Behind the Scenes of a Fractional Executive’s Journey
With a career rooted in marketing strategy, partnerships, and growth, David Grazio has carved out a unique space in the world of B2B marketing. Based in Merrimac, MA, David is the founder of Indirectly Inc. and works as a Fractional CMO, partnering with technology solution and services providers who need executive-level leadership to define and expand their go-to-market strategies.
“I enable companies to achieve ongoing and sustainable market success by defining their go-to-market strategy and exploring partnership options that expand their business beyond traditional channels.”
The Leap Into Fractional Leadership: David Grazio's Career Pivot
David’s move into Fractional work came from both experience and timing.
“I transitioned over to providing fractional marketing services this year. I had reached a point in my professional marketing career where I decided to expand beyond traditional channels and work with startups and other organizations interested in building their go-to-market strategy. I enjoy developing a strategy and plan at the ground level and engaging with entrepreneurs and business owners to enable their success.”
For David, the shift wasn’t just about changing how he worked, it was about finding fulfillment in helping early-stage companies thrive.
Superpower in Action: David’s Strength as a Fractional Executive
Every Fractional has a superpower they lean on. For David, it’s his ability to see opportunities others might miss.
“I would describe my superpower as having the intuition and insight to identify partnership opportunities, build relationships, and create communities of advocates and champions that will expand your business beyond conventional approaches”
This knack for creating ecosystems of growth makes him invaluable to companies seeking innovative pathways forward.
Breaking the Myths: What Fractional Leadership Really Looks Like
Fractional roles are often misunderstood.
“People sometimes perceive fractional work as part-time and often view fractional roles as temporary and not fully aligned to a company’s mission and goals. However, fractional work is the opposite, you’re part of a leadership team focused on delivering results and aligning with other executives to achieve a common goal.”
Fractionals don’t just consult from the outside, they embed, align, and help shape the future of the business.
Wins That Define Their Fractional Journey
One of David Grazio’s proudest early projects involved helping a startup expand its reach.
“I recently began working with a startup company that provides a mobile app and service to improve user engagement and combat isolation and depression through social media event collaboration. I was able to develop a go-to-market strategy that introduced them to new use cases and industries beyond their current view and expand into new markets to accelerate their growth.”
For David Grazio, it was about more than strategy, it was about using marketing to unlock positive impact.
Lessons from the First Few Months in Fractional Work
Looking back, David wishes someone had told him to cast a wider net from the start.
David's Advice for New Fractionals
“To focus on building my business and explore as many channels as possible beyond my current network and identify opportunities that are the right fit for my marketing skills and experiences.”
His advice to other Fractionals starting out?
“You need to be in it for the long term. Be patient, get creative, be open to new ideas and ways of working, and don’t get discouraged, it takes time to build your client portfolio, but the reward at the end of it is worth it.
Beyond the Resume: The Real David
David’s leadership style is defined by creativity and connection. He often carves out time for brainstorming and role-plays new ideas with his wife to refine how he communicates them, making sure his approach resonates with different audiences.
One Quote That Sums It All Up
“A dedicated and creative marketing leader that loves to explore and develop ideas for growing a business by identifying innovative partnerships and use cases to build a better together story that delivers added value and compelling ROI for customers.”
That single line reflects David’s approach to leadership, creative, collaborative, and focused on building something bigger than the sum of its parts.
