HOW BECOMING A FRACTIONAL CMO ENDED MY 5 YEAR INFERTILITY BATTLE
03.05.24 | CAMILLA CRAVEN
Anyone who knows me knows I've always been an open book, wearing my heart on my sleeve and embracing vulnerability as the key to authenticity.
However, it took me four years into my infertility battle, and a heart-wrenching experience of a miscarriage, to start to share my personal struggle within my closed professional space. Now, with a four-month-old son in my arms, I'm ready to share more publicly how my journey through infertility found an unexpected ally in my professional transformation to become a Fractional CMO.
As I have already let on – this story has a happy ending. As a passionate advocate for the fractional movement, I have already delved into my many reasons in podcasts before (Your Basket is Empty & Pass It On by Futures Network). But, this is the first time I'm sharing a more deeply personal side of it, hoping to inspire others on their journeys.
The last five years were defined by an unexplained infertility diagnosis, a challenge I, in true fashion for me, tackled with unwavering determination. It became a second job, a relentless pursuit for solutions alongside my day job. Countless doctors, myriad tests, experimental treatments – I left no stone unturned. No one could explain why. Amidst the trials, a nagging thought lingered: Could my own demanding work ethic and the challenging roles I have always sought (and loved!) be hindering our chance to conceive?
Enter the turning point in my professional life – an opportunity to venture into consulting. After the third round of IVF and with options dwindling, I decided to explore if changing my work-life balance could impact my fertility journey. Little did I know that this decision would not only shape my career but mark the beginning of a new chapter.
In August 2022, one month into consulting, I was introduced to April Uchitel (founder of WE ARE THE BOARD) who became a catalyst in my decision to specifically focus on fractional roles. She introduced me to a world where the way we work has transformed irreversibly. She shared experiences of how fractional executives had emerged as the secret weapon for scaling startups – offering short-term, decentralised, and dedicated expertise that achieves results in a fraction of the time. Without hesitation, I joined THE BOARD shortly thereafter as a Founding Member, and it has since become one of my havens.
What do we do at THE BOARD? We bring diverse talents and perspectives to companies seeking exponential impact. We curate dream teams for dream clients. Built for collaboration, we have deep experience and diverse skills that combined are unlikely to be available through a single consultancy or conventional agency.
Fellow member Jean Batthany describes THE BOARD perfectly.
“Part Creative Salon.
Part Business Incubator.
Part Innovation Lab.
Part Group Hug."
It’s the ‘Part Group Hug’ which perfectly embodies what the fractional world has meant to me.
Within months of embracing this new professional chapter, my fifth round of IVF was successful. The fractional world, whilst defined by hustle, became my sanctuary. Ironically, I had never worked harder, but the flexibility to schedule work around IVF appointments, choose my work environment, and prioritise self-care significantly reduced my work anxieties.
But the impact of the fractional journey extended beyond helping me to fall pregnant. I had always had a personal battle about how I would manage being both a great mum, and great in my professional life. How could I do it all? I couldn’t see a way to return to a demanding job with a young baby. But now as a mother, I have found myself back to work after just eight weeks – and love it, versus resent it - a feat unimaginable to me in a traditional work setting. The fractional model has offered a unique solution for working mothers, making it easier to negotiate flexible work arrangements and, in turn, keeping more mothers engaged in the workforce.
I receive countless messages daily from peers contemplating a move to fractional roles, seeking advice on thriving in this space. For me, I always say never say never to go back to the permanent world, but this transition has been the best decision, a calling I never saw coming. My journey from infertility to motherhood through the fractional lens has not only been a personal triumph but also a testament to the transformative power of embracing new ways of work.
#wearetheboard #fractionalexperts #consultants #leadership #dreamteam #communityovercompetiton #futureofwork #fractionalCMO #CMO
