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...

In this era, where climate change and sustainability are at the forefront of public consciousness, the way brands communicate their "green" initiatives has never been more crucial. Companies can't get away with half-hearted lip service to environmental issues, as it impacts all aspects of their business: revenue, hiring, retention, partnerships, investments, and more. Younger generations demand authenticity and transparency in sustainability messaging, actively looking for brands to step forward and lead the way. These generations know that just 100 global companies were responsible for 71% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions over the past three decades, and it's reasonable for them to expect these same companies to take responsibility and lead from the front. Mastercard data shows that 85% of consumers are willing to take personal action to address sustainability. But increasingly, they expect brands to follow suit — 67% expect brands to make a positive contr...

In the competitive B2B SaaS landscape, engaging a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is a strategic imperative, not just an operational choice. This role goes beyond the typical responsibilities of a marketing leader. It's more of a strategic partnership that can really help guide the startup and steer it towards success. Comprehensive Strategic Oversight Fractional CMOs bring a wealth of strategic expertise that's truly invaluable. These seasoned professionals offer strategic oversight, blending analytical and creative skills to craft marketing strategies that align perfectly with the business's goals and drive scalable growth. For example, a Fractional CMO working with a stagnating HR tech company spotted an opportunity in AI for HR analytics. By leading a rebranding initiative, she positioned the company as a leader in this area and guided the startup to pivot its product. This opened up new revenue streams and reignited the company's growth. Cost-Effective Lea...

From a purely capitalist standpoint, diversity in corporate leadership drives better financial performance. Don't take my word for it: McKinsey & Company analyzed the financial performance of companies with diverse leadership teams and found that companies in the top quartile for ethnically and racially diverse leadership teams were 35% more likely to outperform peer companies in profitability. As someone who has built and led diverse teams, I have experienced the benefits of people who come from different backgrounds, cultures, and educational backgrounds. I was fortunate to work in a business that valued and prioritized diversity. Not every leader is as lucky as me to have worked in an environment that is set up for success with the framework and principles of DE&I integrated into the culture. For some companies on the rise, or even scaled global enterprises, hiring a full-time Chief Diversity Officer might not be feasible. So, is there a way to achieve DE&I leadershi...