,%20the%20journey%20is%20far%20from%20over.%20I%20continue%20part-time%20as%20a%20senior%20business%20advisor%20and%20keep%20my%20wonderful%20colleagues%20at%20Norway's%20coolest%20growth%20agency.%20A%20sporty%20and%20modern%20employer,%20if%20you%20ask%20me.h2The%20Entrepreneurial%20Dream/h2The%20entrepreneurial%20spirit%20has%20always%20been%20there.%20In%202001,%20I%20participated%20in%20The%20Alchemist,%20a%20project%20by%20Innovation%20Norway,%20with%20an%20idea%20to%20start%20a%20marketing%20consultancy.%20Instead,%20I%20got%20a%20job%20and%20have%20since%20worked%20in%20marketing%20and%20communication%20in%20SMBs%20and%20on%20the%20agency%20side.%20Most%20recently%20as%20CMO%20at%20Spring%20Agency,%20and%20before%20that%20as%20marketing%20manager%20and%20advisor%20at%20MarkedsPartner,%20two%20of%20the%20country's%20best%20agencies,%20in%20my%20humble%20opinion.The%20consultancy%20career%20has%20been%20an%20important%20school%20and%20arena%20for%20learning,%20and%20I%20have%20had%20the%20opportunity%20to%20work%20with%20many%20exciting%20companies%20and%20challenges%20across%20industries%20and%20geographies.%20Over%20the%20past%20year,%20I%20have%20been%20the%20acting%20marketing%20manager%20for%20no%20less%20than%20three%20exciting%20companies%20in%20industry,%20SaaS,%20and%20software,%20both%20B2B%20and%20B2C.%20And%20it%20has%20been%20great%20fun.h2Want%20to%20Work%20With%20Me,%20or%20Have%20Any%20Tips?/h2span%20style=font-weight:%20400;span%20style=text-decoration:%20underline;I%20now%20have%20an%20opening%20to%20step%20in%20as%20a%20marketing%20manager%20for%20a%20maximum%20of%20one%20company/span%20and%20can%20also%20serve%20as%20their%20Head%20of%20Content,%20content%20advisor,%20or%20copywriter.%20/spanspan%20style=font-weight:%20400;If%20you're%20curious%20about%20what%20we%20can%20achieve%20together,%20please%20get%20in%20touch%20for%20a%20friendly%20chat./span){kind=link}
After nearly 12 years in the consulting industry, I have finally taken the step and started Førsund Consulting AS, where I offer “marketing for hire” services. This means that you can hire me as your part-time marketing manager, interim CMO, consultant, or copywriter.
Realized This Summer What I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up
It was this summer that I realized what I wanted to be when I grew up: Fractional CMO – a marketing manager for hire for startups and companies that do not need or cannot afford an experienced full-time CMO, or for other reasons want the freedom and flexibility of hiring a resource.
Fractional leadership is an increasing trend, already widespread among CFOs, HR directors, and specialist roles like auditors, lawyers, and accountants. You get top expertise for a fraction of the price, and a fraction of the leader’s time, which for many companies is enough to produce good results.
I wanted to do this on my own and have the freedom to work with whoever I want, as much as I want, and from wherever I want. A lifestyle that fits with my values and priorities in life right now.
Even though I am stepping down as CMO at Spring (currently known as Amesto Growth), the journey is far from over. I continue part-time as a senior business advisor and keep my wonderful colleagues at Norway’s coolest growth agency. A sporty and modern employer, if you ask me.
The Entrepreneurial Dream
The entrepreneurial spirit has always been there. In 2001, I participated in “The Alchemist,” a project by Innovation Norway, with an idea to start a marketing consultancy. Instead, I got a job and have since worked in marketing and communication in SMBs and on the agency side. Most recently as CMO at Spring Agency, and before that as marketing manager and advisor at MarkedsPartner, two of the country’s best agencies, in my humble opinion.
The consultancy career has been an important school and arena for learning, and I have had the opportunity to work with many exciting companies and challenges across industries and geographies. Over the past year, I have been the acting marketing manager for no less than three exciting companies in industry, SaaS, and software, both B2B and B2C. And it has been great fun.
Want to Work With Me, or Have Any Tips?
I now have an opening to step in as a marketing manager for a maximum of one company and can also serve as their Head of Content, content advisor, or copywriter. If you’re curious about what we can achieve together, please get in touch for a friendly chat.
About the author
Erlend Førsund
Erlend helps B2B businesses grow as their hired Fractional CMO, consultant or copywriter. He has previously been the Chief Marketing Officer and a senior business consultant at Spring Agency, and the Marketing Manager at MarkedsPartner. He was educated at BI Norwegian Business School (BI) and Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and has been working with marketing since the turn of the millennium.