1097: Kate Swann

Thrive in Business

May 29

“Scaling Smarter: Inside the World of Fractional Leadership”

Fractional COO - Business Advisor

What if the very thing holding your company back isn’t lack of talent…but hiring too many of the wrong leaders at the wrong time?

In this eye-opening episode of Thrive Loud, host Lou Diamond welcomes the remarkable Kate Swann—fractional COO, business advisor, board director, and expert in operational, sales, and marketing strategy. Discover why so many growing companies fall into the trap of hiring too quickly, scaling without intention, or clinging to rigid systems—often at the risk of their organizational health and culture.

Key Highlights:

The Fractional Advantage: Kate unpacks the exploding world of fractional leadership—why “part-time” C-suite might be the smartest investment for organizations in transition, and how fractionals like her deliver top-tier expertise for a fraction of the cost.
Overcoming Hesitation: Hear what makes company founders and CEOs skeptical of fractional roles, and learn how the proof is in both the performance and the aligned cultural fit that seasoned fractionals can bring.
Solving the Growth Dilemma: Kate and Lou get candid about operational agility, the pitfalls of scaling without strategy, and the critical role of systems and communication as companies evolve from founder-driven teams to scalable leadership models.
Culture and Change: Real talk about how to maintain—and even grow—a purposeful culture during rapid expansion, and why building transparent communication systems can be the difference-maker.
Personal Resilience: Kate shares her go-to tactics (like a “hero file” of positive feedback) for staying motivated on tough days, and opens up about the value of executive coaching.
Fun Street Revelations: Discover Kate’s current go-to band, dream travel destination, and the activity she wishes she did less of (hint: it’s not tennis).

Ready to take your business (and life) to the next level? Visit thefractionals.net to learn more about Kate Swann and her fellow fractional executives, and check the show notes for all Kate’s favorite resources and ways to connect.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Business Growth Challenges and Solutions

06:40 "Considering Fractional Leadership Benefits"

09:09 Scaling Culture with Clear Communication

11:51 Advocating for Executive Coaching

14:27 "Speakeasy Pub Crawl Highlights"

20:10 Inspiring Leadership and Communication

21:45 Thrive Loud Podcast Promotion

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