FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Brand Botany Executive Marketing Leadership
Considering a Fractional CMO or strategic marketing support?
This FAQ section covers some of the most common questions I receive from founders, CEOs, and investors evaluating the right path forward. Whether you're seeking hands-on leadership or high-level advisory, you'll find clarity on what to expect and how I work as a seasoned marketing leader. If your question isn’t covered here or you’d like to discuss your specific needs, feel free to schedule a Discovery call.
✺ Is this the Right Fit? ✺
-
There are a few signs. You might be growing but lack a clear strategy. You may have agencies or a junior team in place, but you're not sure how to get the best out of them. Or maybe you’re investing in marketing without seeing the traction you expected. I also hear from founders who are planning for the next stage of growth and want more than brand storytelling or channel management. They want a partner who understands how to link marketing to business performance — from financial targets to team structure to ROI. That’s where I come in. I bring a commercially grounded, brand-building approach to help you focus your resources and move with clarity.
-
Most brands that benefit from a Fractional CMO have at least $5 million in annual revenue and are already investing in marketing. At that stage, they usually have some internal or external support in place but need senior leadership to help drive strategy and results. If you're earlier in your journey or not quite ready for that level of engagement, we can explore a project-based or Executive Marketing Advisor option instead.
-
My background spans beauty, personal care, wellness, home, and CPG. I’ve led global marketing for iconic brands at Revlon, L’Oréal, and P&G. I’ve also built and run a DTC ecommerce business. Today, I partner most often with consumer brands looking to scale in omnichannel retail environments.
-
Yes. I’ve supported brands during capital-raising milestones, including helping founders refine their positioning and build a more investor-ready growth plan. Whether you're preparing for increased distribution, team expansion, or pressure-testing your marketing strategy, I can help bring structure and strategic focus.
✺ Service Options & Structure ✺
-
The biggest difference is in how hands-on I get. As a Fractional CMO, I act as a senior member of your team. I help lead internal efforts, manage agency relationships, and guide execution. With the Executive Marketing Advisor option, I focus on strategic counsel and planning. We meet regularly, but I’m not involved in day-to-day execution. While an advisor engagement can work for a brand of any size, smaller teams often start here before stepping into a more involved partnership.
-
Absolutely. Some clients begin with a short-term project or advisory engagement and then shift into a more hands-on partnership as their needs evolve. If your business enters a new growth phase or you want deeper support, we can revisit the scope at any time.
-
It depends on what your business needs, but I usually recommend a minimum commitment of three months. That gives us time to make meaningful progress and avoid stop-start distractions. Some clients bring me in for a specific growth stage or transition, while others continue longer for ongoing leadership and support.
-
Most brands work with me in this capacity for at least two to three months, but some continue for a year or more. It depends on what kind of support you need and how your business evolves. Some founders come in with a specific challenge to work through. Others want ongoing strategic counsel as they grow. This option works well if you're looking for senior-level thinking without needing full-time support.
✺ Strategic Approach & Point of View ✺
-
As a Fractional CMO, I step in with senior-level support so you can move faster and stay focused, without committing to long-term overhead before it makes sense. I use my BrandView360™ framework to assess the full picture — from market dynamics to team structure to operational realities. From there, I help define clear growth objectives and build the strategy and tactical plan to deliver against them. Everything is tied to business priorities and financial outcomes. It’s not just about marketing execution. It’s about making sure every move supports where the business is going.
-
My role is deeply cross-functional. I’m not just leading the brand — I’m working alongside the executives responsible for Sales, Finance, and Operations to make sure our plans are fully aligned. That includes partnering with Finance to tie marketing investment to business goals, working with Sales to support revenue targets across channels, and collaborating with Operations on everything from inventory planning to supply chain implications.
I’ve led $800M+ businesses as a P&L owner, so I don’t treat marketing as a silo. I think like a General Manager. That perspective shapes how I engage across the business and how I show up as part of the leadership team. -
A strong marketing plan isn’t just a calendar of tactics. It reflects the strategy behind your brand, your business goals, your resourcing reality, and the role marketing needs to play at this specific stage. I help brands define what success looks like, then build a strategy, budget, and activation plan that supports it. A fit-for-purpose plan doesn’t try to do everything. It focuses on the things that actually move the business forward.
-
I play a leadership role in major creative decisions, especially those tied to brand positioning, messaging, and campaign development. My job is to make sure creative aligns with the strategy we’ve established for the brand and that it supports your broader business goals. I care deeply about how your brand shows up. I’ve worked with agencies, internal teams, and freelancers, and I know how to get the most from each. My role is to bring strategic direction and make sure the creative is doing its job.
✺ Working Together ✺
-
Yes. I frequently collaborate with founders and internal teams who already have agencies or specialists in place. My role is to bring strategic clarity, unify efforts, and ensure that all tactics support the brand’s goals. If you’re already working with a media agency, PR firm, or creative partner, I’ll plug in accordingly.