Fractional Chief Leadership

Brand | Communications | Marketing | Reputation | Messaging | Content | Culture

Where We Start

Strategy & Planning

Ongoing Guidance & Partnership

Impact

Capabilities

Strategic Partners 

For many organizations, vision and virtue are alive and well in the boardroom but aren’t translating into desired outcomes. More often than not, this is not due to a lack of awareness - rather, it is a matter of bandwidth or bailiwick.

The pace at which businesses and workplaces move today often introduces a persistent layer of stress to the simple matter of prioritization for C-suite leaders. Just trying to decipher the noise from the necessary.

As a Fractional Leader, I partner with internal executives and visionaries to lend perspective, proven strategy, structure, mentorship, and support to their internal resources - helping them to feel confident in taking steps to evolve their approach and expand their impact.

Every organization's priorities, challenges, and resources are going to look different. I develop and implement sharply tailored, honest, and effective strategies through which clients witness the power of story, projection, and connection in measurable and meaningful results. 

Where we start.

Triumph begins with heart.

To move any needle means getting people on board - getting them to see something, feel something, or take action. We need stories people can get behind. In the first phase of our work together, we spend a good bit of time mining for messaging gold.

Depending on the level of insight the organization has at its disposal, we’ll also use this time to either assess or review the organization’s brand, image, and reputation against business or organizational objectives. Developing a clear understanding of where the connection with key audiences is strongest - and conversely where it may be breaking down or in need of a boost - is the first step in designing our roadmap.

We then get into the nuts and bolts of things, and this is when our strategy really begins to take shape with the inner workings and resources of the organization in mind.

Strategy & planning

I begin all of our strategy work with a review and assessment of clients’ current brand, messaging and reputation. For example, in this early stage of work, I may request samples of media and internal messaging including corporate and employee policy.

I also like to sit down with leaders and stakeholders to revisit the 'why' of the organization and workplace, tracking its evolution and exploring its vision for the future.

From there I will take inventory of the people, relationships, and resources we have to work with and deliver a reflection, proposed strategy, and road map.

Ongoing guidance and partnership

Brands, businesses, and workplaces are living, breathing organisms that grow and evolve over time - or in many cases, in an instant.

In addition to regular meetings centered around the strategic roadmap, we love steady collaboration and open lines of communication. In different stages of our work, our time together may be used differently. One week we may be working side-by-side on specific tasks or deliverables. The next we may be reviewing budgets and contracts. And the next may be focused on media or presentation prep.

Impact

So, what are we actually doing here?

Specific and measurable objectives are clearly defined at the start of our work together. And through steady collaboration and communication, we will look for opportunities to create impact and drive value through a variety of lenses, including:

Clarity. In organizations undergoing growth or transformation, it is often necessary to focus on immediate needs and short-term decisions. In our work together, we will establish a clear vision far out on the horizon and chart a course that will engage and encourage the parties necessary to get on board. 

Speed. Brand clarity, including messaging and content, can reduce friction in decision making and support faster, more efficient delivery of work across most if not all areas of the business - from creative to corporate policy, and most anywhere in between. 

Consistency. Consistency is key to establishing trust and confidence. Steady and aligned communication at the leadership level supports internal performance, retention, employer brand, talent attraction and acquisition. From outside looking in, consistency helps boost fanhood, loyalty, reputation and thought leadership among other growth strategies. 

Market capture. The stronger your brand and image, the wider doors to the market open. Partnerships, endorsements, referrals, reviews and PR all become easier to come by and to leverage.

Internal cost savings. Improved employer brand reduces attrition, time to hire and cost to hire. A stronger employer brand can also simultaneously boost employee experience, engagement and performance and drive down costs associated with grievances, mitigation or litigation. 

Capabilities

Intentional, sustainable work product requires a deeper level of work. And optimizing the impact of your brand means cultivating a culture and collective voice around it.

  • Brand strategy

  • Positioning 

  • Architecture

  • Planning

  • Development

    • Brand guides & best practices

    • Customer experience

    • Employee workshops

  • Communications strategy and planning

  • Content strategy and planning 

  • Corporate messaging 

  • Executive visibility 

  • Executive thought leadership and change strategy

  • Change management communications

  • Leadership communications

  • Speechwriting 

  • Scriptwriting 

Strategic partners

I want to design and deliver strategies that leverage or optimize clients' internal resources whenever it makes sense. From time to time and for different reasons, expert help or reinforcements from outside of the organization may be the better route. When that is the case, I lend clients a vast network of highly reputable strategic partners we know and trust to turn to for needs including: 

  • Human Resources, Organizational Development & Talent Acquisition

  • Legal Counsel

    • Copyright

    • Contract

    • Corporate

    • Employment Law

    • Intellectual Property

    • Litigation

    • Media

    • Non-profit

  • Crisis Management

  • Executive Coaching

  • Public Relations

  • Website Design & Development 

  • Learning Management Systems 

  • Content Creation

  • Digital Marketing

  • Graphic Design

  • Photography & Videography

  • Large Meetings & Events