Executive Spotlight: Jennifer Gendron

From Clinician to Fractional Executive: Jennifer’s Mission-Driven Journey in Health Tech 

Jennifer Gendron’s career is a testament to the power of aligning passion with purpose. Beginning as a clinical social worker, she transitioned into the business side of healthcare, earning her MBA and spending over a decade driving impact in health tech and behavioral health tech. Today, Jennifer leverages her expertise as a fractional executive, working with mission-driven companies to scale their growth and achieve meaningful outcomes.

Q: To start, could you share an overview of your career journey? 

Jennifer: Sure. I’ve had a unique career path. I started as a clinical social worker, doing therapy and social work in healthcare and public health settings. I later worked for an employee assistance program, which was acquired by a venture-capital-backed wellness platform. That transition led me to the business side. I went back to school to earn my MBA, and for the past 14 years, I’ve been working in health tech and behavioral health tech, always with mission-driven organizations. 

I would say ‘I’d never sell widgets’—it’s all about meaningful impact for me. 

And this past year, last October actually, I left my previous full-time role and ended up doing fractional work here ever since. 

Q: What led you to pursue fractional work? Was there a specific hurdle you overcame to make the transition? 

Jennifer: My journey into fractional work was somewhat serendipitous. When I left my full-time role, I was speaking with several organizations and took a step back to reflect on what I wanted next. I decided I wasn’t ready to commit to another full-time role. 

I proposed fractional engagements to the organizations I was talking to, and fortunately, they were open to it. I started with four clients, which led to forming my LLC. Over time, I realized how much I enjoyed the variety and impact of fractional work. It allowed me to leverage my expertise in scaling revenue and navigating growth across multiple mission-driven companies. 

It’s incredibly rewarding to align my passion for helping organizations grow with making a broader impact, especially in health tech and behavioral health tech. 

Q: How does fractional work compare to a full-time role? Has it impacted your work-life balance? 

Jennifer: Fractional work gives me a lot of flexibility. I set my own schedule, which allowed me, for example, to travel across the country this summer to watch my son play baseball while keeping up with work. 

Of course, there are things I miss about full-time roles, like having a dedicated team and being part of something bigger. But overall, this approach has worked well for me, allowing me to balance my professional and personal priorities. 

Q: With multiple engagements, how do you balance your time and efforts across different clients? 

Jennifer: Balancing multiple clients requires intention and structure. I start by collaborating with each client to set clear objectives, KPIs, and timelines. I maintain open communication, hold weekly check-ins, and review milestones with my clients. This helps ensure we’re on the same page while respecting that I have other commitments.  

On a daily basis, I plan my schedule carefully, dedicating specific blocks of time to each client. Being intentional and structured allows me to focus fully on each engagement without compromising quality. 

Q: When you join a company for a limited time, how do you integrate with their team so quickly? 

Jennifer: It depends on the client and the project. For long-term assignments, I spend time meeting team members, understanding their perspectives, and building relationships. Sometimes, I join Zoom calls or even meet in person to get to know the team. 

For shorter assignments, or when I’m working independently, the integration process is different. I maintain strong relationships with my client companies, which helps create a sense of being part of the team, even in a fractional capacity. 

Fractional engagements often feel embedded, whereas consulting can have a more external perspective. That said, the lines can blur, and some of my roles, like acting as a fractional CRO, resemble traditional leadership positions. 

Q: What excites you most about the health tech and digital health space right now? 

Jennifer: I’m particularly excited about the innovative approaches in mental health, such as personalized solutions and new treatments for conditions like treatment-resistant depression. Technologies like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine-assisted therapies are making a significant impact. 

In HR tech, I love the holistic approach to employee well-being—integrating mental, physical, financial, and even gut health into a cohesive strategy. 

In digital health, the trend toward collaborative care is promising, improving accessibility and outcomes across the healthcare ecosystem. These innovations are enhancing quality of care and accessibility, which are core to my values. 

Q: Have you seen firsthand the impact of your work with client companies? 

Jennifer: Absolutely. Every company I’ve worked with prioritizes strong outcomes before bringing products to market. Many collaborate with researchers and scientists, often on a fractional basis, to ensure their products are effective. 

I wouldn’t work with an organization unless I was confident their work was backed by research and genuinely helping people. 

Q: How do you approach startups versus established organizations as a fractional executive? 

Jennifer: With startups, the focus is on agility—helping them move quickly while laying a strong foundation. I often assist with product-market fit, go-to-market strategies, and scaling processes. 

With established organizations, it’s more about optimizing existing strategies, breaking into new markets, or navigating transformations like M&A. My approach always aligns with the company’s stage of growth, leveraging their strengths and addressing specific challenges. 

Q: How do you ensure alignment with a company’s growth stage? 

Jennifer: It starts with listening and understanding their needs. I assess where they are in their journey and tailor my strategies to fit their goals. It’s about meeting them where they are and helping them move forward effectively. 

Q: It’s inspiring that you align your work so closely with your values. 

Jennifer: Thank you. My background as a clinician plays a big role. I often say, “You can take the girl out of social work, but you can’t take the social worker out of the girl.” It’s helped me build strong relationships and networks, which has made fractional work come naturally to me.