Some Kind Words & Testimonials
“Working with Erin Mellington during her time as General Manager at Sage x Clare had a huge impact on our business. What stood out most was her ability to bridge the gap between vision and execution, something many growing founder-led businesses struggle with as complexity increases.
As founders, so much of our focus naturally sits on brand growth, product, creativity and moving the business forward. Erin had an incredible ability to step into the operational side of the business and build the structure, systems and clarity needed to support that growth sustainably.
She never approached challenges as simply “people problems” or operational frustrations. She looked at the business holistically and was exceptionally good at identifying the real issue underneath the noise, whether that was unclear priorities, lack of structure, missing systems, leadership gaps, or processes that had outgrown the stage of the business.
Over the years, she led and implemented an enormous amount of foundational work across the company. This included introducing project management and workflow systems like Monday, moving the business onto a HRIS, implementing a CRM platform, overseeing the rollout of a Warehouse Management System, introducing company-wide policies and procedures, developing leadership structures, and helping establish company values and employee recognition initiatives that genuinely reflected our culture.
What made Erin particularly valuable was that she didn’t just design frameworks or strategies, she made things land. She created operating rhythms, accountability, and clarity across departments, while still keeping things practical and usable for the team. Her ability to manage complexity across operations, people, systems, leadership, and strategy simultaneously, without making things feel overcomplicated, was incredibly impressive.
She also played a significant role in leadership planning and organisational structure, helping ensure the business was aligned around priorities, KPIs and long-term objectives. She had a strong commercial lens and consistently balanced strategic thinking with operational execution.
For any growing business that feels like it has outgrown its systems, structures or ways of working, but doesn’t yet know exactly what needs fixing, I can confidently say Erin brings an exceptional ability to diagnose, prioritise and implement meaningful change in a way that supports both the business and the people within it.”
— Phoebe Bell, Founder & Creative Director at Sage x Clare
“Erin was an incredibly important part of Sage x Clare for more than five years and had a huge impact on the way the business evolved during a major period of growth.
She has a very natural ability to bring clarity to busy, fast-moving environments. No matter what was happening across the business, Erin could quickly work out what needed attention, what would create the biggest impact, and how to bring people along in the process. She was thoughtful, practical, and incredibly steady under pressure.
Over the years, Erin helped shape so many parts of the business — from team development and leadership support through to operational systems, process improvements, HR frameworks, IT systems, and major projects like relocating us into a warehouse and office space many times larger than where we started. Importantly, she didn’t just introduce ideas; she made sure they were implemented in a way that genuinely worked for the team and the business.
As we grew from a very small team into a much larger organisation, Erin played a huge role in creating structure, accountability, and consistency while still maintaining a strong people-first approach. She cared deeply about the experience of the team and worked hard to create an environment where people felt supported, challenged, and connected.
One of the things I appreciated most was the confidence Phoebe and I had in Erin’s leadership. During periods when we were travelling, she managed the day-to-day running of the business seamlessly and was someone we trusted completely to lead with sound judgement and care.
Erin brings a rare mix of strategic thinking, operational capability, and emotional intelligence, and I’m very grateful for the contribution she made to Sage x Clare.”
— Chris Monahan, Co-Founder at Sage x Clare
“Erin hired and brought me into the business at a pivotal point in my career, and I can honestly say she’s had a lasting impact on the leader I am today and how I will continue to lead in the future.
Erin’s mentorship went far beyond the day-to-day - she encouraged me to step up, build stronger boundaries, and lead with more clarity and confidence. I can’t begin to explain the impact this has had on my work style and how I am able to show up in my role.
What really sets Erin apart is how she shows up in a business. She was not just part of the leadership team, but worked across the entire business, helping to bring alignment between teams, along with the structure and accountability we all needed. Erin introduced business values, policies, and ways of working in a way that truly connected with the team. Nothing felt forced or theoretical, the way that these were implemented were thoughtful, practical, and actually adopted by the team and still used today. The systems she helped put in place - from individual and team KPIs, to business processes, to leadership rhythms, gave us clarity and helped keep us focused on what mattered most.
Erin also brought a level of operational discipline that made a real difference day-to-day. Meetings became more purposeful and stayed on time, we had clear agendas, and ways of working, and she created an environment where people felt comfortable speaking up while still keeping things on track. Erin isn’t afraid of difficult conversations, but always approaches them with professionalism, care, and clarity. She has a way of addressing challenges directly while still remaining tactful and constructive.
The work Erin put in helped the business run smoothly, but more importantly, it helped us become a more aligned leadership team. I’m really grateful to have worked with Erin for several years and would highly recommend her to any scaling business looking for someone who not only designs the work, but makes sure it truly sticks!”
— Tegan Bell, former colleague