My New Fancy Job Title & What It Actually Means For You
I’ve never really cared much for job titles. While some people like to big up their expertise and label themselves with every acronym under the sun, I’ve always preferred just to be Lara.
Socially, when people ask what I do, I usually default to “web dev and tech SEO.”
Most people hear that and assume I’m a designer who makes pretty pages on a hosted platform (Wix or Squarespace) and writes a few blogs. I usually let them think that because explaining the reality is far more complex.
Very few people would have the foggiest idea what I mean if I talked about what I really do. Data and server architecture, semantic SEO, crawl budgets, or schema markup… If I brought up App Scripts, HTTP status codes, or the intricacies of a CRM implementation with integrations, workflows, and automations, most people’s eyes would glaze over. But for me? That’s where the real magic happens.
I would much rather talk technical architecture than fonts and colour palettes. I do the technical work that nobody sees; most don’t even know it exists, other than hoping I can code and “hack” something cool.
I did consider an ethical hacking course, but there aren’t always enough hours in the week to learn all the things I’d like and still deliver for my clients!
For decades, I’ve been the go-to tech support for family, friends, and clients.
I teach tech for work, and I also volunteer my time teaching tech to others. If it involves software, I’ve likely worked with it or can work it out pretty quickly. The foundations and logic of most systems are usually similar.
My Lightbulb Moment: Finding the Perfect Fit
Late last year, I was scrolling through Threads and saw someone describing how they worked with their clients. They weren’t a “web guy” or a one-off contractor; they were a Fractional Tech CTO, looking at the whole business engine.
I’ve been doing that exact work for decades, but never knew how to label myself.
I often show clients the backend of their WordPress site to help them truly understand what’s happening.
People think a website is just a visual page, but I specialise in the complex stuff under the hood. I am a listed Kadence expert, which means I don’t just “build sites”; I build high-performance, technically sound digital foundations that actually work for non-tech owners.
30+ Years in Tech & Far Too Many Assumptions…
I have worked in tech since the 90s, and back then, there were almost no women in the room. For many years, it was challenging for those of us who didn’t fit the frumpy “nerd” stereotype. I’ll never forget walking into a meeting and having someone ask, ‘Do we have a secretary in this meeting?’
It was a common assumption back then that I was there to take notes, not to boss them around and have the final say on their digital architecture. That grit has stayed with me. I started when the internet was brand new, and I’ve learned a thing or two over the past 30-plus years.
In the mid-90s, I worked for one of Australia’s first ISPs. There were only a few hundred public URLs in the whole of Australia.
I built my first pages in Notepad, soundtracked by the screech of a dial-up modem.
That’s where my foundational logic comes from, building things from scratch when there was no ‘how-to’ guide.
From Corporate Analyst to Strategic Partner
That early experience led me into the corporate world as an analyst. Being an analyst taught me how to look at data, find the gaps in logic, and understand that technology is only as good as the problem it solves.
Whilst I love the energy of “VIP Days” and high-intensity sprints, I’ll still be offering them for those who need a fast fix, but I want to do more work long-term that is methodical and planned, rather than being reactive or a short-term fix.
My New Title of Fractional Tech Partner
It means you don’t have to choose between a quick-fix VIP Day or a full-time CTO who costs six figures. You get me, a senior tech partner in your corner for a fraction of the cost.
As a Fractional Tech Partner, I’m looking at the entire engine of your business.
Whether it’s an App Script to automate your Google Workspace, a website fix, some CRO, SEO or analytics reporting, or perhaps a CRM setup with advanced automations, I’m in your corner to streamline everything you do.
If you have a new idea and need a sounding board, I can help with that, too. I am not a yes person, so even though you may think you need me to build an app, I will research and see if that’s the best use of your time and budget and if there will be a healthy ROI.
I’m still just Lara. I just have a better term (Fractional Tech Partner) to describe how I help you win.
