Cortney H.

CEO

San Diego, California, United States11 yrs 5 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Expert in redesigning executive operations with AI.
Proven track record in strategic communication.
Skilled in building AI-enabled workflows.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS operations leader with expertise in AI integration and executive support.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Executive OperationsAi IntegrationExecutive SupportStrategic CommunicationOperational EfficiencyMarketing ManagementDigital MarketingDigital Marketing Management

Other Skills

AutomationInternal CommunicationsLeadership DevelopmentArtificial Intelligence (AI)Organizational CultureBusiness Process ImprovementC-Level Executive SupportChange ManagementCommunicationTeam LeadershipEvent ProductionProject ManagementMarketing StrategyCompetitive AnalysisSearch Engine Optimization (SEO)

About

I lead Executive Operations at Zapier. For the past 5+ years, I’ve partnered closely with our CEO and executive team through rapid growth, leadership transitions, and a lot of change. My work sits at the intersection of operations, communication, and system design. As AI changes how work gets done, my focus has shifted toward redesigning executive operations itself. Less manual coordination. More durable systems. Clearer decision flow. Thoughtful adoption of AI where it genuinely increases capacity. Along the way, I’ve built tools to improve recurring tasks like meeting prep, created transparency systems that shift communication norms, and helped operators embed automation into their workflows in practical ways. My path here wasn’t traditional. I started in marketing and communications before moving into executive support, which gave me a wide view of how teams operate and how work actually moves. At my core, I care about helping leaders and teams work with more clarity and less friction. Most of my energy goes toward the quiet operating problems that, once solved, make everything else easier.

Experience

11 yrs 5 mos

Total Experience

2 yrs 10 mos

Average Tenure

5 yrs 5 mos

Current Experience

Zapier

3 roles

Director of Executive Operations

Promoted

Mar 2026 – Present · 2 mos

Lead executive operating design at Zapier, rethinking how executive teams function in an AI-augmented environment.
This role sits at the intersection of executive strategy, system design, and AI fluency.
Focus areas:
Redesign executive operating systems to increase decision velocity and strategic clarity.
Build AI-enabled workflows that scale executive capacity beyond individual effort.
Define AI fluency standards across the exec ops layer, including responsible adoption and measurable leverage. • Share practical frameworks externally on modern executive operations in the age of AI.

AutomationInternal CommunicationsLeadership DevelopmentArtificial Intelligence (AI)Organizational CultureBusiness Process Improvement+2

Executive Business Partner to CEO

Promoted

Apr 2022 – Mar 2026 · 3 yrs 11 mos

Partnered with Zapier’s CEO and executive team to design operating systems that kept the company aligned, informed, and focused as we scaled.
Highlights:
Acted as a strategic extension of the CEO, managing high-impact projects, drafting executive communications, and ensuring key insights reach the right stakeholders at the right time.
Led executive and internal communications through major organizational changes, including restructures and leadership transitions, reinforcing trust and clarity across the company.
Designed and launched ExecPrepGPT, an AI-powered prep tool now used across the exec team, improving meeting quality and strategic alignment.
Established the All-Company Calendar and other operating systems that streamline planning and decision-making.
Founded and scaled EAs on Zapier, training hundreds of operators to use automation and AI through workshops, events, and partnerships.
Played a key role in hiring, developing, and setting standards for Zapier’s EA team, helping build a culture of accountability and high performance alongside the EA team manager.

C-Level Executive SupportChange ManagementCommunicationTeam LeadershipEvent ProductionDigital Marketing+2

Executive Assistant to CEO and President

Nov 2020 – Mar 2022 · 1 yr 4 mos

Joined Zapier during a period of rapid growth as the only EA to support the CEO and executive team and help shape how the company operated. My focus was on building structure, communication systems, and team capacity as Zapier scaled.
Highlights:
Partnered with the CEO and President on both internal and external communications, including company-wide presentations, exec memos, and conference talks.
Planned and ran Zapier All Hands meetings, connecting company strategy to customer stories and reinforcing key priorities.
Acted as the full-cycle recruiter for new Executive Assistants and collaborated with external search firms on executive hires, including CRO, CPO, and CFO searches, closing each within 90–150 days.
Helped define and operationalize the early Office of the CEO, establishing norms for meetings, decisions, and communication that still anchor the executive team today.
Planned and facilitated quarterly executive offsites focused on alignment, culture, and strategy execution.
Drove cross-functional coordination to remove blockers, improve processes, and ensure the right people were looped into key decisions.
Produced the internal Zapier podcast and used Zapier automations to eliminate repetitive work and improve team efficiency.

C-Level Executive SupportCommunicationEvent ProductionTeam LeadershipExecutive SupportStrategic Communication

Desert door

Marketing Director

Feb 2018 – Nov 2020 · 2 yrs 9 mos · Austin, Texas Area

Desert Door is a craft distiller of a premium spirit known as Texas sotol. The distillery is unique in that it's the only one making sotol in the U.S. and sotol is the only alcoholic beverage made solely from a native Texas plant. The brand marketing supports that uniqueness.
Executing administrative tasks for the C-Level team and founders including scheduling meetings, arranging travel, building presentations, taking notes, and planning projects from start to finish
Launching, leading and refining the voice, personality, positioning, and visual identity of the Desert Door brand
Owning and executing the overall marketing strategy and approach and adapting as our target consumer evolves
Defining communications strategy, leading PR agency, and acting as brand spokesperson, which has resulted in 200+ earned media placements
Leading philanthropy initiatives, partnerships, community engagement, collaborations, and 200+ events
Managing marketing budget
Execute strategies and opportunities provided by founders, sales, and tasting room teams to drive business throughout all markets
Monitoring the Texas market and larger competitive landscape for brand opportunities and threats
Social media content generation and management, leading to 193% increase in followers in 1 year while maintaining over a 4% engagement rate per post.
Ensure compliance with all activities

CommunicationMarketing StrategyEvent ProductionCompetitive AnalysisMarketing Management

General assembly

Workshop Instructor

Sep 2017 – Feb 2018 · 5 mos · Austin, Texas Area

Shared knowledge on digital marketing and SEO through workshops in my free time
Trained and connected with a wide range of professionals, from business owners to Austin's creative class

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)Teaching WorkshopsPublic SpeakingDigital Marketing

Lookthinkmake, llc

Digital Marketing Manager

Jan 2016 – Feb 2018 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Austin, Texas Area

Presented capabilities during client pitch and onboarding to increase portfolio of digital clients by 200%
Created and executed full year-long digital marketing plans for 10+ clients
Managed budget for 10+ clients
Analyzed website, email, social media, SEO, and sales data to build reports and provide insights, opportunities, and challenges to full client roster
Collaborated with internal PR team, creative team, and accounts team on integrated client strategies
Completed inbound marketing certification, and Google Analytics/Adwords/Display Marketing certifications

Client RelationsDigital MarketingCommunicationDigital Marketing Management

The buzz agency

2 roles

Public Relations | Social Media Account Executive

Apr 2015 – Dec 2015 · 8 mos · Delray Beach, FL

Established strong relationships with 30+ relevant local media outlets and influencers
Promoted 10+ clients simultaneously to key audiences through press pieces, social media, events, and product placements
Created and executed social media, event marketing, and email strategies

Communication

Social Media | Admin Associate

Oct 2014 – Apr 2015 · 6 mos · Delray Beach, FL

Crafted press releases and pitches to targeted media contacts
Monitored for client coverage and new opportunities for clients
Identified and reported on industry trends

Communication

Kerr & downs research

Assistant Project Director (Internship)

Jan 2013 – May 2013 · 4 mos · Tallahassee, FL

Managed blog and social media pages for a chain of child care centers, Growing Room
Focused on market research projects and outreach to potential clients

The gab group

Account Coordinator (Internship)

May 2012 – Aug 2012 · 3 mos · Boca Raton, FL

Developed and executed social media outreach
Assisted in account management and client relations
Planned and was on site for 12 special events
Handled media relations for clients and focused on agency research

Trumeter technologies ltd

Project Intern

May 2011 – Aug 2011 · 3 mos · Deerfield Beach, FL

Supported Marketing, HR and Sales preparation for integration of a $6MM acquisition
Crafted press releases targeted at relieving customer concerns over acquisition
Performed industry research and created e-mail and direct mail campaigns to 750 prospects