ownership.
Case study

From zero to a founder-independent EdTech business

How I built Speak'N'Roll and transitioned it to an independent CEO and operations team.

speaknroll.com ↗ Telegram ↗ Instagram ↗

Challenge

Build a scalable language-learning business for Ukrainians adapting to life abroad.

What I built

  • Product and pricing architecture
  • B2C and B2B offers
  • Acquisition channels
  • Sales department
  • Retention and customer care
  • Teacher recruitment and onboarding
  • CRM, analytics and automation
  • Team structure and KPIs
  • CEO-led operating model

Results

  • Approximately €700k annual revenue
  • Approximately 500 active students
  • Approximately 25% operating margin
  • 30–50 new enrollments per month
  • Independent CEO and operations team
  • ~60 people across teaching, sales, ops and support
The company now operates without my daily involvement.

What I bring

Growth engine

GTM strategy, acquisition channels, sales funnels, conversion optimisation, hypothesis testing and unit economics.

Operations and teams

I build sales, retention and operating systems that allow the company to scale beyond the founder.

AI and automation

Practical AI implementation inside sales, marketing, customer care and internal operations.

📈Growth strategy & scaling
🧪Go-to-market & hypothesis testing
📣Marketing & sales funnels
🎯Performance marketing & CRM
💰Unit economics, CAC, LTV
📊Financial modeling & analytics
👥Sales & retention teams
🤝Hiring & team management
🚀New product launches
💼B2B & business development
⚙️Process automation
🤖AI implementation in business

Where I can contribute

Long-term role
Commercial & customer operations

Own customer growth, pricing, sales, onboarding, retention, unit economics and the performance routines behind them.

Market development & expansion

Validate customer demand, build local partnerships, launch new offers and turn early market learning into repeatable execution.

Strategy & operations

Translate priorities into KPIs, ownership, operating processes, management reporting and hands-on special-project delivery.

My priority is a long-term role within one organization. I am available for full relocation and extensive field travel across Africa.

Sector and mission focus

I am most interested in companies expanding access to clean energy, productive livelihoods and essential services across Africa.

Energy access Essential services Productive livelihoods ClimateTech & energy EdTech Customer-intensive services
Africa focus

I am making a deliberate transition into African energy access and essential services, bringing proven commercial and operating experience while building sector knowledge in PAYG solar, mini-grid customer economics, Productive Use of Energy and demand stimulation.

Selected experiments

Early-stage experiment
English in Minecraft
Problem Kids learn better in immersive, gamified environments.
Hypothesis English classes inside Minecraft would drive higher engagement than traditional online lessons.
Launched Live lessons with a teacher inside the game; small cohort of 6–12 year olds.
Channels Organic social, parent communities.
Result Concept validated with a pilot cohort; did not scale to a standalone product.
Learning Strong engagement, but teacher onboarding and technical setup made unit economics difficult at small scale.
Market validation
Legalization in Poland
Problem Ukrainians in Poland face complex residency and work permit processes with little reliable guidance.
Hypothesis An advisory service with automated lead qualification could convert Speak'N'Roll's existing audience into legal services customers.
Launched Landing page, automated intake funnel, partnered with legal specialists.
Channels Meta Ads, organic SEO, Speak'N'Roll audience.
Result Demand confirmed; service running as a vertical within Speak'N'Roll.
Learning Cross-sell from an existing trusted audience significantly lowers CAC for adjacent services.

Building access to energy or essential services across Africa?

If your team needs a hands-on commercial and operations manager for customer growth, market development or special projects, let's talk.

Let's talk Send email