Quick Hit 🎯

The fractional wave is now 140k strong!! [based on research presented at the FRAK 2024 Conference]. That’s up from 2,000 on Linkedin when I started 2.5 years ago for a whopping 6,900% increase! Remind me to launch a new Fractional Token shortly…

Superhumans Rising 🦸 

Superhumans are already Here. They're just unevenly distributed.

While everyone's debating whether AI will replace knowledge workers, a small group of experienced operators are quietly becoming superhuman.

Not the cape-wearing kind. The kind who can analyze a decade of market data in minutes, architect complex technical solutions in hours, and execute sophisticated business strategies in days instead of months. And they're doing it by combining decades of deep, real world expertise with AI tools in ways that multiply their impact far beyond what either humans or AI could achieve alone.

These augmented executives aren't evenly spread across the corporate landscape - they're concentrated in places where the freedom to operate meets incentive to innovate. Places like the fractional executive community, where seasoned leaders are rapidly adopting and deploying new tools without waiting for corporate approval.

I've had a front-row seat to this evolution. Back when AI was just "algorithms" and ML was considered dark magic, I was working in the AI-powered adtech ecosystem that processed billions of real-time bidding decisions. Later, I founded a (wildly unsuccessful) VC-backed healthcare platform using AI to transform clinical workflows. More recently, I've worked with companies like Pliny and Springboards who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI augmentation.

Here's what I've learned: The future isn't AI replacing humans. It's experienced operators becoming superhuman. And that future is already here - it's just not evenly distributed yet.

Think about it. The most powerful application of AI isn't automating entry-level tasks. It's amplifying the impact of seasoned professionals who know exactly what needs to be done and can use AI to do it faster, better, and at scale. A senior exec with deep domain expertise and the right AI tools isn't just 10% more productive - they're 10x more effective.

Fractional executives are the perfect example. When you combine:

• Deep operational experience

• Strategic thinking abilities

• Domain expertise

• Context-specific AI tools

• Freedom to adopt new approaches

You get something unprecedented: the ability to deliver weapons-grade executive capability with startup speed and scale.

I'm seeing this transformation daily in the fractional community. Fractional CMOs using AI to create and execute sophisticated marketing strategies in days instead of months. Fractional CTOs leveraging AI to analyze codebases and architect solutions at lightning speed. Fractional CFOs using AI to spot patterns and opportunities across vast datasets instantly.

This isn't about replacing jobs. It's about transforming how high-level work gets done. The companies that understand this aren't asking "How can AI replace our workers?" They're asking "How can we get access to experienced operators who know how to leverage AI for maximum impact?"

The future belongs to those who can combine human judgment, deep expertise, and AI amplification. And right now, fractional executives are one group that is leading the way (in my extremely unbiased opinion!).

This is why the fractional movement isn't just growing - it's exploding. Companies are realizing they don't just need AI tools or full-time executives. They need experienced operators who can leverage AI to deliver outsized impact quickly. And fractional executives, free from corporate constraints and incentivized to innovate, are perfectly positioned to deliver this combination.

The future of work isn't either human or AI. It's experienced humans armed with AI. And it's already here.

Community News 🗞️: FEC 2.0 is LIVE 🚀🚀

Well folks, we did it! After months of planning (OK procrastinating), FEC 2.0 is officially up and running on our new Mighty Networks platform.

The mission? To become the premier destination for fractional executives, with everything you need to get started and level up your game. No fluff, no corporate BS - just practical tools and real connections with people who get it.

Here's what you get:

• AI-powered member matching (find your fractional soulmates)

• The full Fractional Playbook (10,000 words of hard-won wisdom)

• Regular workshops and events (both virtual and IRL)

• Templates, guides, and frameworks that actually work

• Exclusive partner deals with Qwilr, LawPath, Thriday and more

Quick heads up - we'll be shutting down the Slack group on December 23rd 😢, so make sure you've jumped across to the new platform by then!

The core of the content (so far) is the the comprehensive Fractional Playbook (10,000 words of everything I wish I'd known starting out) and I’m extremely confident that we can get you from a standing start to a fractional gun inside a few months using the guide and the resources inside.

Already a member? You should have received your invite email. If it's hiding in your spam folder, fish it out and join us!

Want to check it out? Watch a quick platform walkthrough here

Coming Soon: Fractional Masterclass Series

Kicking off 2024 with three practical workshops for fractional success:

• Structuring Your Fractional Business - choosing between sole trader, trust or Pty Ltd

• Tax Strategies for Fractionals - maximizing your tax effectiveness as a fractional

• Lead Generation Masterclass - building and automating your pipeline

Dates dropping soon. Only available to FEC members.

Join FEC 2.0 now and get:

• Founding member rates

• Access to masterclasses

• AI-powered member matching

• The complete Fractional Playbook

Not ready to join yet? Follow us on LinkedIn to stay in the loop.

Member Spotlight 👋 Paola Piccinno

"Tell us about your pivot to fractional work - what sparked the change?": I got made redundant from my corporate job. Australian employers are sending people back to the office. I am not willing to move back to Sydney or Melbourne. Brutal, but that's the truth.

"What's your superpower as a fractional leader?": trust-builder (is that even a word?). Clients come and stay because of the quality of the strategy I provide, because of my deep knowledge in the Account Based Marketing world and my international experience for global enterprises.

"Describe your ideal client in one sentence": a leader that understands the importance and the value of an insights-let strategy, before jumping on the tactics.

"Share one unexpected joy of fractional work": the connections I am making with other fractionals across countries, functions and industries, some of which I now call friends.

"What's your #1 tip for new fractional executives?" Never stop building your personal brand and networking (online and in person).

"What should founders know before hiring their first fractional?" Founders will have to be willing to share as much as possible about their business and strategic goals with their fractional resources, if they want to make the most of the engagement. They have to also be willing to trust and listen to their advice.

"Where can people connect with you?" Please come and say hi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolapiccinno-abm-b2b-marketing/

"Share a recent win or learning moment": joining a delegation of other Queensland businesses to network and speak at a big industry conference in India in 2025. 

"What's one tool/resource you can't live without?": these days Google AI Studio. But ask me in a few weeks and I might give you a different answer. Too many AI tools to try and experiment out there.

"Describe your fractional work style in three words": passionate, strategic, authentic.

"What's the most common challenge your clients face?": lack of long-term vision (but I am not sure they are aware....)

"Share your favorite time management hack": say NO to something or to some people! You have to be selective and prioritise.

🛠️ Tactical Gold: The Coffee Chat Launch Strategy

What it is: A low-pressure way to start filling your pipeline when first starting out
Why it works: People hate being sold to, but love giving advice
How to use it: "Hey [name], I'm moving into fractional work focused on [niche]. Would love to grab coffee and get your thoughts on the concept."
Real example: One of our members landed their first client before officially launching - just by having coffee with their network

 🤖 AI Tip of the Month: Automate Your Lead Gen

Ever wish you could clone yourself to handle lead gen while you focus on client work? Here's an automation flow I'm using to identify and reach out to perfect-fit companies without lifting a finger.

The Problem

As a fractional, you need a steady pipeline of leads but can't spend all day prospecting. Plus, timing is everything - catching companies right after they've raised funding is often perfect for fractional help.

The Solution

A fully automated workflow that: 1) Captures companies from funding announcements 2) Filters for your ICP 3) Starts outreach sequences 4) All while you sleep

The Setup

Step 1: Get the Data Flow Started

• Subscribe to funding announcement newsletters

• Set up email parser to extract company names

• Forward newsletters to your parser address which adds companies to CRM (Attio)

Step 2: Enrich and Filter

• Attio automatically enriches the company data

• Set up ICP matching rules in Attio (funding stage, size, industry, etc.) this can also be done using natural language via LLM

• Create workflow to flag ICP matches

Step 3: Automate the Outreach

• Connect Attio to Apollo via Zapier

• When ICP match is found, trigger specific Apollo sequence

• Apollo handles the personalized outreach including follow up

Pro Tips

• Start with broad criteria and narrow based on results

• Use multiple data sources for better coverage

• Test your sequences with small batches first

• Monitor response rates and adjust

• Set up alerts for sequence performance

Tools You'll Need

• Email Parser (Zapier)

• Attio CRM for enrichment and ICP matching

• Apollo for sequences

• Zapier for connecting everything

Reality Check

This isn't "set and forget" - you'll need to monitor and tune. But it's way better than manual prospecting, and the leads are consistently higher quality because they're caught at the right moment. I also don’t send fully automated outreach, I am a big fan of the SMYKM approach, which combines personalised customisation with automation.

Want to nerd out about AI workflows? Hit reply - I love talking about this stuff.

Cool Stuff Worth Checking Out 👀 

The Growing Trend of Part Time Executives - HBR Podcast with Tomoko Yokoi and Amy Bonsall on ‘when fractional leadership pays off’

State of Fractional, Industry Report - incredible resource with lots of interesting stats on the state of fractional from the legends at FRAK.

WayBeyond Case Study leveraging fractional CMO talent from Proxi. Gold standard stuff.

Rise of the Fractional CMO - podcast from Mi3 featuring yours truly.

A Team: Fractional Talent, exponential teams. OK, OK I know, this is almost two years old, but it’s one of my favourite pieces on fractional from the interwebs. It’s a 50k word deep dive by Mario @ The Generalist about the newly emergent (last Feb) from stealth A Team. The quality of writing, the depth of thinking, it really inspired me. And sure, they were unable to crack the demand thing (it’s bloody hard!) and seem to be pivoting to AI (who isn’t?) but it’s still worth a cup of tea and a read.