EMILY FAY
Atlanta
Summary
Strategic advisor and operational leader with a strong record of partnering with executives to drive business growth, organizational alignment, and cross-functional execution. Expert in translating vision into action through strategic planning, project leadership, and process optimization. Skilled in talent strategy, leadership development, and resource management, with a focus on building high-performing, collaborative teams. Proven ability to craft compelling investor materials and lead internal communications that strengthen stakeholder engagement. Known for sound judgment, discretion, and a results-driven approach to accelerating executive priorities.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Stay-At-Home Mother
Professional Pause
Atlanta
04.2025 - Current
- Took intentional career break to focus on raising son during his early months
Chief of Staff
The Ardent Companies
Atlanta
02.2022 - 04.2025
- Served as the CEO's strategic partner and trusted advisor, managing high-level priorities, optimizing time allocation, and ensuring seamless communication, while maintaining strict confidentiality.
- Orchestrated cross-functional alignment by leading strategic initiatives, internal communications, and firm-wide projects to operationalize the CEO's vision and drive organizational cohesion.
- Enabled executive decision-making by identifying, prioritizing, and executing key strategic initiatives that accelerated progress toward long-term business objectives.
- Led talent strategy initiatives, including end-to-end hiring and onboarding processes, while designing and managing a leadership development program to elevate team performance and retention.
- Directed investor-facing marketing efforts by producing compelling pitchbooks, tombstones, and materials that showcase the firm's performance, deal value, and market differentiation..
- Partnered with the CEO and CFO to create quarterly strategic plans, clearly articulating business priorities, financial performance, and future outlook to internal and external stakeholders.
- Designed and facilitated high-impact Firmwide and Operations meetings to cascade leadership messaging, track execution, and foster alignment across departments.
Director of Operations
The Ardent Companies
Atlanta
04.2019 - 02.2022
- Directed operational strategy and long-range planning to align with executive leadership goals, providing mentorship and cross-functional leadership to cultivate a high-performing, collaborative workplace culture.
- Coordinated resource management initiatives across departments, analyzing capacity and contribution levels to identify inefficiencies and implement targeted optimization strategies.
- Spearheaded process improvement efforts, redesigning workflows and partnering with key stakeholders to drive operational excellence and accelerate execution of business priorities.
- Instituted performance measurement frameworks by defining KPIs, tracking milestones, and ensuring team accountability against strategic objectives and timelines.
- Designed and scaled internal engagement programs, including enhancements to the annual review process, increased firmwide community involvement, and the launch of initiatives such as summer internships, corporate matching, and tuition assistance to support employee development and retention.
Regional Analyst
Morgan Stanley
Atlanta
06.2014 - 04.2019
- Partnered with the Regional Director and Chief Operating Officer to develop and execute strategic initiatives that enhanced operational efficiency and business performance across eight Southeastern states.
- Acted as the strategic right hand to the RCOO, delivering high-level project management, operational oversight, and event execution to drive regional goals forward.
- Created and maintained comprehensive operational reporting tools, including quarterly business reviews, monthly performance trackers, and weekly cross-unit updates to ensure transparency and alignment with key objectives.
- Streamlined and automated business processes by managing critical systems, databases, and spreadsheets, while leveraging data insights to recommend process improvements and enhance operational workflows.
- Analyzed regional P&L statements and budget reports for 12 complexes, identifying financial trends, risk areas, and cost-saving opportunities to inform local leadership and influence decision-making.
- Oversaw a 100+ location real estate portfolio, tracking project statuses, providing monthly updates to management, and presenting major capital initiatives to senior executives.
- Governed the planning and delivery of regional events, including management summits and advisor conferences, ensuring seamless execution and meaningful engagement across key stakeholders.
- Facilitated the Regional Financial Advisor Council by organizing quarterly forums that empowered advisor representatives to provide input on strategic direction, platform updates, and firm-wide initiatives.
Regional Administrator
Morgan Stanley
Fort Lauderdale
02.2012 - 06.2014
- Supported the Regional Director and Business Services Officer with high-level administrative and operational oversight to ensure seamless execution of strategic priorities.
- Directed complex project coordination, workflow approvals, expense management, and scheduling for senior leadership, optimizing productivity across the region.
- Planned and executed large-scale advisor conferences with six-figure budgets, managing logistics in partnership with senior leaders, vendors, and top financial advisors.
- Produced monthly reporting packages on budgets, expenses, and real estate activity, tracking progress against regional business objectives.
- Advanced regional engagement in firm-wide community initiatives, leading participation in annual giving campaigns and volunteer programs to strengthen CSR alignment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business & Enterprise Management
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC05.2011
Skills
- Strategic Thinking
- Operational Expertise
- Process Improvement
- Project Management
- Problem-Solving
- Relationship Building
- High-Impact Execution
Timeline
Stay-At-Home Mother
Professional Pause
04.2025 - Current
Chief of Staff
The Ardent Companies
02.2022 - 04.2025
Director of Operations
The Ardent Companies
04.2019 - 02.2022
Regional Analyst
Morgan Stanley
06.2014 - 04.2019
Regional Administrator
Morgan Stanley
02.2012 - 06.2014
Bachelor of Science - Business & Enterprise Management
Wake Forest University