Fractional CxOs Get Our Undivided Attention - Michelle Caldwell
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Release Date: 01/28/2025
The Introvert’s Guide to Influence - Crissy Conner
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Crissy Conner, founder of the Visible CEO movement, about the complexities of developing leadership careers for women amidst gender bias. They discuss the importance of visibility, authenticity, and overcoming fear in order to succeed in leadership roles. Crissy shares her journey of becoming a visibility strategist and emphasizes the need for women to embrace their...
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Building Delight: Inside Microsoft Product Management
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty speaks with Sean Squires, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, about the evolving landscape of software development, particularly in the realm of content management and AI. They discuss the challenges posed by the massive data explosion, the role of AI in enhancing content findability, and the importance of customer empathy in product management. Sean shares insights into the...
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Not Too Big, Not Too Small – TechCon is Just Right - David Wilhelm
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Summary In this conversation, Chris McNulty and David Wilhelm discuss the challenges of AI adoption in enterprises, emphasizing the importance of training and expertise. They explore the evolution of TechCon 365, highlighting the benefits of mid-sized tech events, community engagement, and the diversity of attendees. The discussion also covers the direct engagement opportunities available at these events and the upcoming...
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Bots to Books to Bucks – The AI Revenue Flywheel - Zack Zeller
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Generative AI is reshaping the business world by accelerating sales and customer engagement. In this episode of Polaris, Zack Zeller shares how thought leadership and engaging content can fuel the AI-powered revenue flywheel. From practical frameworks to emotional resonance in marketing, Zack explores how AI can amplify authenticity, streamline content creation, and drive meaningful business outcomes. 📌 Key Takeaways AI as a Catalyst: AI is not just a tool—it’s a catalyst for deeper customer connections and more efficient marketing systems. The Revenue Flywheel: Thought leadership and...
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The Wonderful World of Mark Kashman
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. Summary In this episode of Polaris, Mark Kashman and Chris McNulty explore the evolution of the Microsoft 365 community, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement. They discuss the role of internal advocates in technology adoption, the excitement surrounding new features, and the value of the TechCommunity. The conversation also touches on automation, collaboration, and the significance of events like the...
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Strategy Unplugged: Dialogues with Dr. John Hillen
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty engages with Dr. John Hillen, author of 'The Strategy Dialogues', to explore the complexities of business strategy. They discuss the common misunderstandings surrounding strategy, the importance of dialogue in strategy development, and how to bring strategic thinking into everyday business practices. Dr. Hillen emphasizes the need for clear definitions of strategy, the distinction...
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Transform the Future at The M365 Community Conference - Jeff Teper
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Join us as Jeff Teper and Karuana Gatimu discuss how to transform your future at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference (“M365CC”), highlighting key innovations and offering insights into what attendees can expect at this year's event. Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. Synozur reimagines business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. References Any time we speak with Jeff and Karuana, you can expect a fairly extensive reference and reading list. News and Data Live events are back. According to , after most...
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The Productivity Paradox: Handling More with Less - Mr. Productivity
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company. We reimagine business for our clients, navigating the complexities of transformation and strategy with ease. In this episode, Mark Struczewski, known as Mr. Productivity, discusses the challenges of maintaining focus in a world filled with distractions, particularly the impact of attention residue. He emphasizes the importance of effective meetings, personal definitions of success, and the hidden forms of procrastination that can hinder productivity. Mark also highlights the role of AI as a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and...
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AI Realities: More Than Meets the Avatar - Michael Cutajar
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
Polaris is a production of – the transformation company, navigating the complexities of strategy and planning with ease. In this conversation, Chris McNulty and Michael Cutajar explore the transformative potential of AI-powered interactive avatars in business. Michael is the CEO and founder of They discuss the current state of the digital avatar market, the capabilities of avatars, and the challenges of customer acceptance. Michael shares insights on how avatars can enhance customer experiences, the ethical considerations surrounding their use, and the importance of understanding customer...
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Project Runway: The Path to Delivery Excellence with Michelle Boyd
Polaris Pathways - a Synozur podcast
In this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty and Michelle Boyd discuss the importance of delivery excellence in project management. They explore the definitions of projects and delivery management, common misconceptions, and the significance of methodologies like Agile and Waterfall. The conversation highlights the role of kickoff meetings, tools, and templates in ensuring successful project delivery, as well as strategies for rescuing troubled projects. They also touch on the impact of technology and AI on project management and share insights from successful deliveries. Takeaways Delivery...
info_outlineIn this episode of Polaris, Chris McNulty and Michelle Caldwell discuss the emerging trend of fractional leadership, particularly the role of fractional CxOs. They explore the reasons behind the rise of these roles, including the impact of the pandemic, the mass resignation trend, and the increasing acceptance of remote work. Michelle shares insights on the benefits of fractional leadership, such as flexibility and access to top talent, as well as the importance of defining success and cultural fit. The conversation also touches on the risks associated with fractional roles and how organizations can effectively engage fractional leaders.
Keywords
fractional leadership, CXOs, remote work, business transformation, talent acquisition, organizational strategy, executive roles, innovation, consulting, Synozur
Takeaways
- Fractional leaders provide strategic expertise without long-term commitment.
- The mass resignation trend has led to talent shortages.
- Remote work has made fractional roles more acceptable.
- Cross-industry exposure enhances innovation and creativity.
- Cultural fit is crucial for fractional leadership effectiveness.
- Fractional roles can help organizations test fit before full-time commitment.
- Fractional leaders often bring fresh perspectives and energy.
Sound Bites
- "We can find talent anywhere in the world."
- "Cultural fit is super important."
- "Fractional leadership is about flexibility."
References
The West Wing John Spencer played Leo McGarry, Chief of Staff for President Josiah Bartlet on the NBC drama.
Simon’s Sinek’s podcast, A Bit of Optimism | An inspiring podcast with Simon Sinek can be found on most major podcast platforms.
Events
- "SharePoint: From Concept to Creation to Impact + Live AMA" webinar with Jeff Teper | Jan. 29, 2025, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
- 2025 Trends Shaping Knowledge. Sponsored by ClearPeople, Katya Linossi, their CEO will host Marjan Hermkes (LIME), Barry Byrne (Novartis & the Knowledge Summit) and Chris McNulty (Synozur) to look ahead at knowledge, AI use cases, technology trends and more. January 30 at 8AM PST, 11AM EST.
- M365 Miami 2025 | Feb. 6-7, 2025
- Microsoft 365 Community Conference | May 5-8, 2025 (Vegas) Jeff Teper and Jared Spataro will be keynoting from Microsoft, along with many other speakers from Microsoft, Synozur, partners, customers and more.
- TechCon 365 Seattle | June 23-27, 2025 Synozur will be sponsoring and speaking at TechCon 365 Seattle.
Credits
Polaris is produced with the help of our friends at Riverside.fm. Our theme song, “Alternative Dream” is provided courtesy of Adobe.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fractional CXOs
09:15 The Rise of Fractional Leadership
18:13 Defining Success in Fractional Roles
24:16 Synozur's Approach to CxOs
26:02 Retaining Fractional Talent
27:23 Things to know
28:14 Recommended Content
29:33 Upcoming Events in 2025
31:42 Wrap Up and Thank You