Behind the Scenes of a Fractional Executive’s Journey
Surabhi Sharma is a Fractional CMO based in Delhi, India, working primarily with brands in the consumer products space. She currently holds a full-time marketing leadership role and is actively pursuing Fractional CMO opportunities alongside it.
"I don't chase success for the title - I build systems, people, and ideas that keep creating value long after I'm gone."
A statement that sums up how she approaches leadership and long-term impact.
The Leap Into Fractional Leadership: Surabhi's Career Pivot
For Surabhi, the move into Fractional leadership came from watching how the market itself was shifting.
"Yes. As I gather more years of experience as a full-time marketing head, I realised organisations are turning to Fractional CMOs to save on cost and still get the benefits of a marketing leader. Hence, I want to enter this space and establish myself as per how the industry is now moving."
She saw where marketing leadership was heading and made the decision to meet it early.
Superpower in Action: Surabhi's Strength as a Fractional Executive
Her strength shows up in situations where marketing either does not exist yet or is not working.
"Building marketing functions, positioning, and correcting something that is not working in marketing."
That combination makes her a strong fit for companies in a build or reset moment.
Breaking the Myths: What Fractional Leadership Really Looks Like
Fractional leadership still gets misread, and Surabhi points to one assumption in particular.
"That we will handle most of the operational part too."
The expectation of operational ownership is the misconception she runs into most.
Wins That Define Their Fractional Journey
One project stands out for the range of what it required.
"I have helped an audio/visual brand in setting up their positioning, brand tone, as well as helped them build the full marketing function from scratch."
Positioning, brand tone, and a full marketing function built from the ground up.
Lessons from the First Few Months in Fractional Work
Looking back at her early months, the gap she names is not strategy.
"How to put yourself out there and build a trusted network where you can support brands."
Visibility and a trusted network are what she wishes someone had told her about sooner.
Surabhi's Advice for New Fractionals
“Be ready to educate your clients first and define your scope of work in the very first stage.”
Her lesson: educate early, and define the scope of work before the engagement begins.
Beyond the Resume: The Real Surabhi
“I love traveling and exploring new places. I also like to sit in nature and enjoy it.”
Outside of client work, her time goes somewhere quieter.
One Quote That Sums It All Up
"I don't chase success for the title - I build systems, people, and ideas that keep creating value long after I'm gone."
A view of the work centered on what keeps creating value after she has moved on.
