Technological innovation, advances in remote work, and reshaped post-pandemic priorities have led to companies hiring fractional leaders, or part-time senior talent, to occupy key leadership roles. These leaders, who typically have 20 to 30 years of experience, blend strategic and functional leadership with a hands-on approach, and they offer their skills to multiple organizations, typically startups or small and medium-sized enterprises. The arrangement enables organizations to benefit from senior leadership without the expense and commitment of a full-time hire, and it allows senior executives both career flexibility and stability. This article looks at the pros and cons of fractional leadership and outlines three crucial conversations to have before engaging in this kind of arrangement.

• Tomoko Yokoi is a researcher and advisor at the TONOMUS Global Center for Digital and AI Transformation at IMD Business School. She writes and speaks on the impact of emerging technologies on organizations and work. She is the co-author of Hacking Digital: Best Practices to Implement and Accelerate Your Business Transformations.