{"podcast":{"title":"CMO School","slug":"cmo-school-7223344","podcast_index_feed_id":7223344,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/cmo-school/","website_url":"https://www.risewithnavi.com/podcast","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/9c842482-fabd-4da8-ad34-d1897a69c049/-FJkFcr1ENonu9kII4Vlvt-b.jpg","author":"Jessica Shirra | Fractional CMO","episode_count":65,"summary":"CMO School is the go-to podcast for marketers and Fractional CMOs ready to step into leadership, own their expertise, and build a career or business that actually works for them. Whether you're looking to elevate your skills, transition into a CMO role, or scale your Fractional business, this podcast delivers strategies, expert insights, and the mindset shifts you need to create a career you love. Hosted by Jess Shirra—a 15+ year marketing leader, Fractional CMO, and founder of Fractional CMO School—this show takes you behind the scenes on what actually works in marketing, business, and leadership. Jess has worked with powerhouse brands and creators like Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Strava, Jenna Kutcher, Lori Harder, and more—and now, she’s sharing those lessons with you. Each episode, we dive into proven strategies, practical insights, and candid conversations on topics like: How to step into leadership as a marketer and own your expertise How to confidently price your services and build a business that supports the life you want What it really takes to succeed as a Fractional CMO How to show up as a CMO for your clients, deliver powerful strategy, and lead teams effectively Lessons…","last_synced_at":"2026-09-22T10:20:38.683196+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cmo-school-7223344"},"episode":{"title":"6 Red Flags I Screen For Before I Take On Any Client as a Fractional CMO","slug":"6-red-flags-i-screen-for-before-i-take-on-any-client-as-a-fractional-cmo","published_at":"2026-07-28T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cmo-school-7223344/6-red-flags-i-screen-for-before-i-take-on-any-client-as-a-fractional-cmo","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cmo-school-7223344","url":"https://www.risewithnavi.com/podcast","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ade8ffd4-9c8d-4cef-8572-3a4d7daff67d.mp3","summary":"I've watched smart, capable marketers and Fractional CMOs burn out, lose money, and start to wonder if the whole Fractional path was a mistake — all because they said yes to the wrong client. And I've done it myself, more times than I'd like to admit. Because the thing is, you cannot out-strategize a bad-fit client. It doesn't matter how good your boundaries, your packages, or your process are — if the person on the other side of the contract is the problem, you can't fix it. In this episode, I break down: The 6 red flags I screen for before I'll work with ANY client (steal my checklist!) How to spot a bad-fit client on the discovery call — before you're locked into a contract with them The questions I ask that get my leads to reveal who they REALLY are (so I don’t have to find out the hard way) Why a bad-fit client can make you question whether you're even cut out for this role (spoiler: it's not you) How saying no to the wrong clients is what lets you get real results for the right ones The clients you turn down matter just as much as the ones you take on. Once you can see the red flags coming, your work gets way easier — and a lot more fun. Ready to take the next step? If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO. 🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The Wrong Client Will Cost You More 00:45 Why You Can't Out-Strategize a Bad Client 01:30 Red Flag #1: They Blame Every Marketer 02:45 Red Flag #2: No Team to Execute 03:45 Red Flag #3: Shiny Object Syndrome 04:45 Red Flag #4: You're Expected to Save the Business 06:00 Red Fl…","meta_description":"I've watched smart, capable marketers and Fractional CMOs burn out, lose money, and start to wonder if the whole Fractional path was a mistake — all becau…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":547,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/cmo-school-7223344/episodes/6-red-flags-i-screen-for-before-i-take-on-any-client-as-a-fractional-cmo/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cmo-school-7223344/6-red-flags-i-screen-for-before-i-take-on-any-client-as-a-fractional-cmo.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}