21 May, 2026
Episode 322: What Is A Portfolio Career and Why You Should Build One
In this episode
🎙️ Episode Overview
Could your years of experience be worth more than your salary suggests?
Are you at a point in your career where the ladder no longer feels like the only way up?
Are you curious about what it would mean to stop putting all of your expertise into one organisation and start using it in ways that work for you?
Have you been quietly wondering whether a portfolio career could be your next move but not sure where to begin?
In this episode, I share the moment that changed everything for me – coming back from a mission trip in East Africa and sitting at my desk realising the contrast between the impact I’d just been making and the work I was returning to. I didn’t want to burn down what I’d built. So instead, I built on the side. And that decision changed everything.
A portfolio career isn’t a leap into the unknown. It’s a smarter way to use what you’ve already got.
Summary
✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode
-
Your expertise is already an asset. The foundation of any portfolio career is what you already know – not just your job title, but the depth of experience, the problems you’ve solved, and the value you create every single day. You’ve been too busy doing the work to notice how much you’ve accumulated.
-
Building your safety net. A portfolio career gives you income streams and visibility outside your organisation – and in a market full of layoffs and restructures, that’s not a distraction from your career, it’s an insurance policy for it.
-
Starting small and building smart. A portfolio career isn’t a dramatic exit or starting from zero. It’s taking what you’ve already built and intentionally redesigning how you use it. One speaking opportunity, one piece of content, one conversation outside your organisation – that’s genuinely all it takes to begin.
Invest in Yourself and Your Career:
- Community — Join our Network for mid-career women redesigning what’s next in their careers
- Coaching — Join the Waitlist for The Portfolio Career Academy. Turn Your Expertise Into Multiple Streams of Income & Impact Through Building A Portfolio Career. Join The Waitlist
Episode notes
As an award-winning certified executive and career coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host and former lawyer, I have seen way too many female professionals under selling themselves and settling for less in their careers. I am committed to equipping high achieving women with the tools and support to create careers that are both meaningful and impactful.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. It helps the show reach more ambitious professionals who need this message.
🌿 Monthly Pause & Plan Sessions
I also host a complimentary Pause & Plan session once a month for professionals and leaders who want to step away from the noise and plan with intention. Join our next session.
🔗 Get in Touch
Want to connect and share your thoughts on the episode? Send an email to podcast@careerchangemakers.com
Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast
Connect with Janine Esbrand