A SELF-PACED ONLINE COURSE WITH SIMON WAKEMAN –
ESTABLISHED FRACTIONAL LEADER & COO
Leave your corporate job behind to become a successful fractional executive!
Build your confidence. Develop a winning proposition. Learn to sell yourself.
The Fractional Executive Launchpad gives you everything you need in 90 days to start your fractional career. You’ll learn from Simon Wakeman – an experienced successful fractional leader. Enjoy the freedom, flexibility and variety that comes with being a fractional executive.
QUIZ: IS FRACTIONAL EXECUTIVE LAUNCHPAD FOR YOU?
Are you frustrated and burnt out?
If you feel undervalued and exhausted from endless fire-fighting and office politics at work, there’s a better way to use your skills without sacrificing your wellbeing and happiness.
If any of these sound familiar…then The Fractional Executive Launchpad was made for you!
I have learnt much from Simon’s insights and experience through his excellent course. He is someone who has clearly proven himself at the COO level and then become a pioneer of how to adapt to a fractional way of working, showing how to remain indispensable to a company while restructuring your professional routine.
YOUR FRACTIONAL EXECUTIVE LAUNCHPAD INSTRUCTOR
Created by Simon Wakeman – #1 fractional COO on Google since 2023
I left my corporate job behind in January 2023 to become a successful fractional executive. I now work globally with founders of rapid growth businesses enjoying the flexibility and variety of fractional work. I created this course to share the playbooks I developed building my fractional business. See more about my work at www.simonwakeman.com or on LinkedIn.
ALL new fractional execs face the samE 6 problems
BUILDING THEIR GENUINE PERSONAL BRAND
They struggle to show their expertise and personality to attract potential clients in way that feels authentic while also standing out from other fractionals and consultants.
CREATING A FRACTIONAL PROPOSITION
They’ve spent years working within different companies, but now struggle to see how to articulate their value proposition in a way that resonates with potential fractional clients.
LEARNING TO SELL THEMSELVES WITH CONFIDENCE
They don’t know where to start when speaking with potential clients. They don’t have the skills to qualify potential clients, interrogate their needs and write proposals that win work.
KNOWING HOW MUCH TO CHARGE THEIR CLIENTS
They’re torn between charging what they’re worth and undercutting themselves just to land new clients, leading to constant second-guessing and missed revenue.
THE VARIABILITY OF FRACTIONAL INCOME
They’re uncomfortable with the risk of moving from a regular salary to less predictable income, while still needing to meet the same financial commitments at home.
HAVING THE CONFIDENCE TO GET STARTED
They don’t have a clear plan for making the leap to the world of fractional working, making the transition seem a lot harder and more scary than it needs to be.
In The Fractional Executive Launchpad I show you how to tackle all of these – one by one.
I’m in the middle of building my own version of the fractional dream and seeing how Simon has done it reminds me that it’s actually possible. I often think of that when things feel a bit overwhelming. I loved how open and real he was in the course – it made a big difference.
THE BIGGEST MISTAKES NEW FRACTIONAL EXECS MAKE
Mistake #1: Creating a “corporate clone” personal brand
Most executives simply copy and paste their corporate CV into their LinkedIn profile and wonder why new clients aren’t lining up at their door. They list impressive titles and responsibilities without translating how that expertise solves specific problems for specific businesses. Their content reads like a sterile job application and falls flat.
The result? Months of invisibility in the fractional market as potential clients scroll past another generic “experienced executive” profile. By the time they realise their positioning isn’t working, they’ve wasted valuable momentum and often resort to undercharging just to get work.
What successful fractional execs do instead: They develop a distinct point of view that becomes their signature approach, sharing content that showcases their approach, expertise and experience.
Mistake #2: Getting into the “just take any client” spiral
The second thing that new fractional executives get wrong is to panic at the first sign of an empty calendar. It’s an understandable human reaction. But then they lower their standards, accept clients outside their expertise and discount their rates just to secure work. This leads to misaligned engagements where they’re overworked, undervalued and unable to deliver their best results. That’s not the fractional life they wanted.
The result? A chaotic client portfolio that drains their energy. It gives them pretty mediocre case studies rather than glowing references and can be a hard pattern to break out of. What started as a path to freedom becomes another form of burn-out, just with more bosses instead of one.
What successful fractional execs do instead: They define their ideal client profile before they need clients, they create a qualification process that screens for good fit and can confidently say “no” to opportunities that don’t fit with their expertise and value proposition.
Mistake #3: Not recognising you’re creating a “business of one”
It took me nine months to spot this one on my fractional journey. It’s when new fractional executives fail to build the systems they need for client acquisition, delivery and retention. Without treating their fractional practice as a one-person business, they lack the infrastructure to scale beyond a couple of clients or to deal with the inevitable ebb and flow of the fractional market.
The result? Constant anxiety about where the next client will come from, inconsistent cash flow that makes financial planning impossible and not being able to work efficiently across multiple clients. Eventually many give up and retreat to the corporate world, convinced that fractional work “isn’t viable” when they simply failed to build it properly.
What successful fractional execs do instead: They invest in creating scalable systems, develop consistent marketing and lead generation processes that work even when they’re busy with clients. They see themselves as a “business of one” every single day.
Simon’s course is an explanation of the evolving fractional executive path that anyone can follow to build a successful fractional career. I like the honesty, clear steps and evolution of his approach.
HOW THE FRACTIONAL EXECUTIVE LAUNCHPAD WORKS
The Fractional Executive Launchpad is a self-paced bundle of 10 mini-courses, containing nearly six hours of videos, transcripts and resources, which are hosted on Going Fractional’s Teachable platform.
You get instant LIFETIME access to all of them and all future course updates. You also get access to the Going Fractional online community where you can share your assignments, get feedback from peers and your course instructor as well as asking anything about your fractional journey.
Here’s a quick rundown of everything you will find inside each mini-course (and how they’ll help you make the successful transitional to fractional working within 90 days):
MINi-COURSE 1 – $100 VALUE
Fractional working and you
I explain what fractional working really is and how it differs from other types of portfolio working such as consultancy, non-exec and interim. Learn about at the advantages and disadvantages you’ll experience when launching your new fractional career and see how suited you are to fractional life.
WHAT IS FRACTIONAL WORK REALLY?
An honest look at what it’s actually like to work as a fractional executive.
YOUR BLOCKERS TO GOING FRACTIONAL
Identifying and reframing your limiting thoughts about fractional working.
STARTING YOUR FRACTIONAL JOURNEY
How to get started and spend your time and energy in the right places from day 1.
MINI-COURSE 2 – $150 VALUE
Earning enough – your fractional executive business model
In this mini-course I give you the tools you need to understand how much to charge with confidence for your fractional work – along with insights into where new fractional executives can go wrong with the financials.
THE FOUR MONEY MISTAKES TO AVOID
Knowing these now helps you steer clear of them as you launch your fractional career.
THE HIDDEN COSTS YOU NEED TO PLAN FOR
I explain the costs you need to think about and how to budget for your fractional “business of one”.
BUILD YOUR FRACTIONAL BUSINESS MODEL
Use my downloadable template to build your business model and know exactly what you need to charge.
MINI-COURSE 3 – $250 VALUE
Defining your fractional ideal client profile (IFCP)
It all starts with the client and their problems. In this mini-course I introduce the concept of your ICP and how you can get to know them better.
WHAT IS AN IDEAL FRACTIONAL CLIENT PROFILE?
Learn what makes up an IFCP for your fractional “business of one”.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT YOUR IFCP?
See why deep insight into your IFCP now saves you time and wasted effort later on.
RESEARCH AND CREATE YOUR INITIAL IFCP
I give you a unique formula and template to create and iterate your own IFCP as the starting point for your fractional career.
MINI-COURSE 4 – $250 VALUE
Developing your fractional value proposition
Once you’re clear on your ideal client profile, I walk you through how to develop a fractional value proposition that combines client needs with your unique skills, experience and track record.
WHAt’s A VALUE PROPOSITION & WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Introducing the basics of value propositions and how they relate to your IFCP and your fractional brand.
THE MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WITH VALUE PROPOSITIONS
See where things go wrong and make sure you don’t repeat these common mistakes as you build your first proposition.
CREATING YOUR FRACTIONAL VALUE PROPOSITION
A step-by-step approach to create a value proposition that drives effective marketing to new clients.
MINI-COURSE 5 – $100 VALUE
Building your fractional executive brand
It’s time to get you out there. But there’s more to growing your fractional brand than just posting on LinkedIn. In this mini-course you’ll get plenty of practical techniques you can use to get yourself known with your ideal clients.
BUILD A UNIQUE FRACTIONAL BRAND
This mini-course guides you through defining your brand proposition and content pillars so you stand out.
CREATE YOUR OWN CONTENT STRATEGY
Avoid time and money wasted on marketing by creating a content strategy that connects with your ideal clients.
GET KNOWN IN YOUR FRACTIONAL NICHE
Learn tactics for content creation, industry involvement and visibility to position yourself as an expert.
MINI-COURSE 6 – $150 VALUE
Creating your pipeline of fractional work
In corporate life you didn’t need to generate your own opportunities. As you transition to fractional life you need to learn how to source, qualify and manage a pipeline of fractional opportunities. This mini-course gives you the practical knowledge you need to do this for the first time.
MASTERING FRACTIONAL LEAD GENERATION
This mini-course teaches proven strategies to fill your pipeline with prospects.
SYSTEMATIC AND ACHIEVABLE LEAD GENERATION
Step-by-step guidance to build a lead generation machine that runs alongside fractional client work.
LEARN TO RAPIDLY QUALIFY NEW CLIENTS
Avoid wasting time through rapid triage and qualification of potential clients to ensure they’re right for you.
MINI-COURSE 7 – $150 VALUE
Writing the winning fractional executive proposal
You’re going to need to write a proposal that sells you. Your potential client might not be familiar with fractional working so this mini-course explains how to structure and deliver a proposal that maximizes your chances of getting hired.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CLIENT PROPOSAL
Learn what goes into a client proposal that meets the stated and unspoken needs of your potential client.
WRITE HIGH QUALITY PROPOSALS
Use your ideal client profile, fractional value proposition and insights from client calls to produce winning proposals.
DEVELOPING YOUR OWN PROPOSAL TEMPLATE
Create your own fractional template to produce bespoke client proposals fast.
MINI-COURSE 8 – $100 VALUE
Delivering client value as a fractional executive
The key to being retained as a fractional executive is delivering real client value early and often. In this mini-course you’ll learn how to structure a fractional engagement to maximise client value and keep your clients on board.
MAXIMISING YOUR FRACTIONAL IMPACT
Learn strategies to consistently deliver client value and build your fractional impact.
BUILDING LONG TERM CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS
Get tactics for nurturing long lasting client partnerships and securing contract renewals.
CREATE YOUR OWN FRACTIONAL VALUE FRAMEWORK
Develop your own methodology to deliver rapid value for your clients.
MINI-COURSE 9 – $50 VALUE
Your tech stack for efficient fractional working
Working fractionally means finding ways to use technology to help deliver for you clients. In this mini-course I’ll show you an ideal tech stack that covers productivity, calendar management, knowledge repositories and AI.
STREAMLINE YOUR FRACTIONAL WORKFLOW
Guiding you through selecting and implementing the ideal integrated tools for efficient fractional work.
BUILD YOUR FRACTIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE
Creating your own fractional knowledge base allows you to capture and access information fast.
USING AI TOOLS TO INCREASE YOUR EFFICIENCY
Learn how about the potential of AI and how it can help you be a more efficient fractional executive.
MINI-COURSE 10 – $100 VALUE
Creating your fractional executive transition roadmap
Now it’s time for the rubber to hit the road. In this final mini-course you’ll put together a clear and practical roadmap for your transition to fractional working, giving you the confidence to make the leap and quit your corporate role.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR FRACTIONAL TRANSITION
I’ll give you a step-by-step framework for a methodical transition from your corporate role to fractional working.
SPOTTING AND MITIGATING YOUR TRANSITION RISKS
Techniques for thinking ahead about what might go wrong…and then putting in place deliberate steps to stop those things happening!
BUILDING YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK
Understand the importance of having a strong peer community for learning and confidence as you make the fractional transition.
Total Fractional Executive Launchpad mini-courses valued at $1400:
- Mini-course #1 – Fractional working and you ($100 value)
- Mini-course #2 – Earning enough – your fractional executive business model ($150 value)
- Mini-course #3 – Defining your fractional ideal customer profile (ICP) ($250 value)
- Mini-course #4 – Developing your fractional value proposition ($250 value)
- Mini-course #5 – Building your fractional executive brand ($100 value)
- Mini-course #6 – Creating your pipeline of fractional work ($150 value)
- Mini-course #7 – Writing the winning fractional executive proposal ($150 value)
- Mini-course #8 – Delivering client value as a fractional executive ($100 value)
- Mini-course #9 – Your tech stack for efficient fractional working ($50 value)
- Mini-course #10 – Creating your fractional executive transition roadmap ($100 value)
You get INSTANT lifetime access to these 10 mini-courses
as well as all future course upgrades for just $395.
Join the Going Fractional Community
When you enrol in The Fractional Executive Launchpad, you’re also joining a new private community of executives making the same transition as you.
This community is where you can share your ideal fractional client profile or fractional value proposition for input from others, get feedback on proposals and celebrate wins with people who genuinely get it.
I’m active in the community regularly too – reviewing assignments and answering your questions. I know building a sustainable fractional practice takes time. Having a trusted sounding board on the journey makes all the difference between going it alone and going fractional with confidence.
STILL GOT QUESTIONS? I’M HERE TO HELP…
1. Is this a self-paced course or do I need to attend live sessions?
The Fractional Executive Launchpad is completely self-paced, which means you can work through the six hours of video content whenever suits your schedule. No need to block out specific times or worry about missing live calls. You’ve got the flexibility to learn at 2am if that’s when inspiration strikes or squeeze in modules during your lunch break. Plus you’ll have ongoing access to the Going Fractional community where I regularly pop in to answer questions and give feedback on assignments.
2. I’m still in my corporate role – can I start this course before I resign?
Absolutely – in fact that’s the smartest way to do it. Starting whilst you’re still drawing a salary takes the pressure off and gives you time to build your foundations properly. You can work through the modules in evenings and weekends, start building your network and even begin having exploratory conversations with potential clients. By the time you’re ready to make the leap, you’ll have momentum rather than starting from scratch.
3. Will this work if I’m not a COO? What about CFOs, CMOs, or other executive roles?
The principles I teach apply across all leadership roles. Whilst I share my specific journey as a fractional COO to help you see my learnings (and mistakes), the frameworks for positioning yourself, finding clients and building your “business of one” are universal.If you’re a senior leader with 10+ years under your belt, you’ll find the strategies directly applicable to your expertise.
4. How quickly can I expect to land my first fractional client?
This varies enormously based on your starting point, network and how much time you invest. I’m not going to make any promises as they’d not be genuine. Some executives land their first client within weeks because they’ve already got warm leads in their network. Others take two to three months to build momentum. What I can promise is that if you follow the playbooks and avoid the common pitfalls I outline, you’ll move significantly faster than going it alone. I was fully booked within 12 months and that included making plenty of mistakes you won’t have to make.
5. Is the course cost worth it when I’m about to lose my corporate salary?
Think of it this way: one fractional engagement typically is going to be paying you the equivalent of a day rate that’s a multiple of the course cost. Once you land your first client, the course pays for itself with just one day of fractional work. The mistakes you’ll avoid – like underpricing yourself or taking on nightmare clients – will save you thousands. The “just take any client” spiral alone can cost you months of stress and lost income. This investment gives you a proven roadmap rather than expensive trial and error. I wanted to create this course to be what I needed back in January 2023 when I went fractional.
6. What if I don’t have a strong network or personal brand yet?
That’s OK – that’s exactly why mini-course 5 focuses on building an authentic personal brand that isn’t just a “corporate clone”. You don’t need thousands of followers before starting. You need the right positioning and a clear value proposition. I’ll show you how to leverage your existing experience and create a compelling narrative that attracts ideal clients, even if you’re starting from zero online presence.
7. How do I know if I have enough experience to go fractional?
If you’ve got 10+ years of leadership experience and you’ve delivered real results in your corporate roles, you’re ready. Fractional executives aren’t junior consultants – we’re seasoned professionals who’ve been in the trenches. The course helps you package that experience into a compelling offer. If you’re questioning whether you’re “expert enough,” that might be as much about your mindset. As an executive coach this is something I help people with a lot, so mini-course 1 includes some assignments to help with this.
8. What exactly is included in the Going Fractional community?
You’ll get access to our private beta community where you can connect with other executives on the same journey, share wins and challenges and get feedback on your positioning, proposals and much more. I’ll be active in there too, reviewing assignments and answering questions that come up as you implement. I’ll be doing my best to make sure it’s a proper support network of people who understand exactly what you’re going through.
9. What if I’m not comfortable “selling myself”?
I certainly wasn’t when I started out. The good news is that the best fractional executives don’t “sell” in the traditional sense. Mini-course 6 teaches you how to have strategic networking conversations that naturally lead to engagements. It’s about demonstrating value through insight, not pushing features and benefits. If you can run a board meeting or present to stakeholders, you already have the skills. We just need to reframe how you think about business development.
10. How is this different from becoming a traditional consultant?
I think there’s a massive difference. Consultants typically work on projects, write reports and make recommendations. Fractional executives are embedded in the business, making decisions and driving implementation. You’re part of the leadership team, not an outside advisor. The course specifically addresses this distinction and helps you position yourself as a fractional executive, not just another consultant with a fancy new title.
11. What kind of ongoing support do I get after completing the course?
You maintain access to all course materials and any updates I make. If you think there’s something missing, let me know and I’ll do my best to add useful content. The Going Fractional community is yours to stay in as long as you like. Plus I’ll be regularly sharing new insights and lessons learned from my ongoing fractional work. Think of it as your permanent backstage pass to the fractional executive world. No additional fees – just ongoing value.
12. Will this work in my industry/sector?
Fractional executives are working across most industries nowadays – tech, manufacturing, professional services, retail, healthcare, you name it. The beauty of fractional work is that your cross-industry experience becomes a massive asset. The frameworks I teach are sector-agnostic. Whether you’re from banking or biotech, the principles of positioning yourself, finding clients and delivering value remain the same.
13. When can I start and how long do I have access?
You can start immediately after purchase – you’ll get instant access then to all modules and resources. There’s no expiry date on your access, so whether you blitz through everything in a weekend or take three months to work through it alongside your day job, it’s entirely up to you. The course is there whenever you need it, including when you want to revisit modules six months down the line as your business evolves.
ARE YOU Ready To Become A Fractional EXECUTIVE?
And never settle for a stifling corporate role again.
As you’ve probably seen already, The Fractional Executive Launchpad covers a LOT of ground.
I really mean it when I say it has everything you need to make the transition to fractional working in 90 days.
And I know I could easily turn everything I’ve including in The Fractional Executive Launchpad into a $10,000+ executive coaching program.
But that would create a high barrier to entry for most people wanting to escape dull corporate jobs – and actually hold me back from achieving my mission of empowering experienced executives to escape the corporate grind and make a bigger impact across multiple companies – just like I did in 2023.
So instead, I decided to price the Launchpad at a FRACTION of what it could actually be worth.
However I only want to reward people who take ACTION to start their fractional journeys.
Are you going to continue waiting for the “right time” to transition from your corporate role and let another year of burnout and undervalued work go by?
Or are you going to take action, bet on yourself and build the flexible, impactful career you deserve?
I really hope it’s the latter. I took action and made the leap in 2023 and you can do the same.
14-Day, No-Questions-Asked Refund Policy
Last but not least…I want your Fractional Executive Launchpad investment to be 100% risk free.
So if you start going through the Fractional Executive Launchpad and you don’t feel like you received a huge amount of value for your investment (unlikely but still!), just send me an email, tell me how it could be improved and I’ll refund 100% of your money.
The only rule? You have 14 days from purchase to request a refund.