This week, we're looking at the real bottlenecks in scaling AI, why the hardest competitor to beat is usually a client's status quo, and how consultants are rethinking their reliance on slide decks.
Episode #1 - Year One as a Fractional HR Leader: Lisa Boucher
This week's episode highlights Lisa Boucher, Professional Coach, Speaker, Mentor, Consultant, and Founder of The HR Ninja, to discuss what the first year of building a fractional HR business actually looks like. Lisa shares lessons on networking, finding the right clients, overcoming entrepreneurial challenges, creating loyal teams, and having the hard conversations that drive growth.
Worth Your Time This Week
McKinsey Consultants Use AI to Lessen Their Reliance on PowerPoint
McKinsey consultants are significantly reducing their reliance on PowerPoint by using AI tools. An executive noted that consultants have begun using AI to package analysis and visuals into interactive web pages acting as central project hubs rather than relying heavily on static slide decks.
Which Industries Are Adopting Fractional Leadership Fastest
This article looks at where the demand for fractional executives is surging, from tech startups to healthcare. It highlights where businesses are currently finding the most value in adopting fractional leadership.
Why AI Strategies Fail and What Leaders Can Do to Fix It
Jessica Caresse White explains that while nearly 90% of organizations use AI, fewer than 10% report meaningful financial returns. The gap between strategy and execution isn't a technology issue; it's a problem with leadership, governance, and organizational design.
The biggest competitor for a fractional executive is inaction
Henning Schwinum frames a powerful perspective on fractional sales: your biggest competitor for an engagement isn't another operator; it's the client choosing to do nothing. Framing your value against the cost of inaction changes the entire sales conversation.
If there's a throughline in this week's issue, it's that inertia is the biggest threat to both your practice and your clients. Whether it's overcoming a prospect's comfort with the status quo, stepping in to salvage an AI strategy that lacks leadership, or surviving the reality checks of your first year in business, the hardest part is creating momentum.
As fractional leaders, our real value isn't just in the expertise we bring—it's in our ability to break that inertia and get things moving.