The Friction of Fractional: Business Beyond the Delivery Method

“Fractional is just a means of delivery. Leadership is what matters.” That’s how Nelson Tepfer, CEO of ProCFO Partners, reframes the conversation around fractional leadership. Too often, businesses misunderstand the true role of a fractional executive, seeing them as a temporary fix rather than a strategic leader embedded in growth. In this episode, we explore the friction of fractional - why some businesses struggle with the model, what separates impactful fractional leaders from transactional consultants, and how the right approach can fuel lasting success. Nelson shares stories of companies that have scaled exponentially with a fractional leadership team and unpacks the fundamental factors that determine fit beyond just industry experience. If your business is hesitating on fractional leadership for the wrong reasons, focusing too much on titles and not enough on impact, this episode challenges the misconceptions, explores the future of fractional leadership, and reveals what makes this model a growth accelerator, not a stopgap solution. Featuring Nelson Tepfer. Create The Next is delivered to you from ProCFO Partners. Every week, we explore strategies and ideas for financial management and growth to help today’s businesses put their financial picture in context. ProCFO Partners are expert financial officers networked across industries, verticals, specializations and situations. Fulfilling the role of a part-time CFO with all-time commitment, ProCFO Partners utilizes the innovative and exclusive FGC Financial Flywheel as a framework that creates momentum to drive your financial functions for sustainable success. Visit procfopartners.com to explore how we can implement a systematic and scalable financial system to help you achieve your goal.