Karina Mikhli’s Journey: From Teacher to Leader in Fractional Work

In episode 16 of Landa Talks, Karina Mikhli shares her inspiring career journey, from her early days in education to becoming a sought-after fractional consultant. Her broad experience in automation, process optimization, and flexible consulting roles offers valuable insights for those exploring fractional work.

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‍Early Days in Education and Publishing

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Karina’s career began in education, but she quickly recognized that the classroom wasn’t her long-term fit. After pivoting to the publishing industry, she spent two decades focused on content operations, navigating major shifts brought by digitalization and competition from giants like Amazon. This transition prompted her to explore freelance opportunities, ultimately leading her to fractional consulting.

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Building a Fractional Career Through Skills Diversification

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Throughout her career, Karina invested in expanding her skill set, pursuing courses in HR and business that opened doors to a variety of roles. Eventually, this led her to establish herself as a fractional workflow consultant. Passionate about process automation, she found tools like Trello and Zapier essential in streamlining workflows, improving efficiency, and delivering value to clients.

Karina explains that fractional work became increasingly attractive to business founders who needed experienced leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire. By bringing in fractional consultants, companies gained expert support on a flexible, as-needed basis.

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Unless you are a Fortune 500 company, you don’t really need a senior leader for 40 hours. Chances are, you need us for maybe 20. It varies depending on what’s going on. You need our experience, you need our expertise, you need our leadership, but you don’t need to pay us for 40 hours. With the right team executing, we can be that force multiplier, that competitive advantage.

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Overcoming Common Challenges in Fractional Consulting

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During our conversation, Karina touches on challenges businesses frequently encounter when introducing new tools and workflows. One key issue is the lack of consistent use of project management tools, which can lead to disorganization. Karina recommends setting up clear communication channels and assigning each tool a specific function to avoid confusion.

She also notes that resistance to change is a common hurdle, particularly when adopting new technologies. To address this, Karina emphasizes the importance of proper onboarding and cultivating a culture that encourages innovation.

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The Value of Community for Fractional Consultants

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Karina highlights the importance of community within the fractional consulting space. Noticing the sense of isolation many fractionals experience, she founded Fractionals United, a network that connects both established and aspiring fractional leaders. This community offers support, knowledge-sharing, and the opportunity to exchange valuable insights and experiences.

Through Fractionals United, Karina has observed a rising interest in fractional consulting, especially among small to mid-sized companies. However, she also points out that awareness about the fractional work model is still limited, posing a challenge for broader adoption.

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Karina’s Tips for Aspiring Fractional Consultants

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For those new to fractional consulting, Karina offers practical advice. Building authentic relationships and staying memorable are essential to thriving in this space. Networking plays a crucial role in attracting new clients, and maintaining an active presence within the community, even during busy periods, is beneficial.

Karina also encourages new fractionals to remain open to continuous learning, as the business landscape is ever-evolving. Keeping up with industry trends and continually optimizing processes are key habits for long-term success.

Karina Mikhli’s career is a testament to the power of adaptability and the value of seeking new opportunities. Her focus on automation, community, and authentic connections provides a framework for anyone looking to excel in fractional consulting. With demand for fractional consultants on the rise, the future looks promising for those ready to embrace this flexible and rewarding work model.

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