What Does a Fractional CMO Do?
Ahead of the Game
When to Hire Experts Versus Learn In-House
Peter advises hiring specialists when scientific playbooks exist and learning trends when opportunities are still fluid.
The word "fractional" gets bandied around a lot these days. But what does it really mean, and how can a CMO be fractional?
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis sits down with Peter Murphy Lewis of StrategicPete.com and a successful fractional CMO. Peter shares his journey from launching a travel business in South America to becoming a data-driven marketing strategist for a wide range of industries, including software, finance, media, and even zoos.
🔹 What you’ll learn:
- What a Fractional CMO is and why the role is booming
- Who actually needs a CMO, and who doesn’t
- The biggest marketing mistakes Peter made and what he learned
- The most in-demand digital marketing skills for 2025
- Why LinkedIn newsletters and automation are underrated goldmines
- How and why Peter builds high-performing remote teams using global talent
Peter also talks about the power of vulnerability in leadership, his intern-to-MVP framework, and why he believes AI is an opportunity, not a threat.
Check out Peter's documentary on YouTube - People Worth Caring About
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- 00:06 – Introduction
- 00:54 – What is a Fractional CMO?
- 04:38 – Does Every Business Need a CMO?
- 06:49 – Peter’s Background & Path to Becoming a Fractional CMO
- 09:18 – Performance-Based Marketing Contracts: Pros & Cons
- 12:36 – Biggest Early Career Mistakes & Lessons Learned
- 16:05 – How Digital Marketing Has Changed in 15 Years
- 18:26 – Leveraging Global Talent for Growth
- 21:06 – Peter’s Internship Model: Training Future Marketers
- 23:32 – The Importance of Soft Skills in Digital Marketing
- 27:09 – Coaching, Feedback, and the Power of Vulnerability
- 33:42 – The Most In-Demand Marketing Skills for 2025
- 36:09 – The Role of AI in Marketing
- 42:50 – The Top Marketing Trends for 2025
- 46:46 – Advice for Young Marketers & Entrepreneurs
- 49:25 – Where to Find Peter Online
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