15 years in bookkeeping.
Every client loved me for the first 6 months. By year two? At each other's throats.


I ran a fractional bookkeeping business. In the beginning? I was great. New clients, 
new systems, new problems. But once the novelty wore off—same reconciliations, 
same reports, same emails asking for the same missing documents.
I thought the problem was the clients. The work. Me.
Then I got diagnosed with ADHD.
Turns out my brain runs on uniqueness. I need to feel like what I'm doing is special, 
different, mine. Repetition kills that. So I stopped fighting my wiring and started 
building around it.
Now I build AI tools that solve real problems for real businesses—starting with the 
industry I know cold.
First up: OnboardLy. It kills the document chaos that happens before bookkeepers 
can even start their real work. Because the worst part of a bookkeeper's job isn't the 
bookkeeping—it's hunting down missing bank statements at 11pm.
I work in 10-week sprints. Build, market, launch, rotate. It's the only way my brain lets 
me finish anything.
My white whale? The search tool Ezra Klein said newspapers need. Ask a question, 
get a syllabus—not a list of links, but a structured path through the archives with every 
source at your fingertips. I'm the one building it.
I'm documenting the whole journey here. Wins, failures, everything in between.
Fractional bookkeeper drowning in client onboarding? Let's talk.
Building software for an industry you've never worked in? I have thoughts.

Tim O'Rourke

QAB Leadership LTD

Founder

QOOT Co.

Developing a fast growing food and beverage company across several countries.  The goal is to align into one company culture using strategies for values and ethics, talent, personalised development and building social networks.

People Development Director

TGP International 

Developing full food and beverage concepts for entrepreneurs or hotel groups including; design, menu, brand, OS&E, etc.  Also working with operational teams on new restaurant openings and implementation of brand standards.

Group Brand Director

Leading the TGP team in concept development, pre-opening of restaurants and bars (new concepts and working with existing brands) and on-going management F&B contracts.

Latest clients include Intercontinental, BRGR Co, Reform Social & Grill London and Dubai, Starwood, independent investors, hospitality groups and private properties like Castell son Claret

TGP Consulting in the last few years have expanded abroad and is now working in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

Having just opened our new office in Dubai in order to coordinate efficiently the projects and upcoming openings in Dubai and the UAE, our expanding team means a very exciting time for TGP Consulting

As Operations Director, the job requires frequent travel and a strong ethic of creating an environment for TGP Consulting that is full of energy and enthusiasm and a skill in getting people to feel comfortable and a willingness to improve and do their best.

Senior Operations Director

Consulting on opening and existing restaurants, mainly based in the UK but abroad also, currently with a project in Lebanon.

UK Operations Director

Macdonald Hotels

Brand and concept development and implementation for restaurants and bars across the Macdonald Hotel and Resorts group.  Also analysis and development of existing restaurants focusing on cost control, revenue generation, people and quality.

Restaurant Development Manager

TGPConsulting

I started by opening restaurants and a strong focus on people development to leading full consultancies covering all operational aspects, especially finance.

Restaurant consultant

Room and Grill restaurant

Since 2006 I opened seven of the eight sites all around the UK and I have been fully involved in strategic operations.  I have used my previous experience in openings and consolidated them into a structured approach to apply standards, quality and culture from a couple of sites to eight across the UK.  Whilst always having the goal of continuing consistency and development across the two brands for up to 300 employees. Since 2007 I have also focused on the day to day running of the business and financial importance and controls

Group People Development Manager and Regional GM of London

Taj Exotica

Involved in the opening of  the luxury and exclusive, Taj Exotica Resort.  The resort consisted of 60 private villas with private pools, Spa, 5 restaurants, 3 bars, beach service and room service.  The challenge was delivering outstanding service and for the guest to leave feeling they have had the best experience.

Openings and Restaurant Manager

TAJ HOLDING GROUP

Nobu Restaurant

With Nobu group I was a key player in the opening of their Mykonos site and then moving with them to Switzerland to open their new St Moritz site.  These with new ventures with a Greek partnership and after the success of these two seasons, they signed contracts for them to be Matsuhisa.  Both ventures were a take over of existing restaurants, what I learnt from this experience, has had a massive impact on my management skills, how you take an existing team of a very different existing restaurant concept and style and make them believe in the new concept and be proud of it,
                                    6 Liaising with London’s opening training Manager

Restaurant Manager

ASIA DE CUBA

My start into the restaurant industry came with my appointment to this high profile, high volume contemporary restaurant opened to a huge success in the September of 1999.  Seating for 170, offering lunch and dinner for up to 500 covers per service was a huge learning curve and extremely exciting time.  I was promoted to the management team in December 2000.  With around 55 front of house team to manage, a major focus was standards and continuity of service.

Hi I’m Michelle,

I began my career when I moved to London from Cardiff, thinking I wanted to be the next Barbara Streisand on the West End. 

Though this dream did not quite come true, I fell joyously into the hospitality industry, travelling worldwide, opening, consulting and creating over 60 restaurants and bars internationally.  
 
Becoming a director of a hospitality consultancy company taught me you can join this leadership journey at any stage in your career.

By applying the principles of self-leadership, influence, understanding the power of networking, and connecting with people.

Unlocking people’s untapped potential inspired me to create my own business as a Hospitality Leadership Expert.

To share my values on grit, curiosity and getting the job done.  

I am passionate about helping and driving you forward as a leader.

Because everyone deserves to work for a great manager.
 
My first love is the hospitality industry.

We are united in our current problems, such as the lack of staffing, attracting and retaining teams; the urgent day-to-day problems of dealing with uncertainty; managing the expectations of our employees and responding to the growing awareness of mental health issues within our industry.
 
I understand at every level and department the pressures you as a hospitality leader will face.  

I’m here to teach you the principles, skills and models that can be simply integrated into your day-to-day business which can both pre-empt these issues and mitigate them.

And imagine if it all went right.
 
If you share these thoughts, get in touch, I'd love to hear from you.

Michelle.

Michelle Moreno

💫 A Cuppa Catch Up With MM A Small Group Zoom With Big Energy 💫

⚠️Warning: this is not a lead magnet and I am not selling you anything.⚠️


As 2026 gets going, I keep coming back to a niggling feeling.


There are so many people here I’ve never actually met.
People I chat with in the comments, people I admire.
People I genuinely LOVE but haven’t caught up with in far too long.


So I’m going to trust my gut.


I’m thinking of hosting a small group Zoom.
A cuppa in hand, cameras on and yes with breakout rooms, so there’s real one to one time and proper conversation too.


The goal is simple;
- Connection.
- Visibility.
Seeing who’s in the room, not just who’s on your feed.


This isn’t going to be polished...I don't do polished or perfect, I do let's get on with it.
And as mentioned this is definitely NOT a lead magnet, I’m not selling you anything.


It’s a genuine, let’s get together and get to know each other moment.


If this sounds fun, it’s probably for you.
If this sounds like the worst idea imaginable… it’s definitely for you.
And maybe no one will want this or the algorithm gods won't show anyone (so please like, comment, repost if you're up for it)


Timing wise, I’m thinking towards the end of January.
How many people?  No idea.
Let’s see if we get a bite.


Ok Linkedin Gods....do your work!


And imagine if it all went right.


P.S. If you’ve got ideas on how to make this even better, share them below.

#community
#connection
#visibility
#leadership
#hospitality

I help founders and senior leaders in hospitality cut through chaos, so they can lead with clarity, effectiveness, and real impact l Sharing a daily insight into Hospitality Leadership & Strategy l Join our community

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The Battle

Tim O'Rourke

Michelle Moreno

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The Battle

Tim O'Rourke

Michelle Moreno

Followers

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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);}Michelle Moreno's LinkedIn Performance

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