Oh Frac! Ep04: Konrad Jarocinski - AI-Powered Chief-of-Staff Playbook

On this episode of Oh Frac!, host Adir Ron sits down with fractional COO & Chief of Staff Konrad Jarosinski—the self-described “Swiss-Army-Knife” who’s scaled everything from Emirates and Visa to hyper-growth startups like Booksy. Konrad unpacks the realities of juggling multiple inboxes, why first-time founders obsess over product while veterans obsess over distribution, and how AI supercharges a chief-of-staff’s impact. He also shares candid war stories about fines in Switzerland, co-founder break-ups, and betting his own time for equity that never materialized. Whether you’re a founder weighing fractional talent, an exec eyeing the gig path, or an investor scouting operational firepower, this conversation is packed with unfiltered advice you can deploy today.

Key Takeaways: 
* Founders: distribution > product; nail your go-to-market before polishing features.

* Fractional execs can create outsized impact in as little as 5–10 hrs/week.

* Build a single “command-center” inbox to avoid costly admin slip-ups.

* Hybrid cash + equity deals require VC-level due diligence—or expect a goose-egg.

* Angel investing sharpens a fractional’s ability to pick winning clients.

* AI-native chiefs of staff unlock company-wide efficiency gains fast.

* Bootstrap vs. VC? Cash-flow-positive startups with clear governance make the best fractional clients.

* Dream clients value speed and give direct access to decision-makers; nightmare clients drown you in politics.

* Use tough, actionable feedback to stand out as an advisor or investor.

* Career pivot cheat-code: founding a startup first builds instant credibility with future clients.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & teaser  
04:30 Icebreaker – the “weirdest skill”  
09:00 Konrad’s global career journey  
13:30 Scaling Booksy & discovering startup pace  
18:00 Founding Data Gems and co-founder exit  
22:30 Going full-time fractional  
27:00 COO vs. Chief of Staff—key differences  
31:30 Angel-investor lens on startups  
36:00 Working for equity: wins & misses  
40:30 Frac’d-up moments, quickfire round & close  

Konrad Jarosinski’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konradjarocinski/ 
Adir Ron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adir-ron/

Keywords:
fractional leadership, fractional COO, chief of staff, startup operations, angel investing, equity for services, product-market fit, distribution strategy, AI in operations, Oh Frac podcast