Startup Grind Fort Lauderdale is proud to announce its January 21 kickoff event, "The Future of Fractional Leadership in the Age of AI".

The Future of Fractional Leadership in the Age of AI will feature a dynamic panel examining the rise of fractional executives, the growing demand for specialized leadership, and how AI is accelerating decision-making, execution, and organizational design. Attendees will gain practical insights into how startups and growth-stage companies can leverage fractional leadership to stay agile while accessing world-class expertise without traditional overhead.

"This event is about redefining leadership for the modern era," said Marc Lissade, Director of Startup Grind Fort Lauderdale. "Fractional leadership has moved from a stopgap solution to a strategic advantage, and when combined with AI, it creates entirely new possibilities for how companies grow. We're excited to kick off the year with a conversation that's both timely and deeply relevant for founders and executives alike."

The panel will feature such luminaries such as Melda Akin Frederick of SiriusLabs.ai and D14.AI, a Forbes MENA Top 10 Women in Tech and global AI leader bridging the US and MENA together. Prahasi Kasham, Senior Product Manager at UKG.com bringing real-world experience in AI-driven workforce and product innovation. Renatto Garro, CTO for Digital Natives at Google.com Google Cloud and Co-Founder of Nebulai.com, helping startups scale through cloud, AI, and human-AI collaboration. And joining from Silicon Valley, Andrew Lee Miller, of GrowthExpertz.com a three-time startup exit and fractional CMO who has driven over $200M in exits and helps companies achieve rapid growth through lean, AI-powered marketing and fractional leadership.

Hosted at the Levan Innovation Center, one of South Florida's premier hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship, the evening will also include curated networking opportunities designed to foster meaningful connections between startup leaders, fractional executives, and investors. The event marks the beginning of a broader 2026 programming focus by Startup Grind Fort Lauderdale on the future of work, leadership, and technology-enabled growth.

Connectd, a global platform connecting businesses with on-demand executives, advisors, and non-executive directors, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. Together, Startup Grind Fort Lauderdale and Connectd aim to spotlight how talent access, flexibility, and AI-driven insights are reshaping leadership models across industries.

Attendees can expect an engaging evening filled with bold ideas, real-world examples, and actionable takeaways for navigating leadership decisions in an AI-driven economy. The event is designed for founders, operators, and executives who want to stay ahead of the curve and build resilient, high-performing organizations.

About Connectd:
Connectd is a leading global platform that connects ambitious businesses with experienced fractional executives, advisors, and board members. By enabling flexible, on-demand access to top-tier talent, Connectd helps companies accelerate growth, improve governance, and make better strategic decisions.

About the Levan Innovation Center:
The Levan Innovation Center is a state-of-the-art entrepreneurial hub in Broward County, providing resources, programming, and space for startups, innovators, and business leaders to collaborate, learn, and grow.
For more information and registration details, visit the Startup Grind Fort Lauderdale chapter page.

3100 Ray Ferrero Jr Blvd 5th floor, Davie, FL 33314

About Startup Grind:
Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community in the world, with over 600 chapters and 3 million members across more than 125 countries. Backed by Google for Startups, Startup Grind's mission is to inspire, educate, and connect entrepreneurs through events, media, and partnerships that help founders build, scale, and sustain meaningful companies.

This release was published on openPR.