Fractional CMOs in San Francisco Making Things Happen in 2025

San Francisco Interim Chief Marketing Officers to Know

San Francisco isn’t just a city—it’s a movement. It's where moonshots get funded, categories are created, and brands go from stealth to scale in a matter of months. But for all the focus on innovation, even the boldest startups need structure—especially when it comes to marketing. That’s where Fractional Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) step in: blending deep experience with startup agility to help brands find their voice, scale their growth engines, and move fast with focus.

At Digital Reference, we believe in the power of radical transparency and radical authenticity. And nowhere is that more important than in the world of marketing leadership. This blog highlights the fractional CMOs in the San Francisco Bay Area who are helping early-stage and growth companies turn vision into visibility—and strategy into scalable success.

Our Methodology

To build this curated list of Fractional CMOs in the San Francisco Bay Area, we followed a clear methodology:

• Location: Based in San Francisco or surrounding areas such as Oakland, Palo Alto, Berkeley, and San Jose
• Service Model: Active as fractional, part-time, or interim CMOs—either independently or through small firms
• Digital Presence: Professional websites, active LinkedIn profiles, or publicly accessible portfolios
• Professional Credibility: Proven track record of strategic marketing leadership at startups, scale-ups, or category-leading brands
• Values Alignment: Professionals whose work and approach reflect Digital Reference’s focus on transparency, impact, and verification

These leaders don’t just consult—they partner. They sit at the intersection of strategy and execution, helping companies get from Series A to Series C, and beyond.

Meet the Fractional CMOs in San Francisco Making Things Happen

1. Wendy A.M. Yale

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyyale/

With two decades of experience building high-impact marketing teams in cybersecurity, SaaS, and enterprise software, Wendy Yale is a powerhouse fractional CMO. Her strategic acumen is matched by her ability to build and mentor marketing orgs that deliver results.

Why She Stands Out:

• Deep experience in B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, and tech infrastructure
• Former executive at top-tier companies including Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks
• Combines brand strategy, demand generation, and analyst relations with team development

Wendy is ideal for companies entering competitive B2B spaces that need a sharp go-to-market plan and enterprise-grade marketing leadership.

2. Paul Friesen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfriesen/

A former startup operator and global marketing leader, Paul Friesen brings a performance-focused approach to his work as a fractional CMO. His specialty lies in bridging the gap between product vision and revenue growth, particularly for technical and B2B-driven organizations.

Why He Stands Out:

• Background in growth marketing, brand development, and go-to-market execution
• Works with seed to Series C startups in SaaS, fintech, and AI
• Known for building repeatable marketing systems and aligning sales and marketing goals

Paul is a strong fit for founders looking for a fractional CMO who speaks both code and campaign.

3. Jeffrey Goldsmith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/interim-cmo/ 

Jeffrey Goldsmith is a marketing strategist with a reputation for driving both creative vision and data-driven outcomes. With experience spanning early-stage startups to mature tech companies, he excels at guiding founders and product teams through marketing transformation.

Why He Stands Out:

• Skilled at positioning, messaging, and full-funnel growth
• Comfortable leading cross-functional marketing orgs and interim teams
• Experience across hardware, software, and platform brands

Jeffrey is ideal for companies looking to elevate their brand while staying focused on measurable traction.

4. Skylar Allen Frederick

https://www.skylarallen.co/

Skylar Allen Frederick is a modern-day brand architect with a talent for storytelling and growth strategy. Her work as a fractional CMO focuses on helping consumer brands, DTC startups, and lifestyle ventures scale with intention and personality.

Why She Stands Out:

• Founder of her own brand consultancy, serving clients in retail, health, and beauty
• Combines copywriting, creative direction, and lifecycle marketing
• Builds cohesive brand identities and omni-channel experiences

Skylar is the right partner for consumer brands ready to find their voice and share it at scale.

5. Simon Fleming-Wood

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sflemingwood/

A Silicon Valley veteran, Simon Fleming-Wood brings decades of experience in tech, media, and product marketing to his work as a fractional CMO. From GoPro to Pandora, his leadership has helped iconic brands scale and stay relevant in fast-moving markets.

Why He Stands Out:

• Former CMO at GoPro, with leadership roles at RealNetworks, Palm, and Pandora
• Known for brand storytelling, content marketing, and cross-channel strategy
• Passionate about bridging brand and business strategy

Simon is ideal for companies ready to take their brand story global—and operationalize it for long-term growth.

Why San Francisco Is Fertile Ground for Fractional Leadership

San Francisco’s innovation culture is fueled by speed, iteration, and high expectations. While visionary founders and technical teams often lead the charge, they rely on seasoned marketing partners to shape how their products are understood, adopted, and loved.

Fractional CMOs make sense in the Bay Area because:

• Startups need executive insight, but not always on a full-time basis
• The pace of growth demands strategic clarity and nimble execution
• Funded companies often scale faster than internal teams can grow
• Founders want CMOs who are collaborators, not just operators

And because fractional leaders can flex across industries and business models, they offer just-in-time expertise that helps founders avoid missteps and scale faster.

How Digital Reference Supports Fractional Leaders

At Digital Reference, we’re helping professionals build portable, reputation-driven portfolios that show the real story behind their careers. Our tools empower fractional executives to:

• Collect verified client testimonials and project outcomes
• Showcase strategic contributions across industries
• Build authentic professional visibility rooted in real work

We believe the future of hiring—and of professional credibility—will be built on structured transparency. And for fractional CMOs, whose work often spans industries, clients, and formats, that kind of visibility is mission-critical.

Final Thoughts: San Francisco’s CMOs Are Shaping What’s Next

From early-stage consumer brands to growth-phase SaaS companies, the Fractional CMOs of San Francisco are redefining what it means to lead. They are builders, operators, coaches, and creatives. They join teams in moments of inflection—and help steer the ship with clarity and confidence.

If you’re a founder looking to go further, faster—or a marketing leader looking to showcase your impact—start with Digital Reference.

We’re proud to spotlight the professionals featured here:

• Wendy A.M. Yale
• Paul Friesen
• Jeffrey Goldsmith
• Skylar Allen Frederick
• Simon Fleming-Wood

Together, they represent the next generation of flexible, strategic, and deeply human marketing leadership.

– The Digital Reference Team

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