Fractional Resources

Just had a fantastic conversation with Marc LeBrun - one of the original Macintosh creators who’s now working as a Fractional CTO. Marc’s got this really clear view of where he adds value, and it’s not about being “the person hired to write the first website.”

Marc’s sweet spot? He loves working in what he calls “the span between one-half and one” - that crucial phase where companies have something real but need help getting to the next level. He’s particularly good at working with “wild talents” (his term for those brilliant folks who are a few standard deviations off the usual curve), bridging the gap between the technical teams and the business side.

His value add is spot on: he helps companies understand why they’re doing the work, not just how. He can help hire and mentor those first technical people, but he’s not trying to be that first technical hire himself. It’s about bringing vision and strategic thinking beyond just technical execution.

This really highlights something I keep telling fractional leaders: you need to be clear about which part of the job you want to do. You can’t do the whole C-level role part-time - that’s what makes you fractional rather than interim. Pick your slice and own it.

Here’s a practical tip that came up: have direct conversations with clients about what title they’d like you to use on LinkedIn and other public spaces. While we often default to “Fractional CTO” in our community, that might not be what your client needs. Maybe they need a VP of Technology for fundraising meetings, or a CTO for market presence, or something completely different that aligns with their industry or growth stage. One of Marc’s clients specifically wanted to keep his VP title visible for their fundraising efforts - it was part of the value he brought to them. The key is having that conversation early and being flexible - it’s not about your preferred title or ego, it’s about aligning your public presence with what helps your client succeed.

This is part of my ongoing exploration into how fractional leadership is evolving in tech. More to come!

Been thinking about making the move to fractional leadership, or already there but looking to refine your approach? Let’s grab a virtual coffee—I always enjoy these conversations.

I provide advice and coaching for fractional professionals looking to build sustainable consulting practices.