PROGRAMME

Freelance Business
MONTH

Select the sessions you'd like to attend.
Some sessions are available with a free ticket and some with a paid ticket.

p.s. Programme is the subject to change. More speakers and topics confirmations will follow.

I. Freelance as the Future of Work

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

With this event, we want to bring about change. #Futureofwork and #freelancebusiness is on the same side of the medal. During this week, we will host talks about how the future of work is changing and will showcase cases of the organisations adopting new talent models and welcoming more freelancers in their corporate teams.

MONDAY - 2 October
15:00 - 16:00 CET
Free ticket

Opening of the Freelance Business Month

Invited speakers

Glen Hodgson, Secretary General, Freelance Movement
Maari Casey, Founder, Uncompany
Menno Bart, Head of Policy Advocacy, The Adecco Group
Matt Mottola, CEO, The Human Cloud, Forbes Contributor on the Freelance Economy
Anastasiia Dehtiarova, freelance marketing executive and creator
And a secret guest :-)

MONDAY - 2 October
18:00 - 18:30 CET
Free ticket

Networking session

Meet with fellow attendees and speakers at this first networking session of the Month.

TUESDAY - 3 October
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Freelance Economy 2.0: How the freelance economy is transitioning from a 'Gig' economy to a strategic talent sourcing channel

Matt Mottola, CEO, The Human Cloud | Author, Venture Partner, Forbes Contributor on the Freelance Economy

The freelance economy is at an inflection point. While most marketplaces have been hurting in 2023, some have seen record revenue and profits. Why the difference? Join this session to learn what the four shifts are transitioning our industry from reactive to strategic.

In this talk, Matthew Mottola will walk us through how leading enterprises, marketplaces, and leaders are adapting to this new normal and what freelancers need to know about the changes happening in the market.

WEDNESDAY, 4 October
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Free ticket

Helping freelance platforms experience early success

Jon Younger PhD, Partner, The Human Cloud, Author, educator, early stage investor, and tireless advocate of the freelance economy
Matt Mottola, CEO, The Human Cloud, author, venture partner, Forbes contributor on the Freelance Economy

In this session, Jon Younger and Matt Mottola, well known experts in the freelance economy, introduce a series of one day "study groups" designed for early stage freelance platforms, bringing you the wisdom of experts and successful freelance entrepreneurs, VCs, and functional experts like Dr Frank Cespedes, professor at Harvard Business School, Jahn Karsybaev, Partner at Big Sky Capital, and Tony Buffum VP at Upwork. Jon and Matt will lead each study group.

If you are looking for practical insights, tools, and networks that will help you grow sales, build enterprise relationship, or bootstrap growth, join this session to hear more. Here's what Maari Casey, CEO of Uncompany said about the study groups: "Just the connections and transparency gained by the Freelancer First Study Group was so wonderful. At times, it was intimidating, but it was really eye-opening to see how so many people are building in the space. I really look forward to continuing to grow the relationships started within the group."

A separate registration is required for this session. Click on this session block to register.

THURSDAY, 5 October
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

The Future of work: embracing flexibility and the freelance mindset

Oluwatayo Winkunle, Principal Consultant, Techlytics

The session will focus on how the future of work is experiencing a profound cultural and socio-economic shift towards remote work and the freelance mindset, which is being reinforced by an increasing number of countries issuing digital nomad visas. The issuance of digital nomad visas is a significant development in the world of work, and it highlights the changing attitudes towards work and the growing importance of flexibility.

THURSDAY, 5 October
15:30 - 15:50 CET
Free ticket

Living slow, growing steady - how to not go crazy in the digital world

Georgina Fezler, Digital Marketing Specialist, Budapest Pride | Founder, Slow Social Agency | Slow and Ontological Coach

Freelancing offers freedom and flexibility, but it can also come with mental health challenges. Understanding and addressing these challenges is important for freelancers to maintain a healthy work-life balance and overall well-being.

The following questions will be answered:

What are some mental health challenges that freelancers face?
What is the slow social method for managing social media?
What are some tactics for managing burnout as a freelancer?
What are some disadvantages of freelancing from a mental health perspective?
What is the goal of building a business in a slow and meaningful way?

THURSDAY, 5 October
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

A healthier future of work

Georgina Fezler, Digital Marketing Specialist, Budapest Pride | Founder, Slow Social Agency | Slow and Ontological Coach
Matthew Knight, Chief Freelance Officer at Leapers | Chief Manual Officer at Manual of Me | YJ Freelancer of the Year | Mental health advocate
Nicolina Werther, Success and Leadership Coach

Freelancing offers more freedom, but how about more health? During this session, we will look at different aspect of creating a healthier future of work for yourself, if you are a freelancer and for your freelance team, if you are leading one.

FRIDAY, 6 October
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Paid ticket

Removing the chaos. How to make the freelance model really work for a business

Adrian O'Flynn, Head of Creative & Innovation at Get Your Stories Straight
Úna Herlihy, Co-Founder, The Indie List

Adrian is Head of Creative and Innovation at Get Your Stories Straight. He started freelancing in 2015 and has since grown a digital agency which has raised over €100,000,000 for their charity clients, with a team of one full-time employee and 15 freelancers.

Adrian will uncover insights as to how he has engaged freelancers to help him achieve such growth.

II. Starting a freelance business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13

Set of presentations and masterclasses about how to kick off your independent career. Whether you are only starting or need to rethink your freelance business, you will find inspiration and skill trainings to boost your marketing, sales, improve your networking skills, enhance your branding or simply hear personal stories and learn what you should avoid.

Monday, October 9
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Want to start a successful consulting business? Start with your Why, What, Who and How.

Laura Burford, Trusted Advisor | Author

Did you know that one of the most important actions a freelancer can take to ensure their success is often overlooked? That action is defining with clarity their Why, What, Who and How. You might hear them referred to as a freelancer's Focus, Ideal Client, and Service.

Laura Burford calls these aspects a Freelancer's Business Core. The reason a Freelancer's Business Core is so important is just about every decision and every action a freelancer takes to build their business relies on the clarity of the definitions. Included in the presentation are real-life examples, easy to do exercises, and access to downloadable handouts.

Walk away with a better understanding of how clarity as to a freelancer's focus, ideal client, and service can improve overall business performance, enhance client relationships, and increase consultant confidence.

Monday, October 9
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

Make the most of your freelance community

Yurii Lazaruk, Freelance community consultant
Monika Fischer, Mindset coach for solopreneurs
Travis Bennet, COO, Doerscircle
Elina Jutelyte, Founder, Freelance Business Community

Freelancing is not lonely if you are part of a community. Joining a freelance community has a number of benefits, but are you taking the full advantage of what communities have to offer?

In this session, we will talk about how to gain benefits from joining a community and more specifically how you can kick-start your freelancing career with the help of a community. This session will be fitted to anyone who is running a freelance community as we will talk about community management too.

TUESDAY, October 10
15:00 - 15:35 CET
Free ticket

Transforming imposter syndrome self-doubts into superpowers

Adrian Ashton, International award-winning enterprise consultant
Jennifer Lemmert, Independent communications consultant

Imposter syndrome will kill your business - if you let it. Maybe you're new to freelancing, or you've been in the game for decades, but you're still struggling with believing in your unique value and how to put your best self forward.

But! What if you could reframe your self-doubt into a super-power?

This session will bust myths about imposter syndrome, explore how it's actually part of the human condition, and energise you to embrace your inner imposter to achieve your goals. Our speakers share their personal stories of launching their businesses and sustaining through challenges, while building their client rosters and freelancer communities. If you need strategies to let go of your self-defeating story and embrace a business owner mindset, this session is for you.

TUESDAY, October 10
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

Building a resilient freelance business

Host: Jennifer Lemmert, Independent communications consultant, Jennifer Lemmert, LLC
Elisabeth Graf, Founder IMMA Collective | Strategic design consultant | Creative Leader at Neol
Ermelinda Hajdari, Consultant, Mentor and Career Coach, AngLe Agency
Fabian Troeltzsch, Senior Business Coach at Fujitsu | Certified Business Coach for Founders and Freelancers

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving world, freelancers need more than just skills and talent to succeed; they need resilience. In this dynamic and interactive session, experts will share practical strategies to build a resilient freelance business that can withstand the test of time, weather the storm of disruptions, and empower freelancers to achieve professional and personal growth.

WEDNESDAY, October 11
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Crafting your professional brand: how to build a portfolio that will get you hired

Fay Goldstein, Co-founder and CEO, Folio | Former Marketing Director in Venture Capital, Startups, and NGOs

Join this session to master the art of crafting a winning portfolio. Drawing from years of research and discussions with diverse hiring managers and freelance clients – spanning tech firms to creative agencies – and an in-depth review of countless portfolios, this session is your ticket to portfolio perfection.

Discover how to create and manage a portfolio that will showcase your skills and draw in potential clients. From choosing the right projects to include to crafting the perfect pitch, we'll cover all the essential elements of building a standout portfolio. You'll learn how to effectively communicate your unique value proposition, highlight your expertise, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

Whether you're a fledgling freelancer or a seasoned pro, this event is tailor-made for you. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of where you are on your freelance journey.

WEDNESDAY, October 11
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

Efficient content marketing strategy for non-English speakers

Bozhidar Ivanov, Content Writer | Marketing Manager of Open Sofia and Tiger Technology
Virginia Katsimpiri, MA, eMBA, PhDc, Founder VTranslations | Business Strategist and Mentor at Fully Booked Translator Formula

Have you been posting content online, but you get 0 results? Would you like to create an efficient content strategy to attract your ideal clients or to increase engagement through your content?

During this session, panellists will reveal the key mistakes most professionals make when it comes to creating content and how to create a content strategy to thrive over the long-term. You will learn how to create content that converts into sales and get a step-by- step instructions on how to create a Content Marketing Strategy that will get you a steady flow of high-quality leads.

An extra bonus for non-native English speakers: This session will give you a crash-course to feel confident with your writing skills, if English is not your first language, and will help you not only be a better communicator online, but start creating written content for your business with ease!

THURSDAY, October 12
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Sales without "selling": business development for introverted freelancers

Reuben Swartz, Founder, Mimiran

Most freelancers love doing client work much more than landing client work, but we often accidentally make it harder on ourselves. In this session, participants will learn how to use positioning as a lever to make business development easier (and more fun), attract more referrals and web leads, have stress-free conversations, and create compelling proposals.

There's nothing wrong with referrals (and we'll talk about how to get more, better referrals), but we don't want to rely on word-of-mouth or chasing shiny objects on social media to get clients, when you already have the key ingredients you need to grow your business and maximize your impact.

The following questions will be answered:

How can introverted freelancers be effective at business development?
What is the importance of having a specific target market and niche?
What is the main mistake that freelancers make in sales and marketing?
How can freelancers use positioning to attract the right clients?

THURSDAY, October 12
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

Essential first steps in marketing for introverted freelancers

Jen Corcoran, Award-Winning LinkedIn Training | Trusted Advisor for Introverts, Empaths and HSPs | #1 Trusted Marketing Advisor UK and Top 10 Business Advisor UK
Ido Rann, Founder of Webbyness

In today's highly competitive freelance business landscape, there are thousands of freelancers and self-employed individuals who identify as introverts and on a shy side when it comes to promoting themselves. One may be discouraged about starting and marketing their own freelance businesses, fearing that they won't be able to compete with the outgoing, extroverted "alpha" players who seem to dominate the space. However, freelance business marketing is not about being ''the loudest in the room'' and in fact, introverts have more tools and opportunities now to showcase their expertise online.

As a web designer who stammers, our speaker, Ido Rann, knows first-hand how daunting it can be to put yourself out there when you don't fit the mould of a typical online marketer. And Jen Corcoran, known as "The Super Connector," the UK's most successful LinkedIn trainers is a shy introvert, who uncovered the power of LinkedIn to her advantage. When she was forced to step away from her corporate career, she decided to follow her intuition and true calling and help introverted, empathic and highly sensitive female consultants to attract and connect with their ideal clients.

In this session, experts will cover critical steps to start and promote your freelance business the right way, leveraging social media (LinkedIn) and will be able to receive an expert opinion about their website and LinkedIn profiles as well as will receive a free LinkedIn Profile Checklist.

You will also learn from a case study of a LinkedIn post that reached 133k views.

THURSDAY, October 12
15:30 - 16:00 CET
Free ticket

How to manage your finances when you're freelancing

Travis Bennet, COO, Doerscircle

Freelancing gives you an incredible amount of freedom, but that flexibility goes hand-in-hand with irregular income, complicated budgeting, accounting and tax headaches, chasing down invoices and making sure you've got enough stashed away to enjoy your retirement. In this session, we'll cover what it takes to stay on top of your personal finances as a freelancer, and better manage the money that you've got coming in.

FRIDAY, October 13
15:00 - 15:25 CET
Free ticket

Secrets of writing blog posts that rank top on Google

Laiba Siddiqui, Freelance Technical Writer | Freelance Technical Writer at Splunk

In this session, Laiba will share the step-by-step recipe for crafting perfect blog posts that rank on Google. Don't expect fluff or that generic writing presentation. You'll dig deeper into all four steps of writing - research, outlining, writing, and editing.

This session will be helpful to all who can't afford premium writing courses to learn the actual secrets of the 1st-page ranking copy.

FRIDAY, October 13
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

Tough conversations made easy

Host: Ashley Ryall, Founder and Principal, UntapSocial | Communications Workstream Co-Lead at Open Assembly
Kritika Narula, Freelance journalist and content consultant | Consultant writer at
UNICEF India
Peter Balog, Founder, Freelance.pizza | Chief Marketing Officer at DitchCarbon

Business relationships are not always a bed of pink roses. From time to time, we have very difficult conversations. Some of us are trained on how to handle pricing negotiations or rejections, but those who are still held back by potential customers questioning or criticizing your proposal and pricing, or are afraid to ask a customer for payment (or upfront payment) can suffer a negative impact on your freelance business. The good thing is that you can learn how to handle such situations with confidence.

Join this session where 3 freelance experts will discuss the matter, share experience and provide actionable tips to make your freelance business life easier and gain confidence in what you do and say to your customers in difficult situations.

We will specifically focus on pricing, handling objections and weeding out prospective clients who aren't a fit for your business..

III. Freelance business ecosystem

The celebration of the European Freelance Week #EFWeek

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

MONDAY, October 16
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Free ticket

Protecting freelancers rights: the case of the Freelancers Union

Rafael Espinal, President of Freelancers Union

We invited Rafael to share the groundbreaking achievements of the Freelancers Union, so that other communities can learn from them.

Freelance Isn't Free law - initiative of the Freelancers Union - protecting freelancers from non-payment was a victory for the association members in New York City and freelancers are now also protected in Seattle and Minneapolis.

Freelance Isn't Free serves as a blueprint for other cities and states and Freelancers Union is working every day to expand these protections across the country.

Prior to 2020, freelancers were unable to access unemployment benefits. Freelance Union changed that for thousands of freelancers. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program offers extended unemployment aid to individuals who have traditionally been ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits, including freelancers, self-employed workers, and independent contractors, making life for freelancers in the States much easier.

MONDAY, 16 OCTOBER
15:00 - 15:45 CET
Paid ticket

Talent platforms and implementing new talent workforce models at scale

Alp Sezginsoy, Expertera Founder | DOJO Co-Founder | TEDx Speaker
Raquel Suarez, Global Head of Talent Home Care and Europe, Unilever

Join us for an exciting session where Alp and Raquel dive deep into the world of freelance talent platforms and how they can supercharge talent acquisition strategies for corporations.

During this chat, we'll explore what the future holds for freelancers and how they need to make their skills more accessible to clients. We'll also uncover some of the challenges and hidden pitfalls in the ever-evolving landscape of talent platforms at a large scale. Plus, we'll share insights on how these platforms can step up to the plate and help in hiring freelancers while ensuring the perfect match between their expertise and the growing needs of clients.

It's going to be an eye-opening discussion, so don't miss out! Join us and get ready to uncover the secrets of thriving in the talent platform economy.

TUESDAY, October 17
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Unveiling Potential: Leveraging Creative Freelancing to Reduce Unemployment

Zola Brunner, CEO of BeyondMedia | Masters of Science student

In this bright discussion, Zola Brunner (current Master's student) looks into the powerful
area of creative freelancing as a catalyst for reducing South Africa's high unemployment
rates. Zola Brunner explores how this creative strategy might open up new channels of
economic growth and empowerment by drawing inspiration from the United Kingdom's
freelancing business strategies.

She will reveal the possibility of utilising creative freelancing to reduce unemployment in South Africa through a detailed review of lessons learned from the UK freelancing market. Join Zola Brunner on an exploration of practical findings, policy ideas, and real-life case studies that demonstrate the transforming influence of creative freelancing on individuals and the nation as a whole.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17
18:00 - 19:00 CET
FREE TICKET

Digitalisation and the labour market of tomorrow

Glen Hodgson, Secretary General, Freelance Movement

In this session we speak about the findings of the Future of Work Study 2023: Digitalisation and the Labour Market of Tomorrow as well as the policy and regulatory environment in Europe. Here we will discuss the fact that decision-makers need to listen to the voice of freelancers and harness the power of the freelancer revolution rather than try and stop it.

WEDNESDAY, October 18
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

The ins and outs of freelancing in India

Kritika Narula, Freelance journalist and content consultant | Consultant writer at UNICEF India

Freelancing in India looks very different, owing to several cultural and mindset factors. In a country obsessed with the idea of academic credentials and "job stability" choosing to be a freelancer or a solopreneur can be met with raised eyebrows, but this is thankfully changing. We have a booming freelancing ecosystem.

This presentation will provide an overview of the freelancing landscape in India including the current mindset and challenges (unorganised sector, pay exploitation, lack of contracts, lack of onboarding processes); solutions and resources available for freelancers in the country; tips to help them grow and expand to a global client base.

WEDNESDAY, October 18
18:00 - 19:00 CET
PAID TICKET

Round table: Freelance economy around the world

Nadina Iacob, Digital Economy Consultant, The World Bank
Branka Anđelković, Co-founder and Programme Director of the Public Policy Research Center, Serbia
Zukhriddin Shadmanov, Deputy Director of Digital economy research center, State Entity under the Ministry of Digital Technologies, Uzbekistan
Hush Naidoo, Chair, The Southern African Freelancers' Association

Freelance economy is growing around the world. Some countries are already very much advanced in freelancers policies and protection, some only discover the benefits of supporting freelancers. Join this session to hear cases from Uzbekistan, Serbia and South Africa of the development and support of freelancers in the regions and how this affects the development of the local economy.

THURSDAY, October 19
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Freelancing as a neurodivergent person: what I wish I'd known sooner

Ivana Recmanová, Freelance proofreader and Content Writer at Sloneek

Freelancing isn't always easy, especially if you have to overcome barriers as a neurodivergent person. In this talk, I want to focus on freelancing from the perspective of someone autistic as well as with OCD, especially on the misconceptions I had and the mistakes I made. Specifically, I aim to address issues such as impostor syndrome, dealing with sensory issues and burn-outs, seeking relevant information for disabled freelancers, and promoting oneself as a neurodivergent professional.

FRIDAY, October 20
15:00 - 15:20 CET
Free ticket

Build your own AI assistant

Le-an Lai Lacaba, CoFounder Of 2xYou | 100 Most Influential Filipino Women 2022 & 2023 | Stevie Awardee 2021 & 2023

With the rising age of AI, there's always the fear of getting replaced, especially as a freelancer.
But the ultimate solution to this fear is to replace yourself first.
How? By creating your own AI Assistant.
In this talk, Le-an Lai will walk you through the basics of using AI for your day to day as a freelancer, and ultimately building your own assistant to streamline your work.

We will talk about:
1. Main tasks you can automate with AI
2. How to streamline your tasks with AI
3. How to use AI to replace yourself

FRIDAY, October 20
18:00 - 19:00 CET
PAID ticket

Q&A session on freelance pricing and business negotiations

Robert Vlach, Business consultant, Author of The Freelance Way, Founder of Freelancing.eu

Pricing and business negotiations are two essential skills for independent professionals. In this deep-dive Q&A session, Robert Vlach will take your questions and give comprehensive answers that will broaden your understanding of freelance pricing and negotiation strategies. This is crucial because pricing isn't just a one-off matter. There are no universal rules applicable to all the hundreds of industries and thousands of professions where freelancers offer their services. In essence, freelance pricing is a process of gradual improvement, and this is also why debates like these are super-useful.

Robert Vlach is a leading expert on freelance entrepreneurship, business consultant, and the author of The Freelance Way — an international business bestseller published by HarperCollins in 2022, and translated into five languages. He also founded Freelancing.eu, a project dedicated to supporting collaboration of European freelancers, as well as the Czech national freelance community Navolnenoze.cz, which currently supports over 250,000 freelancers in their business.

Register here. Please note: the recording will not be available for this session.

III. Growing Freelancing

Your next level of awesomeness. Like an athlete, you constantly need to push boundaries to achieve new heights: sharpen your mindset, learn how to avoid mental booby traps, be the best in your sales and marketing, learn growth hacking techniques and more... oh yes, stories of successes and failures to show that you are not alone in your struggles.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

monday, October 23
15:00 - 15:30 CET
FREE TICKET

How to activate your ideas factory

Robert Dunsmore, Creative Director

How do you make yourself an ideas factory? A session around extreme innovation and rapid idea generation. One event creative explores and analyses the idea process for 8 top line ideas from the last 8 months. Based on the most resource demanding projects - events, Robert will explain how ideas drive your business story. Robert is a freelance creative director, storytelling strategist, delivering limitless experiences defined and shaped by culture first – everything else is just infrastructure. Robert worked with brands such as SO Group, Petrofac, 100% Design, Euroshop, Mercury Music Prize, Avanti, Bausch and Lomb, Ray-Ban, X-Ray, Oakley, and more.

Learning outcomes:
- Where do good ideas come from
- How to optimise the good ideas process
- Why good ideas are inclusive

monday, October 23
15:30 - 16:22 CET
PAID TICKET

How to use Linkedin to get more clients

Chris Raulf, Founder and CEO, Boulder SEO Marketing

In this interactive session, you'll learn a ton of must-know LinkedIn strategies, including:
- First Impression Matter: how to ''dress for success'' and how to draw online prospects to you
- Prospecting: how to use LinkedIn to find, connect, and establish rapport with your target customers
- Business Branding: Start to maximize your free LinkedIn company page and LinkedIn Showcase pages - Success Strategies: how to create and manage your own free LinkedIn group and identify and join existing LinkedIn groups that are packed with potential clients
- Top LinkedIn Content Marketing Strategies:tips and real examples on how to stand out of the crowd using free posts, the LinkedIn publishing platform
- Third-Party Tools: Discover must-know tools that will amplify your LinkedIn success

monday, October 23
15:00 - 15:30 CET
PAID TICKET

The curse of being a Freelance Expert and How to Overcome it?

Bekka Prideaux, Bekka is a Leadership Development coach and consultant who works specialists, freelancers, and business leaders as they build the careers they want to build. Bekka has over 30 years leadership, change and project experience, gained in a variety of sectors, functions and roles, 15 of them as a freelancer. She has delivered results in high profile leadership roles and enabled clients to do the same. Bekka brings curiosity, fun and pragmatism to her work with top multinationals and small businesses alike. She believes that developing our curiosity muscles is what helps the great freelancers stand out from the good ones.

Being known for your expertise is great – it gets you work, but once you start the assignment, that blessing can become a curse. The client doesn't listen to you, you're not making the contribution you know you can, and you end up frustrated and so does the client. Things are not going to plan!

In this session, we will explore why this happens and what you as a freelancer can do to stop this happening, turn them around when it does, and build great relationships with clients, which should lead to more work being referred to you.

monday, October 23
18:00 - 19:00 CET
PAID TICKET

Workshop: The ultimate guide to innovating freelance business

Kamila Zahradnickova, CEO at Lakmoos | Skipping afternoon naps to make it to Forbes 30 under 30.

Hands-on workshop on how to create innovations that stick. You won't want to waste another weekend writing a book that no one will buy anyways. So how can you know which innovation will be successful, and which will sink your time? Let's discuss how you can validate your ideas step by step before taking costly bets. Let's prepare the first steps together. Let's create. You will need good internet connection, a webcam and Miro.

Tuesday, October 24
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Market your business with video

Sarah Martens, Moderator | Video coach | Team facilitator

Video is an incredibly powerful tool that can help you showcase your unique personality and stand out from your competitors. However, many people shy away from creating videos because they are uncomfortable being in front of the camera. Even when they do create videos, they often lack a few basic skills to make their videos look and sound professional.

If this sounds like you, don't worry! In this online presentation, Sarah will show you how to create great social media videos using your smartphone.

We will cover topics such as lighting, sound, background, and how to feel comfortable in front of the camera.

By the end of the presentation, you'll have all the tools you need to create high-quality social media videos that will help you promote your freelance business successfully.

Tuesday, October 24
18:00 - 19:00 CET
PAID TICKET

Workshop: Master SEO and learn how to optimize your site for Google's new Search Generative Experience
(Launching globally in 2024)

Chris Raulf, Founder and President of Boulder SEO Marketing | International SEO Expert | Lecturer in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Digital and Content Marketing,
University of Strasbourg

Google's new search generative experience (SGE) is set to launch globally in 2024. Have heard about SGE yet? Don't worry; international AI and SEO expert Chris Raulf of Boulder SEO Marketing has been testing SGE since its beta version launched in late May of 2023. Chris will equip session attendees with the tools and knowledge required to rank at the top in Google when SGE launches globally.

Learn about proven and tested best practices that can propel your website to top search engine rankings. Attendees will see first-hand what strategies are working and why.

Whether you're a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, this session is your exclusive gateway to future-proofing your career. SEO is the gift that keeps on giving. Once you achieve top organic (non-paid) rankings in Google, you'll stay up there for the foreseeable future. Take advantage of this opportunity and gain a competitive edge.

After attending this session, participants will understand the following: what Google's new Search Generative Experience (SGE) is, how SGE will affect SEO and how to prepare and optimize for SGE.

Tuesday, October 24
15:30 - 16:00 CET
Free ticket

Attract customers online, not trouble: get your social media and ethics policies up and running

Sadhbh Warren, Owner and Content Writer, Red Rock Writing

Someone is slating your service on Instagram. Your intern has posted foul language on the company account. An employee hopped on to defend you and made things even worse. What can you do?

You can stop it before it starts - by making sure your social media ethics policies are clear, useful and easily available.

We'll look at the key steps in creating a social media crisis plan and why valuable supporting documents - like a Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, and social media ethics policies - support that plan and ensures your business puts its best face forward online. With up to 84% of consumers say they consider a company's ethics before making a purchase, make sure you are communicating yours clearly.

After this session, you will be able to:

Create a social media crisis policy you can implement immediately.
Know what the other social media policies and the various Codes are and do - and which ones your business needs.
Understand how to make the provided templates work for you.

Wednesday, October 25
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Growing your business and your brand identity

Antonia Loncar, Communication Expert, European Commission | Senior Communications and Project Manager en Europe's MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV)

You have your brand, you have your audience, you have your clients (!), but you can't help but wonder - what's next?

There is a desire to grow your business further, yet you feel this might need an accompanying brand identity reshuffle. How to merge your business growth with your brand development - and do it seamlessly ? In what moment of your freelancing should you take this next step, and what benefits it might bring you?

In this session we will look together on how the business growth, whether in the number of clients, in your company employees or in the number of projects, can and should be planned alongside your brand.

Wednesday, October 25
15:30 - 16:00 CET
Free ticket

The 4 steps to double your freelance revenue

Melisa Liberman, Private coach for independent consulting business owners

Join this session to uncover the most common root causes of under earning as a freelancer, so you can avoid them. Identify what's holding you back from having a consistent, thriving pipeline of ideal freelance clients.

Melisa, business coach for consultants, will share the 4 key components necessary to double (or even triple) your freelance revenue, so you can walk away with the roadmap to double your freelance revenue this year without overworking or growing a large team.

Wednesday, October 25
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Paid ticket

Smart investing for freelancers

Sebastien Aguilar, Founder and Chairman of SimplyFI, Founder of #FIRE Belgium 8k+ investors community

Discover the secrets to building wealth effortlessly with Sebastien, a financial independence achiever. Sebastien shares his journey to financial freedom and teaches you how to outperform professional fund managers with minimal effort and cost, backed by Nobel prize-winning research and his own experience reaching financial independence at 33.

Join this session to learn how to create your own autopilot investing system and plan for financial independence, complete with a bonus calculator tool for personalized financial goal-setting.

Thursday, October 26
15:00 - 15:30 CET
Free ticket

Human-centric networking and the case for face to face

Adam Fillary, Professional Networking Strategic Advisor | Director of Strategy, Meetings & Events Support Association (MESA)

We've nearly all experienced networking, but seldom do we think about the Networker Dynamics - Their Roles, Responsibilities and Lived Experiences.

In this session, we'll think better about who's in the room, why they might be there and what that means to the hosts, facilitators and beneficiaries in the room.

With AI and Mixed realities, we are delivering a new level of excitement and incredible productivity whilst staring into the abyss of automation and the ever-changing landscape of career building.

In this session, Adam will deliver why networking will become the #1 skill everyone will need to ensure you are heard, seen, relevant and appreciated in a future where authenticism, empathy and cultural curation will fight back against the machines!

Friday, October 27
15:00 - 15:20 CET
Free ticket

4 thrilling things that suddenly happened when I committed to a niche

Eleanor Mayrhofer, Freelance webdesigner

You don't discover your niche by sitting down at your desk and thinking real hard. It takes time and experimentation. But when you finally hit on the right one, the clarity is exhilarating.

Unless you come out of the gate arbitrarily focusing on a very specific industry (ex. 'deep sea scuba divers in Italy') it's hard to know where to find your ideal clients and how to talk to them.

Some of the standard guidance around niching down suggests you just figure out your target customer and then hang out where they do.

Great, but there isn't always a big flashing sign directing you to a Facebook group called 'YOUR TARGET CUSTOMER'.

The talk will focus on how experimentation, identifying commonalities between some of your best clients and where you have an unfair advantage can help identify a niche (that doesn't need to be industry specific)

Focusing on a niche will radically clarify your messaging and marketing efforts and inform what you offer and how.

Friday, October 27
15:30 - 16:00 CET
PAID TICKET

You are your niche

Briana Ashley Stuart, Performer | Choreographer | Dance Entrepreneur | TEDx Speaker

Each and every freelancer has a unique background that brings unique talents, skills and ideas. By diving into what makes us unique, from pain points to our deepest questions, we can discover services and products which fulfil specific needs and thus create a greater impact on our clients and beyond. Through personal stories and guided questions, this talk shares how freelancers can use their own experiences to find their niche within their field.

Friday, October 27
17:00 - 17:45 CET
Free ticket

Freelancing unveiled: thriving in the meetings and events niche

Elina Jutelyte, event marketing pro, Founder, Endo-Exo, event management consultancy
Sasha Smith Chief Operating Officer, Plannernet
Rich Parker, CEO, Plannernet

Join us for an enlightening discussion with seasoned executives as they share their invaluable insights on
thriving in the dynamic world of freelance work, with a special emphasis on the unique challenges and
opportunities found in the meetings and events industry.

This session is specifically for freelance event professionals who would like to connect with independent event planners, learn from each other, discuss their freelance business and share their experiences.

Closing week

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

MONDAY, October 30
15:00 - 15:30 CET
PAID ticket

You have achieved the growth, what's next?

Joy Batra, Author of ''The Freelance Mindset'', featured in Oprah Daily | Lawyer | Occasional Actor

When we begin our freelance journey, we often fall into the trap of thinking all our problems will be solved with more clients or income. In reality, succeeding in your freelance career unlocks a new set of challenges we rarely speak about. Discover the unspoken truths of how freelancing success impacts your body, mind, and relationships, and learn how to take care of yourself, so you can thrive through the next level of your career.

MONDAY, October 30
18:00 - 19:00 CET
Free ticket

Freelance tech solutions showcase

Join this session to learn about new freelance tech solutions and freelance marketplaces in a fast and obligation free manner.

5 companies will present their solution or product in 5 short minutes.

TUESDAY, October 31
18:00 - 19:00 CET
PAID TICKET

Closing: Where do freelancers find customers?

Elina Jutelyte, Founder, Freelance Business Community

Freelance Business Community conducted the study in partnership with Freelancing.eu, Na volné noze (Czech Republic), The Indie List (Ireland), Doerscircle, EFWeek, Freelancer Blog (Hungary), Leapers, Hoxby and The Workstyle Revolution, Freelancing Females, Community of Fabian Tröltzsch (Germany), Freelancers Union (USA), Freelance Network Italia, Freelance.Pizza to find out and collect data about where freelancers find customers.

The study looked at the freelancers' demographics and identified which category of freelancers benefiting of specific customer acquisition strategies. Join for the last session of the month and learn the main takeaways from the research.

>> This session will also feature - The power of networking to grow your business

Kelsey Frick, Freelance translation account manager | French to English subtitling specialist | Social media consultant
Lode Schoors, Founder ExtraExpertise | Digital growth marketeer

We don't need to be smart here: we all understand that networking is important. Connections can lead to business. Your network can help you find the customers you want. But how to network at scale without loosing your identity and without looking as someone who is randomly connecting with people online?

Freelance BusinessMONTH

Freelance Business
MONTH