Julie Kopp · Fractional & Interim Chief Product Officer

Transformation that scales your systems and your people.

I’m a fractional and interim Chief Product Officer. I step in when a company is growing fast, going through change, or bringing AI into the product, and I lead the work from inside the team, not from a slide deck.

A tree-lined forest path, seen both as a whole and in its individual trees
30+
years in product & product delivery
$5M–$200M
ARR across scale-up engagements
7+
industries
The Transformer

Transforming with the right systems, and empowering the people who run them.

Julie Kopp, fractional and interim Chief Product Officer

Most companies I work with need to transform at scale and with urgency. I’m a systems thinker, and real transformation starts with the right systems. As an experienced outside voice, I bring an honest read on what those need to be. The other half is people. Lasting change depends on a team that’s empowered to run the organization once it’s built, and developing that team is as much my work as the strategy. I’ve done this across many companies and industries, and I can step in and give you a clear path forward.

More about Julie →
On the Stage

A regular voice on fractional leadership.

  • Panelist · Boulder Startup Week 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Panelist · Denver Startup Week 2025, 2026
  • Executive in Residence · Techstars and UnitedHealthcare Accelerator

“The most durable thing I can leave behind isn’t a roadmap. It’s a stronger, more confident, and empowered product organization.”

Julie Kopp, Fractional & Interim CPO
FAQ

Fractional & interim CPO questions, answered.

What does a fractional Chief Product Officer do?

A fractional CPO is a senior product executive who joins part-time to lead product strategy, scale the organization, and own delivery. They drive the work and own the outcome, rather than advising from the sidelines.

What’s the difference between a fractional and an interim CPO?

Interim is a fully embedded, full-time engagement for a defined window, usually covering a leadership gap or a fast-moving transformation. Fractional is an ongoing part-time partnership for companies that need senior product leadership without a full-time hire.

How much does a fractional CPO cost?

Engagements are priced as a retainer scoped to the actual work: a lighter strategic-advisory or “hold the fort down” engagement costs less than a fractional role leading a full organizational transformation. Reach out for pricing specific to your situation.

When should a company hire a fractional or interim CPO instead of a full-time one?

Common moments: the current product leader may not be the right fit for the company’s next stage, a permanent hire is months away, or the organization needs experienced leadership now to lead through growth, an AI adoption push, or a leadership transition.

What industries do you work with?

30+ years across SaaS, healthcare, cybersecurity, financial services, supply chain, oil & gas, and telecomm. That cross-industry pattern recognition is something most single-industry fractional CPOs don’t bring.

How is an AI-native product operating model different from just “using AI tools”?

AI-native means building the operating model that lets a product organization actually absorb AI: how features get scoped, how data is sourced and governed, how claims are validated. It is not about adopting AI vocabulary or buying a vendor tool without changing how the team works.

How long do engagements typically run?

Interim CPO: 3–4 months. Fractional CPO: 6-month minimum. Strategic Advisor: 3-month minimum. Product Coaching: 3-month minimum, 6-month standard length.

Do you work with early-stage (pre-product-market-fit) companies?

Not for full CPO engagements. This work is for scale-up companies past product-market-fit that are growing, going through change, adopting AI, or between product leaders. Coaching may still be a fit for an early-stage founder or product leader.

What happens when the engagement ends?

Transitions are planned, not abrupt. I often shift to a lighter Advisor cadence to support a permanent hire’s first months, which can include helping define the role and sitting in on the hiring process itself.

Let’s talk about your product organization.