TV, Radio and Podcast Interviews with Lorraine Carter, a Brand Leadership & Leadership Friction expert blending skills as a strategic advisor, fractional executive, facilitator, speaker and knowledge transfer professional

How effectively are you impacting and leveraging your leadership through the power of your personal brand?

Is your personal brand well aligned with your business or corporate entity brand to drive growth?

What does your personal brand say about you as a professional — do you even know?

In this conversation, Shane Cradock shares his journey into leadership consulting, emphasising the importance of personal branding for both fractional executives and CEOs. He discusses with Lorraine Carter and Charles McLachlan from the Fractional Frontier, the challenges leaders face in aligning their personal and business brands, the significance of differentiation in a crowded marketplace, and strategies for engaging target audiences successfully.

Shane also touches on the psychological barriers business leaders at the highest level often face when stepping into the spotlight and the necessity of being strategic in brand building both from a personal brand and corporate entity, product or service brand in the B2B world.

Here’s some of what we discussed:

✅ Why so many leaders are unaware of how badly they are perceived internally and externally

✅ How strong leaders align their personal brand with their business goals to achieve their objectives

✅ Why authenticity is essential in building a personal brand

✅ How differentiation is crucial in a crowded market of business leaders and fractional executives

✅ Why perceived value is a strategically key component of successful personal branding

✅ How leaders must stand for something to successfully engage their audience so they can maximise growth

✅ How to overcome that inner voice that can hold back even the highest performing professionals from achieving their full potential

Contact Shane Cradock here:

linkedin.com/in/shanecradock/

shanecradock.com

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The Fractional Frontier Podcast delivers powerful insights for experienced fractional executives and business leaders, driving growth and efficiency.

With advanced strategies, cutting-edge trends, and inspiring success stories, we help executives elevate their portfolios and enable business leaders to unlock top-tier fractional talent—boosting success while keeping costs lean.

Join your hosts, Lorraine Carter & Charles McLachlan with their inspiring guests on ‘The Fractional Frontier — where leadership has no limits’.

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Fractional Frontier Host Contact Links:

Lorraine Carter

linkedin.com/in/lorrainecarterpersonadesign/

[email protected]

Charles McLachlan

linkedin.com/in/charlesmclachlan/

[email protected]

What if you could access senior-level leadership exactly when you need it—without the full-time cost, the hiring headache, or waiting for strategy to turn into action?

In this episode of The Fractional Frontier, Lorraine Carter and Charles McLachlan take a practical look at what fractional executives actually do and why more businesses are turning to them.

They talk about how fractional roles differ from traditional consulting, the signs that it’s the right time to bring one in, and how to judge whether the investment is paying off.

Along the way, they clear up a few common misunderstandings about the level of commitment and impact fractional leaders can offer.

You’ll discover:

✅ How fractional executives bring senior-level experience without the price tag of a full-time hire

✅ Why having them embedded in your business means strategies actually get put into action

✅ How the right fractional support can ease pressure and help you avoid hitting crisis mode

✅ The traits—like curiosity and adaptability—that really matter when choosing fractional talent

✅ Why fractional roles can often move faster and adapt more easily than traditional full-time positions

✅ The moments in your business journey when bringing in a fractional executive makes the most sense

✅ The critical difference between hiring consultants versus fractional leaders

✅ Why understanding the return on investment may take time, but is still essential

✅ How fractional executives help reduce risk and bring more predictability to your operations

✅ The value of building strong working relationships with fractional leaders for long-term success

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Fractional Leadership

01:04 Understanding Fractional Executives

02:12 The Role of Fractional Executives vs. Consultants

04:36 Experiences in Fractional Leadership 07:09 Value Creation through Fractional Executives

10:00 The Importance of Fractional Roles

14:49 Identifying the Right Fractional Roles

19:26 When to Hire a Fractional Executive

23:57 Consultants vs. Fractional Executives

29:48 The Cost of Delayed Hiring

32:38 Identifying the Right Fractional Executive

35:57 Measuring ROI from Fractional Executives

39:58 Addressing Misconceptions about Fractional Executives

46:53 First Steps in Hiring a Fractional Executive

50:49 Key Takeaways for SME Leaders and Management Decision Makers

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The Fractional Frontier Podcast delivers powerful insights for experienced fractional executives and business leaders, driving growth and efficiency.

With advanced strategies, cutting-edge trends, and inspiring success stories, we help executives elevate their portfolios and enable business leaders to unlock top-tier fractional talent—boosting success while keeping costs lean.

Join your hosts, Lorraine Carter & Charles McLachlan with their inspiring guests on ‘The Fractional Frontier — where leadership has no limits’.

——

Fractional Frontier Host Contact Links:

Lorraine Carter

linkedin.com/in/lorrainecarterpersonadesign/

[email protected]

Charles McLachlan

linkedin.com/in/charlesmclachlan/

[email protected]

Have you ever wondered how great leaders stay calm and confident when the economy is unpredictable?

In this episode of The Fractional Frontier, Charles McLachlan and Lorraine Carter chat with Rob Nicholls, an experienced fractional CFO, about how leadership is changing in today’s unpredictable economy.

Rob talks about why strong relationships matter, how to really understand what clients need, and what makes fractional leadership so effective. He also touches on the common mistakes businesses make during tough times, how to stay financially resilient, and why partnerships are essential for growth.

Rob highlights the importance of thinking long-term and having trusted advisors to help navigate challenges and make the most of new opportunities.

You’ll discover:

✅ How fractional leadership creates flexibility and reduces costs

✅ Why building strong relationships is essential in a community-driven market

✅ The importance of understanding client needs for better financial guidance

✅ Why long-term thinking is crucial when navigating economic uncertainty

✅ How cash flow management strengthens financial resilience

✅ Ways to optimise your sales pipeline for consistent, predictable revenue

✅ How strategic partnerships can open powerful growth opportunities

✅ Why it’s important to keep investing in growth, even during challenging times

✅ The value of having a trusted advisor for insight and support

✅ How thinking big helps you scale and build a lasting business

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the Fractional Frontier

26:10 The Journey to Fractional Leadership

29:14 Assessing Client Needs in Economic Uncertainty

33:04 Common Mistakes in Volatile Times

36:29 The Role of a Fractional CFO

39:34 Building Financial Resilience

41:41 Optimising Sales Pipelines for Predictable Revenue

44:35 Cash Flow Management Strategies

47:51 Investing in Growth Amidst Uncertainty

49:40 The Importance of Partnerships 55:21 Success Stories in Overcoming Challenges

01:02:54 Preparing for Financial Challenges 01:06:27 Recognising the Need for a Fractional CFO

01:09:29 Long-Term Planning for SMEs

01:14:47 Finding Trusted Advisors for Success

Contact Rob Nicholls here:

linkedin.com/in/robnichollsconsulting-cfo-ned-advisor/

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The Fractional Frontier Podcast delivers powerful insights for experienced fractional executives and business leaders, driving growth and efficiency.

With advanced strategies, cutting-edge trends, and inspiring success stories, we help executives elevate their portfolios and enable business leaders to unlock top-tier fractional talent—boosting success while keeping costs lean.

Join your hosts, Lorraine Carter & Charles McLachlan with their inspiring guests on ‘The Fractional Frontier — where leadership has no limits’.

——

Fractional Frontier Host Contact Links:

Lorraine Carter

linkedin.com/in/lorrainecarterpersonadesign/

[email protected]

Charles McLachlan

linkedin.com/in/charlesmclachlan/

[email protected]

Are you leveraging your leadership team to its full potential through developing high performing team skills to scale and drive growth in your business?

In this episode of the Fractional Frontier, Lorraine Carter and Charles McLachlan engage with fractional executive Dave Gribben, who shares his extensive journey in leadership and the evolving role of fractional executives in today’s business landscape.

The conversation covers key themes such as scaling and assessing organisations, the rise of fractional leadership in SMEs, the benefits of fractional executives to drive growth, and a success story of transforming a dental practice.

Dave emphasises the importance of relevance and relationship in building partnerships, and discusses the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for fractional executives in a rapidly changing world.

You’ll discover

✅ How fractional leaders provide objectivity and fresh perspectives to organisations to drive growth

✅ Why fractional leadership is becoming increasingly popular among SMEs

✅ How assessing an organisation’s economic model is crucial for understanding its scaling potential

✅ What the benefits and results are from leveraging highly experienced fractional executives — evidenced with stories and case studies from the front lines

✅ How high performing fractional leaders help organisations navigate change and uncertainty successfully

✅ What it entails to build strong relationships that are essential for successful fractional engagements

✅ Success stories highlighting the transformative impact of fractional leadership

✅ Insights on the evolving business and geopolitical landscape and how it presents new opportunities for businesses and fractional executives to excel

Timestamps

03:00 Dave Gribben’s Journey to Fractional Leadership

10:51 Assessing Organisations Before Scaling: Key Considerations

16:51 The Rise of Fractional Leadership in SMEs

27:11 The Benefits of Fractional Executives

40:54 Success Story: Transforming a Dental Practice

48:01 The Shift Towards Collaborative Healthcare Models

48:59 Catalysts of Change: Personal Growth Through Experience

50:26 The Art of Facilitation: Engaging Diverse Teams

53:13 Navigating Relationships: Balancing Professionalism and Friendship

57:22 Building a Personal Brand: Consistency in Diverse Roles

01:01:15 The Journey of Fractional Executives: Relevance and Impact

01:05:16 Collaboration vs. Independence: The Role of Fractional Executives

01:10:33 Walking the Line: Balancing Inside and Outside Perspectives

01:14:40 Advice for SMEs: Hiring Fractional Talent Effectively to Grow & Scale the Business

01:19:31 The Future of Fractional Executives: Navigating Change and Opportunity and The Trump Factor

Dave Gribben is a sought after Top Team Coach working in many industries across the world. He is currently working with Top Teams in Renewable Energy, Sport, Financial Services, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Law, Aviation Finance, Skincare and Fashion.

This work is a journey with a client, often over many years, helping them develop organisations they are proud of, led by leadership teams that inspire the next generation of leaders to continue to deliver sustainable results.

Dave spent the first 27 years of his career in industry, mostly in senior management roles, building businesses within larger organisations and in a private context also. For the past 15 years he has brought that experience, and what he continues to gather through his team coaching, working with senior leadership teams helping them to continually realise more of their potential as the top team for the organisation.

Dave is a Management graduate of Trinity College Dublin and contributes to various management and leadership programmes at other universities and management colleges in Ireland.

He is also a trained practitioner in the areas of Emotional Intelligence and Strengths.

Contact Dave Gribben here:

linkedin.com/in/davegribben/

enableconsulting.ie/

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The Fractional Frontier Podcast delivers powerful insights for experienced fractional executives and business leaders, driving growth and efficiency.

With advanced strategies, cutting-edge trends, and inspiring success stories, we help executives elevate their portfolios and enable business leaders to unlock top-tier fractional talent—boosting success while keeping costs lean.

Join your hosts, Lorraine Carter & Charles McLachlan with their inspiring guests on ‘The Fractional Frontier — where leadership has no limits’.

——

Fractional Frontier Host Contact Links:

Lorraine Carter

linkedin.com/in/lorrainecarterpersonadesign/

[email protected]

Charles McLachlan

linkedin.com/in/charlesmclachlan/

[email protected]

“Your business, product or service, is getting ignored”

Not because it’s bad…

But because your BRAND is invisible.

Check out this episode with podcasting expert Guillaume Jouvencel from Podcast Gurus and GHA Marketing.

Things that Guillaume Jouvencel said hit him HARD:

– 99% of podcasters focus on content
– Less than 1% nail their brand strategy
– Guess which ones attract loyal listeners?
– The brutal truth?

Great content with weak branding = dead on arrival

A few more truth bombs:

“Branding isn’t just your logo or colours. It’s the emotional response you trigger in listeners.”

Think about that.

Your customers remember how you made them FEEL.

Here’s some of what we discussed:
1️⃣ Brands that stand for something specific attract die-hard fans
2️⃣ “For everyone” = “For no one”
3️⃣ Your brand should actively repel the wrong audience
4️⃣ Consistency builds trust faster than anything else

If your product or service disappeared tomorrow, would anyone actually notice or care? 🔥

Ready to transform your brand from background noise to a must-have?

🎧 Check out the full episode with Lorraine, brand leadership expert, international speaker and leadership friction fractional here.

While it was a hot topic as to whether he may be legally and constitutionally barred from serving a third term in office, that didn’t stop President Donald Trump putting ‘TRUMP 2028’ red caps on sale along with a selection of other similarly branded merchandise. In fact, the Trump online store crashed due to the demand.

So the questions is, does the power of effective brand strategy and merchandising shape the narrative, and no matter how potentially impossible, will TRUMP 2028 be an inescapable force for the next few years?

Joining Andrea Gilligan to discuss this was Lorraine Carter, branding expert, from Persona Branding & Design and Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies and International Politics at University College Dublin.

🎧 Check out the discussion with Lorraine Carter, brand leadership expert, leadership friction fractional and international speaker here.

Too many SME/SMV/SMB businesses jump straight into design before defining their core brand strategy. A brand is not just a logo, a website, or a colour scheme—it’s a strategic foundation aligned with your business strategy that drives real growth.

Andrew Demianenko from WeMarketers Podcast sat down with Lorraine Carter and picked her brains to break down what really matters in branding—and how to avoid costly mistakes.

Here’s some of what they covered:

✅ Why competing on price is a race to the bottom
✅ The 8 key areas of brand strategy for B2B companies
✅ How to build and achieve premium pricing (60% of branding is perception!)
✅ Why you should test a soft launch before going all in
✅ The ABC of brand strategy: Audit → Build → Convert

If you’re a founder, marketer, or business leader, this episode is packed with actionable branding insights you can apply today.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here 👇🏼

Ever wondered why some fractional leadership engagements take off smoothly while others struggle right from the start?

In this episode of The Fractional Frontier, Lorraine Carter and Charles McLachlan take a practical look at what it really means to onboard new clients in fractional leadership roles.

They talk about why the first stage of the relationship is so important, how to set expectations clearly, and the common challenges fractional executives face when they step into a new organisation.

They also touch on the value of clear communication, understanding team dynamics, and recognising the emotional drivers that can affect how smoothly things unfold.

As the conversation moves from onboarding to ongoing operations, they highlight the role of simple frameworks and consistent accountability in building a strong, productive partnership. The episode finishes with their thoughts on how onboarding in fractional leadership is evolving—and what clients are beginning to expect in this new landscape.

You’ll discover:

✅ Why getting the onboarding right matters so much for that all-important first impression

✅ How clients often struggle to fully leverage fractional executives

✅ The value of having clear frameworks and boundaries in place from the start

✅ How setting expectations early can help prevent any sense of buyer’s remorse

✅ Why good communication is essential when working within an existing team

✅ The challenge of balancing hands-on operational work with strategic direction

✅ How understanding the emotional drivers at play can make leadership more effective

✅ Why clients are becoming more informed and selective in how they use fractional leaders

✅ How openness and honesty can smooth out any bumps during onboarding

✅ Why a structured onboarding process can strengthen the overall perception of your brand

Timestamps

00:00 The Importance of Onboarding in Fractional Leadership

10:56 Challenges in Client Engagement and Expectations

16:31 Transitioning from Onboarding to Business as Usual

31:12 Ensuring Successful Onboarding as a Client

37:04 The Future of Onboarding in Fractional Leadership

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The Fractional Frontier Podcast delivers powerful insights for experienced fractional executives and business leaders, driving growth and efficiency.

With advanced strategies, cutting-edge trends, and inspiring success stories, we help executives elevate their portfolios and enable business leaders to unlock top-tier fractional talent—boosting success while keeping costs lean.

Join your hosts, Lorraine Carter & Charles McLachlan with their inspiring guests on ‘The Fractional Frontier — where leadership has no limits’.

——

Fractional Frontier Host Contact Links:

Lorraine Carter

linkedin.com/in/lorrainecarterpersonadesign/

[email protected]

Charles McLachlan

linkedin.com/in/charlesmclachlan/

[email protected]

Ricardo Pascual picked Lorraine Carter’s brains about differentiating and positioning your brand in the market to drive growth.

In between a few hilarious unedited moments when the mic literally toppled over in the studio while recording, they unpacked some of the more serious essentials for successful brand building to increase sales — even with lean resources.

🎧 Check out the full episode with Lorraine, brand leadership expert and international speaker here.