January 7, 2026

Using AI Without Exposing Your Crown Jewels: A Practical Guide for C-Suite Leaders

Artificial intelligence has moved from “interesting experiment” to “board-level priority” with remarkable speed. Most CEOs and executive teams now believe AI can materially improve efficiency, decision-making, and growth. At the same time, many share a quieter concern:

How do we use AI safely so we don’t put our most sensitive data, IP, and competitive advantage at risk?

The good news is that companies can unlock real value from AI without putting proprietary information at risk — and they can do so without rushing into a costly, permanent hire before they’re ready.

Here’s how.

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January 7, 2026

The AI Questions CEOs Should Ask to Avoid the Wrong Executive Hire

Most CEOs know something’s not working — but they can’t always articulate what they need, or who they need in the seat.

Enter Artificial Intelligence.

Lately, we’ve noticed more CEOs coming to us with excellent summaries of their business situation — often generated with AI. Honestly? We love it. A clear brief = faster, better match to the right interim leader.

The worst place to be as a CEO is knowing something is off… but not being able to name it.

AI helps you find the language.

A proven interim executive helps you fix the problem.

This guide (written with the assistance of AI!) gives you the exact ChatGPT prompts you need to help clarify:

• your situation
• your problems
• the outcomes you want
• whether you need an interim, fractional, or full-time leader

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January 6, 2026

Private Equity Operating Partner vs Interim Executive: Which Do You Need?

Private equity firms are under pressure from high interest rates, longer hold periods, and more complex portfolio operations. In response, fund managers are rethinking how they create value.

A recent PwC study found that more than 80% of private equity funds now rely on operating partners to drive transformation inside portfolio companies. Yet many small and mid-market funds lack the operating partner bench they need to succeed in challenging times.

That’s where interim and fractional executives come in.

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December 29, 2025

Should Every Employee Have Ownership in Your Company?

From Silicon Valley startups to legacy manufacturers, business leaders are asking a fundamental question: Should employees have ownership in the companies they help build?

Employee ownership has long been associated with stronger cultures, better financial performance, and more secure retirements for workers. Yet despite these advantages, new ESOP creation has remained steady at roughly 250 plans per year—suggesting that many leaders are still uncertain about how employee ownership works or whether it’s right for their organization.

According to Mary Josephs, founder and CEO of Verit Advisors and a nationally recognized expert in ESOPs, the opportunity is far larger than many realize. Having advised on more than 300 middle-market ownership transitions, Josephs believes employee ownership represents one of the most underutilized tools in American business today.

“The broad range of employee ownership opportunities has the power to transform our economy as they continue to become more widely adopted,” says Josephs.

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December 29, 2025

Virtual CFO vs. Interim CFO: Why Leadership, Not the Label, Determines Outcomes

On paper, a virtual CFO looks like the fastest solution to a financial leadership gap. In practice, many executives discover too late that what they hired is a service, not a leader. When your company faces investor scrutiny, cash pressure, or a pivotal transition, the real decision executives face isn’t virtual versus in-house, it’s transactional support versus decisive leadership.

InterimExecs CEO Robert Jordan discussed the differences — and asked for insights on when an embedded CFO is the right move — in conversations with two successful interim Chief Financial Officers, Vic Datta and Mike Winer. Here’s what their years of experience have taught them.

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December 3, 2025

7 Essential Turnaround Tips for Middle-Market Companies

When a mid-market company (say $20M–$500M in revenue) hits a wall — declining revenue, disappearing cash, operational stagnation, or a sudden crisis — the path back to stability can feel overwhelming. But seasoned interim CEOs and turnaround executives have seen these situations repeatedly, across industries and economic cycles.

Their collective experience points to seven essential strategies that consistently help companies regain footing, rebuild momentum, and return to profitable growth.

Below, three veteran turnaround leaders, interim CEOs Dick Lindenmuth, Paul Fioravanti, and Philip Schiavoni, share real-world insights from years of hands-on business turnaround work.

From Lindenmuth’s strategic empathy to Fioravanti’s cultural clarity and structured leadership, to Schiavoni’s cash-first survival approach, we compiled these seven turnaround tips. Together, they create a blueprint for middle-market companies that need to stabilize quickly and rebuild toward long-term health.

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October 17, 2025

Interim Executives vs. Consultants: The Complete Comparison Guide

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, organizations face critical decisions about external expertise. If you’re frantically Googling “interim executive vs consultant,” “difference between consultant and interim manager,” or even “consultant alternative,” you’re not alone. Leaders of organizations in need of expertise grapple with whether they simply require the strategic advice a consultant brings or if they need more and should hire an interim executive to drive real change.

This complete comparison guide serves as your big-picture resource, exploring definitions, key differences, when to use each, and practical tips to choose the right fit for your needs.

At InterimExecs, we specialize in placing top-tier interim executives who go beyond advice to deliver results. Whether you’re navigating a crisis, growth phase, or transition, understanding the “management consultant versus interim” distinction can save time, money, and frustration.

Let’s break it down.

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October 15, 2025

Expanding and Scaling Your Company: The Growth Interim’s 4-Part Success Strategy

When a company reaches the point where momentum alone can’t sustain growth, it often faces the hard truth: the systems, people, and leadership that got it here may not get it there. That’s where a growth interim steps in — to stabilize, realign, and set the stage for sustainable expansion.

Whether you’re running a manufacturing business or scaling an SaaS company, the principles of disciplined growth remain the same. You must assess what’s working, fix what’s broken, and put the right leadership in place to grow without losing quality or direction.

Below, veteran growth interim Charlie Shalvoy shares the four success stages that help organizations scale strategically — and what to do when the CEO can’t scale the company alone.

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October 15, 2025

The Downside of Management Consultants and Why Interim Executives Deliver Results

Market volatility, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological change have left many companies in need of effective leadership. Often, those companies turn to consultants for instant help. But they continue to struggle. Why? Because consultants strategize and deliver impressive decks. But they don’t stick around to turn those ideas into results.

What those companies really need is an effective leader who can strategize, AND deliver results. And they need it now.

The answer is a rock star interim executive who can be on-site, taking charge and making progress in as little as 48 hours.

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August 25, 2025

Interim CFOs for Nonprofits: Balancing Mission and Money

Running a nonprofit is a balancing act. On one side, there’s the passion that fuels your mission. On the other is the practical need to keep the books balanced and the bills paid. Both matter. When they’re aligned, your organization can thrive for years to come.

But balancing the mission with the money is never easy, especially in these unpredictable times. From changing funding streams to tight budgets, managing money in the nonprofit world comes with unique challenges. Those challenges are exacerbated in times of transition, growth, or crisis. That’s when it makes the most sense for nonprofits to hire an experienced interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

At InterimExecs, we specialize in connecting nonprofits with experienced interim leaders who know how to steady the ship and plan for the future.

Here’s why interim CFOs are becoming such a valuable resource and how they can help you find the money to meet the mission.

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