Gen X Women at the Crossroads: Why Fractional Roles Might be the New Path to Reinvention

I didn’t leave my CEO role because I was burned out or miserable. Quite the opposite — I loved it. I loved my staff, the impact we were making, and the energy of building something that mattered. But the grant that had funded my position for four years wasn’t renewed, and just like that, the work I poured my heart into was coming to an end.

In that moment, I had a choice. I could dust off my résumé and look for another leadership role, hoping someone else’s funding and priorities would align with mine. Or… I could bet on me.

I decided that day I would never again hinge my livelihood on someone else’s budget. I would build a consultancy that allowed me to choose the projects, organizations, and missions I wanted to serve — soul-aligned work that could last the rest of my lifetime. And that decision opened the door to the fractional and interim work that has since given me more freedom, variety, and purpose than I ever imagined.

Why Gen X Women Are Feeling This Shift

We grew up in the era of “get a good job, work hard, be loyal, and you’ll be rewarded.” For a while, that worked. We were the generation that adapted to email, survived multiple recessions, navigated parenting alongside careers, and kept the plates spinning even when the world threw curveballs.

But somewhere in our 40s and 50s, things start to shift. The career that once energized us begins to feel like a weight. For some, it’s burnout — the endless meetings, the constant pressure to do more with less. For others, it’s the realization that we’ve been living someone else’s definition of success.

Add to that the reality of midlife: aging parents who need more care, kids heading to college or starting their own lives, and our own sense that time is moving faster than we ever imagined. We start to ask, If not now, when?

The Gap Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be

Here’s where most women get stuck.

You want work that matters, something aligned with your values and strengths, but you can’t (or don’t want to) give up the stability of a paycheck overnight. You’ve spent decades building your expertise, and you’re not about to toss it aside.

At the same time, you don’t want to jump from one high-pressure role to another just because it’s “safe.” You want more control, more variety, and more meaning in your work.

So you stand in the gap, one foot in the world you’ve always known, one foot trying to step into something new.

How I Discovered the Fractional Path (By Accident)

My introduction to fractional work wasn’t planned. My background was in nonprofit strategy, and I was called in to help a special needs school create a strategic plan. Once I delivered it, they looked at me and said, “We have no idea how to implement this. Can you stay?”

That short-term project turned into me guiding them through the entire implementation process. Along the way, someone on their board introduced me to another organization — a nonprofit that had just landed a multi-million-dollar grant and didn’t know how to manage it.

That role turned into a four-year CEO position that was perfect for me at the time. It was high-impact work, but it didn’t feel like the grind of a traditional role because I had entered it as a change maker.

Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients — often stepping in as their de facto Chief Strategy Officer — to help them bridge big moments of change. Sometimes they’re startups finding their footing, sometimes they’re established organizations rethinking their future. And every time, I get to choose the work I take on, the people I work with, and the terms that work for me.

That’s the beauty of fractional work , it’s not about taking whatever job you can get. It’s about designing your own professional portfolio.

What Fractional and Interim Roles Really Are

Let’s demystify it.

A fractional role is when you work part-time in a leadership or high-level capacity for one or more clients. Think CFO, COO, CMO or in my case CSO— but you’re doing it for several companies instead of being tied to just one.

An interim role is when you step in temporarily maybe to cover a leave, guide a transition, or lead a special project.

Both models are built for experienced professionals. Instead of selling hours or chasing random gigs, you’re offering the highest-value skills you’ve built over your career — on your terms.

The Biggest Insight I’ve Learned

If I had to boil it down to one thing, it’s this: fractional work is freedom.

Freedom to choose work you love. Freedom to walk away from situations that don’t fit. Freedom to work your own hours and get paid well for your knowledge. Freedom to have more than one client at a time, so you’re never fully dependent on a single employer.

It’s not just about making a living — it’s about designing a life.

The Benefits of Going Fractional Before You Leap

When women ask me why they should consider fractional work as part of their reinvention journey, I tell them it’s the ultimate bridge strategy.

Here’s why:

• Income stability while you explore your next big move.

• Variety — you get to work in different industries and roles, keeping your skills fresh.

• Networking — each engagement expands your circle of influence.

• Learning — you see how different organizations operate, which makes you better at your craft.

• Clarity — you discover what you actually enjoy doing (and what you never want to do again).

And if you still enjoy aspects of corporate life? Fractional work lets you keep the parts you like while ditching the parts you don’t.

How to Step Into Fractional Work

If this is sparking something in you, here’s how to get started:

1. Identify your transferable genius — What are you known for? What problems do you solve easily that others struggle with?

2. Package it up — Position yourself as a high-value solution to a specific type of problem.

3. Find opportunities — Network intentionally, reach out to past colleagues, connect with executive recruiters who place fractional talent, and position yourself on LinkedIn.

4. Set boundaries — Decide your ideal scope, hours, and rates before you start.

5. Start small — You don’t have to overhaul your career in one leap. One good fractional engagement can lead to the next, and the next.

   
   

Fractional as a Stepping Stone to Purpose

Here’s the thing , fractional work doesn’t have to be forever. For some, it becomes their long-term career model. For others, it’s the bridge to something even more aligned, like:

• Starting a purpose-driven business.

• Taking a leadership role in a mission-driven organization.

• Freeing up time to pursue personal or creative projects.

The beauty is that fractional roles give you breathing room. You can earn well, work with great people, and have the mental space to think about your next chapter without desperation driving your choices.

Stories That Inspire Me

I’ve watched so many women step into this model with incredible results:

• A marketing executive who left her 20-year corporate role, took on two fractional CMO clients, and eventually launched her own boutique agency.

• An HR leader who became a fractional talent strategist for startups, then joined one full-time when she found the perfect cultural fit.

• A nonprofit fundraiser who took on fractional roles across three small organizations and ended up building a thriving consultancy serving her favorite causes.

And of course, my own journey — starting with one accidental engagement and evolving into a career that’s richer and more varied than I could have imagined.

Mindset Shifts for Gen X Women

If you’re considering this path, here are a few mindset shifts that make it easier:

• You’re not starting over — you’re starting fresh. Your decades of experience are your superpower.

• There’s no “forever job” anymore. That’s not bad news — it’s freedom.

• Success is what you define it to be now. Not what your 25-year-old self thought it was.

• You can design work around your life — not the other way around.

  
  

Your Next Step

If you’re a Gen X woman standing at the crossroads, still in a role you’ve outgrown, dreaming of purpose but unsure how to bridge the gap , I want you to know there is a way forward.

Fractional work has given me variety, freedom, and more energy for life outside of work. It’s kept me learning, growing, and making an impact without burning out. And it might just be the perfect next chapter for you too.

If this resonates and you’d like to talk about what’s possible for you, I offer a free clarity call — no sales pitch, just a conversation about your options and where you want to go next.

You’ve earned the right to work on your own terms. Now’s the time to explore what that could look like.

If you are a small business, non-profit, or soloprenuer looking for a strategic partner, I welcome a conversation with you as well. Book your call here: https://www.soulprofessional.com/about/camillelmiller