Should You Go Fractional? The Career Move More Executives Are Considering, and What You Need to Know Before Taking the Leap with Ha Nguyen

​More executives than ever are exploring fractional leadership, consulting, advisory work, and portfolio careers.

Not because it's trendy.

​Because the last few years have been a reminder that even the most accomplished leaders can find themselves navigating layoffs, reorganizations, shifting priorities, and an increasingly uncertain job market. As AI accelerates change and companies continue to do more with leaner teams, many executives are asking a new question:

​How do I create more agency over my career?

​For some, the answer may be a portfolio career — one built on a mix of fractional leadership, consulting, advisory work, board service, investing, teaching, or entrepreneurship. The appeal is obvious: greater flexibility, more autonomy, diversified income streams, and the opportunity to work on a variety of challenges and organizations.

​But what's the reality?

Over the past 3.5 years, Ha Nguyen, Managing Partner, NextStep has built a portfolio career spanning fractional executive roles, consulting engagements, board service, investing, teaching, and community leadership. Along the way, she's experienced the excitement of landing new clients and designing her own career path, as well as the uncertainty, mistakes, and hard-earned lessons that come with building a business from scratch.

In this candid conversation, seasoned fractional HR executive Payal Maheshwari, Partner, People Catalysts, will interview Ha about:
• Why she decided to leave the traditional executive path
• How she landed her first three clients
• What she's learned and what surprised her most about fractional work
• The realities of business development, pricing, referrals, and client management
• Who tends to thrive in a fractional career and who may be happier in a full-time operating role
• Practical ways to test the waters before making the leap

This isn't a session designed to convince you to go fractional. It's an honest look at the opportunities, tradeoffs, and realities of life beyond the corporate ladder so you can decide whether this increasingly popular career path is right for you.

Bring your questions. We'll save plenty of time for audience Q&A.