"The Finish Line is Just the Start: Why I’m Finally Going All In"

When I was 22, I told myself I would never run a marathon.
It seemed impossible—too hard, too time-consuming, too far outside my comfort zone.

Fast-forward to today: I’ve completed three marathons, including one earlier this month.

And last month, I made another bold move: I’m going all in on launching my own fractional CMO business.

Just like distance running, it’s a leap that once felt too big.
But this time, I’m ready.

How did I go from “never” to three marathons?

It was a journey—physical, emotional, and mental.

At 22, I couldn’t imagine the leap from 3 miles to 26.2. I didn’t have the confidence to even try.

It wasn’t until I gave birth to my first son that I truly considered distance running. I wasn’t focused on how it would benefit me—I wanted Bryce to see that his mom could be brave and strong, that she could do hard things.

I hoped to inspire in him perseverance, focus, and passion. Almost incidentally, I inspired those same qualities in myself.

Let’s go back to April 5th. The Mt. Charleston Marathon offered a new kind of challenge: a long, fast, downhill course.

The race began at 6:00 a.m., 7,600 feet up in the mountains, with the temperature hovering near 30°F. I watched the sun rise over the snowy peaks—a brief moment of stillness before the intensity began.

By mile 22, I was deep in the struggle. My mantra played on repeat:
“I get to do this. My goal is to finish. I can walk at any time. I get to do this.”

That simple chant powered a walk/jog/run shuffle through the final 5K. When the finish line finally came into view, I was exhausted—and joyful.

Once again, I had beat my expectations and achieved a goal I once couldn’t even dream of.

And I never imagined how closely my career path would mirror my evolution on the roads.

I began my career in educational publishing, which eventually transitioned into educational technology in the late 2000s—after the Great Recession. I was, and continue to be, passionate about democratizing education: making it easier for learners to access information and for educators to discover the resources that best support their students’ needs.

I stepped away from large corporate edtech leaders to join smaller businesses and startups, where I learned invaluable lessons about leadership, strategy, teamwork, and marketing execution.

Then, in March 2016, I found myself unemployed. I desperately wanted to stay in edtech but couldn’t find the right fit. I was also curious about what it would take to break out on my own as a marketing consultant. I took one contract as a CMO—a role that today is popularly referred to as fractional. But the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that gripped my 22 year-old self when contemplating running a marathon, returned in full-force. I was too afraid of the potential risks to fully commit to self-employment. When the opportunity for something more secure presented itself, I took it. 

A good friend referred me to a software company called Autodesk. I had vaguely heard of their flagship product, but otherwise knew little about them. That introduction brought me into the world of software for architects, engineers, and construction professionals—via the global leader in design and make technology.

I entered this new world cautiously—learning new industries, new personas, new products.

Moving from small startups to a large global enterprise was an adjustment. It took time to find my footing, rebuild confidence, and truly trust my expertise again.

And eventually, I found a rhythm. I experienced a few great years of job satisfaction—until I didn’t.

Last month, I shared that I was impacted by a significant reduction in workforce at Autodesk.

Fortunately, I had already been working with a career coach—and I’d been thinking deeply about what I wanted next. Rather than fading with time, that long-standing desire to build something of my own had only grown stronger.

Just like committing to my first marathon sparked profound personal growth, I believe this next leap—pivoting from full-time corporate work to full-time, self-employed fractional CMO—will make me a more strategic marketer, a more empathetic leader, and a more resilient human.

So here I am, standing at the starting line again.
This time, it’s not a race—it's a business.

I’m officially launching On-Demand CMO, my fractional CMO consultancy.

In this next chapter, I’m partnering with socially impactful small and mid-size businesses and nonprofit organizations to build holistic marketing strategies and implementation plans. I bring with me two decades of hands-on experience, shaped by strategy, analytics, creativity, and a deep love of mission-driven work.