CMO School

Jessica Shirra | Fractional CMO
  • 5.0 (10)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

CMO School is the go-to podcast for marketers and Fractional CMOs ready to step into leadership, own their expertise, and build a career or business that actually works for them. Whether you're looking to elevate your skills, transition into a CMO role, or scale your Fractional business, this podcast delivers strategies, expert insights, and the mindset shifts you need to create a career you love. Hosted by Jess Shirra—a 15+ year marketing leader, Fractional CMO, and founder of Fractional CMO School—this show takes you behind the scenes on what actually works in marketing, business, and leadership. Jess has worked with powerhouse brands and creators like Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Strava, Jenna Kutcher, Lori Harder, and more—and now, she’s sharing those lessons with you. Each episode, we dive into proven strategies, practical insights, and candid conversations on topics like: How to step into leadership as a marketer and own your expertise How to confidently price your services and build a business that supports the life you want What it really takes to succeed as a Fractional CMO How to show up as a CMO for your clients, deliver powerful strategy, and lead teams effectively Lessons from experts across marketing, mindset, and entrepreneurship to help you grow Whether you're a corporate marketer exploring the Fractional path, a new Fractional CMO figuring it all out, or a seasoned leader looking to scale and systematize your business, CMO School will give you the tools, insights, and confidence to create a career that gives you freedom, fulfillment, and flexibility—on your terms. New episodes drop weekly! Subscribe now and start building a marketing career that lights you up.

  1. JAN 20

    What Founders Need From Marketers and Fractional CMOs with Heather Chauvin

    Why do founder–marketer relationships break down so often — even when everyone has good intentions? In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Chauvin, leadership coach and longtime founder, to talk honestly about what founders are actually looking for when they hire marketing support — and why marketing can be one of the most emotionally charged hires a business owner makes. We unpack: Why many founders develop trust issues with marketing (and how those experiences shape expectations)The hype problem in marketing — and why results are never guaranteedWhat founders really want beyond revenue: to feel seen, heard, and supportedThe “secret ROI” conversations most marketers never ask — and why they matterWhy energy management, capacity, and boundaries are part of the jobHow strong Fractional CMOs lead as partners, not order-takers or hype machines If you’re a Fractional CMO or senior marketer, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening underneath founder expectations — and how to lead the relationship with more clarity, confidence, and trust. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    43 min

  2. JAN 13

    How to Price Yourself as a Fractional CMO: Real Rates + The Biggest Mistakes I See

    If you’re a Fractional CMO and you’ve ever wondered, “What should I be charging?”, this episode is for you. So many experienced marketers undercharge in this role, and it’s one of the biggest reasons Fractional CMOs feel overworked, underpaid, and burned out. In this episode, I break down: The core mindset shift around pricing that changes how clients perceive your valueThe real pricing ranges Fractional CMOs are charging — and when each range actually makes senseThe two most common pricing models and which one I recommendThe six biggest pricing mistakes that keep smart, experienced marketers undercharging — and how to fix them This conversation is about pricing at different levels of leadership in a way that reflects responsibility, decision-making, and ownership — and supports building a lucrative, sustainable Fractional CMO business where you’re paid appropriately for the role you’re doing. If you’ve been questioning your rates, feeling stretched thin, or sensing there’s a gap between the work you’re doing and what you’re being paid, this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been looking for. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    13 min

  3. JAN 9

    The AI Playbook Every Fractional CMO Needs to Get Hours Back and Stay Ahead with Callan Faulkner

    If you’re leading marketing in 2025, you can’t afford not to understand AI. In this episode, I’m joined by Callan Faulkner, AI coach and founder of The Uncommon Business, who built a $4M company in 18 months with four AI-trained employees while working less than 40 hours a week. And here’s what matters: Callan isn’t teaching the surface-level “prompt for a caption” stuff you’ve already seen everywhere. She’s teaching what it actually looks like to become an AI Architect — building systems that give you back your time, protect your creative edge, and raise the quality of your work. We dig into: The shift from AI Offloader to AI Architect, and why it’s the next evolution of marketing leadershipWhy “opening a chat and generating content” is the fastest way to get generic, mediocre outputThe real unlock: documenting your frameworks and “genius” so AI can think like you, not like the internetThe three projects Callan recommends every Fractional CMO build: a Brand Guardian, a Sales Wizard, and a Money CoachHow to slow down up front (training systems) so you can move faster every week and reclaim real hours If you’ve been curious about AI but hesitant to go all-in because you don’t want to lose your voice, this conversation will change how you think about AI, leadership, and what’s possible in your business. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    59 min

  4. 2025-12-16

    How to EASILY Hit 6 Figures as a Fractional CMO With 1-2 Clients

    If six figures as a Fractional CMO feels out of reach — like something only “top-tier marketers” or “big-name consultants” can do — this episode is going to shift that belief fast. Hitting six figures isn’t a stretch goal in this role. It’s actually the simplest part of the business when you structure it the right way. In this episode, I break down: • The biggest mindset blocks keeping marketers underpaid • Why high-ticket clients are more common than you think • How scope (not skill) is the reason your pricing feels “too high” • Three simple paths to six figures — even if you prefer light delivery • What it actually takes to build a six-figure FCMO business that feels easy If you’ve been questioning whether this level of income is possible for you, I want this episode to show you just how accessible it really is. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    16 min

  5. 2025-12-09

    Fractional CMO School: Inside the Top Training Program for Fractional CMOs + Marketing Leaders

    If you’ve been curious about what actually happens inside Fractional CMO School — the structure, the support, the strategy, and how marketers and fractional CMOs are scaling to six figures and beyond — this video gives you the full inside tour. I’m sharing the real story behind the program, why I created it, what makes it different, and what students are experiencing once they get inside. If you’ve wondered whether becoming a Fractional CMO is right for you — or you want a clearer, more sustainable way to lead as a marketer — this will give you a clear picture of what’s possible. Inside this episode: • How I went from burnt-out marketer to six-figure Fractional CMO • The gap I saw in this industry and why Fractional CMO School exists • A behind-the-scenes look at the 6-month structure, coaching + support • The real transformations students are seeing (income + identity shifts) • What the fractional CMO role can unlock in your work, income, and life Whether you’re an experienced marketer who’s ready to move out of execution and into leadership — or you’re already a Fractional CMO and want a better way to build your business — this episode will help you understand whether this path is right for you. ____ If you’ve been curious about Fractional CMO School and want to learn more, this is your chance to peek behind the curtains. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    47 min

  6. 2025-12-02

    The Work Beneath the Work: How I Rewired My Beliefs About Money, Success, and Worthiness (with Jess Belsky)

    You can do everything “right” — build the strategy, put in the hours, chase the next level — and still feel stuck. Like there’s something invisible holding you back from the growth you know you’re capable of. I’ve been there. And what I learned is this: it’s not your strategy. It’s your subconscious. When I started working with Jess Belsky, a Transformational Leadership Coach and Hypnotherapist, I thought I was fixing my money mindset. But the real shift came when I started rewiring my subconcious beliefs — the ones that were shaping how I led, what I earned, and how I showed up in my life and business. In this episode, we unpack: How subconscious patterns keep high-performing leaders from reaching their next levelThe exact inner work that changed how I think, lead, and run my business (and life)What it looks like to reprogram your beliefs so your conscious and subconscious are aligned If you’ve been pushing harder but not getting further, this episode will help you see what’s really been in your way — and how to finally lead from the inside out. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    57 min

  7. 2025-11-25

    The Fractional CMO Trap: When You’ve Built Yourself a Job

    If your Fractional CMO business doesn’t feel like the freedom you wanted, this episode is for you. So many experienced marketers end up stuck in what I call the Fractional CMO Trap: the place where you’ve technically built a business, but it still feels like a job. In this episode, I’m breaking down: What the Fractional CMO Trap isThe two doors that usually lead you into it — and how to back yourself out of each oneHow to redesign your business to gives you the freedom (and income) you set to to createA simple 30-day reset plan to help you reclaim your time, tighten boundaries, and build a Fractional business that’s sustainable  If you’ve been feeling stretched, stuck, or like you’re constantly proving your value this episode is going to change how you run your business.  Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    23 min

  8. 2025-11-18

    Next-Level AI: How to Use AI as a Fractional CMO

    AI is moving so fast it’s hard to keep up. Some days it’s magic, other days it’s chaos. ChatGPT forgets what you told it three prompts ago. It starts using formatting you hate. It spits out content that feels flat or off-brand. Or worse — it makes stuff up and says it with confidence. This episode is about going beyond “just using AI” — and learning how to make it a tool that makes you sharper, faster, and more strategic… while delivering work that genuinely moves the needle for your clients. Jim Carter III is the AI strategist and tech founder behind some of the biggest personal brands in the world — Lewis Howes, Jay Shetty, Ed Mylett, Matthew Hussey, Jay Abraham, and Gary Vee — plus he’s worked with global companies like Verizon, Yahoo!, and AT&T. Jim doesn’t just “use AI” — he builds it into the way businesses run so it’s producing consistent, high-value results. In this episode we cover: How to get AI to produce high-quality work on the first try — without endless back-and-forth or rewrites.How to set up Custom GPTs and projects — and when each approach gives you the best results.Advanced ways to use AI for strategy work — not just content creation.The biggest mistakes even experienced marketers make with AI (and how to avoid them).Where AI is headed in the next 12–18 months so you can stay ahead of the curve If you already see the value of AI but want to start using it at a level most marketers aren’t even touching yet, this episode is for you. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

    1h 15m
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

CMO School is the go-to podcast for marketers and Fractional CMOs ready to step into leadership, own their expertise, and build a career or business that actually works for them. Whether you're looking to elevate your skills, transition into a CMO role, or scale your Fractional business, this podcast delivers strategies, expert insights, and the mindset shifts you need to create a career you love. Hosted by Jess Shirra—a 15+ year marketing leader, Fractional CMO, and founder of Fractional CMO School—this show takes you behind the scenes on what actually works in marketing, business, and leadership. Jess has worked with powerhouse brands and creators like Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Strava, Jenna Kutcher, Lori Harder, and more—and now, she’s sharing those lessons with you. Each episode, we dive into proven strategies, practical insights, and candid conversations on topics like: How to step into leadership as a marketer and own your expertise How to confidently price your services and build a business that supports the life you want What it really takes to succeed as a Fractional CMO How to show up as a CMO for your clients, deliver powerful strategy, and lead teams effectively Lessons from experts across marketing, mindset, and entrepreneurship to help you grow Whether you're a corporate marketer exploring the Fractional path, a new Fractional CMO figuring it all out, or a seasoned leader looking to scale and systematize your business, CMO School will give you the tools, insights, and confidence to create a career that gives you freedom, fulfillment, and flexibility—on your terms. New episodes drop weekly! Subscribe now and start building a marketing career that lights you up.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Shirra | Fractional CMO
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jessica Shirra | Fractional CMO
  • Show Website
    CMO School