From Corporate to Creator: How to Build a Product Career with Optionality

The product world is shifting. More product managers, owners and leaders are exploring new ways to work — beyond the traditional 9-to-5 — and into a world of optionality: contracting, fractional leadership, and advisory roles that offer flexibility, autonomy, and control.

This post is for those standing at the edge of that transition, asking: What if I could still do the work I love, but on my terms?

My Journey: From Corporate Delivery to Optionality

I spent years embedded in corporate product teams — driving roadmaps, aligning stakeholders, navigating delivery cycles. It was fast-paced, high-stakes work. But over time, I started craving something else: more freedom, more ownership, and more variety in the work I was doing.

I didn’t want to walk away from product — I wanted to reshape how I showed up in it.

That’s when I began to explore product optionality — creating a mix of work that aligned with my expertise and lifestyle. I took on contracting roles. I stepped into fractional leadership gigs. I started advising startups. And eventually, I launched Baltimore Advisory and Agile Product Mastery (APM) — platforms to support others making the same move.

Why Optionality Matters in Product Careers

Optionality means having the freedom to choose how and where you apply your skills — not being locked into one employer, title, or team. It’s becoming increasingly important for product pros who want:

• Control over their schedule and workload

• Exposure to new industries, tools, and team dynamics

• Protection against redundancy or market shifts

• Opportunities to monetise knowledge outside full-time roles

Optionality isn’t about quitting your job tomorrow. It’s about building a professional life that evolves with you.

Baltimore Advisory & APM: My Launchpad for Career Flexibility

I created Baltimore Advisory and Agile Product Mastery as bridges between traditional corporate delivery and entrepreneurial freedom.

• Baltimore Advisory helps experienced professionals transition into advisory roles and product leadership consulting — providing structure, strategy, and positioning.

• Agile Product Mastery (APM) is our education and content hub — built to equip today’s product leaders with the mindset, tools, and systems to lead in uncertain environments.

Together, they give me the clarity and support to take the next step and the same can be said for you, whether that’s your first contracting role, your first client pitch, or your first scalable productised service.

The Personal Brand Engine: Why LinkedIn Is Your New Resume

If you’re building optionality into your career, you need to be visible. People won’t know you’re available, capable, or valuable unless you tell them.

That’s where LinkedIn becomes essential — it’s your digital stage and relationship builder.

Here’s a simple daily practice that helped me build reach and reputation:

1. Post with Purpose

Share what you’re learning, building, or noticing. Short insights. Project stories. Commentary on product trends. You don’t need to go viral — just be consistent and useful.

2. Engage Authentically

Like and comment meaningfully on posts from people you admire, want to work with, or already know. Don’t just scroll — join the conversation.

3. Grow Your Network Intentionally

Send 2–5 connection requests a day. Focus on product leaders, recruiters, founders, or peers in industries you’re keen to work with.

4. Highlight Your Value

Pin posts that showcase your strengths. Update your headline and bio to reflect what you offer, not just what you’ve done.

I didn’t start with a large audience — but showing up consistently changed everything. Over time, the right people started reaching out. That’s the flywheel.

Practical Tips for Transitioning to Optionality

Here’s what I wish I knew earlier when stepping into more flexible product work:

• Package your experience into outcomes, not titles.

  Clients and founders care less about your org chart history and more about what problems you solve.

• Start before you think you’re ready.

  Offer a small advisory session. Join a fractional gig. Run a free webinar. Action builds confidence.

• Say no to the wrong gigs.

  Not every opportunity aligns with your goals. Clarity on your niche and non-negotiables is key.

• Create light, repeatable systems.

  Use templates, tools, and productised services to reduce friction and increase leverage.

• Keep a long game mindset.

  This is a career evolution, not a side hustle sprint. Relationships, reputation, and results take time.

Common Fears — And How to Get Past There

Most people hesitate to make the leap because of one or more of these fears:

• “What if I don’t get clients?”

  You will. But visibility and clarity are prerequisites. That’s why personal brand and positioning matter.

• “Isn’t this risky?”

  In many ways, relying on a single employer is riskier. Optionality gives you resilience.

• “I don’t know how to sell myself.”

  You don’t have to become a ‘salesperson.’ Just start having conversations. Focus on helping, not pitching.

• “What if I’m not cut out for this?”

  If you’ve led complex products in challenging environments, you’re already operating at a high level. It’s just a different wrapper now.

Final Thoughts

A career with optionality doesn’t mean walking away from everything you’ve built — it means unlocking new ways to use it.

Whether you’re looking to consult part-time, move into fractional CPO roles, or build a personal brand that opens doors, the future of work rewards those who are adaptable, visible, and willing to experiment.

Baltimore Advisory and Agile Product Mastery exist to help me make that move — without burning bridges or losing your edge. We’re the bridge from corporate structure to creator freedom.

If you’re curious about what that could look like for you, start by showing up online, shaping your narrative, and designing your next step — not just waiting for it.