Business Design Partner for ambitious small businesses
I turn the chaos of running your business into clarity, and that clarity into growth.
Previously @ Teachable and Goldman Sachs
“Nio has the curiosity and open mind that’s absolutely crucial for helping you see the truth about your work.”
Founder of Finocchio, queer paid newsletter
Does this sound like you?
Most of the people I work with are great at what they do — but the business around it has become a source of stress instead of support.
Usually business owners have one of these problems:
1. I’m drowning in the parts I hate.
The tools don’t talk to each other, everything’s manual, and you’re spending your nights and weekends on tedious back-end work instead of the part you love.
I figure out which of those things actually matter, fix those, and help you let go of the rest.
2. I’m busy, but the revenue isn’t moving.
Things are working, but you’re stuck — and you can’t tell what would actually move you forward versus what’s just noise.
I help you find the one or two things that’ll actually move your business, and talk you out of the rest.
Not sure which one you are?
That’s normal — let’s figure it out together
I work best with…
Someone who is authentic and empathetic, cares about doing something good (not just profitable). You’re open to changing direction when the work calls for it and already have a few customers and real traction.
You’re the kind of person with big dreams and passion to build something that means something to you and the people you help. Yes, you’re a business, but you’re a person first and your customers are people first.
- Doing good matters as much as making money
- Sustainable beats fast — no hustle-culture burnout
- Real empathy and real data over gut feel and guesswork
- Honest, human, and authentic, always
- You lead with your vision and values
What kind of service are you looking for?
START SMALL
“I want to take one real thing off my plate.”
One focused project, starting with the thing that’s actually costing you most.
What changes: You’ll walk away with one real problem solved and a clear sense of whether we work well together. No big commitment required.
FOUNDATION SPRINT
“I want clarity on what to tackle next.”
Four to six weeks working out what your business actually needs, and just as importantly, what it doesn’t.
What changes: You’ll know what to build, in what order, and why. And you’ll stop carrying the twenty other things you thought you should be doing.
ONGOING PARTNERSHIP
“I want to grow what I have with someone by my side.”
A monthly partnership embedded in your business.
We meet once a month to work through whatever’s most pressing, and I’m around between sessions when decisions come up. The point isn’t access, it’s having someone who knows your business well enough to tell you when you’re about to spend money on the wrong thing.
Month-to-month, cancel anytime.
“This plan is seamless and it makes so much sense. It’s been really inspiring — it revitalized me and my direction toward a successful relaunch. I feel like you set me up for a really strong foundation to express professionally from. You’re the best, period!”
Founder of Nature of Skin Consults
About me
Hey, I’m Nio! After 8 years as a product designer in New York City working on growth and monetization in tech, I got burnt out.
Along the way I learned how to link design decisions to revenue through data.
Now I bring design, product strategy, and operational thinking together to help small businesses grow with intention.
As a queer, non-binary person (they/them) who’s been through the grind and come out the other side, I care about creating work that’s sustainable, honest, and authentic. I’m not here to push you toward someone else’s idea of success. I’m here to help you build a business that fits the life you actually want, grounded in your values and built to last.
Think of me as the producer and you’re the director. The one handling the logistics and businessy things so you can stay focused on the parts you care about.
Outside of work…
I’m the lead singer and guitarist of the indie pop punk band, Your Latest Obsession, a puppy parent to my Cavapoo, Nala, and a snowboarding instructor in the winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. I’ve worked across a lot of different industries, and the truth is the work translates. Whether you run a wellness practice, a bookshop, or a café, the behind-the-scenes challenges are the same: figuring out what actually moves the business forward, what’s just noise, and how to build systems that hold as you grow. That’s what I help with, whatever the industry.
That’s exactly my sweet spot. A lot of people I work with are past the “does this even work” stage — they’ve got customers and momentum, but the systems underneath never got built properly, so growth means more chaos instead of less. That’s the moment to get the foundation right, so scaling up doesn’t mean drowning. If your business is real and running but the behind-the-scenes is holding you back, we’ve got plenty to work with.
I help you figure out the strategy first — what you actually need and why — and then we make sure the website, the social, or whatever comes next is built to serve that. Otherwise you end up with a beautiful website that doesn’t do anything. If hands-on help with a specific piece makes sense once we’re clear on the plan, we can absolutely talk about that too.
Totally normal — most people aren’t sure at first, and figuring that out is part of the work. Book a short chat and we’ll talk through what’s actually getting in your way. No pressure, no pitch. Sometimes just naming the real problem is the most useful hour you’ll spend.
I’m comfortable across the usual suspects: Figma, Notion, Webflow, WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, and more. But here’s the thing: it’s not really about the tools. It’s about finding what actually fits you and your business, so you’re not paying for or wrestling with things you don’t need. I’ll help you choose what makes sense and can even set it up so it works for the long haul.
I’ll ask a lot of questions to understand your business and where you actually are right now. Then we get practical: what to prioritize, what to ignore for now, and how to build things so they last. You’ll leave with clarity and a plan, not a pile of jargon — everything grounded in real empathy for the people you serve and actual data, not guesswork.
Usually with something small, so we can build trust and make sure we click before committing to more. Book a free 30-minute chat and we’ll figure out what makes sense for where you are.
Building something special? Let’s talk.
Book a free 30-minute chat, or send me a note. Either way, I’d love to hear about what you’re building.
Nio Tenenini | Business Design Partner
I turn the chaos of running your business into clarity, and that clarity into growth.