Paul Millerd: Choosing The Pathless Path

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you stop waiting for a seat at the table and start building your own? In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Gogel  - an independent creative executive based in Paris who's spent the last five-plus years working fractionally with companies like Airbnb, Dropbox, HoneyBook, and Intuit. Rachel shares the real difference between freelancing and fractional leadership, shares how she's designed her career to make room for teaching, mentoring, writing, and life in a new city, and offers practical wisdom on pricing, positioning, and why more women are choosing this path. Whether you're exploring a fractional career or just rethinking what success looks like, this one's worth your time.About Rachel GogelRachel Gogel is an independent creative executive and designer specializing in fractional creative leadership for global organizations. Named one of Creative Boom's "20 designers inspiring us in 2025" and a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, she works at the intersection of brand, culture, and technology.Topics CoveredThe difference between freelancing and fractional leadershipWhat it means to be a "devoted generalist" in creative workPricing strategies: hourly rates, retainers, day rates, and value-based pricingHow fractional work can match or exceed full-time salariesWhy diversifying your client pipeline mattersThe gender gap in creative leadership and how fractional work opens doorsAdvice for women re-entering the workforce or exploring independent careersDesigning your time and redefining success on your own termsFind RachelWebsite: rachelgogel.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelgogelMentoring: rachelgogel.com/mentoringTeaching: rachelgogel.com/teachingPress & Writing: rachelgogel.com/pressBook a session on Intro: intro.co/RachelGogelFurther ReadingRachel Gogel on the rise of fractional leadership - Creative ReviewThe Undervalued Force of Women Founders - Print Magazine20 Designers Inspiring Us in 2025 - Creative BoomConnect with Fractional FMEmail: fractional.fmHosts: Joshua Wold & Lance RobbinsSupport the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailFrom Colombia to London to coastal Spain, Ana Bennett has reinvented herself at every stage. As co-founder of Go Bananas and fractional head of marketing for Running Remote, she's built a career around flexibility and adaptability. We discuss building community in unfamiliar places, working alongside your spouse, and why leaving your comfort zone is never as glamorous as it sounds.https://uk.linkedin.com/in/anamariabennetthttps://gobenanas.comhttps://runningremote.comSupport the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailMichelle Colson shares how she moved from office work to building Remote Rebellion, a community and job fair platform connecting job seekers with remote-first companies. She talks through the real tradeoffs of remote life, especially international mobility, visas, and routine, and the entrepreneurship lessons that show up fast, including cash flow, discipline, and choosing the kind of “hard” you can live with.https://remoterebellion.comhttps://id.linkedin.com/in/remoterebellionSupport the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Lance Robbins chats with Vito Peleg, Co-Founder and CEO of Atarim. Vito shares his journey from touring Europe as a rock musician to building a platform for web design agencies.Vito discusses what shaped his entrepreneurial spirit, starting with his childhood businesses and "busking" on the streets, where he learned A/B testing in real-time. Topics include:"Forced fractional": How things outside our control push us into entrepreneurship"Busking" for business: Vito optimized his street performances to go from making $20/hr to $160/hr.Crisis to opportunity: Vito pivoted a cancelled event into the Web Agency Summit, the largest online event in the digital agency space.Breaking feast and famine cycles: Advice for freelancers and agency owners on dedicating specific days to sales.Lumpy Mail: Vito shares a direct mail tactic to grab the attention of potential clients. Links & Resources:Atarim: atarim.ioConnect with Vito: LinkedIn or Twitter/XVito's Band: The Lords of UptimeSupport the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailPaul Millerd was kind enough to come on Fractional and share his journey and thoughts on following the pathless path. This is a concept he shared in his book (with the same name) and ties closely with the fractional life that so many of our guests and listeners have created. It was really fun having Paul on to dive into these concepts, share the pros and cons of choosing to be on a path that's not predefined, and what that means for the most important component of our lives: recapturing your time. You can learn more about Paul, and grab his books, at https://pmillerd.com/Support the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailThis week I’m joined by Beth Wanner, founder of Mother Cover.Beth shares her story of working in the world of tech as a successful VP of marketing.When she chose to start a family she faced the impossible tension so many parents face. She planned everything out, to balance career and family needs, and was navigating the quiet (and not so quiet) discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace. But, despite doing everything right, she founder herself without a job. Beth channeled her energy into making sure women and all caregivers don't face the same situation. Mother Cover helps to support parents and companies during parental leave with experienced fractionals ready to ensure that the jobs they're covering are ready for the returning parents. It's a bridge to protect careers, help people that want to start a family, and encourage better workplace practices. In our discussion Beth shared about her own journey with infertility, career challenges that she's faced, and using forces against her to fuel her vision to help others. Mother Cover is growing through word of mouth and authentic connection.Beth is seeking to build a better kind of workplace, one that protects families while strengthening companies.Visit Mother Cover's websiteConnect with Beth Wanner on LinkedInFollow Mother Cover on InstagramListen to the full version of Beth's StorySupport the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Fractional Podcast, host Lance Robbins welcomes guest Kate Sargent, founder of KJS Consulting and Coaching and the PlusOne Collective. They discuss the journey of transitioning from in-house roles to consulting, the importance of community and networking, and the concept of fractional work. Kate shares insights on building a business through generosity and the value of parallel pathing in career development.KJS ConsultingThe PlusOne CollectiveConnect with Kate Sargent on LinkedInSupport the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Lance Robins meets with Darren Murph to discuss talent mobility, fractional leadership, and the shifting contract between employers and employees. Darren is an executive, consultant, and a longtime leader in organizational design. He shares his journey from corporate IPOs to independent work, why every company is now distributed, and how money and time are the two true currencies of work. They explore the risks of ignoring mental revolts, the opportunities for enterprises to tap into fractional talent, and what it means to design work that respects business goals and human needs. Support the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode Lance interviewed an amazing candidate who has to relocate for no reason other than filling a warm seat in office.Then we talked about feedback loops, and how Joshua has found new energy with readers emailing responses to his newsletter on https://joshuawold.com/. Support the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/

Send us Fan MailJoshua's started reading The Pathless Path, and it's changing how he thinks about work. He's also been vibe coding, and has been surprised at some of the results. Support the showhttps://lancehrobbins.com/ and https://joshuawold.com/