Real Impact Leadership
Where insight becomes impact
I provide executive coaching and CFO services to founders, CEOs, and senior leaders navigating growth, complexity, and change.
Why Real Impact Leadership?
Running an organization asks a lot of its leaders.
It requires performing at a higher level every day, staying focused, and making sound decisions under real pressure.
The stakes are high, and the responsibility is real.
Most leaders navigate this pressure on their own. What’s often missing is a trusted partner. Someone who truly understands both the human side of leadership and the operational realities of running a business.
Real Impact Leadership exists to be that partner.
I provide leadership and business support grounded in real, hands-on experience that is clear, practical, and impactful.
You don’t have to figure it out on your own. I can help.
How We Work Together
Some clients engage in one service. Others work across both.
Our work together always starts in the place that’s the most useful, whether that’s leadership effectiveness, financial strategy, or a combination of the two.
The objective is the same in every engagement: stronger leadership, better decisions, and results that hold up over time.
EXECUTIVE COACHING
Stronger Leadership. Better Decisions.
For founders, CEOs, and senior leaders who want to operate at a higher level in their role and their organization.
Coaching engagements may focus on things such as:
Decision-making in complex environments
Leadership presence and effectiveness
Navigating growth, change, and increased scope
Breaking patterns that limit performance
This is coaching for experienced leaders that is practical, thoughtful, and grounded in real-world leadership demands.
FRACTIONAL CFO SERVICES
Senior financial leadership without a full-time hire.
For growing companies that need experienced financial leadership to support smart growth and execution.
Consulting engagements may include:
Financial strategy and planning
Cash flow management and forecasting
Operational and financial discipline to support scale
Partnership with founders and leadership teams on key decisions
The focus is on providing clear, decision-ready financial insight that leaders can trust.
Who This Is For
Real Impact Leadership works best with:
Founders and CEOs of small to mid-sized companies
Senior leaders stepping into larger or more complex roles
Leadership teams navigating growth or transition
Organizations that invest thoughtfully in their leaders and their business at critical moments of growth.
If you’re looking for quick fixes or packaged answers, this may not be the right fit.
If you want experienced, grounded support tailored for you, it likely is.
Hi, I’m Gwen Fonarow, founder of Real Impact Leadership.
I’ve spent much of my career in leadership roles, including more than a decade as a CFO, supporting organizations as they grew and evolved. I’ve sat in the leadership seat, carried the responsibility, and made decisions that shaped both people and performance.
That experience is the foundation of my work today, helping leaders strengthen how they lead and how their businesses perform.
If you’re exploring executive coaching, CFO support, or simply want to talk through what would be most helpful right now, I’d welcome the conversation.