Let's have an honest conversation.

Fractional means senior leadership on a part-time basis — typically one to three days per week — with full accountability for outcomes. You get the same judgment and engagement as a full-time hire, applied to the specific days and scope the business needs. It is not consulting: the fractional leader joins the leadership team, attends the relevant meetings, and owns a real part of the agenda. The difference from a consultant is accountability. The difference from a full-time hire is cost and commitment.

Typically within one to two weeks of an agreed scope. Sprint engagements — which have a defined deliverable and timeline — can often start faster. The limiting factor is usually scoping and contracting, not availability. If the situation is time-sensitive, say so in the initial conversation and we will work around it.

Yes. The primary focus is APAC — Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and the broader region. Most engagements have a regional dimension by nature: the businesses we work with operate across multiple jurisdictions. Global engagements outside APAC are considered on a case-by-case basis where there is a clear fit.

It depends on the engagement type. Sprint engagements — a defined assessment or planning deliverable — typically run four to eight weeks. Retainer engagements, where StraitFWD is embedded as a fractional leader, typically run three to twelve months. Project engagements vary based on scope. Every engagement is scoped and priced upfront — no open-ended billing.

Three differences that matter: first, the work is done by the person you engaged — not staffed to a junior team. Second, the engagement model is built around accountability to outcomes, not hours billed or reports delivered. Third, the cost is a fraction of a large firm's rate — without the overhead of brand, methodology, and utilisation targets. Large consulting firms are often the right answer for large, multi-year transformation programmes. For the situations StraitFWD serves — focused, high-stakes IT leadership needs in mid-market and PE-backed businesses — the fractional model is more direct, more accountable, and more cost-effective.