The Leadership, fractional and embedded
- When
- Delivery needs an owner, not another tracker.
- What
- Three to six months embedded. I run the function and leave a team that can keep it running.
- Outcome
- A working team and a working system.
Fractional Data · Systems · AI · Transformation
A data lead.Without the hire.
I step in as your fractional data and transformation lead. Two to four days a month, or three to six months embedded. I own the call, then I run the delivery.
Fifteen years across finance, government and social housing. Fidelity Investments, Aviva Investors, UBS, the Department for Transport, Monzo.
I · What I Do
Fractional data and transformation leadership. I take the seat, not the sidelines: migrations, new core systems, reporting rebuilds, AI bets, and the operating model around them.
Ten years running this work. I've built the teams, swapped the platforms, and pulled programmes back when leadership and delivery had stopped talking.
I run Stratford Ellis, my consultancy, with a small team behind me. London based, working wherever the work is.
II · Who I Work With
Two tracks.
One operator.
Businesses that need the function owned. Founders that need senior data and AI thinking without a full-time hire.
III · For Business
Six ways to bring me in.
A system to pick, a migration that won't add up, numbers that don't agree, an AI bet to size.
The Engagements
Pick the one that fits where you're stuck.
The Kickstart, a fixed-scope reset
- When
- The programme has stalled.
- What
- Five to ten days to settle the open questions and reset the plan.
- Outcome
- A plan the team has agreed to.
The Partnership, principal-in-residence
- When
- You want someone senior to think the calls through with.
- What
- Ongoing advisory at your pace, on the decisions you can't park.
- Outcome
- Faster, better decisions.
The Briefing, strategic briefings
- When
- The team can't agree what the problem is.
- What
- Focused sessions on one data, systems or operations question.
- Outcome
- Common ground and clear next steps.
The Delivery Diagnosis
- When
- You want an outside read before the next move.
- What
- Fixed-price review of systems, data and delivery. Plain-language report in five days. No vendor agenda.
- Outcome
- What to fix, in order.
The Data Audit
- When
- You can't trust the numbers running the business.
- What
- What you hold, where it lives, who owns it, whether it stands up.
- Outcome
- A report and a fix list.
IV · For Founders
Four ways to bring
me in as a founder.
Senior data and AI thinking at your stage, without a full-time hire.
The Founder Offers
Pick the one that matches the stage you're at.
Fractional AI & Data Lead
- When
- You need a senior data head, not a full hire.
- What
- Part-time and ongoing. In the key meetings, on the tooling, on the AI calls.
- Outcome
- 2-4 days per month · Min. 3 months.
1-2-1 Founder Mentorship
- When
- You're making these calls alone.
- What
- A monthly thinking partner, with support between calls.
- Outcome
- Clearer calls on tools, numbers and AI.
AI & Data Strategy Sprint
- When
- You need an answer fast.
- What
- Four to six weeks. Audit, quick wins, ordered roadmap.
- Outcome
- Exactly what to do next.
Implementation Support
- When
- You have a plan and need help executing it.
- What
- Tool selection, build oversight, migration, working alongside your team or suppliers.
- Outcome
- Delivery that matches the strategy, at your scale and budget.
Office Hours
- When
- You have one specific decision and want an outside view, fast.
- What
- 90 minutes · £150 · For Founders, business & Leaders with a specific data, systems or transformation decision.
- Outcome
- A clear next step and a short written follow-up.
V · Start a Conversation
Not sure which track?
Start here.
Two booking options that sit alongside both tracks. One paid and focused, one free and exploratory.
VI · What People Say
Words from the room.
A handful of notes from leaders, founders and chairs I've worked alongside.
Barbs walked into a programme that had been stuck for nine months and had us all reading off the same page inside a fortnight. The plan we left with was the one we actually ran.
Helena Marsh
COOFolio & Field
She tells you what she thinks. No fluff, no vendor agenda. Our board got a read on our data we could finally act on, and a short list of fixes we could start on Monday.
James Okafor
ChairNorthstone Group
Having Barbs in the room changed how we made the call. She knew the context from month two and saved us from at least one expensive mistake on the systems side.
Priya Shah
Founder & CEOLoomwork