Fractionals United Blog

What is your full name? Marc Fuentes Please share a brief overview of your professional background and your current role as a fractional leader. I use my IP to help founders and CEOs of startups achieve product-market fit and execute pragmatic go-to-market plans. What do you consider your strengths? My IP. I leverage my experience working across different industries with my expertise to help organizations communicate their unique value to their niche audience. What inspired or led you to pursue a career as a fractional leader? To educate founders and new CEOs about what marketing is, why you need it, and how to unlock its potential in their business for success. How do you determine if a fractional engagement has been a success or not? Learning | PMF | Revenue Attainment | ROI Focus | Help Hire their First Marketer Fractional leadership often involves working with different industries and teams. How do you adapt to new environments, and what have you learned from these diverse experien...

What is your full name? Mark Phinick Please share a brief overview of your professional background and your current role as a fractional leader. For Series A and B AI/SaaS startups struggling with enterprise sales, I coach Account Executives to empower their customer champions on how to effectively sell internally and manage the impact of change. The results are increased conversions, deal value, and recurring revenue, freeing sales leaders to focus on broader strategy and operations. What do you consider your strengths? Enabling founders and sellers on how to help clients improve their business. What inspired or led you to pursue a career as a fractional leader? Enterprise SaaS deals aren't progressing, denying clients increased efficiencies and vendors the revenue needed for growth. I've dedicated my "encore career" to helping SaaS startups empower their client sponsors to sell internally to win, freeing sales leaders to focus on strategy and operations. How do you ...

What is your full name? Jennifer Gendron Please provide a brief overview of your professional background and your current role as a fractional leader? With a background in clinical practice and over a decade of experience in the global commercial arena, I specialize in Fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) roles, particularly with startups ranging from Seed to Series C. My focus is on B2B sales within health tech. I excel in crafting tailored commercial strategies for employers, health systems, providers, and health plans. I have served as a CRO/CCO four times and have been instrumental in developing commercial strategies from the beginning. My expertise spans sales, marketing, and client success, with a unique understanding of behavioral health stemming from my clinical background. Combined with my adeptness in technology landscapes, I offer a distinctive value proposition! What do you consider to be your strengths? My strengths lie in seamlessly merging clinical insight with commerc...

 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 ...

Small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) in the business world are always looking for new tactics to improve efficiency, stimulate growth, and stay competitive. Forward-thinking firms are increasingly using the integration of Revenue Operations (RevOps) as a key technique. RevOps coordinates sales, marketing, and customer success teams to work together towards a common goal of increasing revenue. Yet, the obstacle for several SMEs is the resources needed to create and sustain a specialized RevOps team. Here is where the idea of employing a Fractional RevOps Executive transitions from being merely beneficial to being crucial. The Strategic Benefits of Employing a Fractional Revenue Operations Executive A Fractional RevOps Executive is a viable alternative for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to utilize the advantages of RevOps without the financial obligation of hiring a full-time executive. This strategy offers organizations the opportunity to utilize senior-level expertise on a ...

Words and what you call things matter. Can you think of one successful movement that didn't have a clearly labeled word and concept at its core? I can't, and that's why it's so important to call a spade a spade. Consulting isn't bad, it's just not fractional.  Part-time employment isn't less, it's just not fractional. I've shared this chart before, but will do so again in the hopes it helps. We also created a site  to further help define the differences, and to help others share and spread awareness. I believe in fractional, both for the leaders and for the companies who need the expertise but not full-time. And one of the main reasons it's so hard to find fractional work today is because the concept isn't understood and therefore those that could use the help don't know it exists. Fortunately I'm not the only one who believes in both the value of fractional and the distinction between it and the other types of part-time or flexible w...

Separate but connected. A lesson on community from the mighty Aspen Did you know that a stand of Aspen is considered the largest single organism on earth? Whether their leaves touch or they stand 100 yards apart, they are connected by their roots. Connected by their roots. Here we are as a society, motoring well past the post-pandemic, new normal life, with only a slightly clearer picture of how our future work selves will come into shape. Will we return to the office? Will we stay remote? Is remote good for us? Is it bad? Will we work Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday, and work from home Monday and Friday? Is AI going to replace us all? Are mass layoffs coming? (Again) And what's this Fractional business everyone is talking about? What did Bob Dylan say? The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. Fair enough, Bob. Say, I don't suppose you can tell us which way the wind is blowing by any chance? I have a sense of the direction the wind is blowing. I think we hunger for community...

Step into the dynamic world of a fractional C-level leader, where the ability to swiftly navigate and influence multiple business landscapes is key. Here, Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn't just a tool, it's a game-changer providing a strategic edge that's tailored for the unique requirements of the fractional leadership model. The AI Revolution in Fractional Leadership Fractional leaders are called to action in situations that demand rapid assimilation and impact. AI is the catalyst in this scenario, offering insights and analyses at speed. For fractional leaders whose tenure with each company is inherently limited, AI's ability to quickly parse through data becomes not just advantageous but essential. In supply chain optimization, AI's advanced algorithms can present a fractional leader with a comprehensive view of logistics and inventory issues across different organizations, enabling them to apply best practices from one scenario to another with ease. Customer b...

If You Had Three Wishes... Ever found yourself hoping to find a small business genie? You know what I mean... You rub the lamp, a fantastical deity pops out knowing just what to do to help you further you, your team, your goals? Just wish for it, and it happens; does that ring a bell?   Well, today your wish is granted!  At least in the form of a blog post. I can't pop out of a bottle but I can tell you about fractional leaders who are de facto wizards of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Like Intellectual Intelligence (IQ), EQ is about the emotional abilities and social skills that aren't quite measured in the analytical skills associated with IQ. Here's why small businesses are eyeing EQ-savvy fractional pros.  But, first things first... Why Does EQ Matter? Imagine having a leader who not only brings a wealth of experience, but can also flows with the undercurrents of you, your team, and your customers. Like a sea they've sailed 1,000 times. That's your EQ-rich fractio...

In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate leadership, the role of fractional C-suite executives has emerged as a dynamic and influential force. These leaders, who lend their expertise to multiple organizations on a fractional basis, face unique challenges and opportunities. Among the myriad skills required for such roles, one stands out as particularly crucial: Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Unlike traditional, full-time executives, fractional leaders must quickly adapt to new environments, understand diverse team dynamics, and build trust rapidly—all tasks where a high EQ is not just beneficial but essential. In this blog, we delve into the transformative power of EQ in the fractional C-suite, exploring how it shapes leadership styles, impacts organizational culture, and drives success in these unique roles.   Understanding Emotional Intelligence in Leadership   When I first encountered this concept of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), it struck me as a vital, yet often overlooked...

A few years ago, the head of a portfolio of five waste management companies faced a significant challenge. Larry's $5M industrial composting plant was losing money, and he realized his operations manager could not orchestrate a turnaround. He knew he needed a senior level executive who could drive operational excellence and be a role model leader for his young team. However, the prospect of hiring such an executive raised financial concerns for Larry. Then Larry was introduced to a game-changing concept: fractional executives. These are senior level executives who offer expertise and leadership to a number of companies on a limited basis, bringing a wealth of experience and strategic acumen without the commitment of a full-time hire. This model offers not only cost-effectiveness but also remarkable efficiency. Initially skeptical, Larry sought an example to understand how a fractional executive could benefit his organization. “You, Larry, are a fractional CEO yourself,” we explain...

It’s 8:30 a.m. on a Monday. Claire has just sat down at her desk, ready to ease into her work week. A mug of hot coffee on one side of her workspace, photos of her dogs on the other, she stretches, mentally reviewing some of her priorities for the day and the week. She jiggles her mouse to wake up her laptop and widescreen monitor, logs in, and fires up her Outlook. Claire’s inbox doesn’t look like most people’s, because she is a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) with different email accounts for each of her nine clients in professional services industries from architecture to cybersecurity. Perusing her inboxes one at a time, she notices  two messages threatening to derail the order of her day.   Client 1 is requesting an impromptu meeting at noon, right in the middle of one of Claire’s weekly standing meetings with Client 2. Client 1 just received an RFP, due on Friday, and wants to have a strategy discussion before beginning to compile the response.   ...

In the intricate world of Customer Success, success is akin to assembling a complex puzzle. Each piece represents a crucial aspect of delivering exceptional customer experiences, and it takes a seasoned eye to connect them effectively. As a Fractional Executive specializing in Customer Success, I've had the privilege of working with companies to identify and implement a comprehensive approach, connecting the four key puzzle pieces: Mechanics, People, Communication, and Development. Piece 1: Mechanics Mechanics form the foundation of any Customer Success strategy. This piece involves the nuts and bolts of your processes, systems, and tools. Here's how it fits into the bigger picture: Aligning Processes: Fractional Executives ensure that your processes align with your customer journey. From onboarding to support, each process should seamlessly contribute to customer satisfaction. Leveraging Technology: The right tech stack can streamline operations. Fractional Executives help id...

  In the bustling late '90s, a conversation that would set the stage for 25 years of helping myriad CEOs transform and scale their companies took place. Sitting in a client’s office, we were deep into pitching the execution phase of a strategy development project. Gordon, a serial entrepreneur who had successfully navigated the tech boom of the '90s, paused, sat back in his chair, and said, “I’ve been on this path before. Your team is fantastic, but I don’t just need a consultant; I need business-card-carrying, employee-badge-wearing ally, fully invested in my vision.” That's when my partner, a 30-year C-suite veteran of a multi-billion-dollar high-tech company, leaned in and threw his hat in the ring, promising full dedication. Gordon was skeptical, “You'd be a force multiplier, but we can't afford your expertise on our current budget. The board would not allow it.” We were not talking "fractional" back then, but the essence was the same. The conver...