The Future is Freelance Forums
A collaborative event series for stakeholders from all levels of the freelance ecosystem.
Next Forum:
Why Enterprise Companies and Freelancers Need Each Other
January 16, 2025 8:30am MST/3:30pm GMT
With special guests:
Matthew Mottola, CEO of The Human Cloud
Laura Gil Alcalde, Freelance Business Manager
Nuri Demirci Lopez, Principal Product Manager-Microsoft 365
Riley Kaminer, Content Strategist, Founder of ClearCritical
The Future of Freelance Forums are a series of collaborative events designed to surface and solve the problems we all face as independent workers and those who support them.
Each topical discussion will feature a curated group of speakers, but this isn’t a panel of “experts” giving solutions; it is a collaborative conversation where we design solutions together.
At the next forum, Why Enterprise Companies and Freelancers Need Each Other, we'll collectively explore the following questions:
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What are the barriers to flexible workforce adoption for larger enterprise companies?
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What are the barriers for freelancers to finding work with larger companies?
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How can the freelance ecosystem work to address this divide to ensure the growth of the freelance economy?
Who is it for?
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Freelancers
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Coaches and content creators who support freelancers
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Community and advocacy leaders
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Platform and agency founders
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Tool and solution creators
Where does it happen?
All current sessions will happen on Zoom, but we hope to launch some in-person events soon.
What’s it like?
This is a completely unique experience—think part panel, part workshop, part Q&A. This is not a “sit-and-get” webinar where you chill with your camera off while you check your email. Be prepared to contribute, interact in breakout groups, and share your best thinking.
How do I sign up?
Click the button below.
What People Are Saying
"I loved this session."
~ Adeline, forum participant
"Different perspectives, great thought-provoking questions. Brilliant facilitation. Lovely group of people."
~ Una, forum participant
"I love the opportunity to connect with experienced freelancers, very enlightening."
~ Kayla, forum participant
"I always love the thought-provoking and strategic questions you ask, as well as the wisdom of what's working for others here."
~ Colleen, forum participant
The future of work will be defined by those who freelance and those who build the infrastructure to support them.
Thousands of people, platforms, and programs are pushing the world to embrace and respect independent work.
What would it look like if we came together to solve the biggest problems facing the freelance ecosystem instead of in isolation?
Freelancers
How might your work look different if you could thought-partner with the leaders building the communities, platforms, tools, and solutions you rely on every day?
Coaches
How might your programs look different if you could dig deep with a dedicated group of freelancers, platform pioneers, and thought leaders on the biggest problems facing freelancers?
Community and advocacy leaders
How might the impact of your work change if you could leverage the collective power of a dedicated group of like-minded peers?
Platform and tool innovators
How might the effectiveness and adoption of your solutions change if you could tailor them to the specific needs of not just individual freelancers but the broader freelance ecosystem?
We’re all working on the same problems; let’s get better at finding the solutions together.
Hi, I'm Sarah.
Your host and moderator.
I'm an independent COO who helps solo business owners scale on their own terms.
Through my work as a coach, content creator, and thought leader, I’ve met hundreds of amazing people who are working toward a future where independent work is valued.
Every time I make a connection, I wonder how we can work more effectively together toward our shared goals. The Future is Freelance Forums are the first step toward a broader coalition of leaders working toward the future of work.
I believe the best solutions come from the ground-up, from people with skin in the game, but often we operate in silos and echo chambers instead of leveraging the power of the collective.
The Future is Freelance Forums honors the expertise that comes from all levels of the freelance ecosystem, from freelancer to platform CEO, from community builder to enterprise leader.
My facilitation style cultivates this innate expertise in each participant to bring forward the most innovative solutions that benefit everyone.
Resources from Past Forums
What Makes a Freelance Business Sustainable?
Featured guests
Elina Jutelyte, Founder of The Freelance Business Community
Anna Burgess Yang, Solopreneur Operations
Maari Casey, CEO of Uncompany
Questions we explored:
- What are the criteria for a sustainable freelance business?
- How can the freelance ecosystem (coaches, community leaders, platforms) help to foster conditions that lead to sustainability?
- What are the barriers to sustainability at all levels of the freelance ecosystem, and how can we address them?
The Pricing Paradox
Featured guests
Robert Vlach, Best-Selling Author of The Freelance Way and Founder of Freelancing.eu
Rachel Renock, Cofounder & CEO of Wethos
Lizzie Davey, B2B SaaS + Ecommerce Writer
Questions we explored:
- What are the pricing structures and strategies that lead to long-term success?
- How do freelance businesses consider pricing a mechanism for freedom and fulfillment?
- How can the freelance ecosystem (coaches, community leaders, platforms) create infrastructure to foster better pay, close income gaps, and increase transparency?