on the portfolio career

I recently found myself on a panel, speaking on the topic of a portfolio career; a concept I’ve been discussing on TikTok since 2024. At the time, my concept was novel, though it seems to have garnered some traction since. That said, much of the discussion around a portfolio career today seems misguided vs my initial intention, so I wanted to take a moment and clarify a) what a portfolio career actually is, and b) what it can do for your career (hint: a lot).

Contrary to popular belief, a portfolio career is not hustling multiple jobs simultaneously - whether that’s to fulfill yourself or make ends meet. It’s not burning the candle at both ends in a frantic race to realizing every single one of your dreams simultaneously. A portfolio career (at least my rendition) is built thoughtfully, slowly, in fact. It follows your interest, your expertise, and is guided by your curiosity - ideally also by your fears. It’s not a means to uncapped income or a hack to make money in your sleep. It’s a method to acquire tools and build your toolbox over time.

I say this frequently, but have yet to put it in writing I suppose: my sole career goal is to be lethal in business. In order to accomplish that, I treat each role surgically as an opportunity to acquire additional skill sets and, (this is key) apply them to the next position I take on. It’s about accumulation over time, and knitting each skill together for an unparalleled view and perspective on the totality of the business.

Because of my experience in private equity, I understand the economics of how a successful business is run. Because of my experience as a Chief Brand Officer, I deeply understand consumer behavior and how each channel caters to it. Because I cut my teeth in PR, I inherently know how to storytell. Because I’ve raised capital and sold businesses, I know what investors are looking for when evaluating a potential portfolio company. Because I invest in brands, I intimately know what founders need from their teams and partners. Because I invest in funds, I have unprecedented visibility into what’s working and what’s not. Because I create content, I have a community. And because I write for Marie Claire and Inc., I have credibility.

Now this isn’t to toot my own horn, it’s an exercise in recognizing how and where experience intersects. I encourage you to sketch out your own map, because in that intersection lies your superpower; and within moments, your blind spots will be revealed. There’s nothing wrong with blind spots. We all have them. And if you’re self-aware and ambitious, you probably already feel them in your gut; they’ll feel like insecurity. If you can train yourself to transform that insecurity into curiosity, and lean into the fear of doing something you’re not sure you’re qualified to do… therein lies your next big break.

On the topic of dual-pathing multiple income streams and working on a million things all at once, no I’m not necessarily against it, but what I will say is lack of focus will make it very difficult for you to become the BEST. And all I’ve cared for, in every position I’ve ever sat in, is that I became the BEST. Once I felt I had things dialed, that was my indicator that it was time to move on and acquire a new skill set. I’m a bit woo woo too in thinking that once you learn to follow your intuition - and commit to the blood, sweat and tears - the universe sort of opens up to that potential.

The people I've seen build the most formidable careers are not the ones who optimized for income or optics. They're the ones who were willing to be the least experienced person in the room, repeatedly, on purpose. The goal is not breadth for its own sake. The goal is depth, plural. Each chapter should make you sharper, not just busier. And when you look back at the throughline, it should read less like a resume and more like a thesis.