In this episode of Hireside Chats, we explore an emerging trend that’s reshaping the C-suite - Fractional Executives. As new economy companies prioritize agility and innovation, roles like fractional CFOs and CHROs are taking center stage. Our guest speakers are two trailblazers in the fractional leadership space, Srinivasan V Swamy, Founder of CFO Bridge and CTO Bridge, and Suresh Bethavandu, Founder of KFW and CHRO Bridge. Together, they unpack the rise of fractional leadership, discuss the benefits, challenges, and the profound impact these leaders are having on startups and SMEs. Tune in as we dive deep into the future of leadership, the strategic advantage of fractional roles, and how companies can leverage this model to thrive in dynamic markets. Plus, get insights into real-world success stories and expert advice on determining if a fractional executive is right for your business. Guest Bio: Srinivasan V Swamy is a true trailblazer in the fractional CXO business. As the Founder of CFO Bridge and Co-Founder of CTO Bridge, Srinivasan is an independent director, sleep advocate, business mentor, and growth partner, offering outsourced and virtual CFO services to SMEs and startups; Suresh Bethavandu, Founder of KFW and CHRO Bridge - Suresh is a Talent Transformation Specialist with a passion for the human side of business he has over 25 years of expertise across every imaginable HR role. Timestamp: (00:53) Part 1: Introduction to guest and the platform (01:43) Part 2: The Rise of Fractional Leadership (02:06) To kick things off, can you tell our audience what a fractional CFO or CHRO is and how they differ from a full-time role? Why are fractional roles becoming more popular, especially in new economy companies? (04:49) Can you tell us the story of how you got this idea? How did this idea come to be? And a little bit of insight into how the last decade has been for the CFO bridge? (09:09) Do you really think a fractional CHRO can create an impact both in terms of value and in terms of lower costs for some of the new emerging organizations? (13:23) Can you think of an example as to how a fractional CFO has been able to create the same impact or more impact despite working across multiple engagements or assignments? (17:56) For the fractional CFO or the CHRO, how important it is to build trust with the existing ecosystem? (23:29) Part 2: Challenges and Considerations (23:50) What are some of the challenges that you have seen in this model and overcome them? Have some of those challenges that you overcame earlier, are they helping you in redefining the way the model has to be introduced to the new economy, new growth companies? (27:45) The fractional CXOs, do they need to have certain additional skills or different types of type of skills to be successful in a setup such as this? What is the adaptability, especially on the skill side, that they need to have to be successful in a typical fractional kind of an engagement? (32:39) Part 3: Rapid Fire Round (32:57) When you recruit fractional CFOs, what is that one must have skill that you look for? (33:14) What is the common misconception about fractional execs that all of us carry, the world carries? (33:38) One thing you wish companies, prospective clients of yours companies knew about the fractional exec role? (34:00) How do you determine whether a fractional CXO is successful or not successful? (34:54) Part 4 Closing thoughts If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review or share it on your socials to help us reach as many ears as possible. So, until next time, stay tuned.
