Sharon Preston
I’ve built it, scaled it and sold it. Now I do it alongside owners like you.
Fractional CEO and COO for £2m to £10m owner-led businesses. Growth, scaling, succession and exit
Book an Introductory Call
I believe
A business that can’t run without you isn’t an asset. It’s a job.
Real value is a company that thrives when you step away.
I believe
Growth should create freedom, not consume it.
If scaling means longer hours and more pressure, the structure is wrong, not the ambition.
I believe
Every owner exits one day.
The only question is whether it happens on your terms, at the price the business deserves.
I'm Sharon Preston
My STORY
Everything I know about business, I learned by doing it and have the scar tissue to prove it.
Twenty-five years ago I was a single parent of two, renting a beauty room in Fulham Broadway and lecturing full time to keep the lights on. That room became the first of a number of businesses I’ve bootstrapped since, including multiple seven-figure exits.
Along the way, I rose to Head of Department in further education, led quality assurance teams and was invited to join the Expert Reference Group for Health Education England, contributing to a government white paper. Across the UK, Europe and APAC, I trained and led teams for some of the world’s leading luxury brands, building customer journeys that protect margins and grow profit.
As Chief of Staff, I ran operations at the heart of an organisation, alongside its CEO. When that organisation went into administration, I rebuilt from scratch. That experience taught me more about resilience, cash and leadership under pressure than any boardroom ever could.
Today I chair the Board of Trustees at The Devon Clinic, serve as IoD Ambassador leading on Policy and Events in Devon and Cornwall, and step into owner-led businesses as their fractional CEO and COO.
HOW I WORK
Commercial strategy, with the leadership work that makes it last.
I join your leadership team for a set number of days each month and take ownership of results. Strategy, operations, systems, team structure and exit planning, all led from the inside rather than advised from the outside.
The other half of the work is people. I coach the leaders around you, so they make decisions without you, and the change holds long after I step back.
Ready to build a business that doesn’t need you?
Then Lets Have A Conversation
Sofie Tims - MD, Sweden.
"The dedicated 1:1 time to deeply explore not only my business needs, but my life goals is uncredibly valuable. I have been working with Sharon for two years as my strategc business partner and I know she has a deep understanding of my goals, values and recurring challenges that may be holding me back as I move into the next stages of growth."
Jessica Johnson - Senior Executive, UK.
Sharon is a true inspriration. Her mentoring and support the last few years has enabled me to significantly improve my performance as well as my salary.
Sign Up For The Alignment Edit
Honest, Relatable Insights From a Mentor Who Gets It
A weekly dose of strategy, stillness and elegant growth. If you’re looking for honest insights from someone who’s not only been where you are but is still in it with you, my newsletter is the place to start.
