Ep. 1 What Is a Fractional Executive? Karina Mikhli on Building Community & Defining the Role

03/27/25 • 28 min

Welcome to the debut episode of Female Fractionals!

In this premiere episode, host Amanda Nizzere (Fractional CMO) sits down with Karina Mikhli — Fractional COO, Workflow Consultant, and Founder of Fractionals United — to unpack what it really means to be a fractional executive.

If you’re curious about going fractional, already on that path, or looking to hire one, this conversation is packed with clarity, insight, and practical wisdom.

💡 Key Takeaways:

The true definition of a fractional executive (hint: it’s not just a trendy title)
How to structure your offers and pricing like a pro
What new fractionals often get wrong (and how to avoid it)
Why community is everything in this work
Where the fractional space is headed next

🌐 Resources & Links:

🔗 Join the Fractionals United community: https://www.fractionalsunited.com
📚 Book mentioned: Fractional Leadership by Ben Wolf

🙌 Connect with Us:

📣 Follow, like, and share! Help us spread the word!
📬 Learn more about Amanda Nizzere and the podcast here: https://www.femalefractionals.com

Welcome to the debut episode of Female Fractionals!

If you’re curious about going fractional, already on that path, or looking to hire one, this conversation is packed with clarity, insight, and practical wisdom.

💡 Key Takeaways:

The true definition of a fractional executive (hint: it’s not just a trendy title)
How to structure your offers and pricing like a pro
What new fractionals often get wrong (and how to avoid it)
Why community is everything in this work
Where the fractional space is headed next

🌐 Resources & Links:

🔗 Join the Fractionals United community: https://www.fractionalsunited.com
📚 Book mentioned: Fractional Leadership by Ben Wolf

🙌 Connect with Us:

📣 Follow, like, and share! Help us spread the word!
📬 Learn more about Amanda Nizzere and the podcast here: https://www.femalefractionals.com

Previous Episode

Female Fractionals - Trailer

Join host Amanda Nizzere on Female Fractionals, a bi-weekly podcast dedicated to successful female fractional executives and entrepreneurs. As a seasoned B2B marketing expert and fractional CMO, Amanda interviews tenured fractional executives and subject matter experts to help entrepreneurs build thriving businesses on their own terms. Tune in to explore the growing movement of fractional executives reshaping the corporate landscape and learn how to thrive in your fractional journey.

Next Episode

Ep. 4: Kymm Martinez on Purpose, Power & the Pivot

Amanda Nizzere is joined by fractional CMO Kymm Martinez, CEO of Wilder Marketing Group. With a 25+ year career that spans Fortune 200 brands, nonprofits, and higher ed—including CMO roles at General Mills, the University of St. Thomas, and the American Cancer Society—Kymm now leads her own fractional marketing firm with purpose, flexibility, and impact at the core.

In this refreshingly honest conversation, Kymm shares what prompted her bold leap at age 55, why she left a high-profile job with no backup plan, and how she gave herself space to figure out what came next. She discusses the difference between consulting and fractional work, the joy (and surprises) of entrepreneurship, and how she’s using automation and AI to scale her business and her network.

Whether you’re thinking of launching your own fractional business or wondering what happens after you leap—this episode is packed with practical insight, inspiration, and real talk from someone who’s walking the walk.

Resources & Tools Mentioned:

💼 Wilder Marketing Group
🧰 Tools: HubSpot CRM (free version), ChatGPT, SCORE/SBA, LinkedIn

Favorite Quote from Kymm:

“I’m still a work in progress—but I’ve learned to stop defining myself by my last job title. I have so much more to give, and now I get to decide how and when I give it.”

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Female Fractionals - Ep. 1 What Is a Fractional Executive? Karina Mikhli on Building Community & Defining the Role

Transcript

Amanda: [00:00:00] Welcome to Female Fractionals, the biweekly podcast for successful female fractional executives and those ready to take the leap. In each episode, I'll bring you actionable lessons and inspiration through interviews with thriving fractional leaders and experts. Let's dive in. Hi, everyone. Welcome to the first episode of Female Fractionals.

I'm Amanda Nazari, fractional CMO and your host of the show. I'm excited to kick off the podcast with a great gue