What is a fractional futurist?

A fractional futurist is an experienced futurist who advises an organization part-time, typically on a retainer, rather than joining as a full-time employee. Think fractional CFO or CMO, but focused on the future. Typical work: Executive briefings, industry horizon scanning, board advisory, scenario planning, and strategic guidance when major decisions arise. Who benefits: Founders, investors, brands, and cities that need continuous foresight, not another annual trend report or 1 keynote. The advantage? Senior expertise without a full-time appointment, independent perspectives, and earlier visibility into the shifts that matter. The catch? Without access to leadership and influence over decisions, even excellent foresight risks becoming another unread report. My approach: An embedded strategic advisor with direct access to the CEO and CMO, limited to 6 clients per year. You do not need a futurist on the payroll. You need one on speed dial.