Kremena's journey began unexpectedly on a cruise ship where she served as a safety officer—a role she took on despite not knowing how to swim. Her superiors noted that her calming voice and communication skills made her perfect for managing crowds in emergencies. This early experience in understanding and connecting with people became the foundation for her career in marketing. She later transitioned into supply chain at Reebok, a role that honed her love for tangible processes and logic. As she put it, she "started before she was ready" and learned her craft by doing, a philosophy that continues to guide her today.

The Rise of the Fractional CMO

As a fractional CMO, Kremena works with multiple brands, primarily in the D2C and wellness/sports industries. She's focused on brands that know their values and give back to society. The fractional model offers her the opportunity to share her knowledge with multiple clients, rather than being tied to one for years on end.

She offered a fascinating perspective on why this model is a great fit for many brands. It's not just about being cost-effective, but also about bringing a wealth of diverse industry knowledge to a brand in a consolidated, impactful way. For some companies, a full-time CMO is simply not what they need. A fractional CMO provides the flexibility to test new strategies and gain senior-level insights without the long-term commitment. Kremena also noted that the average CMO has a high turnover rate because companies often misunderstand the function's true capacity, which spans everything from strategy to execution.

Beyond the Funnel: The New Era of Marketing

When asked about the biggest changes in the marketing world, Kremena was quick to say that people are finally moving away from funnels. She believes that a product-led approach is being replaced by a more meaningful mission-led approach. This shift is crucial, as people have become fatigued by the endless, repetitive marketing messages from brands that have gone "everywhere."

Kremena believes that in this new era, less is more, but in a meaningful way. Brands should not feel pressured to be on every single channel. Instead, they should focus on creating genuine relationships with their customers. She sees AI and chatbots as tools that can enhance a brand's ability to be more human, rather than replace human interaction entirely. By using technology for what it does best, brands can free up their teams to focus on thoughtful, long-term partnerships that go beyond simple conversions. She is optimistic about the future of marketing, calling it "a fascinating time to be a marketeer."

The Biggest Challenge & A Life-Changing Lesson

For Kremena, her biggest challenge in scaling her business is fighting the pressure to take on more and more clients. She is not focused on quantity but rather on the quality and impact of her work. Her goal is to take a brand, pilot with them for a few months, and then stay for six to nine months to set them up for long-term success. By working with a small, curated group of clients, she can truly invest in their mission and help them thrive. This also allows her the flexibility to take on projects that fuel her own growth and learning, like participating in accelerators.

Finally, Kremena shared the most powerful piece of advice she ever received from a mentor: "Don't ask for permission." She realized that in her career, she was often overthinking and seeking validation. Her mentor would simply say, "If you're seeking validation, permission granted, go do your thing." This simple phrase taught her to stop waiting for others' approval and to trust herself. She now believes that anyone can give themselves permission to pursue their goals, a powerful lesson that has helped her excel both professionally and personally.