This week, a fractional COO answers all the FAQs she gets from early-stage founders about working with this type of leader.
Should You “Rent” an Exec for Your Startup? A Fractional COO Weighs In
If LinkedIn chose a word of the year like Merriam-Webster, it might be “fractional.” Suddenly, it seems like every former startup C-suite leader has adopted this new title.
Amanda Schwartz Ramirez is part of this wave of seasoned operators moving into fractional work. After a decade of standing up new business units and corporate functions at PayPal and a stint at a hypergrowth startup, she now works with early-stage founders as a fractional COO. Many folks like her are making the same transition to bring their expertise to early-stage startups without the gamble of betting on a single company.
So what’s the appeal on the hiring side? Bringing on a fractional leader, says Schwartz Ramirez, can be a safer alternative to “building” or “buying” an exec. Instead of promoting an existing teammate or hiring externally, you can “rent” first and tackle immediate needs without the commitment (and cost) of a full-time hire.
“Finding the perfect executive is like trying to throw darts at a moving dartboard and hit a bullseye. A fractional leader can help you understand what you need while you're figuring out what it is you're building,” she says.
In this exclusive interview, Schwartz Ramirez demystifies the role of the fractional exec at an early-stage startup, laying out how “renting” senior leadership can help founders avoid costly detours and multiply their team’s impact. She digs into:
- What a fractional exec really does and how they’re different from a consultant or advisor
- How to weigh your options when your startup needs a new capability: hire someone full-time, promote a star player, “white-knuckle” internally (and tack the scope onto everyone’s role) or go the fractional route
- The type of work and functions fractional execs can help establish and amplify at each level of PMF
- How to find and vet the right fractional exec
Thanks, as always, for reading and sharing!
-The Review Editors
Recommended resources:
-More of Schwartz Ramirez’ ops wisdom
-Clay is hosting an inaugural conference for go-to-market leaders in San Francisco
-An ultra-detailed survey of how tech workers are feeling right now