Fractional operations and growth leadership
Executive leadership without a full-time executive hire.
I'm Dana Naegele, and I join real estate brokerages, teams, top agents and businesses of all sizes as an executive leader in a consulting partnership. Sometimes that comes with a fractional leadership title; it always comes with the work done.
Based in Chicago, working with clients anywhere.
What does a fractional operations and growth leader handle?
Operations and growth together, because each one stalls without the other.
Operations
Processes, workflows, accountability and the operating rhythm that keeps a growing team on track.
Growth
Sales strategy, lead flow and sales process; pipeline and conversion; retention and referral programs; recruiting and agent attraction; value proposition, marketing mix and follow-up systems.
Technology
Defining, researching, sourcing and implementing systems of all kinds, from CRMs and sales and marketing platforms to operations tools and integrations, then driving adoption.
AI enablement and optimization
Putting AI tools to work across sales, marketing and operations, and training your team to use them well, so the business gets faster without adding headcount.
Transitions
Merger and acquisition integration, onboarding, and change management.
People
Training, coaching and leadership development so the systems keep running after the engagement.
How does an engagement work?
No training me. No waiting for ramp-up.
Q&A call
A conversation about your goals, your story and what’s stuck.
Agree on the outcome
We agree on outcomes, scope and the role I’ll play.
I lead and implement
I step in, lead and implement, on a regular working rhythm with you and your team.
Train, re-evaluate, elevate
I train your teams, manage the systems, re-evaluate progress and take on more projects.
Results from my career in operations and growth leadership
in new business generated in three years
P&L managed, with expense reductions of 10% or more
client retention
people on the largest teams I’ve led
Q&A
Questions about fractional leadership
What is a fractional operations and growth leader?
A senior leader who works inside your business on specific projects, to-do list items and goals: technology setup, adoption and engagement, coaching, training and more. You get executive leadership without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire. My experience means you don't have to train me, wait for a ramp-up, or walk me through it step by step. I listen, strategize, collaborate and get to work.
How is that different from hiring a consultant?
A consultant advises; a fractional leader leads. Most consultants study the problem and hand you a plan. I sit at the leadership table with you, make decisions alongside you, and then do the implementation myself, so the plan becomes a running system instead of a document.
Is it a title or a role?
Either. Some clients name the role, such as fractional leader or fractional operations lead. Others prefer a consulting partnership with no title. Either way, I work as an executive leader in your business, and I'm always the implementer and activator.
When does a business need fractional leadership?
- Growth has outpaced your systems, and the owner has become the bottleneck
- You're acquiring or merging with another company and need someone to run the integration
- A new CRM or technology rollout has stalled, or nobody is using it
- Recruiting and retention need a real system, not more effort
- You need executive-level operations and growth leadership but aren't ready for a full-time hire
What does it cost?
Engagements run on a monthly retainer. That can cover one focus area, like a CRM rebuild or an acquisition integration, or several projects and goals moving at the same time. Think of it as hiring an executive leader at the cost of a part-time administrative assistant.
What experience do I bring?
Executive results across growth, operations and teams: over $17M in new business produced in three years, a $10M+ annual P&L managed with expense reductions of 10% or more, 95% client retention, and teams of up to 300+ led across sales, operations and customer success. The full background is on my About page and LinkedIn profile.
Who do I work with?
Businesses of all sizes and industries: real estate brokerages, teams and top agents, and companies in health and fitness, athletics, food and beverage, spa and wellness, shared office space and commercial leasing, franchise operations and development, retail, startups, and global networking organizations. Experience across such different industries brings a fresh outside perspective to every business I work with. Based in Chicago, working with clients anywhere.
