Explore Teodora Adamache’s experience in fractional leadership and strategic marketing, helping companies grow and achieve measurable results through tailored consulting and strategies.
Teodora Adamache is a strategic consultant and fractional marketing leader, specializing in developing digital visibility and communication systems that support organizational growth. Through See First Marketing, Teodora works with companies across various sectors, helping them align their business objectives with marketing strategies and achieve measurable results.
Fractional Insider: How was your transition from a traditional career to fractional leadership/consulting?
Teodora Adamache: My transition was a mix of professional maturation and personal clarification. I worked for many years in marketing and communications—in agencies, on complex projects, in execution and coordination roles—and gradually realized that I wanted a way of working that would allow me to contribute where I could have the greatest impact, without the constraints of a traditional full-time role.
For me, fractional means the freedom to work with organizations that truly need my expertise and are ready to make real changes. The transition wasn’t abrupt; it was rather organic: I built my expertise first, then shaped it into a flexible format adapted to the current needs of companies.
Fractional Insider: What attracted you most to this model, and what challenges did it bring?
Teodora Adamache: What attracted me most was the possibility to intervene where it really matters: in strategy, structure, and digital visibility. The fractional model allows for a rare balance: deep contribution, but with an external perspective, unaffected by internal inertia.
The challenge has been—and still is—educating the market. Many companies are excited by the idea but don’t yet understand the difference between “someone part-time in marketing” and a strategic fractional leader. It’s a crucial nuance: a fractional leader doesn’t replace an executor; they create direction, activate systems, and optimize performance.
Fractional Insider: How do you choose the projects and clients you collaborate with?
Teodora Adamache: I have three simple criteria:
- There is a real ambition for growth. I don’t just work on “checking tasks off,” but on transformation.
- We can build a clear strategy together. Without clarity, there are no results.
- Values are compatible. If the entrepreneur’s or team’s vision conflicts with the way I work, I don’t force the collaboration.
I choose projects as if I am becoming part of the team for the medium term. If I feel I can truly contribute, I move forward.
Fractional Insider: Tell us about a moment when you had a major impact as a fractional leader.
Teodora Adamache: A defining moment for me was when I helped a local company clarify its positioning in a highly competitive market. They had an excellent offering, but it wasn’t reflected in how they communicated. We worked together on a complete repositioning: we redefined key messages, built an authentic differentiator, and created a content architecture that reflected the brand’s maturity.
Within a few months, market feedback changed radically: the company began to be perceived as a mature, trustworthy player, and the sales team immediately noticed the difference in discussions with potential clients. It was one of those moments when the value of an external perspective and a coherent strategy becomes evident.
Fractional Insider: What are the main differences between being a full-time executive and a fractional one?
Teodora Adamache: The central difference is the type of influence.
As a full-time executive, you are there every day, part of all processes, with full operational responsibility.
As a fractional leader, you have strategic and directional responsibility without being caught in internal mechanisms that can consume time and energy. You have greater clarity, see things from a distance, and can be much more effective in decision-making.
Additionally, a fractional leader is not “reduced workforce.” It’s compressed leadership, focused on results and change.
Fractional Insider: How do you explain the value of a fractional leader to a skeptical CEO?
Teodora Adamache: I would say: “A fractional leader is for your company what an experienced surgeon is for a critical patient: they are not in the hospital every day, but they intervene exactly where their expertise makes the difference.”
A fractional reduces risks, provides direction, optimizes resources, and accelerates results—without the cost of a full-time executive in periods where such a commitment isn’t necessary.
In short: you pay for clarity and decision-making, not physical presence.
Fractional Insider: What are the most common mistakes companies make when working with fractionals?
Teodora Adamache: The most common mistakes are:
- Thinking the fractional is “a short-term implementer.” They are not.
- Not defining the role and objectives clearly. Without these benchmarks, the collaboration can lose direction.
- Not involving key internal people. A fractional needs a receptive internal team.
- Expecting immediate results without restructuring processes or messages.
A fractional can bring real transformation, but only if the organization is ready to work in partnership.
Fractional Insider: How do you see the evolution of this career model in the coming years?
Teodora Adamache: I believe the fractional model is just beginning in Romania. As companies become more cost-conscious and aware of the need for specialized expertise, fractional roles will become standard—especially in marketing, finance, digital, and strategy.
In general, I expect to see: professionalization of the market; increased demand for cross-industry experienced leaders; and tighter integration between fractional leadership and AI tools.
For many companies, a fractional will become “the right executive at the right time.”
Fractional Insider: What advice would you give to a senior professional considering becoming fractional?
Teodora Adamache: Start with a simple question: “What can I do better than the market average?”
Then build your offer around this superior skill. Fractional doesn’t mean being “available”; it means being excellent in a specific type of impact.
I recommend developing: a clear niche, your own process, a solid reputation, and a network that will recommend you.
It’s a model that brings freedom and professional satisfaction, but it requires discipline, trust, and a lot of responsibility.
Teodora Adamache’s experience demonstrates how a fractional leader can turn strategy and digital visibility into a competitive advantage.
