CMO School

Jessica Shirra | Fractional CMO

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. 4 gg fa

    Thinking About Becoming a Fractional CMO? 5 Fears About the Role (That Aren't Actually True)

    Thinking about becoming a Fractional CMO but worried you'll be on Slack all day, stuck in back-to-back meetings, and responsible for absolutely everything? I hear these concerns from marketers all the time. And honestly? Almost every one of them comes from a misunderstanding of what the Fractional CMO role actually is. In this week’s episode, I'm breaking down: The 5 biggest myths that stop great marketers from stepping into the Fractional CMO roleWhy so many Fractional CMOs end up creating a business that burns them outThe difference between being a strategic leader and becoming another member of the marketing teamWhat the role should actually look like inside a client's businessAnd how to build a Fractional CMO business that's sustainable, profitable, and gives you the freedom you were looking for in the first place If you've ever thought, "I'd love to become a Fractional CMO... but I don't want to be responsible for everything," 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The 5 Biggest Myths About Becoming a Fractional CMO 01:05 Myth #1: You'll Spend All Day in Slack 03:10 Myth #2: You're Responsible for Everything 05:45 Why CMOs Lead Instead of Execute 06:45 Myth #3: Every Client Emergency Is Your Emergency 09:00 Myth #4: You'll Spend All Day in Meetings 11:30 Set Boundaries Before Clients Set Them for You 12:30 Myth #5: Clients Expect You to Do Everything 14:15 Teach Clients How to Work With You 15:35 Build a Fractional CMO Business That Gives You Freedom

  2. 11 ago

    Miranda Doubled Her Income Working Less as a Fractional CMO

    What if you could leave your full-time job, work fewer hours, and nearly double your income - all while doing work you actually love? In this episode, I’m joined by Fractional CMO School alum Miranda Holland to talk about how she went from working 40+ hours a week, to doubling her income, working just 30 hours a week as a Fractional CMO. Before Fractional CMO School, Miranda found herself reacting to whatever marketing requests her clients had, instead of steering the process and strategy. Fractional CMO School gave her the framework she needed to step into leadership and create the spacious business she’d always wanted. In this episode we cover: The frameworks that helped her package, position, and price her expertiseWhat gave her the confidence to leave her full-time job and go all-in on her businessHow she realized she was undercharging – and how her perspective on pricing changedThe mindset and imposter syndrome work that came with becoming an entrepreneur and CMOWhat her business and life look like now that she has more control over her time, income, and capacity If you’re curious about Fractional CMO School, and want to hear all about Miranda’s transformation from employee to Fractional CMO, you’ll love this episode. 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Meet Miranda: From Corporate Marketer to Fractional CMO 02:30 Taking the Leap & Leaving Her Full-Time Job 04:05 The Framework That Gave Her Confidence 06:08 From Order Taker to Marketing Leader 08:06 Building a Fractional CMO Offer 09:41 The Results: Double the Income, Fewer Hours 12:45 The Mindset Shift Behind Her Success 15:38 Overcoming “Am I Qualified?” Imposter Syndrome 17:02 Packaging & Pricing Your Expertise 19:13 Why a Fractional CMO Can Be an Early Strategic Hire 21:21 Stop Selling Tactics - Start Looking at the Big Picture 22:34 Miranda’s Advice for Aspiring Fractional CMOs 23:11 Why Fractional CMO School Was Worth It

  3. 7 ago

    She Left Her "Dream Job" to Bet on Herself - And 6x'd Her Income

    I think a lot of us have been there, - sitting in a job that looks amazing from the outside, the kind where people go "wow, you work THERE?" - and slowly realizing it's just not filling your cup anymore. That's exactly where my guest this week was. Sydney Hagel left a big-name corporate job to start The Cozy Agency, and just over a year in she's on track to 6x her income. But the part I loved most about our conversation is how real she gets about that first year - the mistakes, the imposter syndrome, and what it really took to get to where she is now. In this episode of the CMO School podcast, we get into: How Sydney Hagel knew it was time to leave corporate - and what made her quit with no planWhat her first year in business looked like (including the money mistakes she made)How she lands high-ticket clients (it’s SO much simpler than you might think)The one thing she cared about more than profit in year one - and why it ended up building her whole client rosterHow she went from "I'll never make good money again" to 6x-ing her income in a single year If you're waiting to feel ready before you go after the big thing - the new niche, the bigger client, the leap out of your 9 to 5 - this is a conversation I want you to hear. Because you don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to bet on yourself before it feels safe. Learn more about Sydney: Instagram LinkedIn GetCozy Learn more about Callan Faulkner, AI expert 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Meet Sydney Kaye & What We're Covering 01:50 From Corporate Marketing to Entrepreneurship 05:10 Why We Both Left Corporate 08:15 Knowing It Was Time to Quit 11:50 The Fear (and Freedom) of Starting Your Own Business 15:00 Landing the First High-Ticket Client 18:25 Imposter Syndrome Never Really Goes Away 21:00 How High-Ticket Clients Lead to More High-Ticket Clients 25:25 Why You Can't Skip the Building Phase 27:00 The Mindset That Keeps You Going 29:10 Your "Why" Matters More Than Money 30:50 Where to Connect with Sydney

  4. 28 lug

    6 Red Flags I Screen For Before I Take On Any Client as a Fractional CMO

    I've watched smart, capable marketers and Fractional CMOs burn out, lose money, and start to wonder if the whole Fractional path was a mistake — all because they said yes to the wrong client. And I've done it myself, more times than I'd like to admit. Because the thing is, you cannot out-strategize a bad-fit client. It doesn't matter how good your boundaries, your packages, or your process are — if the person on the other side of the contract is the problem, you can't fix it. In this episode, I break down: The 6 red flags I screen for before I'll work with ANY client (steal my checklist!)How to spot a bad-fit client on the discovery call — before you're locked into a contract with themThe questions I ask that get my leads to reveal who they REALLY are (so I don’t have to find out the hard way)Why a bad-fit client can make you question whether you're even cut out for this role (spoiler: it's not you)How saying no to the wrong clients is what lets you get real results for the right ones The clients you turn down matter just as much as the ones you take on. Once you can see the red flags coming, your work gets way easier — and a lot more fun. 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The Wrong Client Will Cost You More 00:45 Why You Can't Out-Strategize a Bad Client 01:30 Red Flag #1: They Blame Every Marketer 02:45 Red Flag #2: No Team to Execute 03:45 Red Flag #3: Shiny Object Syndrome 04:45 Red Flag #4: You're Expected to Save the Business 06:00 Red Flags #5 & #6: Unrealistic Expectations 07:45 How to Protect Your Time and Energy 08:45 Choose Clients Who Set You Up to Win

  5. 21 lug

    Will the Fractional CMO Model Work in My Niche?

    "Will the Fractional model actually work in MY niche?" — I get this question all the time. And it's the one that keeps people stuck: not starting, saying no to clients who'd be a great fit, or waiting to feel ready before they let themselves go for it. But here's what I want you to hear — the niche is NOT what makes the Fractional model work. What you're selling has nothing to do with the industry. It's YOU. It's your leadership. And that is valuable (and transferable) to any niche. In this episode, I’m breaking down: The 4 things that ACTUALLY tell you if a business is a fit for the Fractional model — and not one of them is the niche (steal the checklist!)The real reason marketers get stuck on the niche question and what you're REALLY saying when you ask "will this work in my niche?"What actually makes you feel ready for this role How I landed one of the biggest names in the online space as my very FIRST client in a niche I'd never worked in By the end of this episode, the niche question won't feel so important, because you'll know exactly what to look for instead. 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Will the Fractional Model Work in Your Niche? 00:45 The Question You Should Be Asking Instead 01:30 The 4 Signs a Business Is Ready 02:30 Why Revenue and Budget Matter 03:45 Leadership Matters More Than Industry 05:00 Why Marketers Get Stuck on Niches 06:15 Your Skills Transfer Further Than You Think 07:00 Stop Waiting for the Perfect Niche

  6. 14 lug

    How I Structure My Contracts as a Fractional CMO (And Why I Make It Easy for Clients to Leave)

    Contracts are probably one of the least exciting things we could possibly talk about, BUT I get so many questions from marketers making the leap into Fractional CMO work and feeling completely overwhelmed by the contract side of things. OR not thinking about it at all… until something happens and they've got serious regrets. If your immediate thought is "cool cool cool, can I just copy yours?" 😂 — you absolutely can. I share exactly where you can grab all of my behind-the-scenes business systems in the episode! In this episode, I break down: How I structure my contracts after 5+ years of testing long-term, short-term, and month-to-month (steal the setup!)Why I DON'T lock clients into long-term contracts — and what I do insteadThe scope language that keeps you from ever being "in default" of your own contractThe tool I use to get a new contract out to a client in under 2 minutesThe sneaky little feature that gives me a heads up when a client might be about to give their notice And at under 10 minutes, it's probably the quickest (and least painful) way you'll ever learn about contracts. 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Why I Don't Use Long-Term Contracts 01:15 The Contract Structure That Works Best 02:30 Protect Yourself From Scope Creep 03:45 The Contract Tool I Use for Every Client 04:45 My Favorite PandaDoc Feature 05:30 Final Thoughts on Better Client Contracts

  7. 7 lug

    How I'm Using AI as a Fractional CMO to Deliver $15K+ Marketing Strategies

    The advice to "use AI to work faster" is great (I've cut my $15K client strategy build time nearly in HALF) but it’s really easy to get generic output if you’re not careful. That’s why I’m breaking down the exact process I use to build my client strategies. In this episode, I break down: The 5-step process I use to build my $15K client strategies with AI (so you can set yourself up the same way)The biggest mistakes I see Fractionals making with AI in strategy work (the last one is the worst)How I set up my AI to get great output (instead of generic or AI sounding garble)How I use AI as a thought partner instead of having it do the thinking for me If you want to use AI for marketing strategy, or you already are, but you’re not happy with the output, you’ll love this episode. 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 How I Cut Strategy Time in Half With AI 01:00 The Biggest AI Mistakes Marketers Make 02:45 Build AI Context Before You Prompt 04:15 Turn Your Thinking Into Better Strategy 05:45 Show AI What Great Looks Like 07:00 Why I Build Strategies Section by Section 08:45 The Final Review Most People Skip 10:00 Use AI as a Thought Partner, Not a Strategist 11:00 The Biggest AI Mistake to Avoid

  8. 30 giu

    Why I'm Not Taking On More Clients (Even Though I Could)

    Here's something I've learned building this business: at a certain point, doing more of what's comfortable stops moving you toward what you actually want. And the most powerful thing you can do is get radically honest about where you're putting your energy. For years I’ve wanted to grow Fractional CMO School. This year, I finally am — and I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly why, what I'm building, and the vision behind all of it. In this episode, I'm sharing: The decision that's reshaping my entire business this year — and the honest realization that got me hereWhy I'm intentionally protecting my space instead of filling it (and what that unlocks)The ecosystem I'm building behind the scenes — including an agency engine designed to send incredible Fractional leads straight to my studentsThe mission that's driven me from day one: helping women build wealth on their own terms — and the bold number I'm committing to this year This one is personal, and it's a look at the bigger vision I'm building — for me, and for every ambitious marketer ready to step into their next level. If that's you, you're going to want to hear this. 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/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Why I'm Making a Big Change 01:00 The Conversation That Changed Everything 02:45 Why I Chose Fractional CMO School 04:30 The Bigger Mission Behind My Business 06:00 The Vision I'm Building 07:15 Choosing Growth Over Comfort 08:45 Why Fear Is Part of the Process 10:00 My Goal for the Next Year 11:00 What's Possible for Every Marketer

Descrizione

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.

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