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. 3D AGO

    Do I Even Want To Be A Fractional CMO? | Live Coaching Call

    So many people start Fractional work then find themselves burnt out, and questioning if this model is even a fit for them. I sat down with one of my Fractional CMO School students, for a live coaching call. Lisa came to me feeling disillusioned with the fractional model after a few client experiences, and wondering what to do next. I helped her see that didn't hate the model, she just wasn’t operating inside the right structure. She had been making the same mistakes I see others make all the time, so I asked her to come on the podcast because I KNEW her experience would be so helpful for many others. In this episode, we break down: The biggest mistake I see CMO’s make when building out strategies (that actually overwhelms your clients too)The most common places where Fractionals end up overdelivering in their roleA simple filter you can use to make sure you stay in your lane and only do CMO-level work The driving analogy that helped me step into leadership and totally changed how my clients saw me (you can steal it!) If you're working as a Fractional but you’re buried in your client's Slack, your days are FULL of meetings, and you’re being pulled in a million directions, 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 6m

  2. MAY 5

    How to Sell Fractional CMO Services: Sales Secrets From a 7-Figure CMO

    Sales is the one skill nobody teaches you as a fractional CMO — and it's the one that determines whether your business actually grows. Most of us got into this because we're good at marketing. Not because we love selling. For a long time, I hated it. I wasn't comfortable doing it, I didn't feel like I was good at it, and the idea of getting on a call where someone might say no felt awful. Four years and millions in client revenue later — sales is one of my strongest skills. In this episode, I'm breaking down every lesson that got me there: The mindset shift that made selling stop feeling grossThe one thing you can do to make people feel understood before you've pitched anything,Why I turn people away — and how it's built my business How to lead a sales call so you're never getting interviewedHow to say your high-ticket prices without flinching.And what you can do to get better at sales. If sales still feels uncomfortable, or it’s something you want to get better at, 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/

    13 min

  3. APR 28

    How to Shift From Doing Marketing to Leading Marketing as a Fractional CMO

    What you spend your time on determines everything — how visible you are to your client, how much authority you actually have, how much they'll pay you, and whether you burn out. If you've ever felt like you're executing all the marketing while your client sees you as someone who takes direction instead of sets it, this episode will help you understand why. In this episode, I break down: The four things a CMO actually owns (and where execution lives)The daily filter you use to know if you're staying in the right scopeWhy staying in execution keeps you invisible — and what that costs youWhat happens when you start setting these boundaries This shift isn't about confidence or willpower. It's about clarity on your role. And once you have that, everything changes — how your client sees you, what you charge, how much control you have over your time. Because stepping into the CMO role isn't about doing more. It's about operating at a different level. 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/

    17 min

  4. APR 21

    Fractional CMO vs Agency vs Contractor: How Switching Between Roles Is Costing You

    What you call yourself matters less than what you actually do. And when you code-switch with the same client — saying CMO, operating as contractor — you're losing authority and pricing power. If you've ever found yourself executing work for a client while also calling yourself their Fractional CMO, this episode will help you understand why. In this episode, I'm breaking down: Exactly what to do in your first 90 days as a fractional CMOWhat you should do (and not do) in months one, two, and threeHow to integrate with the team and establish your rhythm as the leaderWhy this progression determines whether you operate like a CMO or a contractor This isn't about being rigid or distant. It's about clarity and boundaries. Because being a Fractional CMO isn't just about strategy — it's about the seat you're actually in. 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/

    8 min

  5. APR 14

    What to Do In Your First 90 as a Fractional CMO

    How you structure your first 90 days changes everything about your business. When you step into a new client engagement, the order of what you focus on determines whether you're seen as a strategic leader or just another executor. In this episode, I break down: The exact order of what to focus on firstHow to integrate with the team and establish your rhythmWhen and how to prove the strategy worksWhy foundation building matters more than you thinkAnd how month three positions you as the strategic owner, not just the executor This isn't about moving fast. It's about moving in the right order. When you follow this progression, you're not operating like a contractor. You're operating like a CMO — thinking, leading, and making decisions. 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/

    11 min

  6. APR 7

    My $20,000 Strategy Process (And The Mistakes Fractional CMOs Make)

    I charge up to $20,000 for a marketing strategy — and in this episode I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how I build it. Most fractional CMOs are winging their strategy process and massively undercharging because of it. So I’m walking you through my exact four-phase process — Discovery, Strategy Development, Delivery, and Alignment & Next Steps — and the mistakes I see people make at every stage. 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/

    12 min

  7. MAR 31

    Why Most Marketing Hires Fail (And How to Fix It)

    I see this all the time — founders frustrated with their hires, marketers frustrated with their clients, and everyone pointing the finger at the other person. But most of the time, it’s actually no one’s fault. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down: The biggest misunderstanding around hiring marketing supportWhy you’re not getting better resultsThe unrealistic expectations placed on one “unicorn” hireAnd the industry dynamic that keeps founders investing in tactics instead of building strategy If you’ve ever hired “marketing help” and still ended up feeling overwhelmed, unsupported, or unsure what’s actually working, this episode is for you. And if you’re a marketer, this will help you see where unclear roles and structural gaps are setting you up for failure — even when you’re doing the best you can. 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/

    12 min

  8. MAR 24

    Why Clients Don’t See You as A Leader (And How to Fix It)

    How your clients see you determines everything — how much they trust your decisions, how often they question your strategy, how much control they take in meetings, and ultimately how much they’re willing to pay you as a Fractional CMO. If you’ve ever felt a client slowly start directing you, second-guessing your recommendations, or treating you more like an executor than a strategic leader, this episode will help you understand why. In this episode, I break down: The communication shifts that position you as a strategic leaderThe subtle behaviors that weaken your authorityThe biggest mistake marketers make when they’re trying to show up as a leaderAnd how to recalibrate the dynamic with a client if you’re sensing they don’t see you as a leader This isn’t about being louder or more dominant. It’s about showing up with clarity, direction, and confidence in every interaction. Because being a CMO isn’t just about strategy — it’s about leadership and communication. 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/

    14 min
See All (47)

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
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jessica Shirra | Fractional CMO
  • Show Website
    CMO School

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