Fractional Chief of Staff
For the founder who is still holding every thread.
The business has grown, but too much still runs through you. Decisions are made, then wait for you to chase them. Your team is capable, yet the coordination, the follow up and the unfinished work keep coming back to your desk.
A Fractional Chief of Staff takes that load. Bola holds the full picture, turns priorities into owners and deadlines, keeps people moving and brings you only the decisions that need you. Senior capability, part time, without adding a full time senior hire.
When founders get in touch
It is rarely because the business is struggling. It is usually because it is growing faster than the way it is run.
You have become the bottleneck. Every decision, approval and follow up still waits for you.
A launch or major project is coming. Several teams, agencies and deadlines, and no one holding them together.
You want to step back from the day to day. You want to lead the business, not chase it.
A senior person has left. Their responsibilities have quietly landed back on you.
Priorities keep slipping. Plans are agreed, then overtaken by the week.
You cannot step away. Even a week off slows the business down.
If one of these sounds familiar, a short conversation is the right place to start.
What it covers
Turning strategy into an operating plan, with priorities, owners, milestones and measures
Running the leadership rhythm: meetings, decision and action logs, and follow through
Owning cross functional initiatives and the work that sits between teams
Tracking delivery, spotting dependencies and resolving issues before they affect results
CEO reporting: performance packs, briefings and the next decision required
Preparing the founder for key meetings, negotiations and decisions
Strategy documents, reports and internal communications
Acting as the founder's sounding board and constructive challenge
Evidence based prioritisation: what is working, what it costs and where to focus
Coordinating teams, agencies and suppliers towards agreed outcomes
Leading special projects and launches through to delivery
Strategy that turns into delivery, a leadership team that decides and follows through, and a founder free to lead.
Enquire about Fractional Chief of Staff
What this looks like in a typical week
Business
Running the weekly leadership meeting and following up every decision and action
Turning this quarter’s priorities into owners, deadlines and a tracker the team actually uses
Preparing the CEO’s briefing pack ahead of a key partner or supplier meeting
Unblocking a launch that has stalled between marketing, operations and an agency
Reviewing performance figures and flagging what needs a decision
Holding agencies, creators and suppliers to agreed outcomes and deadlines
How we begin
The Founder Review
A defined piece of work with a clear start and finish, so you can see how Bola works before committing to anything ongoing. The fee is agreed with you before work begins, based on the size of the business and the scope.
Over an agreed period, Bola maps how the business runs around you today: which decisions wait for you, where work stalls between people, which priorities have no clear owner and what is quietly at risk. You receive a written picture of how the business operates, a prioritised action plan with owners, and the most urgent items acted on rather than simply reported.
If you continue to a retainer, part of the review fee is credited against your first month.
The ongoing retainer
An agreed amount of time each month, a named point of contact and agreed response times. Reviewed each quarter and adjusted as the business changes.
Retainers are scoped around agreed responsibilities, not open ended availability. You know exactly what is covered, and Bola knows exactly what she is accountable for.
Who will work with you?
BCM is founder led, with senior attention on every engagement. Your enquiry starts with Bola Olabode, Founder and Director.
BCM works with a limited number of clients at any one time, so every engagement receives the founder’s direct attention. New engagements begin when capacity allows.
Relevant work: Costack Spices
Bola heads up operations, social media and marketing for the UK spice and seasoning brand, bringing documented processes and clear ownership to the work.
What clients say
“With Bola, I can hand something over knowing she will give it the attention it deserves.”
Dorothy, COO, Costack Spices
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Bola is a force to be reckoned with. In the 3 years we've worked together at Costack Spices, she has become someone I can confidently rely on to take ownership and get things moving.
She heads up our operations, social media and marketing, and brings so much more than simply getting tasks done. She thinks about the bigger picture, contributes to our business strategy and helps shape the direction we're taking as a brand. She brings ideas, takes initiative and follows through.
As a business owner, you appreciate how valuable it is to have someone you don't have to chase or supervise at every turn. With Bola, I can hand something over knowing she will give it the attention it deserves. Her commitment to the business comes through in how she works, and I genuinely value having her in our corner.
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Working with Bola has been a positive experience for Costack Spices. When she came on board, there were areas of the business that needed greater structure, attention and consistency, particularly in strengthening the brand's presence and improving day-to-day operations.
Bola has demonstrated initiative, professionalism and a willingness to take ownership of responsibilities. Her contribution has helped bring greater focus to the business, improve the way tasks are managed and support the continued development of the Costack Spices brand.
I appreciate her commitment, attention to detail and proactive approach to identifying areas for improvement. Her involvement has been valuable as we continue to build the business, strengthen our operations and position Costack Spices for further growth.
I would recommend Bola to businesses looking for someone who takes her responsibilities seriously, works proactively and is committed to making a meaningful contribution.
Fred, CEO, Costack Spices
Which service is right for you?
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Chief of Staff
BCM does. It owns priorities, outcomes and the operating rhythm across the area you delegate.Executive Operations and Lifestyle Management
You do. BCM delivers the specific responsibilities you hand over. -
Chief of Staff
BCM anticipates what is coming and moves it forward within the authority you have agreed.Executive Operations and Lifestyle Management
You ask, and BCM plans and delivers the request. -
Chief of Staff
Direction, and decisions outside the authority you have delegated.Executive Operations and Lifestyle Management
The overall picture, priorities and approvals. -
Chief of Staff
Unblocking a launch that has stalled between marketing, operations and an agency
Executive Operations and Lifestyle Management
Research, briefings and options papers prepared for decision
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Chief of Staff
You want someone to own the whole picture.Executive Operations and Lifestyle Management
You know what needs doing and want it handled well.
Questions about Chief of Staff
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A Fractional Chief of Staff provides senior operational ownership across the priorities a founder or CEO agrees. The role turns priorities into plans, runs the meeting, decision, action and reporting routines, coordinates teams, agencies and contractors, and follows delivery through, without the commitment of a full time senior hire.
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The difference is ownership. With Chief of Staff, BCM holds the overall picture, anticipates what is coming and coordinates everyone involved within agreed authority. With Executive Operations and Lifestyle Management, you decide what needs doing and BCM delivers each responsibility you hand over.
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BCM works remotely, using agreed communication channels, shared documents and scheduled reviews.
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BCM is based in the UK and works with clients in the UK and internationally where the work requires it.
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Send a short enquiry describing the responsibilities that need direction. Bola will review it and respond within two working days.
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A full time senior hire brings recruitment time, salary, benefits and notice periods, and you need to understand the role before you can hire for it well. A Fractional Chief of Staff gives you that capability now, scaled to what the business needs.
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No. The Founder Review is designed as the first step. You decide afterwards.