Join VCMO to Build Your Portfolio Career as a Fractional CMO.

What Is a Portfolio Career?

A portfolio career in marketing involves taking responsibility for the marketing function across multiple organisations simultaneously, on a part-time or fractional basis. Unlike traditional full-time roles, operating as a Fractional Marketing Executive in a portfolio workstyle offers greater flexibility, autonomy, and diversity in work engagements. It can also help you achieve a better work-life balance.

Why More Senior Marketers Choose a Portfolio Workstyle.

Senior marketers are increasingly drawn to a portfolio workstyle for several reasons, including:

• Corporate Dissatisfaction: Rigidity in corporate structures and internal politics may drive a desire for greater autonomy and flexibility.
• Career Milestone Completion: After achieving significant milestones, senior marketers seek fresh challenges beyond traditional roles.
• Societal Contribution: Aspiring to use their skills for social good, marketers may engage in pro bono work or volunteer initiatives.
• Industry Diversification: Portfolio careers enable marketers to apply their expertise across diverse sectors fostering continual learning and skill development.
• Family Commitments: Flexible schedules accommodate caregiving responsibilities, such as looking after elderly relatives.
• Income vs. Hours: Portfolio careers offer competitive income with flexible working hours.
• Hobby Pursuits: Balancing professional commitments with personal interests leads to a more fulfilling lifestyle.
• ‍Flexibility: Crafting schedules and choosing clients and projects that align with personal priorities.‍
• Greater Autonomy: Creative freedom and strategic decision-making shape projects and clients.

Key Drawbacks of a Portfolio Career.

While a portfolio career offers numerous advantages, it's crucial to understand the potential drawbacks before diving into this workstyle.

• Inconsistent Income: Portfolio careers may lead to fluctuating income streams due to variable client demand, potentially causing financial uncertainty and challenges in budgeting and planning for expenses.
• Limited Benefits: Unlike traditional employment, portfolio careers often lack benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off, requiring individuals to manage their own benefits or forego them entirely.
• Work Overload: Juggling multiple clients and projects simultaneously can result in workload overwhelm, leading to stress, burnout, and difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Administrative Burden: Portfolio professionals must handle administrative tasks such as invoicing, bookkeeping, and client management independently, which can be time-consuming and detract from billable work hours.
• Client Acquisition: Continuously sourcing and securing new clients is crucial for sustaining a portfolio career, requiring ongoing networking, marketing efforts, and investment in building a strong professional reputation.

"A portfolio workstyle gives you the freedom to leverage your expertise across various clients in different sectors, enjoying a more dynamic and fulfilling career path. But you must weigh up the odds before choosing this path."

Paul Mills
CEO & Founder, VCMO

How Many Clients Does a Portfolio Marketing Executive Manage?

Marketers choosing a portfolio workstyle manage a select number of clients based on complexity and availability. Typically, they allocate 1-4 days monthly to each of 4-6 clients, ensuring high quality service delivery.

15 Things to Consider Before Switching to a Portfolio Career.

A transition to a portfolio career requires meticulous planning and preparation. You should not underestimate how much time (and budget) needs to be allocated for each of the following:

1. USP and Brand Building: Establish a unique selling proposition and strong personal brand.
2. Digital Presence: Create professional online profiles to showcase expertise and connect with clients.
3. BD & Social Selling: Actively engage on social media to build credibility and expand your network through on-going business development.
4. Consultancy Tools: Develop frameworks and templates to enhance service delivery.
5. Content Creation: Regularly produce quality content to attract leads and nurture client relationships.
6. Business Setup: Understand legal and administrative requirements for company formation.
7. Financial Management: Implement bookkeeping practices and establish contingency plans for when client work dries up.
8. Contractual Protection: Draft comprehensive contracts to safeguard interests.
9. Trademark Consideration: Protect intellectual property through trademark registration.
10. Income Planning: Assess income potential and develop strategies for financial stability.
11. Client Acquisition: Proactively cultivate a pipeline of clients through networking and marketing efforts.
12. Accreditations: Pursue industry certifications to enhance credibility and expertise.
13. Ensure Secure IT Setup: Set up secure IT systems and protocols to facilitate client engagement and protect sensitive information.
14. Business Insurance: Obtain comprehensive business insurance coverage, including public liability and professional indemnity insurance, to safeguard against potential risks and liabilities in client engagements.
15. Register with the ICO: Ensure compliance with data protection regulations by registering with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and adhering to GDPR guidelines when handling client data.

Supporting Your Transition to a Portfolio Career with VCMO.

Acknowledging the challenges of transitioning to a portfolio career, by joining VCMO we can provide the following assistance to empower you as you embark on this journey:

• Leverage the VCMO Brand: Utilise VCMO's brand, partnerships, and communities for support. This removes the necessity of investing time and resources into crafting your own website and company brand.
• Content Sharing: Access VCMO's content repository for sharing and engagement. This saves you considerable time and effort in content creation.
• Client Administration: Access VCMO’s client engagement and legal templates eliminating the need to develop your own collateral and contracts.
• Thought Leadership: Participate in VCMO's content strategy by engaging in podcasts, webinars, and live LinkedIn events to showcase your expertise and broaden your visibility.
• Access Licensed Tools & Frameworks: Gain access to licensed tools and frameworks through our strategic partnerships. Expedite your client work and deliver exceptional results without investing significant time in developing your own tools.
• Access Exclusive Communities: Through our partnerships, you gain entry to exclusive communities where you can benchmark your knowledge and learn from top minds in the marketing industry, fostering networking opportunities and professional growth.

Entry Requirements for Joining VCMO.

At VCMO, our mission is dedicated to reshaping the perception of marketing in the business landscape and driving tangible growth for our clients. We seek out and onboard the most ambitious marketers who share our vision, commitment to continuous professional development and excellence in marketing. Our minimum entry requirements include:

1. Chartered Marketer Status: Hold Chartered Marketer accreditation from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and commit to maintaining this status through ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Learn more.
2. Fellowship Status (FCIM): For individuals who are not currently Chartered Marketers, the requirement is to attain Fellowship status (FCIM) with the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Aspire to achieve and maintain Chartered Marketer status by completing at least two continuous years of CPD and pass the Chartered Marketer Online Assessment. Learn more.
3. SOSTAC® Certified Planner: Obtain certification as a SOSTAC® Certified Planner. Learn more.
4. Senior Strategic Marketing Experience: Possess a minimum of 10 years' senior strategic marketing experience, including at least 5 years at the CMO/VP level or equivalent, or hold a position as a marketing Professor (or equivalent) at a recognised academic institute for 5 or more years.
5. Registered Company: Your business must possess a Registered Company Number issued by Companies House (for UK residents) or the equivalent regulatory body outside the UK. Your business must be actively trading and not in a dormant state.
6. Insurance: You are required to maintain public liability and professional indemnity insurance with a minimum coverage limit of £1 million (or its equivalent in foreign currency).

Monthly Subscription.

Coming soon. We will be launching an optional monthly subscription that gives you access to state of the art consultancy tools and resources through our strategic partners. This will be announced late Spring/Summer 2024.