How Polyworking Is Redefining Careers: A Guide to Thriving With Multiple Professional Identities
One of the most prevailing issues that some of my personal branding clients have is that they wear multiple hats. They struggle to define themselves given that they are a “jack of all trades” even though they are known for one thing they have many passions, talents and skills which they have been able to tap into but has also led to overwhelm.
However the good news is that they are not alone and there’s now a very cool name for it beyond being “multi-hyphenate” it’s known as polyworking. Polyworking is becoming a natural progression in modern work and more professionals and entrepreneurs are choosing a career structure that allows them to use their full range of talents rather than limiting and restricting themselves to a single path. This shift is not happening because people lack focus, it’s happening because the world no longer rewards narrow experience but also more crucially people are not satisfied within being boxed in and defined by one thing. People want careers that reflect their skills, interests and evolving ambitions. There is also something to be said about organisations and clients that also recognise the value of adaptable, multi-skilled talent.
For many Black women, polyworking has been a practical reality long before the term existed. Balancing professional responsibilities with entrepreneurial ventures or side hustles, community leadership, creative work or consulting is familiar territory and something that resonates with my own business journey. However what is changing now is recognition. What was once treated as “doing too much” is now understood as strategic and forward-thinking.
As someone who has built a multi-career path across PR consultancy, entrepreneurship, coaching and training, I know that polyworking is most effective when it is guided by purpose and intention.
So what exactly is Polyworking? It describes a lifestyle where one person holds several professional or entrepreneurial roles at the same time. This can include running a business, consulting, part-time employment, creative work, mentoring or any combination that aligns with personal goals. It is expanding rapidly in the US as people seek careers that feel purposeful, flexible and future-proof. If we look at it through the lens of Black women’s experiences; polyworking often emerges from both talent and necessity. Many have built businesses and side ventures to counter income barriers or limited advancement opportunities - in a world that doesn’t always honour and respect Black women we’ve often had to carve out our own spaces to thrive. These ventures are not only expressions of expertise and resilience, they are also powerful contributors to financial security and professional visibility.
To be clear and to ensure that we’re not creating structures that lead to burnout - Polyworking is not defined by the number of roles you have, it is defined by how well those roles align with your overall direction.
People are increasingly drawn to polyworking because it allows them to express more of who they are and from a personal branding perspective that is powerful. A single job title does not always reflect the full depth of someone’s knowledge or creativity. Polyworking opens doors to new networks, new relationships, income streams and areas of impact. Entrepreneurs in particular benefit from the freedom to combine business ownership with speaking, consulting, corporate contracts or creative projects. These combinations strengthen their personal brand identities and help them reach wider audiences.
A clear personal brand is essential for polyworkers. Without a strong message, a multi-career life can look confusing from the outside. With a strong message, it becomes compelling and credible.
Your personal brand should explain:
What you believe in
What skills you bring
How your roles connect
When your message is clear, clients and employers understand how your experiences reinforce each other. For Black women entrepreneurs and professionals, personal branding also supports visibility in spaces where representation can still be limited. A consistent narrative helps counter assumptions and allows your expertise to take centre stage.
This all sounds great in principle but how does it work in practice? Well to be honest polyworking requires structure, consistency, self-awareness and honest boundaries. It is not about being available to everything - just because you have capability doesn’t mean you have capacity.
@ronke_lawal Just because you have capability doesn’t mean you have capacity. 📍📌🔊 You can be skilled, talented, and driven but if your schedule, energy or mindset are overloaded, those abilities won’t translate into real impact. Growth isn’t just about adding more; it’s about making room for what matters. Protect your capacity so your capability can actually work for you. #PersonalBranding #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformance #MindsetShift #EntrepreneurMindset ♬ original sound - Ronke Lawal
However it is about selecting opportunities that align with your wider purpose.
A sustainable approach includes:
*Being clear about your capacity
*Prioritising work that moves you forward
*Reviewing your commitments with regularity
*Investing in support systems, whether through teams or partnerships
*Protecting your wellbeing
*Making space for rest
For Black women, this last point is particularly important. The pressure to over-perform is well known and so polyworking should create expansion, not exhaustion - your work should serve you, not drain you.
Of course I can’t talk about any of this without talking about communication - clear communication is the anchor of a successful polyworking life. The way you introduce yourself should feel comfortable and confident. Start with your core identity and then describe how your various roles connect to that foundation. Here a few examples:
“I’m Ronke Lawal, I help professionals tell their story with confidence and conviction. I do this as a PR consultant helping leaders shape their public narrative, as a personal branding coach guiding clients to express their unique strengths and as a training facilitator running workshops that teach communication strategies. All three roles are focused on helping people stand out and be remembered for their expertise.”
“I create businesses that support community and innovation. I run a lifestyle brand that uplifts Black women entrepreneurs, I speak at conferences about entrepreneurship and resilience and I mentor early-stage founders to grow sustainable businesses. Each role allows me to support others while building ventures that reflect my values.”
“I turn ideas into experiences that inspire action. I work as a creative consultant helping brands develop storytelling campaigns, coach emerging creatives to find their voice, and produce digital projects that engage communities. All my roles focus on helping people connect meaningfully through creative expression.”
As you can see, introductions are rooted in the person’s purpose and identity.
Online presence should also reflect this whether that’s through LinkedIn profiles, websites, bios and media interviews - they should all use consistent language. This helps clients, collaborators and journalists understand your expertise without confusion. Entrepreneurs can also use polyworking to tell a richer brand story, your different business roles can demonstrate depth, authority and credibility. When the message is coherent, your versatility becomes an asset rather than something to hide or be ashamed of.
Polyworking reflects a long-term shift in how people think about work, identity and success - it’s not a trend that will be here one year and gone the next. And I think that post-pandemic mindset shifts have happened to encourage more of this style of working, people want a new way of operating within capitalist constructs, the old way of working is no longer sufficient. Younger professionals, business owners and creatives are choosing multi-career paths with confidence. Many Black women have already been modelling this approach for years and are now receiving recognition for it. So remember your career doesn’t need to fit into one category to make an impact, it can reflect your skills, your voice and the many ways you choose to contribute. Polyworking is simply a framework that gives you permission to do so - embrace it don’t shy away from it.
If you want some help unpacking your personal brand story why not work with me. Check out my packages and sessions or get in touch for more information.
