ASS1 · E9
Season 1 · Episode 9 · Mar 27, 2025

Beyond the Layoff: Building an Unshakable Portfolio Career

with Abby Schommer · CalPal

Turning professional vulnerability into resilience. Abby Schommer, co-founder of CalPal, on building a portfolio career with more than one income stream.

About this episode

Sean M. Atkinson sits down with Abby Schommer, co-founder of CalPal and host of The Marginalized Podcast, to explore how portfolio careers can transform professional vulnerability into unshakable resilience.

Key takeaways

What to take from this one

01

How layoffs can fundamentally change your perspective on work.

02

Building a portfolio career with multiple income streams.

03

Starting with freelancing platforms to develop client relationships.

04

The emotional journey of career transitions and rebuilding confidence.

05

Time management strategies for balancing multiple clients.

06

How to set boundaries that protect your time and value.

07

Using CalPal to prevent double-booking across multiple calendars.

08

Converting freelance projects into long-term professional relationships.

09

Why continuous business development matters even when busy.

Timestamps

Jump to a moment

  • 00:00Introduction to Portfolio Careers
  • 05:03Building Resilience in Uncertain Job Markets
  • 11:29Taking Control: The Shift to Portfolio Careers
  • 17:21Finding Clients and Building a Freelance Career
  • 23:27Navigating Confidence and Emotional Well-being
  • 29:55The Importance of Continuous Learning and Adaptability
  • 37:02The Birth of CalPal: A Solution for Freelancers
  • 41:50Proactive Time Management Strategies
  • 47:59Building a Business While Maintaining Other Income
  • 53:21Navigating Layoffs and Job Market Challenges
AS
About the guest

Abby Schommer

Abby has been leading growth strategy for pre-seed startups to Fortune 100 companies for over 10 years, and is now on a mission to empower small business owners through accessible technology. She's the Co-Founder of CalPal, a tool that centralizes calendar and time management for independent professionals juggling multiple clients.

Abby is passionate about making time for her family and herself alongside her portfolio career where she's also a marketing consultant for eCommerce and Gaming companies. Apart from that, Abby loves democratizing information through conversations with industry leaders — many of which she hosts on her podcasts, Marginal (by CalPal) and Going Deep (with Plunge Games). Across all facets of work and life, Abby believes in the power of technology and human connection to drive meaningful social impact.

Read the companion article

Portfolio Careers: The Key to Resilience

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