Interview with Martina Šmídová, Fractional COO, on how she turns chaos into sustainable growth for startups and service-based companies, providing clarity, scalable strategies, and rapid impact.
Martina Šmídová is a Fractional COO with a proven record of scaling startups and service-based companies across Europe and Southeast Asia. With over 10+ years of experience in operations, sales, and leadership, she specializes in helping visionary founders build systems that grow without chaos. Martina has led cross-functional teams, implemented scalable processes, and partnered with CEOs to turn fast growth into sustainable performance. Based in Thailand, she works globally with marketing agencies, SaaS startups, and service-based founders.
Fractional Insider: How was your transition from a traditional career to fractional leadership/consulting?
Martina Šmídová: It happened naturally. I had been freelancing with startups for years, building systems, managing teams, and setting up KPIs. At some point, I realized I was already operating like a fractional leader: stepping into companies, fixing the chaos, and leaving them with structure. The only difference was that now it had a name “Fractional COO.”
Fractional Insider: What attracted you most to this model, and what challenges did it bring?
Martina Šmídová: I love variety and impact. Working with multiple founders keeps me sharp, every business has unique problems to solve. The challenge? You need to adapt fast. There’s no onboarding manual. You step in and create clarity from day one.
Fractional Insider: How do you choose the projects and clients you work with?
Martina Šmídová: I look for energy and alignment.
- Fast-growing founders who know they need help.
- Teams ready to implement.
Businesses that have product-market fit but lack structure.
If the founder is open-minded and execution-driven, we’ll make things happen.
Fractional Insider: Tell us about a moment when you had a major impact as a fractional leader.
Martina Šmídová: At one agency, delivery was falling apart missed deadlines, burned-out team, unhappy clients. Within 60 days, I built a delivery system, introduced performance tracking, and restructured client onboarding. Within a quarter, client retention increased by 30% and the founder finally took a weekend off. That’s impact.
Fractional Insider: What are the main differences between being a full-time executive and a fractional one?
Martina Šmídová: As a full-time executive, you live inside the company. As a fractional, you bring the outside perspective. You focus on solving the right problems fast, without the politics or routine. You’re there to create transformation, not just management.
Fractional Insider: How do you explain the value of a fractional leader to a skeptical CEO?
Martina Šmídová: I tell them this:
“You don’t need a full-time COO, you need results. I bring the systems, strategy, and accountability without the overhead. You get senior-level expertise at the speed and flexibility your business needs.”
Fractional Insider: What are the most common mistakes companies make when working with fractionals?
- Martina Šmídová: Expecting execution without access or trust.
- Not integrating the fractional into their leadership rhythm.
Fractionals perform best when they’re treated as part of the team.
Fractional Insider: How do you see this career model evolving in the coming years?
Martina Šmídová: Fractional work is becoming the new executive norm. Startups and even mid-sized companies want expertise on demand, not payroll burden. In 3–5 years, having a fractional COO or CMO will be as common as having a part-time CFO today.
Fractional Insider: What advice would you give to a senior professional considering becoming fractional?
Martina Šmídová: Don’t sell your time but sell your transformation.
Define your zone of genius, package it, and show results. You’re a quick fix, you’re a strategic partner who helps founders scale sustainably.
Martina Šmídová’s story demonstrates how fractional leadership can turn chaos into sustainable growth, delivering clarity and rapid results for startups and service-based companies.
