Layla Foord
I help organisations move from fragmented product initiatives to coherent platforms that can scale.
Chief Product & Operations Executive | Platform Transformation | Marketplaces | SaaS
Executive Impact
Platform & Ecosystem Reset
Reframed fragmented programs into a unified digital ecosystem for children, families, and schools, modernising the platform while embedding governance, safety, and scalability across a 10M+ download environment.
SaaS Growth & Platform Discipline
Scaled product and design during hypergrowth while reducing complexity, introducing platform discipline, and strengthening the roadmap across a global enterprise learning marketplace.
Global Platform Delivery
Led product delivery across a 16M+ MAU international platform portfolio, improving cross-market coordination, shared delivery structure, and product execution across APAC and global teams.
Turnaround & Investor Readiness
Led operational and product reset in a real estate SaaS business under pressure, rebuilding leadership, restoring execution discipline, and helping position the company for a successful $25M private equity raise.
Marketplace Creation
Built and launched a new services marketplace from zero to $1M revenue in 6 months, defining the product, supply model, and operating mechanics for a scalable new vertical.
Career Timeline
Chief Product & Operations Officer
- –Led a product and platform reset, unifying fragmented initiatives into a more coherent ecosystem across home and school contexts
- –Accountable for product, engineering, data, and operations in a regulated digital mental health environment
- –Developed AI product strategy, embedded structured operating rhythms, and supported board-level product and operational oversight
Chief Operating Officer
- –Joined a real estate SaaS business during a period of stalled growth to lead operational and product turnaround
- –Rebuilt product, engineering, and operational leadership, restoring structure, trust, and delivery momentum
- –Introduced strategic planning and strengthened board and investor engagement, contributing to successful private equity investment readiness
VP Product & Design
- –Led product and design during hypergrowth, as the company scaled from roughly 150 to 550+ employees
- –Defined platform strategy across a global enterprise learning marketplace, balancing growth ambition with product simplification and scalability
- –Established clearer operating rhythms, portfolio discipline, and enterprise product direction
Global Head of Product Delivery
- –Led product delivery across SEEK's international platform portfolio serving 16M+ monthly active users
- –Led 50+ cross-functional team members across APAC and global markets, improving coordination, delivery structure, and execution across multiple regions
Managing Director ANZ
- –Established and led ANZ operations for digital innovation consultancy
- –Built enterprise client portfolio across financial services, retail, and government
General Manager
- –Built and launched new marketplace vertical from zero to $1M revenue in 6 months
- –Led cross-functional team; defined category strategy, pricing, and author acquisition
Senior Product Manager
- –Led digital product development for Yellow Pages and White Pages online products
Director-Level Product & Research Leadership
- –Led product development and market analysis across international media and research environments, building the commercial and data foundations for later platform and product leadership
Board & Governance
Governance Committee Lead
- –Leads oversight across AI, product governance, and compliance in education and wellbeing contexts and support the technical sub-committee
- –Aligns innovation with ethics, safety, and organisational risk
- –Supports compliance with National Digital Mental Health Standards
Technical Board Advisor
- –Board-level product and commercial advice during a challenged digital launch
- –Repositioned the offering and realigned roadmap with learner and partner needs
Strategy Lead
- –Authored the organisation's first 5-year strategy
- –Led 3-year refresh with financial modelling, stakeholder engagement, and scenario planning
- –Designed impact-measurement framework to strengthen sustainability and national reach
Non-Executive Director
- –Governance and growth of a social enterprise fostering literacy and storytelling for young people
- –Contributed to strategic planning and performance evaluation during structural change