Cressida Raffin
Operations Partner for Founders. Advocate for Neurodivergent Learners.
I’m Cressida Raffin—a founder, operations partner, and parent building meaningful, human-centered systems across both business and education.
Over the past decade, I’ve worked at the intersection of growth, operations, and execution, helping ideas become structured, sustainable businesses.
My background in building and leading a startup
I am the co-founder and former CEO of Birdie Break, a tech-enabled childcare platform. As a founder, I experienced what it takes to build and grow a company, developing systems, building workflows, navigating uncertainty, and learning firsthand how essential strong operations are to sustainable growth.
I understand the tension of being both the visionary and the person holding the operational pieces together.
Balancing growth, strategy, and the day-to-day execution is where many founders get stuck and it’s the space I now step into to support them.
That experience shaped how I work today: I bring both a strategic lens and hands-on operational support to the founders I partner with.
A personal turning point
My work also took on a more personal dimension when my son was diagnosed with dyslexia.
Stepping into that world opened my eyes to how many families are navigating learning differences without clear guidance, support, or accessible resources. I spent months researching, asking questions, and learning how to advocate effectively because I needed to understand how to support him in the best way possible.
That journey led me to create Exceptional by Design, where I share practical tools, guidance, and support for parents navigating dyslexia and other learning differences.
What I do now
Today, my work lives in two connected spaces:
Operations & Growth Support for Founders
I partner with founders to design, implement, and manage the operational systems that keep their businesses running smoothly as they grow.
From workflow design and project management to strategic operational support, I help bring clarity, structure, and momentum to growing teams.
Exceptional by Design
Through Exceptional by Design, I create resources that help parents understand their child’s learning profile, navigate school supports, and advocate with confidence.
At the heart of this work is a belief that every child deserves to be understood, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed in a way that reflects how they learn best.
My approach
Whether I’m supporting a founder or a family, my approach is the same:
start with clarity
build simple, effective systems
design around real life
and focus on long-term sustainability
I believe the right structures and the right information create space for people to do their best work, make confident decisions, and grow into what they’re capable of.
A little more about me
I’m based in Edmonton, Alberta, and I’m the mom of two boys.
I care deeply about building work that is meaningful, flexible, and aligned with the realities of family life.
I’m always learning, always building, and always looking for better ways to support the people around me.
Let’s connect
If you’re a founder looking for operational support, let’s connect and talk through your business.
If you’re a parent navigating dyslexia or learning differences, you’re also welcome here.