If you’re a growing business in Seattle, but not quite ready to hire a full-time marketing executive, a fractional CMO might be exactly what you need. These pros bring high-level marketing expertise without the full-time cost. In this guide, we’ll break down what a fractional CMO is, highlight some of the best options in Seattle, and help you figure out how to choose the right one for your business.
What is a Fractional CMO?
A fractional CMO is basically a part-time Chief Marketing Officer. Instead of working full-time for one company, they offer their skills and experience to a few different businesses at once. Think of it like renting top-level marketing talent without the big salary or long-term commitment.
These marketing leaders help with strategy, branding, campaigns, customer insights, and team management, just like a full-time CMO would. The big difference is flexibility. You can bring them in for a few hours a week or a few days a month, depending on what your business needs.
Fractional CMOs are especially helpful for startups, small businesses, or growing companies that need expert marketing direction but aren’t ready (or able) to hire someone full-time. They help you level up your marketing without stretching your budget too thin.
NUOPTIMA’s C-Suite Connect: Marketing Leadership for Seattle
Founded by Alexej Pikovsky, NUOPTIMA’s C-Suite Connect is reshaping how Seattle’s ambitious businesses access senior marketing leadership. We connect companies with pre-vetted, high-impact fractional CMOs who specialize in turning growth challenges into strategic wins. Designed with founder-led companies in mind, every CMO in our network is hand-selected through a rigorous vetting process led by Alexej himself, ensuring only the most qualified and founder-aligned experts make the cut.
Our selection criteria include:
- Background check: Verifying a strong track record of marketing success across relevant industries.
- Marketing strategy assessment: Evaluating skill in campaign planning, branding, and go-to-market execution.
- Reference calls: Confirming real-world results, leadership style, and client satisfaction.
- Culture fit interview: Ensuring the CMO aligns with your company’s mission, pace, and values.
- Paid trial sprint: Testing performance through hands-on execution with measurable impact.
Only top-tier CMOs pass all five filters, making them ready to drive growth for Seattle’s fast-moving companies.
What Sets Us Apart
- Strategy + Execution: Our CMOs don’t just advise, they roll up their sleeves and lead.
- Seattle Market Savvy: Deep local knowledge of the region’s competitive tech, health, and ecommerce sectors.
- Fast Placement: Get matched with the right fractional CMO within 7–10 days.
- Founder-Focused Fit: Every placement is personally reviewed by Alexej to ensure alignment with your growth stage and goals.
At NUOPTIMA, we empower Seattle businesses to scale smarter. Our C-Suite Connect model combines expert marketing leadership with the performance insights of our broader growth platform, driving measurable results through strategy, speed, and precision.
Top Fractional CMOs for Seattle Businesses
1. Jesse Swingle
Jesse Swingle is a seasoned fractional CMO and growth strategist based in Seattle, with a career spanning leadership roles in B2B SaaS, fintech, higher education, nonprofits, and emerging markets. As the founder of Cedar Collab, Jesse partners with fast-moving organizations to build customer-centric marketing systems that scale.
Proven Experience in Leadership and Execution
Jesse has held executive marketing positions across diverse sectors, most recently as Head of Marketing at POSaBIT and Ossia Inc. At POSaBIT, a SaaS fintech platform, he helped grow quarterly revenue from $8.2M to $13.6M in just over a year by leading the development of a full-scale marketing platform and GTM strategy. He also played a key role in investor relations, mergers & acquisitions, and product marketing.
At Ossia, Jesse led outbound strategy and conference planning (including CES), working closely with sales and engineering to modernize the company’s marketing during an aggressive growth phase.
His earlier roles at Insider Creations and consulting engagements further demonstrate his ability to build brands from the ground up, lead through volatility, and implement marketing automation, SEO/SEM, and sales enablement strategies.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Growth strategy and demand generation
- Brand positioning and messaging
- Martech stack development and marketing automation
- Executive marketing leadership for startups and nonprofits
- Customer experience and retention
- Sales and marketing alignment
Industries Served
- B2B SaaS and fintech
- Nonprofits and public sector organizations
- Higher education institutions
- Emerging industries and founder-led startups
How Jesse Works
Jesse thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments. His approach is highly strategic yet hands-on, he’s just as comfortable building marketing infrastructure as he is presenting to investors or shaping brand narratives. He emphasizes data-driven decision-making, team alignment, and clear communication, always keeping the customer at the center of marketing decisions.
Education and Community Involvement
- MBA, Executive Leadership – Seattle University
- BA, Political Science & Business – University of British Columbia
- Board member at The Urbanist and past board member at FIUTS, where he supports community-building through storytelling, policy, and cultural exchange.
Jesse is not only a high-impact marketer but also an advocate for mission-driven, scalable, and values-aligned growth. He’s a strong fit for Seattle-based companies looking for a flexible, experienced marketing leader to guide them through growth, change, or transition.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jesseswingle
2. Jeremy Creighton
With over 20 years of experience in marketing leadership, Jeremy Creighton brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and data-backed execution. As a Seattle-based fractional CMO and marketing consultant, Jeremy partners with startups and high-growth businesses to craft go-to-market strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes, fast.
Proven Experience in Leadership and Execution
Jeremy’s track record includes leadership roles at top companies such as Convoy, Rover, and Uturn Data Solutions, where he transitioned from a fractional role into a full-time Head of Marketing due to his standout performance. His portfolio spans multiple industries and use cases, from building ABM playbooks to scaling growth marketing programs across North America.
Previously at Convoy, Jeremy led enterprise account-based marketing efforts, managing creative campaign teams focused on high-impact 1:1 and 1:few campaigns. At Rover, he managed a multi-million dollar growth budget and helped shift Canadian market performance from under target to beating goals by over 10%.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Growth and performance marketing
- Go-to-market strategy and product launches
- Account-based marketing (ABM)
- Partner marketing and sales enablement
- Integrated campaign planning and execution
- Budgeting, forecasting, and marketing ROI optimization
Industries Served
- B2B SaaS
- Logistics and supply chain
- Consumer marketplaces
- Cloud and IT consulting
- Construction and professional services
How Jeremy Works
Jeremy is a servant leader and collaborative partner who thrives in growth-stage environments. His leadership style emphasizes team empowerment, knowledge sharing, and results through alignment. Whether acting as a full-stack marketer or guiding executive decision-making, he is highly focused on building systems that drive loyalty, engagement, and revenue.
He is especially effective at supporting companies through transitions, whether launching a product, entering a new market, or restructuring for scale.
Education and Community Involvement
- BA in Business Economics – Willamette University
- Executive Marketing Certification – Kellogg School of Management
- Long-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala and FareStart, reflecting a strong commitment to community and social impact.
Jeremy blends enterprise-level expertise with startup agility, making him an excellent choice for Seattle-based companies that need a trusted, strategic marketing leader without the full-time overhead.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycreighton
3. Shanee Ben-Zur
Shanee Ben-Zur is a powerhouse fractional CMO and growth advisor based in Seattle, with over a decade of experience scaling B2B SaaS and fintech companies through product-led growth, demand generation, and high-performance marketing teams. With leadership experience at Dropbox, Crunchbase, Earnest, NVIDIA, and Salesforce, she is known for delivering exponential results and building teams that scale alongside revenue.
Proven Experience in Leadership and Execution
Shanee has held two CMO roles, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer at Earnest, where she increased loan volume while reducing media spend. Prior to that, at Crunchbase, she led the marketing organization from 2 to 34 people, engineered a 10x growth in PLG revenue, and integrated sales and product in a way that hit 100% of ARR goals in year one.
At Dropbox, she co-designed the company’s first hybrid PLG + Sales motion, resulting in $70M in upsell revenue. Her experience also includes brand repositioning, scalable demand generation engines, pricing and packaging innovations, and building self-serve revenue streams that reduce CAC and boost retention.
She currently runs SBZ Growth Advisory, where she helps early-stage AI companies define their market position, attract first customers, and craft investor-ready narratives.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Product-led growth (PLG)
- Self-serve revenue engines
- Demand generation and full-funnel performance
- Positioning, messaging, and ICP development
- Brand strategy and multi-SKU expansion
- Cross-functional growth operations
- Marketing org design and scale-up strategy
Industries Served
- B2B SaaS
- AI-native startups
- Fintech and consumer lending
- Enterprise and growth-stage tech
- Martech and data platforms
How Shanee Works
Shanee describes herself as a “player-coach”, strategic at the highest level but not afraid to roll up her sleeves. She builds alignment across product, sales, data, and engineering to ensure marketing is integrated with every key function. Her leadership is defined by radical candor, experimentation, and relentless focus on impact.
She is known for driving revenue with surgical precision, whether it’s testing assumptions through lean GTM tactics, optimizing funnel performance, or designing repeatable systems for growth.
Education and Community Involvement
- BS in Econometrics – UC San Diego
- Frequent speaker and thought leader on PLG, AI marketing, and startup scale strategies
- Featured guest on multiple industry podcasts, including The CMO Podcast, FINITE, and B2B Growth Podcast
With a track record of delivering 10x revenue outcomes and building world-class marketing engines, Shanee is a standout fractional CMO for any Seattle-based or remote-first company serious about scaling fast and smart.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sbenzur
4. Javi Cano
Javi Cano is a seasoned marketing executive and fractional CMO based in the Greater Seattle area, known for building scalable demand generation engines and growth strategies that deliver results across B2B tech verticals. As the founder of Husky Creative, LLC, Javi partners with companies ranging from startups to cloud infrastructure leaders, helping them carve out market share and fuel sustainable pipeline growth.
Proven Experience in Leadership and Execution
With over 15 years in strategic marketing roles, Javi has led marketing transformations across cloud, AI, SaaS, and ecommerce. At ionstream, he managed four distinct tech brands, including launching Sotyra, an AWS MSP that achieved Select Tier Partner status within three months. He also architected the go-to-market for ionstream.ai, helping the company hit $3.3M in ARR in just 90 days.
At Mission (a CDW Company), Javi built a high-performing demand generation engine from scratch, increasing marketing-sourced bookings by 277% in one quarter. He also boosted marketing-sourced opportunities by 126% and achieved a 4.5 LTV:CAC ratio, all on a conservative digital budget.
His firm, Husky Creative, has supported the marketing strategy and acquisition-readiness of major AWS partners like Connectria and Oak Rocket.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Demand generation and performance marketing
- Cloud services, SaaS, and AI infrastructure GTM
- Executive-level marketing strategy and org design
- Digital campaign management (SEO, SEM, ABM, paid social)
- Predictive analytics, CRM integration, and funnel optimization
- Technical and thought leadership content creation
Industries Served
- B2B SaaS and tech infrastructure
- Cloud and managed services (AWS, GPUaaS)
- AI-native companies
- Ecommerce and specialized B2C
- Cybersecurity and IT solutions
How Javi Works
Javi operates at the intersection of strategy, execution, and analytics. He builds marketing programs that are not only creative but also highly measurable. From developing full-funnel demand programs to aligning with CFOs and board stakeholders, Javi focuses on ROI, sales alignment, and long-term scalability.
He’s also a hands-on leader who regularly mentors teams, drives GTM innovation, and leads with a collaborative, outcomes-first mindset. His leadership style blends operational rigor with creative experimentation.
Education and Community Involvement
- MBA, General Business – Greehey School of Business at St. Mary’s University
- BBA, Marketing – St. Mary’s University
- Speaker at CBD Expo and San Antonio Startup Week, recognized for his unique marketing insights into emerging sectors
Javi Cano is an ideal fit for growth-stage companies in Seattle and beyond seeking a data-savvy, tech-fluent fractional CMO who can translate strategy into real pipeline, revenue, and market differentiation.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jcano
5. Liz Galloway
Liz Galloway is a creative powerhouse and seasoned fractional CMO based in Seattle, with deep roots in public relations, brand storytelling, and experiential marketing. Her work spans from luxury travel and hospitality to nonprofits and adventure brands, bringing a fresh, media-savvy edge to every project she touches. Through her agency and independent roles, Liz has helped bold brands stand out with powerful narratives, immersive campaigns, and award-winning content.
Proven Experience in in Leadership and Execution
Liz has over a decade of experience leading integrated marketing and communication strategies for high-profile organizations. Her past and current clients include Airbnb’s Citizen Science initiative, TEDx productions, Clipper Round the World yacht race, Antarctic Logistics, and various luxury hospitality brands.
As a fractional CMO and creative director, Liz excels in producing visual-first campaigns and leading multi-platform brand initiatives. She also serves as the organizer for TEDxBelltown Women, where she curates thought leadership events that spotlight innovation, inclusion, and bold community voices.
Her previous leadership role as Marketing & Communications Director at UnCruise Adventures showcased her ability to align marketing strategy with sustainability, experiential travel, and high-end PR, driving visibility and engagement across international markets.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Public relations strategy and earned media
- Brand development and content storytelling
- High-impact video marketing and drone footage integration
- Event production, planning, and partnerships
- AI automation and growth marketing
- Media relations and campaign strategy
Industries Served
- Luxury and adventure travel
- Hospitality and lifestyle brands
- Nonprofits and social impact organizations
- E-commerce and wellness brands
- Experiential and event-based businesses
How Liz Works
Liz is all about blending creativity with execution. She builds campaigns that grab attention, connect emotionally, and earn real media exposure. From award-winning commercial spots to high-touch retreats and branded storytelling, she’s hands-on in every aspect of production.
She leads with intention and energy, shaping strategic direction while staying immersed in the creative process. Her ability to integrate video, digital content, and media relations ensures her clients are not only seen but remembered.
Liz’s leadership style is collaborative and transparent. She creates strong partnerships and empowers teams to produce work that reflects purpose, personality, and performance.
Education and Community Involvement
- Bachelor of Business and Hospitality, Journalism focus – AIU/SLCC/U of U
- FAA Part 107 Certified Drone Pilot
- TEDxBelltown Women Organizer and Licensee
- Advisory Board Member at The Hotel Guide
Liz Galloway is the go-to fractional CMO for adventurous, mission-driven, and media-forward brands ready to level up their voice and impact. Whether you’re launching a bold new initiative or amplifying a cause, Liz brings the strategic vision and creative firepower to get you there.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lizgalloway
6. Peter Zaballos
Peter Zaballos is a high-impact marketing executive and seasoned fractional CMO based in Seattle, known for his ability to scale disruptive technology companies and lead high-growth B2B marketing organizations. Through his work with Authentic® as an Authentic Fractional CMO™, Peter helps emerging and mid-market businesses escape the chaos of “random acts of marketing” and build strategies that drive aligned, revenue-focused growth.
Proven Experience in in Leadership and Execution
With over two decades of experience leading marketing strategy and product innovation, Peter brings a rare mix of creativity, operational discipline, and deep tech fluency. He has served as Chief Marketing Officer at companies like Qumulo and SPS Commerce, where he built and scaled global marketing teams, drove demand generation engines, and aligned product strategy with revenue outcomes.
At Qumulo, he was responsible for the company’s go-to-market planning, brand development, partner and alliance marketing, and global awareness. Prior to that, during his time at SPS Commerce, he played a pivotal role in establishing marketing as a core strategic function, expanding demand gen, and leading product strategy.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Fractional CMO leadership for scaling B2B tech companies
- Go-to-market strategy and demand generation
- Brand building and storytelling for emerging tech
- Executive team alignment and cross-functional leadership
- Building high-performance marketing organizations
- Navigating ambiguity and driving clarity through data and creativity
Industries Served
- SaaS and enterprise software
- Cloud and data infrastructure
- Omnichannel retail technology
- Marketing and martech platforms
- Disruptive and high-growth tech startups
How Peter Works
Peter’s leadership style is centered around trust, transparency, and team empowerment. He thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments where strategic clarity and hands-on execution are equally critical. His ability to anticipate market shifts and bring structured, actionable marketing programs to life makes him a valuable partner for companies navigating rapid growth or transformation.
He is a strong believer in building marketing cultures that are collaborative, performance-oriented, and creatively bold. With Authentic’s methodology, Peter combines proven frameworks with personalized insights to help companies move confidently through each stage of marketing maturity.
Education and Community Involvement
- SM, Management – MIT Sloan School of Management
- Board Member – QuickPivot and Insignia Systems
- Peer Advisor – Authentic Brand CMO community
- Active in mentoring and guiding early-stage companies and marketing leaders
Peter Zaballos is an ideal fractional CMO for Seattle-based companies looking to build scalable marketing foundations, bridge strategy and execution, and lead with purpose. Whether you’re a tech startup entering a new market or an established business repositioning for growth, Peter brings the clarity, insight, and leadership to make it happen.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/peterzaballos
7. Aditi Sinha
Aditi Sinha is a versatile and visionary fractional CMO based in Seattle, bringing a unique blend of enterprise leadership and startup agility to her marketing practice. With a career that includes leading global initiatives at Amazon and Chewy, founding her own purpose-driven fashion brand, and advising AI startups, Aditi is known for building emotionally resonant, data-backed marketing strategies that deliver lasting business impact.
Proven Experience in in Leadership and Execution
Aditi has led high-stakes marketing programs for some of the world’s most recognizable companies. At Amazon, she spearheaded global go-to-market strategies for Prime Day across 25+ countries, orchestrating integrated campaigns that spanned digital, TV, social, and onsite experiences. Her work not only drove customer acquisition and engagement but also helped redefine how major retail events are positioned and executed.
At Chewy, she directed integrated marketing strategy for key categories and events, uniting cross-functional teams to create customer experiences rooted in performance and personalization.
Aditi also serves as a fractional CMO for AdventureTripr, helping build AI-driven growth engines for tech-forward travel companies, and she is a member of the Forbes Communications Council.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Strategic go-to-market planning
- Brand storytelling and customer experience
- Enterprise event and seasonal campaign strategy
- B2C and DTC product marketing
- Retail innovation and performance marketing
- Cross-functional team leadership and stakeholder alignment
Industries Served
- E-commerce and consumer retail
- Fashion and DTC startups
- AI and travel technology
- Global enterprise marketing
- Women-led and mission-driven brands
How Aditi Works
Aditi leads with a human-first, mission-driven approach. She excels in ambiguity, often stepping into complex or chaotic environments and creating clarity through data, empathy, and strategic vision. Whether she’s leading a multi-continent product launch or mentoring her team through a startup grind, she brings passion, rigor, and storytelling to every project.
She is known for building trust across teams, creating space for debate, and aligning diverse stakeholders toward bold, shared goals. Her marketing style balances creative intuition with structured experimentation, always anchored in customer insight.
Education and Community Involvement
- MBA, Marketing and Strategy – Indian School of Business
- MA, Economics – Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
- Member – Forbes Communications Council
- Featured by Fox 13, New York Post, and The Hindu for her work with POV
Aditi Sinha is the ideal fractional CMO for Seattle-area companies and national brands seeking a marketing leader who can scale strategy, inspire teams, and bring human connection back to tech and commerce. Whether your focus is consumer growth, retail storytelling, or launching a purpose-driven brand, Aditi delivers with insight, creativity, and results.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sinhaaditi
8. Suzie Schofield
Suzie Schofield is an accomplished fractional CMO and creative director based in Seattle, with an impressive career leading award-winning marketing, branding, and experiential campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands. From Fortune 100 giants like Amazon and AT&T to niche startups and nonprofit initiatives, Suzie blends strategic vision with hands-on execution to deliver marketing that resonates, converts, and endures.
Proven Experience in in Leadership and Execution
Suzie has worked across nearly every marketing medium imaginable – from digital and social to video, experiential, and broadcast. As a former VP and senior creative director at Twenty Four 7, she led storytelling and content efforts for WarnerMedia, HBO Max, Nike, and NBA/WNBA. Her creative leadership helped secure and grow multimillion-dollar retainers while delivering campaigns that set new benchmarks for engagement and sales.
In her recent role as a fractional CMO for Verity Credit Union, Suzie directed brand strategy, mentored remote teams, and oversaw integrated campaigns focused on full-funnel performance. Her ability to unify messaging, visuals, and team alignment under one cohesive strategy makes her a sought-after partner for organizations ready to grow, evolve, or reposition.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Brand strategy and storytelling
- Integrated campaign development
- Experiential and digital marketing
- Cross-functional creative leadership
- Content development for TV, video, social, and interactive
- Marketing for consumer goods, tech, entertainment, and finance
Industries Served
- Entertainment, media, and streaming
- Sports and fitness
- Financial services and credit unions
- Tech and telecommunications
- Retail, lifestyle, and consumer brands
- Nonprofits and mission-led organizations
How Suzie Works
Suzie leads with a combination of creative passion and business pragmatism. She thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where collaboration, curiosity, and clarity drive results. Whether she’s scripting a Super Bowl–worthy video campaign, designing a brand book from scratch, or guiding a team through a rebrand, Suzie stays focused on impact and authenticity.
She builds teams that trust each other, empowers stakeholders across disciplines, and encourages data-backed decision-making that doesn’t sacrifice creativity. Known for her energy, empathy, and relentless standards, Suzie elevates both the work and the people behind it.
Education and Community Involvement
- BA in Public Relations and Advertising – Marquette University
- Winner – 9 Clio Entertainment Awards (2021) including 1 Grand and 2 Gold
- Honored – Communication Arts Interactive Annual, SHOP! Design Awards
- Board Service – American Parkinson Disease Association, CAMFED
Suzie Schofield is the ideal fractional CMO for Seattle-based businesses and national brands seeking a blend of visionary thinking and grounded execution. Whether you’re launching a new product, rebranding an organization, or leveling up your marketing campaigns, Suzie brings the leadership and creative firepower to make it unforgettable.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/suzieschofield
9. Natalie Banks
Natalie Banks is a globally experienced fractional CMO based in Seattle, celebrated for her creative agility, strategic clarity, and ability to lead high-impact brand marketing across B2B and B2C sectors. With a powerhouse portfolio that includes Amazon Web Services (AWS), T-Mobile, L’Oréal, and Procter & Gamble, Natalie blends enterprise rigor with entrepreneurial energy to deliver marketing programs that elevate brand value and drive measurable business growth.
Proven Experience in in Leadership and Execution
Across two decades and several continents, Natalie has consistently delivered standout results in brand storytelling, product launches, integrated media, and performance marketing. At AWS, she led brand advertising across North America, APAC, and EMEA, producing campaigns that raised brand awareness by up to 10 points in competitive markets like France, Germany, and Japan. Her AWS x Clarins campaign broke ground by leveraging blockchain to showcase product traceability, aligning tech with beauty innovation.
At T-Mobile, Natalie created and launched two custom podcasts, This Time Tomorrow and The Restless Ones, amassing over 46 million brand impressions and achieving a +9-point jump in awareness. She also drove full-funnel media strategies across TV, digital, and OOH channels during a pivotal pre-Super Bowl campaign.
At L’Oréal, she led the post-acquisition marketing strategy for Clarisonic, including a partnership with artist Keith Haring that won Oprah’s “Best Holiday Gift” accolade and sold out online in under 24 hours. Her diverse experience spans everything from enterprise tech to retail beauty, and she thrives in complex, fast-paced environments where cross-functional alignment is key.
Key Areas of Expertise
- Global brand advertising and campaign development
- B2B and B2C marketing strategy
- Go-to-market planning and product launches
- Multi-channel media and creative leadership
- Cross-functional team management and agency orchestration
- Brand development, repositioning, and performance optimization
Industries Served
- Cloud computing and enterprise technology
- Telecommunications and mobile networks
- Consumer packaged goods (CPG) and personal care
- Luxury and lifestyle brands
- Podcasts, media, and creative content
How Natalie Works
Natalie is a storyteller and strategist who excels at finding the emotional hook in complex brand narratives. She leads with both data and empathy, ensuring campaigns connect with real audiences while meeting tough KPIs. Her marketing playbook combines disciplined planning with bold execution, and she is known for empowering teams to think creatively while staying aligned on business goals.
She works equally well in high-budget, multinational settings and in resource-constrained startup environments. Her leadership style is collaborative, insightful, and deeply human.
Education and Community Involvement
- Bachelor’s Degree in European Studies – Vanderbilt University
- T-Mobile Peak Nominee – Top 1% recognition
- Oprah’s Best Holiday Gift – Clarisonic x Keith Haring campaign
Natalie Banks is the ideal fractional CMO for businesses seeking a blend of global brand discipline and local execution excellence. Whether you’re launching in new markets, repositioning post-acquisition, or developing breakthrough campaigns across digital and traditional channels, Natalie brings a rare combination of strategy, creativity, and executional strength.
Contacts
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nembanks
Why Hiring a Fractional CMO Makes Sense in Seattle
Seattle’s business scene is unique. From fast-growing tech startups to creative agencies and service-based companies, there’s a wide mix of industries here. And for many of these businesses, hiring a full-time executive just isn’t the right move, at least not yet. That’s where a fractional CMO comes in.
Cost-Effective Marketing Leadership
Hiring a full-time CMO in Seattle can cost well into six figures. For small to mid-sized companies, that’s a major expense. A fractional CMO gives you the leadership you need at a fraction of the cost, so you can spend more of your budget on actual marketing.
Scalable and Flexible Support
Seattle companies often move fast, and needs change quickly. Fractional CMOs offer flexibility, whether you need them for a few hours a week or to lead a major launch. You can scale their involvement up or down without being locked into a full-time salary.
Access to Senior-Level Talent
Fractional CMOs are usually seasoned pros with years of experience in different industries. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. For Seattle businesses that want to compete in crowded markets, this kind of insight is invaluable.
Local Knowledge with Broader Perspective
Many fractional CMOs based in Seattle understand the local market, what appeals to customers here, what the competition looks like, and how to stand out. At the same time, they often bring experience from national or global brands, giving you a well-rounded perspective.
Faster Results, Less Overhead
With a fractional CMO, you don’t have to spend months onboarding or training. They’re used to jumping in, identifying what’s missing, and getting things moving fast. This is perfect for Seattle businesses that need momentum but don’t have time to waste.
How to Choose the Right Fractional CMO
Finding the right fractional CMO isn’t just about who has the best resume. It’s about finding someone who understands your business, fits your team, and can drive real results. Here’s how to make a smart choice:
1. Know What You Need
Before you start searching, get clear on what you’re looking for. Do you need someone to build a strategy from scratch? Manage a team? Fix your brand positioning? The better you understand your goals, the easier it’ll be to find someone who’s the right fit.
2. Look for Relevant Experience
Every CMO has their strengths. Some are great with startups, others with B2B companies or consumer brands. Try to find someone who’s worked in your industry or tackled similar challenges before. Ask for examples or case studies to see what they’ve done.
3. Check for Strategic Thinking
You don’t just want a doer, you want someone who can think big. A great fractional CMO should be able to see the full picture, connect the dots, and build a plan that aligns with your business goals. Ask how they approach strategy and what their process looks like.
4. Make Sure They’re a Good Communicator
You’ll be working closely with this person, so communication is key. Are they clear and direct? Do they listen well and ask good questions? Strong communication helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps your marketing on track.
5. Consider Culture Fit
Even if someone is highly skilled, they won’t be effective if they don’t click with your team. Look for someone who fits your company vibe, whether you’re laid-back, fast-paced, super structured, or totally creative.
6. Understand Their Availability
Some fractional CMOs work with multiple clients at once. Be upfront about your expectations and ask how much time they can realistically commit. Make sure they have the bandwidth to give your business the attention it deserves.
Conclusion
Seattle is full of dynamic, fast-moving businesses that need marketing leadership without the long-term cost or complexity of a full-time executive. That’s where fractional CMOs come in. Whether you’re looking to scale your startup, reposition your brand, or finally get serious about strategic marketing, these experts bring the experience, creativity, and leadership needed to drive real results. From tech and e-commerce to finance and nonprofits, the fractional CMOs featured here have proven they know how to deliver, and they’re ready to help your business grow.
FAQ
Fractional CMOs are ideal for startups, mid-size businesses, nonprofits, or any company in transition that needs senior marketing expertise but isn’t ready to hire a full-time executive.
If your marketing feels disjointed, you’re not sure what’s working, or your team lacks senior leadership, it might be time to bring in a fractional CMO. They can offer clarity, strategic direction, and hands-on support to move your business forward.
Most fractional CMOs are flexible. Some prefer hybrid or in-person work if local to Seattle, while others are fully remote and still highly effective thanks to structured communication and strong processes.
Engagements can last anywhere from 3 months to over a year, depending on the business goals. Some stay on for a set project, while others work long-term in an ongoing leadership role.
