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cover of episode The Growing Trend of Part-Time Executives

The Growing Trend of Part-Time Executives

2024/11/12
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HBR IdeaCast

Chapters

Introduction to fractional leadership, its definition, and the reasons behind its growing popularity.
  • Fractional leadership involves senior executives offering their skills to multiple organizations part-time.
  • The practice is gaining momentum due to the need for affordable senior talent in small organizations.
  • Both Tomoko Yokoi and Amy Bonsall have combined research and practical experience in this field.

Shownotes Transcript

Imagine you’re leading a small organization, but you’re struggling to recruit and afford the senior talent you need to grow. You could hire a part-time executive. So-called “fractional leadership” is common in startups and is spreading to other businesses and nonprofits. But while a fast-growing number of senior leaders seek this work arrangement, many companies are unsure of how to go about it. Tomoko Yokoi and Amy Bonsall are experts on the practice. Yokoi is a researcher at the TONOMUS Global Center for Digital and AI Transformation at IMD Business School. Bonsall is a former executive at IDEO and Old Navy who works as a part-time chief product officer with several organizations. They explain when and how fractional leadership works best—for the individual as well as the organization—and how to do it right. Yokoi and Bonsall wrote the HBR article “How Part-Time Senior Leaders Can Help Your Business.”