You don’t have to burn yourself out to build a successful business.

I learned that the hard way.

On paper, everything looked great.
✔ Built three businesses to $200M in revenue
✔ Bootstrapped a service business to $25M with 25 people in five years
✔ Scaled a VC-backed tech company to $28M ARR in under two years with just 12 people
✔ Made a double-sided consumer marketplace profitable in three months with a five-person team
✔ Raised $30M in venture capital

But behind the scenes, I was exhausted, constantly putting out fires, and convinced the business would fall apart if I stepped away.

So I pushed harder, thinking that was the only way.

Then life forced me to stop.

I ran headfirst into a glass window. A concussion took me out for eight weeks. No emails, no meetings, no problem-solving. For the first time, I couldn’t step in to fix things.

And when I came back, I was shocked. The business hadn’t just survived. It had thrived.

That moment forced me to question everything.

I always thought the key to scaling was working harder and building better systems. And systems did help. But what really made the difference wasn’t the business. It was me.

I had built a company that depended on me, not because it had to, but because I didn’t know how to let go. I believed that stepping back meant losing control. That if I wasn’t involved in everything, things would fall apart.

That belief had to change.

Learning to trust my team, step back, and stop being the bottleneck wasn’t easy. But once I did, everything changed.

The systems worked because I let them. My team thrived because I gave them space. And the business grew faster than ever, not because I was in every decision, but because I wasn’t.

Now, I help founders do the same.

Most founders come to me because they feel stuck. They’re scaling, but at the cost of their time, health, and freedom. It doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’re ready to build a business that grows without you being in the weeds, join me for daily insights on scaling, leadership, and personal growth.

Let’s get started.
—--
Curious to know more?
⚫️ Join my newsletter – Get insights on building big businesses with small teams. 
https://bit.ly/4h4PJNK

⚫️ The 20 Hour CEO – My playbooks, systems, and frameworks to help you scale without burnout.
https://bit.ly/4hTrItY

⚫️ 1:1 CEO Coaching – If you want direct guidance to break free from the grind, let’s talk. 

Let’s connect:
Email: hello@christinecarrillo.com
Twitter: @ChristineCarril

Christine Carrillo

No one stays for the perks.

They stay to feel seen.

Too many leaders think loyalty comes from money.

You can offer top salaries.
Perks. Bonuses. Company shares.

But if your team feels invisible?
They'll leave.

Here's what actually builds loyalty:
→ Being seen.
→ Being heard.
→ Knowing their work matters.

Team members aren't asking for a parade.
They just want to know their work means something.

Because when they feel appreciated:
→ They care more.
→ They give more.
→ They show up more.

Without ever being asked.

You want people to go above and beyond?
Start with a simple "thank you."

How do you make your team feel valued?

♻️ If this hits home, share it with your network.
Follow Christine Carrillo for more leadership insights.
Ready to build a big business with a tiny team? This is the playbook: https://lnkd.in/gQCveimB

Intake Breathing

Intake Breathing is the leader is the consumer breathing products category with its science-backed magnetic nose strip solution designed to enhance airflow, improve sleep, and optimize athletic performance. The company’s flagship product, the magnetic nasal strip, has been embraced by top athletes and wellness enthusiasts worldwide. Learn more at https://www.intakebreathing.com

Chief Marketing Officer

Squall Growth

We Specialize Creating Exponential Growth for Startups.

We get it. Sometimes it feels like it's all on you.
Product. Engineering. Hiring. Operations. Accounting. Finance. Fundraising. Marketing. Branding. As a leader in an early-stage startup, it feels like you are responsible for so many things that you can’t focus on growing your sales & marketing without another part of the business slowing down.

We’ve changed the agency model by combining ex-founders who have scaled their own businesses, a global team of experienced marketers, and the latest AI tools for efficiency. The result is a unique setup where you have a team that’s scaled startups from zero to millions in revenue and fits within your budget. A team that you can trust to execute so you can focus on the 1,000 other things on your to do list.

Founder and President of Growth (Acquired by Intake March 2025)

Whym

Had the honor of participating as an angel in an early round of Whym

Angel Investor

Go Chair

GO CHAIR is the world's most portable chair that packs down to the size of a water bottle.  Unparalleled design for instant comfort. Compact and portable seating for adventurers, nature lovers and more.  Master the art of relaxing anywhere.

http://www.thegochair.com

Founding Team - Advisor

myrow

-Created initial brand book and brand
-Built website
-Tradeshow booth and tradeshow execution
-Gained top tier press
-Video production and social media management

Growth Client

Loop (California Labs, Inc.)

Running a successful 6 figure Wefunder equity crowdfunding campaign and producing over 150% Year over Year growth while improving overall profitability

Growth

Lovebox

Conversion rate optimization and subscription attach rate optimization.  I provided a method for attaching subscriptions upon first purchase.

Sensate

Sensate wearable & app: achieve profound calm in the moment, and improve stress resilience over time. Doubled gross margins, exponentially grew revenue, managed the acquisition and DTC channel, and assisted in raising a Wefunder round.

Beni

Conducted rebrand and proved customer acquisition funnel through facebook in CPL targets. Built initial consumer website and brand book

Outer

Ran consumer insights for the Outer host program

As a Growth Client at Stealth Growth Agency, I leverage my experience as a 3X tech founder to help startups achieve exponential growth and secure investments. I have been in the startup scene for over 12 years, growing companies to over $100 million in value and with two successful ventures in the consumer products and hardware sectors.

I also serve as an Advisor at CLIQ, a startup that I get off the ground in 2018. CLIQ is the world's most portable chair that packs down to the size of a water bottle, offering compact and comfortable seating for adventurers, nature lovers, and more. 

My passion is to drive startup success from the ground up, delivering tangible results without relying on generic agency playbooks. I have a no-nonsense approach to strategic planning, revenue growth, and business scaling, backed by my credentials as an engineer (I still touch code). I have also won multiple awards and honors, such as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, the Popular Mechanics Best of CES, Inc 500 Fastest Growing Companies, and other awards that I brag about at cocktail parties ;)

I prioritize collaboration and mentorship, always keeping the interests and motivations of CEOs, founders, venture capitalists, and angel investors in mind. My ultimate goal is to create situations that propel startups forward while maximizing returns for founders and investors. If you're looking for a reliable and credible partner who can drive your startup to new heights, let's connect and explore how we can collaborate for exponential growth and success.

Chris H.

It's been an incredible ride at Intake Breathing so far.  In the time since I first started working with the team, we've 6x revenue, reconfigured our supply chain, did multiple revisions on our product, and most importantly have been able to attract top tier talent to our team.  

Now we have an olympian medalist. Viktor brought the first winter olympic medal to Denmark in 28 years...While wearing Intake.

Life Changing Breathing

PS - We are hiring. DM me. #santabarbara

Chief Marketing Officer at Intake Breathing | Founder | Growth Engineering | Marketer | Startups

taplio

The Battle

Christine Carrillo

Chris H.

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreChristine Carrillo's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreChris H.'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Christine Carrillo

Chris H.

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Christine Carrillo's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreChris H.'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreChristine Carrillo's LinkedIn Performance