The Most Rewarding Aspects of Being a Fractional Executive

Ever wonder what fuels the drive of fractional executives? Dive into the personal motivations and rewarding aspects of their dynamic roles. From the thrill of driving profitable growth to observing the direct impact on careers, explore the diverse reasons that fuel these leaders. Here are the top eleven insights on what keeps them engaged and fulfilled in their fractional executive careers.

• Thrill of Profitable Growth
• Custom-Built Client Experiences
• Fuels Desire to Learn and Grow
• Empowering Leaders and Entrepreneurs
• Flexibility and Variety
• Innovating Across Industries
• Building Personal Client Relationships
• Bringing Diverse Perspectives
• Providing Critical Marketing Strategy
• Balancing Work-Life with Multiple Engagements
• Observing Direct Impact on Careers

Thrill of Profitable Growth

A few years ago, I shifted from doing turnarounds of distressed companies as a CEO to more of a fractional CMO or CRO. My satisfaction comes from fixing and building a brand, a product, or a team. Doing turnarounds is personally more lucrative, but the downsizing and other unsavory elements are not my jam. What's rewarding is seeing a company turn the corner and hit its revenue and earnings targets. That's the thrill—getting back to profitable growth.

Tim Gilbert, CEO, Merton Way Inc.

Custom-Built Client Experiences

The best part of being a fractional executive is the ability to focus on the needs of each client and to give them a custom-built experience that delivers on all, not some, of the client's deliverables. We are better able to react in real-time and change when needed. We can be an objective third-party voice in the leadership bubble and still hold the client accountable.

Aaron Schwartz, SVP

FUELS DESIRE TO KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING

The Director of Fun! Becoming a fractional executive has provided me the opportunity to support the performing arts by providing guidance and support to the team at Park City Performing Arts. With years of administrative C-suite experience in another industry, those skills have been transferable to a totally new area, and it fuels my desire to keep learning and growing.

Ember Conley, Interim Executive Director, Concerts on the Slopes

Empowering Leaders and Entrepreneurs

My motivation comes from a deep passion for supporting ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs who are navigating the complexities of scaling their businesses. Many founders start their journey seeking freedom, only to become overwhelmed by the demands of growth. Our team thrives in helping these individuals break free from the exhausting grind, enabling them to create scalable businesses that align with their true selves and core values.

What motivates me to continue working as a fractional executive is the ability to bring significant, impactful change to multiple organizations without being tied down to a single company. This structure allows our team to leverage skills and experience across a variety of businesses, each with unique challenges and opportunities. The diversity of work keeps us energized and constantly learning, which is incredibly fulfilling.

The fractional model enables me to work with ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs who are eager to grow and innovate, providing a stimulating environment where I can make a tangible difference. The most rewarding aspect is witnessing a vision come to life, and the transformation of both the business owner and their teams when they achieve both personal and professional fulfillment.

Jill Simonds, Founder & Fractional Leader, Savvy Strategic Partners

Flexibility and Variety

As a Fractional CMO and owner/CEO of SW Digital Consulting, what keeps me going is the flexibility and variety this role offers. Every day is different, filled with new challenges and opportunities that keep things exciting. I love seeing the real impact I can make, whether it's helping a startup take off or turning things around for a business in need.

Having the freedom to apply my expertise creatively and strategically is incredibly satisfying. Plus, I get to meet and work with some amazing professionals across various industries, constantly expanding my network and learning new things. The balance I can maintain between work and personal life is another huge perk. In the end, it's this mix of flexibility, impact, and continuous growth that makes being a fractional executive the perfect fit for me.

Sean Winnett, Fractional CMO, SW Digital Consulting

Innovating Across Industries

There's nothing more exciting for a serial innovator than getting to create and work on the most exciting new concepts and products in the world. And in so many industries. From launching a minimally-invasive breast implant (13 minutes) globally, to inventing the future of mobile money and payments in Africa, to creating interactive experiences for the Olympics, The Amazing Race, and the World Music Awards, to creating reasons for adventurers to ride EV motorcycles, to helping advertising agencies win big accounts, it is as fun and exciting as it sounds. Most of all, you must love business development, because it will probably entail 50% of your time. Be willing to be where the clients and their customers are. I've been to Hong Kong, Singapore, Austria, and the UK on fractional contracts. Thank you to the wonderful clients who trusted me to understand their customers and wow them.

Babs Ryan, Interim Chief Innovation Officer, Sparks Worldwide

Building Personal Client Relationships

What motivates me to be a fractional executive is helping a diversity of people and companies in a very personal way. I like the fact that I can change industries and apply my knowledge in different environments. I can be very independent and still be successful. Finally, I became friends with the executives of my clients, and those have been some of the best friendships I've had in my professional work.

Tamer Flores, CEO

Bringing Diverse Perspectives

I believe that diversity of perspective and familiarity with a range of similar situations brings greater value and insight to the clients I work with, as well as faster, more efficient results. A fractional hire can bring a bird's-eye perspective on gaps and opportunities for an organization while keeping budget realities in check. Clients gain the greater network of service providers and experts that a fractional hire has built through broader channels, plus clearer potential for partnership, growth, systems, culture/HR, and other best practices. A good fractional hire also brings templates, checklists, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and an unpublished 'industry know-how and trends' perspective that keeps refreshing.

Patricia Chin-Sweeney, Director

Providing Critical Marketing Strategy

I serve as a fractional CMO for a number of clients. It's fun and rewarding because I'm able to work on a variety of projects rather than focusing entirely on a single business. Additionally, it brings me joy to know that I'm helping smaller companies that don't have the budget for a full-time CMO. This is such a critical role for businesses to be successful. Often, founders wear many hats, and that makes it difficult for them to grow. By employing my services, they can focus on other aspects of their business while I do the heavy lifting on marketing strategy.

Dennis Consorte, Digital Marketing & Leadership Consultant for Startups, Brand Boba

Balancing Work-Life with Multiple Engagements

The flexibility to work on a schedule that allows me work-life balance, as well as the ability to support multiple organizations over time, is key to my happiness and motivation in being a fractional executive. I enjoy helping companies for short periods of time, as well as longer periods for those who need more support, by giving them the expertise they need within the budget that makes sense for them. In this framework, companies can get an executive with the right skill set who still has the commitment as if the role were full-time or permanent.

Aleasa Word, CEO & Executive Coach, A. Word & Company

Observing Direct Impact on Careers

The most rewarding part of working as a fractional executive is truly seeing the results of your work, not only in an abstract sense (for example, numbers on a report or spreadsheet) but in real terms. It's extremely rewarding to see companies hire new people and improve their careers as a direct result of your actions. This is much more noticeable when you work with a company on a fractional basis, as the average company size is smaller, and the level of contact you have with both employees at all levels of the organization is far greater.

Nicholas Gibson, Director of Marketing, Hero Time

If you're considering jumping into the Fractional Executive space, we hope you take into consideration all of the rewarding aspects of these fractional experts. 

If you are a fractional executive who specializes in non-profits or higher education, we'd love to speak with you! Reach out to us so we can connect!