Meet Jill Simonds | Fractional Executive Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Simonds and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk-taking has been a constant throughout my life and career. Growing up in an unstable home environment, I learned young that nothing was guaranteed, and sometimes, the only way to move forward was to take a leap of faith. When life feels unpredictable, you develop an intuitive sense of when to take risks because you’re already accustomed to navigating uncertainty. In many ways, my early experiences shaped my approach to risk in my career. I realized that the greatest rewards often come from the willingness to step into the unknown, even when it feels uncomfortable. Whether it was starting my own business, Savvy, or helping other entrepreneurs scale their ventures, I’ve always believed that calculated risks are the key to growth. If I was not willing to bet on myself, how can I expect others to?

Risk-taking is often framed as something bold or daring, but for me, it was first about survival and progress. I learned that the safety nets we think we need aren’t always there, and sometimes, that’s a good thing. It forced me to be resourceful, to think creatively, and to trust my instincts. And honestly, I’ve found there’s something a little thrilling about the uncertainty—like living life on the edge of a cliff, knowing that each step you take could lead to either a great fall or an even greater view. Of course, the risks I take now are more strategic and less about survival. I weigh the potential outcomes, assess the impact, and rely on data and intuition. But at the core, the same principle applies: growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone.

What should our readers know about your business?
Savvy is not just another consulting firm; it’s a full-service fractional executive suite dedicated to executing vision, increasing business value, and helping founder-owners realize the freedom they’ve always dreamed of. We serve business owners with a seasoned collective of outsourced executive leaders across operations, revenue, and finance functions, bringing a unique blend of expertise, strategy, and hands-on execution.

What Sets Us Apart
What truly sets Savvy apart is our holistic approach to leadership. We don’t just offer advice or temporary solutions; we embed ourselves within our clients’ businesses, aligning with their goals and working as an extension of their teams. Our team of experienced executives brings decades of experience across various industries, ensuring that every facet of the business—from operations to revenue generation and financial strategy—is handled with precision and care. We’re not consultants; we’re partners in success.

What We’re Proud of and Excited About
We’re most proud of the transformations we’ve helped our clients achieve. Seeing founder-owners regain control of their time, reduce stress, and scale their businesses sustainably is what drives us. The excitement comes from knowing that we’re not just solving immediate problems but setting our clients up for long-term success and freedom. Every time a business owner tells us they’ve reconnected with their passion for their business or that they finally have time for their family again, we know we’re on the right track.

Our Journey: From Vision to Reality
Getting to where we are today was far from easy. Building a business centered around a collective of fractional executives required navigating uncharted territory. We had to prove the value of a fractional model in a world that often sees full-time, in-house teams as the default. The biggest challenge was overcoming the skepticism around the idea that you could outsource your C-Suite and still achieve, or even exceed, the results you’d get with a traditional team.

We overcame these challenges by staying true to our vision and relentlessly delivering results. Each success story became a testament to the power of our model, and over time, we built a reputation for excellence and reliability. We also learned the importance of flexibility and listening to our clients. By adapting our services to meet the unique needs of each business, we were able to demonstrate that our approach was not just viable but often superior.

Lessons Learned Along the Way
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is the importance of trust. Trust is the foundation of any successful partnership, especially when we’re stepping into a leadership role within someone else’s business. We’ve also learned that no two businesses are the same, which is why our flexible, tailored approach is so effective. Another critical lesson is that growth often comes from discomfort. The challenges we faced in proving our model and scaling our business forced us to innovate and refine our approach constantly.

Our Brand and Story
Savvy is more than a business; it’s a movement towards a new kind of leadership. We want the world to know that founder-owners don’t have to sacrifice their personal lives for the sake of their businesses. With the right team of fractional executives by their side, they can achieve both business success and personal freedom. Our story is one of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to helping entrepreneurs realize their full potential. We’re here to break the mold, to show that there’s a better way to lead and operationalize growing the value in a business, and to empower our clients to live the lives they’ve always wanted.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being in the lovely city of Fort Collins, CO, our day would be guided by nature’s beauty and of course delicious food & drink.
Morning: Hike the trails at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. The views from Horsetooth Rock are absolutely stunning and a must-see for anyone visiting Fort Collins.
Afternoon: We’d have a picnic lunch at the base of the mountain and then spend the afternoon kayaking or paddleboarding at Horsetooth Reservoir.
Evening: Dinner at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar for some fresh seafood, followed by drinks at Social, a speakeasy-style bar with creative cocktails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to acknowledge the fractional leadership community at large. Learning from others who have forged this path has allowed me the privilege as a fractional CEO & COO and allowed me to work with a diverse range of businesses, and the support and collaboration within this community have been invaluable. The ability to step into different organizations, bring fresh perspectives, and help them achieve their vision is something I deeply value. This community has shown me the power of flexibility and adaptability in leadership, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful. I’d also like to give a shoutout to EOS Worldwide and the incredible impact the book, Traction has had on my journey. EOS has been a game-changer for me and countless others who are passionate about building strong, scalable businesses.

Website: https://savvystrategicpartners.com/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/savvystrategicpartners/

Image Credits
Headshots credit to Rachel Sorbet Portraiture of Denver, CO