Work with Me
What working together actually looks like.
Fractional engagement means you get senior leadership without a full-time headcount. Engagements can be structured as ongoing fractional leadership, a defined project, or a senior advisory arrangement. The style is flexible. The accountability is real.
Fractional CMO
Ongoing marketing leadership, inside your company. I own the marketing function alongside your team, including strategy, positioning, channel selection, team management, and execution accountability.
Best for companies that have some marketing activity but lack a senior person to tie it all together and drive it forward.
- GTM strategy and positioning
- Pipeline and demand generation
- Content and SEO programs
- Marketing team leadership and hiring
- Partnerships and co-marketing
- Brand and messaging
Fractional COO
Operational leadership for companies growing faster than their processes. I work with the CEO to build the operating cadence, cross-functional clarity, and accountability systems that scaling requires.
Best for founder-led companies where the CEO is doing too much, or companies whose execution does not match the ambition.
- Operating rhythm and leadership alignment
- OKRs and goal-setting frameworks
- Cross-functional coordination
- Hiring and org design
- C-staff coaching
- Department tune-ups
Project & Advisory
For companies that need a specific deliverable or a short-term senior perspective, including a positioning workshop, a GTM plan for a new product, or an audit of an existing marketing function.
Best for companies not quite ready for an ongoing engagement but facing a specific challenge that requires senior judgment.
- Positioning and messaging workshops
- GTM planning for new products or markets
- Marketing function audits
- Board and investor prep
- Fractional advisory retainer
Simple, direct, no unnecessary process.
Short conversation
We talk for 30 minutes. You tell me what is going on. I ask questions. We figure out whether what you need is something I can actually help with.
Proposal or next step
If there is a fit, I will put together a simple engagement proposal covering scope, time commitment, and terms. No boilerplate, no lengthy sales process.
Inside the company from day one
Fractional only works if I am actually inside the company. I join your Slack, attend your key meetings, and start doing real work, not getting up to speed for months.
Who I work best with.
I am not the right fit for everyone, and I would rather be clear about that upfront. I work best with:
- B2B SaaS companies from seed through Series B
- AI-powered products that need to build a market, not just a feature list
- Ecom SaaS platforms and tools built for online retailers
- Fintech and proptech companies with a complex sale and a trust problem to solve
- Founders who want a real partner, not a yes-person
- Teams that are ready to move fast and make decisions
I am probably not the right fit if you want a large agency experience or are not ready to give a fractional exec real access and real context about what is going on.
Ready to talk?
The fastest path is an email to rg@robertgilbreath.com. Or fill out the form below and I will get back to you personally.
Common questions about working together
How do fractional engagements actually work?
We agree on a scope and time commitment upfront. I join your Slack, attend the meetings that matter, and operate as part of your leadership team. Engagements can be ongoing, project-based, or advisory. The structure is agreed on before we start.
How much time do you commit to each client?
It depends on the engagement. Most ongoing fractional CMO or COO relationships run between one and three days per week. Project engagements are scoped differently. We agree on the right level of commitment before starting, and it can adjust over time.
How many companies do you work with at once?
Typically two to four at a time. That limit is intentional. It keeps me focused and genuinely invested in each company rather than spreading thin across too many clients.
What does the first month look like?
The first month is about getting inside the business quickly, not spending weeks on intake forms. I talk to your team, review what's in motion, identify the highest-value priorities, and start contributing real work within the first few weeks.
How do I know if we're a good fit?
The best way is a short conversation. I'll ask direct questions about your situation, and I'll tell you honestly whether I think I'm the right person for it. I don't take engagements where I don't think I can genuinely help.
Do you work with early-stage or pre-revenue companies?
Sometimes. The best fit is usually companies that have some product-market signal and are working through positioning, pipeline, or go-to-market structure. Very early pre-product companies are usually better served by advisors.
How do engagements typically end?
Either the company reaches a stage where a full-time hire makes sense, the original goal is achieved, or the relationship transitions into a lighter advisory arrangement. I aim to make the ending clean and the handoff useful.