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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Growth stalls when complexity outruns capability. We brought on award-winning HR leader Barry Flack to show how fractional executives give SMEs enterprise-grade judgement without the full-time overhead, and why that mix of strategy and sleeves-rolled-up execution delivers results that stick. Barry explains what “fractional” really means, how it differs from part-time advice, and why outcomes matter more than hours.
Together we challenge the myth of digital transformation, reframing technology as a powerful utility that frees people to do the thinking, collaborating and market sensing that actually moves the needle.
TLDR / At A Glance:
- Definition and value of fractional leadership for SMEs
- Complexity vs cost: why outcomes beat hours
- Technology as utility, people as the engine
- •Ditching command and control for empowerment
- Common SME pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Moving fast with proofs of value and product thinking
- What makes a great fractional: breadth, EQ, track record
- How to select and work with a fractional leader
Across a candid, practical conversation, we map the shift from command and control to empowerment, with clear examples of how SMEs can invert the pyramid, place insight closer to customers, and use automation to remove toil rather than replace judgement.
Barry shares patterns he sees in smaller firms—over-control, underuse of tools, and “just good enough” compromises—and how fractional leaders help reset ambition while respecting budget reality.
We dig into product thinking for HR, fast proofs of value, and the emotional intelligence required to coach executive teams through uncomfortable change.
If you’re considering going fractional, you’ll hear what breadth of skills and mindset you need to thrive. If you’re hiring a fractional leader, you’ll learn the selection criteria that matter: track record across disciplines, evidence of shipped outcomes, and the ability to challenge respectfully while executing.
Want access to elite expertise at a sensible price point and cadence?
Then let's chat - https://calendly.com/kierangilmurray/executive-leadership-and-development-meeting
Subscribe, share this with a founder or operator who needs it, and leave a review with the one capability you’d fractionalise first.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 my team and I to get business results, not excuses.
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📕 Want to learn more about agentic AI then read my new book on Agentic AI and the Future of Work https://tinyurl.com/MyBooksOnAmazonUK
Chapters
1. Setting The Stage: Why Fractional (00:00:00)
2. Defining Fractional C‑Suite Value (00:01:10)
3. Complexity Over Cost Cutting (00:02:23)
4. Debunking Digital Transformation (00:04:34)
5. People First, Tech As Utility (00:06:10)
6. Empowerment Over Command And Control (00:07:31)
7. SME Constraints And Common Pitfalls (00:09:00)
8. How To Succeed As A Fractional (00:10:08)
9. Choosing The Right Fractional Leader (00:12:58)
10. Where To Find Barry And Next Steps (00:15:35)
11. Closing Thoughts And Invitation (00:17:00)
170 episodes
