In this episode of Female Fractionals, host Amanda Nizzere sits down with Natalie Swan, founder of Swan and Associates, to explore what it really means to be a fractional CMO. Natalie shares her journey from scrappy brand manager in the experiential event space to running a high-touch fractional marketing firm serving B2B companies with $5M+ in revenue.
You’ll hear how she landed her first client (hint: it was her former employer), the mindset CEOs need before bringing on a fractional, and why strategy without execution is a common and costly trap. Natalie also talks about growing her business, building a lean but powerful team, and why building trust is the foundation of every successful fractional engagement.
Whether you're a fractional executive yourself, or a CEO considering hiring one, this episode offers actionable insights and permission to scale with clarity—not chaos.
👩💼 Guest Bio:
Natalie Swan is the founder of Swan and Associates, a fractional CMO firm that helps B2B companies turn business objectives into actionable marketing strategies. Her team works with companies doing $5M+ in annual revenue, bringing a high-touch, collaborative approach to long-term marketing leadership. Learn more at swanandassociates.co or connect with Natalie on LinkedIn.
💡 Topics Covered:
- Natalie's journey from experiential events to launching her own firm
- How she landed her first client without a full website or email list
- The difference between fractional leadership, consulting, and agency models
- What CEOs often get wrong when hiring fractionals
- Why mindset matters more than metrics in early engagements
- How Natalie built her team to stay in her zone of genius
- The value of LinkedIn recommendations and client success stories
- What to offload as a fractional to stay strategic
📚 Resources Mentioned:
- Project Management Tool: ClickUp
- Book: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
- Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn
- Learn more: swanandassociates.co
⚡ Rapid Fire Answers:
- Productivity Hack: ClickUp for team communication and SOPs
- Fun Fact: Traveled to 6 of 7 continents (Antarctica’s next!)
- Dream Skill: Singing or visual art
- Most Used Emoji: Too many to count—but they’re SOP-approved!
🔗 Full Transcript + More Episodes:
Visit femalefractionals.com for the full transcript, past episodes, and more resources for fractional executives.
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