The Rise of the Fractional CMO: How to Accelerate Revenue Growth Without the Overhead

Fractional leaders aren’t here for job security—we’re here to build legacies. We remove the internal angst that clouds big decisions. We’re not protecting titles or playing politics. We’re focused on what drives transformation, growth, and lasting impact.

Hi there, I’m Kerry Curran, B2B Revenue Growth Executive Advisor, Industry Analyst, and host of Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast.

In every episode, I sit down with top experts to bring you actionable strategies that drive real results. If you’re serious about growth, hit subscribe and stay ahead of the competition.

In The Rise of the Fractional CMO: How to Accelerate Revenue Growth Without the Overhead, I sit down with Virginie Glaenzer, a fractional CMO, tech entrepreneur, and community builder.

We explore how fractional marketing leaders are reshaping go-to-market execution, AI adoption, and executive alignment across today’s most innovative organizations.

Be sure to stay tuned until the end, where Virginie shares her advice on how to scope your first fractional engagement and make an immediate impact, without the overhead.

Let’s go!

Kerry Curran, RBMA (00:02.148)
So, welcome, Virginie. Please introduce yourself and share your background and expertise.

Virginie Glaenzer, Frac. CMO (00:09.086)
Thank you so much, Kerry, for having me on your podcast. I’m really excited—I think the work you’re doing is amazing. My name is Virginie—Virginie Glaenzer. I’m originally from France and am your typical immigrant. I’ve had quite an interesting journey: I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, started a couple of software businesses, and had my fair share of successes and failures.

After 17 years in Silicon Valley, I moved to New York for about 12 years, where I served as VP of Marketing and CMO for mid-size organizations. I’ve been in D.C. for the last year and a half. Over the past 30 years, most of my career has been in B2B SaaS tech, helping organizations. Today, as a fractional CMO, I enjoy supporting small- to mid-size companies that are trying to disrupt their industries—mostly in tech, where technology is part of their offering. That’s just a little bit about me.

Kerry Curran, RBMA (01:21.594)
Thank you. I’m very excited to speak with you today. You have a wealth of experience, but I want to start by diving into fractional CMOs and the evolution of fractional executives. I know you serve both as a fractional CMO and as the leader of Acorn Oak, so I’d love to hear what you’ve seen regarding this evolution and why you find it so valuable.

Virginie Glaenzer, Frac. CMO (01:54.804)
That’s a great question. I actually fell into the fractional model—I never thought I would become a consultant—but it has changed my life, and I love it. I chose the fractional path because I wanted to make real, lasting change. When I was a VP of Marketing, I found that people wanted me to make them feel comfortable instead of guiding them through change. As a fractional CMO, I offer an unbiased outside perspective, removing the anxiety and internal angst that often accompany big decisions—something I couldn’t do as a full-time employee.

My focus isn’t on protecting a title or playing politics; it’s about building a legacy, not job security. As a result, I avoid the “drink-the-Kool-Aid” syndrome that can cloud judgment. The fractional model really works, and I think it took off after COVID because companies realized they could hire talent anywhere. When you hire people remotely, you don’t see the hours; you see the output. A fractional executive who works two days a week can deliver the equivalent of four days from a traditional employee—and often, that’s all a company needs.

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