I’m Brian Forkner, an adventure-tested, strategy-minded, and execution-proven fractional head of product and contract-to-hire product leader who helps growth-stage teams, tech founders, and small businesses bring their best ideas to life.

Over the past 20+ years, I’ve been at the intersection of product design, UX architecture, and lifecycle marketing, helping companies bridge the gap between vision and reality. I’ve led cross-functional teams in 12 countries, guided startups through critical product launches, and scaled hybrid platforms that integrate digital tools with real-world experiences.

But before all of that, I was a champion athlete, published illustrator, startup founder, and river guide. I’ve jumped out of planes, built fly fishing gear still being sold today, and worked with everyone from Fortune 500s to folks who could’ve inspired a Scorsese script. And I’ve done it all from a remote mountain town in Colorado – long before “remote” was a thing.

What I Do Best

As a fractional product leader, I partner with teams who need clarity, momentum, and cross-disciplinary alignment. My strengths include:

• AI Product Strategy & Personalization
• Product-Led Growth (PLG)
• Go-to-Market Strategy
• Onboarding & Activation Optimization
• Scalable Design Systems
• Hybrid Experience Design (booking flows, fulfillment, post-purchase)

Whether you’re building your first MVP, integrating AI in meaningful ways, or refining complex onboarding and retention systems, I help product, marketing, and operations work as one.

What Makes Me Different

My superpower is reading the room (and the roadmap). I enter fast-moving environments, assess quickly, and help teams align around what matters most – strategy, systems, and the humans using them. I thrive in high-autonomy, high-accountability spaces, where people are humble, focused, and collaborative.

Unlike many product leaders, I’ve also worked extensively in hybrid ecosystems, where digital interfaces power physical experiences. From online booking to back-end logistics, I help teams build seamless, human-centered journeys that span both screens and real life.

More recently, I’ve worked alongside AI-native startups and ethical technologists, integrating machine learning and AI in ways that serve real user needs, not just roadmap pressure.

Beyond Work

It’s deep in the backcountry where I’m at my best, where my thoughts become clear. So when I’m not wearing one of my many product hats, you’ll find me completely unplugged and doing random things like rowing the entire 280 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, fly fishing in the Scottish Highlands, or heli-skiing deep in the San Juans. No Slack. No Starlink. No Communication with the outside world.

Hire Me for Fractional Product Work

I’m currently available for fractional product leadership, and contract-to-hire product roles. For all work engagements, please visit my studio at Fall-Line Productions or connect with me on LinkedIn.