Growth Insights for CEOs

From Economic Insight to Growth Strategy: What CEOs Should Do Now
At our most recent CEO Growth Talks, I spoke with Taylor St. Germaine, Senior Economist at ITR Economics. The timing couldn’t have been better — the latest GDP numbers had just been released, and Taylor broke down what they mean for CEOs planning growth.
As always, ITR brought a clear and fact-based perspective. The economy is growing. Consumer spending is strong. And while some industries are facing headwinds, opportunities abound for leaders who are ready to act.
But the real question for CEOs isn’t just what the economy looks like. It’s: how do you prepare your business to grow in this environment — and the one coming next?
Recent Posts

Five Key Signals CEOs Need a Fractional CRO: Accelerating Growth for Mid-Market Companies, Part 2
Wed, Dec 11, 2024 — Our previous blog explored five key signals indicating when mid-market CEOs should consider hiring a fractional chief revenue officer (CRO). These signals included stagnant growth, entering new markets, preparing for funding rounds, misalignment across revenue functions, and scaling beyond founder-led sales. Let's delve into two additional critical scenarios where a fractional CRO can provide invaluable expertise and support.

Mastering Marketing Performance to Drive Growth, Brand Strength, and Results
Fri, Dec 6, 2024 — Here are several strategies and tactics CEOs can leverage to: Recapture Growth Improve Performance Build Brand Strength Get Better Results in 2025

Combining Passion and Expertise for Effective Nonprofit Leadership
Wed, Dec 4, 2024 — In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, Pete Hayes interviews Michael Waxman-Lenz, CEO of the American Technion Society, who reflects on his shift from corporate to nonprofit leadership. He stresses the need to modernize philanthropic approaches and shares valuable insights on managing crises, adapting to generational shifts, and integrating corporate metrics with mission-focused, trust-building practices. He also underscores the significance of mission-driven initiatives, effective management, and fostering open communication as vital for success across various sectors in today's changing landscape. See full video here.
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Five Key Signals CEOs Need a Fractional CRO: Accelerating Growth for Mid-Market Companies
Tue, Dec 3, 2024 — For mid-market CEOs, navigating growth can feel like walking a tightrope. There's immense pressure to scale the company, optimize revenue streams, and hit ambitious targets without overextending resources or risking quality. While some companies have full-time Chief Revenue Officers (CROs) to spearhead these initiatives, others find that hiring a CRO on a fractional basis provides the right mix of expertise, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.

Creating a Strategic Mindset Within Your Sales Organization
Tue, Dec 3, 2024 — By cultivating a strategic mindset within your sales organization, you can drive customer-centric selling practices, create long-term value for the company and its customers, and position your organization for a sustained competitive advantage and growth. A strategic mindset helps align the sales team's activities and priorities with the company's long-term vision, mission, and objectives. This alignment ensures that the sales efforts contribute to the overall success and growth of the organization.

Top 10 Ways CEOs Can Improve Sales & Marketing Alignment
Mon, Nov 25, 2024 — Close Collaboration Ensures Go-to-Market Success A survey conducted by Chief Outsiders among mid-market companies found that nearly one-third of C-suite executives noted a misalignment between their Sales and Marketing teams. Further, only one-third of that group reported that their Sales and Marketing teams were working toward a common set of goals.

Why Hiring a Fractional CMO or CSO Isn’t Always the Right Solution
Wed, Sep 18, 2024 — Over the past several years there’s been an explosion of companies turning to fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief Sales Officers (CSOs). Why? For their expertise and flexibility. They offer high-impact strategic guidance and operational support without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire. But while fractional executives are incredibly valuable, they might not always be the best fit for every organization at every point in time. In this article, I’ll dive into why a fractional CMO or CSO might not always be the right solution and how it compares to the value of a permanent executive.

Beyond Leadership: Exploring Business Performance and Culture
Tue, Sep 17, 2024 — In the latest CEO Growth Talks episode, Pete Hayes interviews Kyle Buckett, CSDO and Co-Founder of Stealth Energy Startup, Co-Founder of Culture Force, and author of “Leadership is Overrated.” Kyle advocates for self-led teams and a culture of collaboration, drawing on his Navy SEAL experience. He emphasizes that empowering teams and improving culture are crucial for long-term success and employee satisfaction. See full video here.

Consider These Six Focus Areas Now to Secure Market Success in 2023
Thu, Jan 12, 2023 — By: Rich DePencier and Scott Wright After the bubbly has lost its fizz, and the first quarter is – ready or not – swinging into motion, thousands of SMB owners, founders, and CEOs are looking to encourage and cajole their senior leadership to finalize their 2023 plans. But, framed against the backdrop of economic headwinds, hiring challenges, and political headlines, this year’s planning process is taking on a whole new sense of urgency. Rather than mapping out a strategy for maintaining the status quo or eking out incremental growth, it is clear that 2023 requires a dig-deep mentality. The question you may be asking as you face what’s to come is: What is my company’s next “big idea” -- and how will I get the team to achieve a loftier set of goals?