Fractionals United Blog

What is your full name? Samantha Dillenback Please share a brief overview of your professional background and your current role as a fractional leader? I’m a Fractional COO who has been bringing order to chaos for more than a decade. I’m industry agnostic, though I thrive with established teams of remote-first SMBs on the east coast. My clients are all across the board - leadership development, evaluation, production, retail, legal, and large appliance repair. At the core, they’re all teams of people trying to work together effectively within a business with a mission. What do you consider your strengths? While I’m a digital native, my primary focus is people-centered systems. Leadership development, communication, and accountability are the secret to effective operations. What inspired or led you to pursue a career as a fractional leader? I fell into the fractional world. I started as a consultant while being a full-time COO. Working with a wide variety of industries and humans was an...

 As Bob and Hank sat down to discuss their next steps in addressing the persistent challenges facing their 25-year-old technology and software solutions business, the weight of the situation hung heavy in the air. Christa's resignation had served as a wake-up call, highlighting the pressing need for a strategic solution to address employee disengagement and turnover. "We can't keep going on like this," Hank sighed, with concern written all over his face. "Losing Christa was a blow, but it’s symptomatic of a larger issue." In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces worldwide face lasting disruptions, affecting the engagement and well-being of millions. Recent data from Gallup shows that U.S. employee engagement has stagnated, especially among younger generations who feel increasingly detached from their work and employers. This would not come as a surprise to Bob and Hank, the visionary co-owners of a technology company who find themselves ...

While many employees create job security through traditional career progression and making themselves indispensable in their role, some of the best fractional operators have the opposite approach: aiming to work themselves OUT of a job. Why would someone aim to achieve their way out of a job? Because if they've done the work correctly, they will have built such a strong infrastructure that it stands on its own. They've not made themselves obsolete, but instead made themselves available for new challenges and opportunities by enabling the work product to speak for itself. It’s important to note that the end game isn’t to become unemployable, in fact it’s quite the opposite. The goal is to create systems that either run themselves or can be easily handed off to in-house or, ideally, more junior or cost effective employees. Additionally, the best fractional operators address challenges from multiple angles so that there’s a plan B, C, D and Z for when the current systems are outgr...

Saturday, June 3, 2023 It started as a typical warm sunny day in Austin as Jane woke up with the sun to start the day. Jane is an entrepreneur CEO who started her consumer product goods company right here in this kitchen where she is brewing her coffee. She has fought hard over the past few years through all of the changes in the pandemic and is now on track to beat every sales forecast the company has set, and this is for the third quarter in a row. "That coffee smells amazing," Jasmine says, entering the kitchen. "I am going to need some of that before I even think about opening this laptop." Jasmine is Jane's partner and has recently left MEGA CORP after a 13-year career in finance and operations and is on an entrepreneurial journey of her own as a Fractional CFO. "Just pouring us both a cup," says Jane. "I know you like to start posting your content on socials early to get your name out there for your consulting stuff."  ...

In today's competitive business landscape, small businesses often face resource constraints that can hinder their growth potential. While larger companies may have the luxury of employing full-time executives in various roles, small businesses may struggle to afford such dedicated expertise. Enter the Fractional Chief Operating Officer (Fractional COO), a flexible and cost-effective solution that enables small businesses to access high-level operational leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire. Let’s explore how Fractional COOs bring tremendous value to small businesses, emphasizing the benefits of their fractional approach. Fractional COOs collaborate closely with business owners or CEOs, aligning the company's operations with its goals and facilitating sustainable growth. Unlike full-time COOs, who require annual salary and benefits, Fractional COOs aren't full-time and have other clients. This flexibility enables small businesses to adapt to changing circums...