How to Create Your Own Fractional Role (Even If It Doesn’t Exist Yet)
Discover how engineering leaders are building portfolio careers and stepping into fractional leadership roles. Learn how to create your own opportunities, build meaningful relationships, and navigate the mindset shifts that come with becoming the CEO of your career.
A few weeks ago at ELC (the Engineering Leadership Conference in SF), I led a roundtable on fractional leadership and portfolio careers.
I wasn’t sure how it would go; after all, most of the buzz this year was around AI. But my table was standing room only. Clearly, people are hungry for this conversation.
And I get it. Some of the most meaningful roles I’ve ever had weren’t ones I applied for; they were ones I created.
Like the time I was talking with a founder whose startup was scaling fast but still running subscriptions through WordPress. In our conversation, I helped them see how moving to a real subscription infrastructure could unlock growth and efficiency. That discussion turned into an advising role, because I’d helped them identify a problem I could solve.
That’s what I love about fractional leadership: you don’t have to wait for the perfect role to appear.
The roundtable was full of incredible insights from other experienced fractional leaders sharing their journeys to curious leaders exploring what this path could look like for them.
Here are a few highlights from what we discussed:
💬 It’s All About Relationships—Not Just Resumes
Most fractional roles don’t come from job boards. They come from relationships.
When you build genuine connections and have a clear niche, it becomes easy for people to think of you when opportunities arise.
🚀 Create Your Own Opportunities
Some of the best roles are ones you create yourself.
Reach out to founders, especially at smaller startups. Help them see a challenge you can solve: something that saves them time, improves efficiency, or grows revenue.
That’s how you turn a conversation into a role.
It’s not about pitching or selling. It’s about curiosity, empathy, and helping someone see a path forward.
🎯 Lead with the Problem, Not the Solution
As engineering leaders, we love solving problems. But when it comes to landing fractional roles (or clients), the key is to show you understand their problem better than anyone else.
That’s where trust is built.
And no, it doesn’t have to feel “salesy.” It’s really about connecting and offering help.
🧭 Market Yourself in a Way That Feels Authentic
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to visibility.
Maybe you love writing longer posts. Maybe you’re a podcast person. Maybe short LinkedIn shares feel right.
Choose what feels natural, and talk about something you truly care about. You’ll be returning to this topic often, so it has to be something that lights you up (even on the days you’re tired of hearing yourself say it!).
💡 The Part Nobody Talks About: You’re the CEO Now
Running your own business means stepping into a completely new identity.
For me, the last three years have been the biggest personal growth journey of my life, equal parts challenging and transformative.
You’ll face mindset hurdles:
Am I being too pushy?
Is my price too high?
Am I really ready for this?
Those thoughts come up for everyone. The key is learning to move through them, not around them.
🤝 Get Support, You Don’t Need to Do This Alone
When you’re building something solo, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head.
The first person I ever hired in my business was a coach, and it changed everything.
Having someone who sees your blind spots, holds you accountable, and helps you grow is invaluable.
Let’s Keep This Conversation Going
If you’re exploring fractional leadership, coaching, or building a portfolio career that actually feels like you, I’d love to support you.
I’ve helped coaches build fully booked practices in six months and supported leaders in clarifying how they stand out.
This is the work that lights me up.
If you’d like to talk through your journey or explore what’s next, just DM me on LinkedIn. I’d love to connect.
