Ben Candea
I help climate CEOs grow their companies by giving them time back to focus on sales, fundraising, and strategy
I’m Ben, a fractional chief of staff who gets Seed and Series A climate CEOs 15+ hours back each week.
I partner with founders whose companies are growing faster than their time, especially when operations and unfinished projects pull them away from customers, investors, and the decisions that matter most.
The work you need to let go of is often the work you have the least time to explain. Bringing someone in only helps if they can take responsibility without you directing every step. I make that handover central to how we’ll work together.
I have 12+ years of operations and strategy experience across climate (Arcadia, Piclo, Noteworthy AI, 257, Monterra) and media (ESPN, ABC News). I know how to tell stories, and I know how to build the lightest process for an outsized result.
I’m not here to hand you a task list or give you one more person to manage. I take ownership of the work, so you can spend your time on what only you can do.
Not sure what to hand over first? Let’s chat. We’ll look at what’s taking your attention, what needs an owner, and where I could help.
Companies I’ve Worked With
My Expertise
Common tasks requested by my partners.
-
Support principal's prioritization to make them more effective.
Execution
Investor relations
Communication strategy
-
Streamline processes to enhance productivity.
Project management
KPIs and OKRs
Recruitment and onboarding
-
Lead strategic initiatives from inception to delivery.
-
Gain insights to make informed business decisions.
Go-to-market development
Identify opportunities and threats
Competitive analysis
-
Boost brand visibility and increase credibility.
Writing
Editing
Social media
-
Optimize finances for profitability and stability.
Budgeting
Forecasting
Cash flows
Benefits
Tasks
Add as many requests to my to-do list. We’ll prioritize together,
Monthly Rate
Pay the same fixed price each month.
Flexibility
Scale up or down depending on your needs and my availability.
Strategic Partner
Hands-on support from an experienced partner.
Simple Pricing
Plans that meet you where you are and suit your needs.
Month-to-month
Scale up or down depending on your needs and my availability
Need something else? Let’s talk and figure out the ideal solution for you.
One focused priority
20 hours/month (~5 hrs/wk)
$3,300/mo
Fractional Chief of Staff
40-80 hours/month (~10-20 hrs/wk), starting at
$6,500/mo
Custom projects
Rate depends on scope
Frequently Asked Questions
-
A fractional chief of staff is an experienced strategist and operator who works for you part-time on an hourly rate or flat fee retainer. Fractional COO/CoSs often help organizations design systems and processes, achieve growth, execute strategy, or raise new capital.
-
The primary benefits of a fractional chief of staff include:
Strategic alignment: I help align teams and projects with your business goals so that everyone is working toward the same direction.
Operational efficiency: I execute tasks that would otherwise eat up your time, allowing you to focus on high-impact activities. If I'm doing my job well, I can save you 15+ hours each week.
Improved communication: I act as a hub for internal communication, ensuring better knowledge and information flow across teams.
Project oversight: I manage and oversee key initiatives from beginning to end, collaborating with various stakeholders to successfully execute.
Decision support: I provide data-driven insights and analyses to support you in making more informed decisions.
-
If the bullets below resonate with you, you likely need a CoS:
Struggling to find time for critical priorities
Stalled and often reacting to fire drills
Missing the support you need to think strategically and execute
Spending time on tasks that exhaust your energy
Becoming a decision bottleneck
-
Hiring a full-time chief of staff can cost upwards of $300k when considering salary, benefits, and time spent interviewing and recruiting. The fractional model is typically more cost-effective, especially when considering you're only paying for expert support when you need it.
-
Onboarding is comprehensive, so we can deep dive into your company's mission, values, and goals. I embed into the company, instead of working from afar, and regular check-ins ensure continued alignment.
-
Of course! The fractional model offers flexibility -- whether your business is scaling or facing unforeseen challenges, my support can adjust to meet your specific needs at any given time.
-
Ideally, my partners eventually need a full-time CoS. I'm happy to support that transition by recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding a FTE.
-
COOs are focused on the overall health of the business, while a CoS is meant to support the principal. The CoS’s responsibilities often include communications support and driving, and aligning priorities. The CoS role is more behind-the-scenes than the COO, which can be more outward-facing. In small/early-stage companies, the work is typically similar.
