Marly Jay on Business Workflow Management, Workflow Design, and Streamlining Operations

Marly Jay is the founder of Workflow Design Co., a boutique consultancy that helps creative and financial firms streamline operations through custom CRM systems, project management solutions, and workflow design. As a monday.com Gold Channel Partner, she has helped more than 250 businesses create systems that reduce operational chaos and improve efficiency.

In this conversation, Marly shares her journey from in-house marketing professional to entrepreneur, along with lessons on business workflow management, workflow design, operational efficiency, productivity, and building systems that help businesses scale more effectively

Can you introduce yourself and explain how Workflow Design Co. helps businesses improve workflow management?

Hi! I’m Marly — founder of Workflow Design Co., a boutique consultancy and proud monday.com Gold Channel Partner. We design custom CRM and project management systems that actually make sense — and actually get used. Our sweet spot? Helping creative and financial professionals get their chaos under control so they can spend more time doing the work they love.

What types of businesses benefit most from workflow design and operational systems?

We primarily serve Business Owners — specifically Interior Design & Architectural Firms and Financial Advisory Firms. These are industries where projects, clients, and deadlines pile up quickly, and we love bringing order, clarity, and systems to their work.

How did your experience in marketing shape your approach to workflow management and systems design?

I started out in Marketing, working in-house at a commercial interior design firm. I was the one managing campaigns, content calendars, award submissions, and all the behind-the-scenes details. Somewhere in the middle of that juggling act, I fell in love with building systems to keep it all together.

What inspired you to build a business focused on workflow design and operational efficiency?

Out of necessity. Over five years ago, my previous firm didn’t have a project management or CRM system, so I built one. That moment opened my eyes to how powerful the right systems can be. Eventually, I made the leap from employee to entrepreneur which just felt right. The leap was fueled by a love of system and process creation.

Related: How Zoho CRM Helped Entreprenista Sustain Continued Business Growth

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not at all. In fact, I had a couple of “failed” entrepreneurial attempts before Workflow Design Co. The truth is, what drove me wasn’t a lifelong dream of running a business — it was the desire for freedom: to create my own schedule, choose where I worked, and build a business where I didn’t have to fight for a seat at the table… because I built my own.

Related: How to achieve a life of financial freedom with Alisha Pennington of Pennington Perspective

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I started on Upwork. Having freelanced off and on for a decade, I knew the importance of testing the market quickly. So I created a profile as a monday.com expert, and before long, clients started coming in. It wasn’t glamorous or highly strategized — but it was effective. 

And honestly, timing was everything. I launched right around the time monday.com went public and was pouring energy into marketing their platform. The more they marketed, the more people came looking for help — and I was right there to catch that wave.

What has taught you the most about building and managing a successful service-based business?

Learning how to run a service-based business. In the beginning, I thought everything had to be “perfect.” I’ve since learned that letting go of perfection, creating boundaries, and focusing on progress over polish is what actually allows both me and my clients to thrive.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

I’m proud of the growth journey: starting as a referral partner with monday.com → being named 2023 Fastest Growing Partner of the Year → becoming a Silver Channel Partner in 2024 → and now, achieving Gold Channel Partner status in 2025. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of helping 250+ businesses streamline operations and reclaim their time. That combination of recognition and real client impact is what makes me proud.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

This year I officially moved up to Gold Channel Partner with monday.com

How do you see workflow design evolving for creative and financial firms over the next few years?

The future is all about niching deeper into the industries where we make the biggest impact: Interior Design & Architectural Firms and Financial Advisors. We’re creating even more tailored systems for these fields, so they don’t just get “a CRM,” but a tool that truly understands how they work.

What's your top productivity tip for business owners struggling with workflow management challenges?

Get the right systems for your business.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I don’t believe in perfect “balance.” For me, it’s about integration — building a business that fits into my life, not the other way around. That’s why I moved to Lisbon and why I designed my services to be flexible. Sometimes business gets more attention, sometimes life does — the key is giving myself permission to flow between the two.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

monday.com (no surprise there!). It’s the brain of my business and my clients’ businesses. From CRM to project management to marketing workflows, it keeps everything in one place and saves countless hours of back-and-forth.

Related: Michele Pruitt's Tailored Project Management + Event Planning Solutions

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Start messy. Don’t wait for the perfect logo, the perfect website, or the perfect plan. Your clarity will come from doing the work, not thinking about the work. And remember: you don’t have to build it the way everyone else does — you get to design your own version of success.

Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.

Updated: June 25, 2026