Growing Pains — The Symptoms That Tell Founders Their Systems No Longer Fit

Recognising When a Company Has Outgrown Its Systems: The signs founders miss and what to change first

Carlota Montoro has spent more than a decade shaping the people and operating foundations of companies in London and Madrid, and now does the same as Head of People and Infrastructure for an international, remote-first business. Many founders try to fix friction by hiring more people, when the cause often sits underneath: the structures, processes and decision paths the company started with. Carlota walks through the signs that a company has outgrown the way it currently works, and what a founder should change first. Listeners leave able to tell a busy quarter from a company that needs a new structure, and know which change to make before the next hire.

About Carlota Montoro

Carlota Montoro, podcast guest

Fractional Head of People & Infrastruture

Aavalabs Head of People & Infrastructure12 years Working remotelyFounders & CEOs Adviser on people, structure and growthMadrid Spanish-born people leader, Europe focus

Carlota works at the intersection of people, systems and business performance. As Head of People & Infrastructure at Aavalabs, Carlota helps shape the teams, structures, processes and operating foundations that allow an international business to grow with greater clarity and less friction.

Originally from Madrid, Carlota brings a European perspective to this work and is especially keen to support leaders in Spain and across Europe.

Carlota's experience spans People strategy, organisational design, leadership support, operations, infrastructure, process improvement, and the practical adoption of technology and AI.

Carlota is particularly effective in complex or ambiguous situations: when a founder needs a trusted thinking partner, a leadership team needs greater alignment, or a company has outgrown the way it currently works.

Alongside that core role, Carlota selectively gets involved in advisory, transformation and special projects where Carlota can bring an independent perspective, turn complexity into a practical plan, and leave the organisation with stronger capabilities rather than long-term dependence on Carlota. Carlota is especially interested in founder-led, international and growing businesses, but is always open to an unusual project when the people, the challenge and the potential are right.

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