What is a Portfolio Career?

A portfolio career is a professional path where you combine multiple income streams, projects, or roles, rather than relying on a single full-time job.

Instead of working just one position, people with portfolio careers blend consulting, freelance work, part-time roles, passion projects, investments, or side hustles — creating a flexible, diversified career that aligns with their skills, interests, and lifestyle goals.

At Leap Academy, led by renowned career strategist Ilana Golan, we specialize in helping professionals design and elevate their portfolio careers. Leap Academy is the only place dedicated to not just teaching the concept of portfolio careers — but showing you exactly how to implement them successfully. Whether you’re pivoting industries, launching new ventures, or looking to expand your impact, Leap Academy provides the tools, strategies, and expert guidance to help you build a magnetic portfolio career that unlocks freedom, fulfillment, and long-term growth.

Who is Ilana Golan?

I was leaping in my career continuously. Air Force → Engineer →Technical Sales → Product Manager → VP Technical Operations… When I decided to leap to entrepreneurship and start a tech company with a friend. We even raised money from investors! $800,000! I was so excited. I thought I was living the dream.

During the good-bye from my previous job I told everyone about this company-in-the-making. Little did I know that it would blow up in my face.

My co-founder decided to take the money, kick me out of the business and...

As someone who’s built my own portfolio career and helped countless leaders do the same, here’s how I define it:

A portfolio career is not about working one full-time job for one employer. Instead, it’s about designing a professional life that blends multiple roles, income streams, and projects — all aligned with your unique skills, passions, and goals.For example, you might:

Work as a fractional CMO for a startup
Serve on advisory boards or as a paid speaker
Run your own coaching or consulting practice
Launch a passion project or side business
Invest in startups or real estate
Create digital products or online courses

What makes a portfolio career so powerful is the freedom and resilience it offers. You’re not dependent on a single company, role, or paycheck. Instead, you’re crafting a career on your terms — one that evolves with you, creates diverse income streams, and allows you to explore multiple passions at once.At Leap Academy, I help ambitious professionals rethink their careers and unlock new opportunities they never thought possible. We guide you through repositioning your brand, elevating your leadership story, and building a portfolio career that doesn’t just check boxes — it fuels your growth, your wealth, and your joy.Your career is no longer just a ladder. It’s a portfolio — and you get to be the architect.

Portfolio Careers

Leap Academy

Follow our socials or book a career strategy call to explore how Leap Academy helps individuals design, navigate, and thrive in diverse portfolio careers — blending multiple income streams, passions, and opportunities into a flexible, fulfilling professional life.

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What is a Portfolio Career?

Who is Ilana Golan?

As someone who’s built my own portfolio career and helped countless leaders do the same, here’s how I define it:

A portfolio career is not about working one full-time job for one employer. Instead, it’s about designing a professional life that blends multiple roles, income streams, and projects — all aligned with your unique skills, passions, and goals.For example, you might:

Work as a fractional CMO for a startup

Serve on advisory boards or as a paid speaker

Run your own coaching or consulting practice

Launch a passion project or side business

Invest in startups or real estate

Create digital products or online courses

Portfolio Careers