Discover how to hire a COO in 8 steps to drive your business forward. Learn key hiring strategies and red flags to avoid to ensure a perfect fit.
Josh Raine
ex-Google, Operations & strategy leader, startup founder, executive; Led team of >1k employees & $26M MRR across 7 countries; deep experience in emerging markets.
I co-founded and served as Deputy CEO of Wasoko (fka Sokowatch), Africa's leading b2b e-commerce platform connecting informal retailers with suppliers, distributors, and financial services. With nearly 20 years of experience in operations, strategy, business development, and sales, I have a passion for creating and scaling innovative solutions that drive growth and positive social impact. At Wasoko, I led the daily operations of a fast-growing company operating in seven countries with over …
Work
- https://www.wasoko.com
Co-Founded Africa's largest b2b e-commerce platform backed by Tiger & Avenir. Scaled business to $26M MRR, operating across 7 countries 200k customers and > 1k employees.
Experience
Wasoko
Founder & Deputy CEO
Apr 2022 - Mar 2024
Wasoko is transforming communities across Africa by revolutionizing access to essential goods and services. By connecting small shops to the digital economy, we fix inefficient supply chains and provide services that were previously unavailable. Wasoko aims to provide everything a retailer needs, no wholesalers or banks necessary. Thousands of retailers across Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda use Wasoko's mobile ordering and delivery service to receive the goods they need as quickly and cheaply as possible while also accessing growth financing for the first time.
- Devised & oversaw implementation of strategies resulting in 6x YOY revenue growth ($26M MRR) enabling close of $125M Series B
- Led daily operations spanning 7 countries and 1,500 employees
- Executive responsible for critical business functions including business development, GTM, logistics, procurement, sales & marketing, HR and technology
- Managed Executive Team operations & agenda ensuring timely discussion and resolution of crucial matters
Google
Head of Privacy and Compliance Operations
May 2019 - Apr 2022
A problem isn't truly solved until it's solved for all. Googlers build products that help create opportunities for everyone, whether down the street or across the globe. Bring your insight, imagination and a healthy disregard for the impossible. Bring everything that makes you unique. Together, we can build for everyone.Check out our career opportunities at goo.gle/3DLEokh
- Developed Google’s first-ever user support privacy strategy and team to address increasingly complex regulatory challenges encompassing user education & experience and operations across multiple product areas with a special focus on the EU.
- Success included:
- Zero fines, minimal escalations & maximized resource utilization
- 10x increase in analyzable privacy feedback and 75% faster analysis and turnaround time
- Privacy education content program spanning 10+ products including Search, Chrome, Photos, and Pay
- Effective cross-functional design, launch and implementation of privacy support operations
- Served as a trusted advisor for all cross-functional privacy support and compliance strategy advising senior executives on user experience optimization and risk mitigation
Wasoko
Board Member
May 2018 - Mar 2024
Wasoko is transforming communities across Africa by revolutionizing access to essential goods and services. By connecting small shops to the digital economy, we fix inefficient supply chains and provide services that were previously unavailable. Wasoko aims to provide everything a retailer needs, no wholesalers or banks necessary. Thousands of retailers across Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda use Wasoko's mobile ordering and delivery service to receive the goods they need as quickly and cheaply as possible while also accessing growth financing for the first time.
Comcast
Sr. Business Development & Strategic Initiatives Lead
May 2018 - Apr 2019
- Partnered with city leaders and major real estate developers across the Bay Area to fulfill their technology goals, positioning Comcast as their go-to partner for innovation. Initiatives include Smart City IOT, Smart Home IOT, PropTech and bridging the digital divide.
Wasoko
COO & Co-Founder
Jan 2015 - May 2018
Wasoko is transforming communities across Africa by revolutionizing access to essential goods and services. By connecting small shops to the digital economy, we fix inefficient supply chains and provide services that were previously unavailable. Wasoko aims to provide everything a retailer needs, no wholesalers or banks necessary. Thousands of retailers across Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda use Wasoko's mobile ordering and delivery service to receive the goods they need as quickly and cheaply as possible while also accessing growth financing for the first time.
- E-commerce start-up providing on-demand delivery for retailers in emerging markets
- Led go-to-market strategy resulting in acquisition of 3,000 customers and $1MM in annualized revenue within six months of launch and revenue growth of 650% within two years
- Oversaw global operations creating processes, reporting metrics and cadence for all functional areas including logistics, inventory management, procurement, and frontline sales
- Led scaling effort, growing revenue by 7x, staff by 3x and expansion into two additional markets
- Launched Customer Care team to focus on customer feedback, incorporating it to inform product catalog and both mobile app and delivery UX
- Forged partnership with Unilever resulting in 35% month-over-month revenue growth and receipt of industry-leading trade terms
- Responsible for a global team of 50, coaching and leading managers to effectively run day-to-day operations
Ashoka´s Changemakers
Director Of Partnerships
Jun 2010 - May 2013
Ashoka is an international citizen-sector organization whose mission is to build an Everyone a Changemaker World™ . An Everyone a Changemaker World™ is one that responds quickly and effectively to social challenges, and where each individual has the freedom, confidence and societal support to address any social problem and self identify as a driver of change. Ashoka is the world's leading community of over 3,500 social entrepreneurs. We champion the most important new social change ideas and support the innovators behind them by helping them get started, grow, collaborate and reshape whole systems.
- Led corporate and institutional partnership sales for SaaS innovation platform
- Consistently exceeded $1 million sales target
- Sold and managed engagements with clients such as Intel, SAP, MasterCard & GE
- Developed trusted relationships with senior leaders of Fortune 500 companies to create dynamic partnerships
- Delivered engaging and effective presentations and product demos (live and remote)
- Principal account manager ensuring quality delivery and satisfaction throughout sales and project cycle
- Managed team of three direct reports and oversaw global sales effort
Peace Corps
Small Business Advisor
Sep 2002 - Nov 2004
As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in Education, Health, Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Youth Development. Through their Peace Corps experiences, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.
- Provided operations, marketing support and guidance to various businesses in rural Ghana
- Improved operations and revenue generation for small independent businesses and a community owned eco-tourism venture