My Own Two Feet: Fractional Work, Consulting Models, & the Path to Sustainable Independence

​In this uncertain job market, more Chiefs of Staff are exploring fractional, consulting, or independent paths.

​And as many are finding out, the transition is rarely straightforward.

​Business development, brand positioning, and income uncertainty introduce new pressures and questions.

​This roundtable examines independence honestly: what sustains it, what drains it, and how practitioners decide whether to stay independent or return to full-time roles.

​Here are some real practitioner questions/challenges we will explore together:

• ​How do I explain my shift to independent work? "I’ve set up a consulting LLC and I’m now figuring out when and how to communicate that shift without confusing my network."

• ​Why is business development harder than delivery? "Fractional Chief of Staff work itself feels clear, but business development has been much harder than expected."

• ​How do I explain what I offer clearly? "I’m rebranding my services—trying to stay a generalist while being much clearer about the problems I solve."

• ​Is independence worth the uncertainty? "Being on my own has been freeing in many ways, but the uncertainty around income and long-term direction is very real."