1-31 October 2023
Speakers line-up

Freelance Business
MONTH

  • Matt Mottola
    CEO, The Human Cloud | Author, Venture Partner, Forbes Contributor on the Freelance Economy
    Matthew Mottola is a global leader in helping enterprises embrace freelance workforces at scale.

    He is currently CEO of The Human Cloud, the leading authority for leaders embracing the freelance economy, along with advising, investing, and contributing in Forbes on the freelance economy.

    Prior, Matthew founded Venture L, a venture backed freelancer SaaS, led the Microsoft 365 freelance toolkit, a tech stack enabling enterprises to scale freelance programs over $100m, was early at Gigster, Silicon Valley's leading software development freelancer network, and freelanced himself for over 10 years.

    Matthew has spoken across 50+ international stages, been nominated a top 50 remote work expert to follow, and featured in Fortune, Bloomberg, YPO, and Yahoo Finance to name a few.

    In Matthew's words: "My career looks like a dog chasing his own tail. I freelance, I help enterprises hire freelancers, I build software that connects the two. Literally thats it, and I've been fortunate to see how the best companies in the world scale their workforces strategically through freelancers and freelance programs."
  • Joy Batra
    Author of ''The Freelance Mindset'', featured in Oprah Daily | Lawyer | Occasional Actor
    Joy Batra is founder of Quartz Consulting, a freelance consulting firm that has advised start-ups, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Gunderson Dettmer, JioSaavn, briefly as a Bollywood actress (long story), and most recently as Head of Legal at Syndicate Protocol. Joy has lived or worked in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the UK. She currently splits her time between NYC and Boston. Joy holds a JD/MBA from Harvard University. Her book, "The Freelance Mindset: Unleashing Your Side Hustles for Better Work, Play, and Life" was endorsed by Daniel Pink, Dorie Clark, and Arthur C. Brooks, and was named a best graduation gift by Oprah Daily.
  • Rafael Espinal
    President of Freelancers Union
    In his current role as Executive Director of the Freelancers Union, Rafael Espinal brings his wealth of experience and dedication to advocacy to support and champion the rights of freelancers and independent workers. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded its reach and impact, providing valuable resources, support networks, and lobbying for policy changes that benefit the growing independent workforce. Espinal's relentless commitment to ensuring fair treatment and equal rights for freelancers highlights his ongoing passion for creating a more inclusive and just labor market, making him a respected and influential figure within the freelance community.
  • Raquel Suarez
    Global Head of Talent Home Care and Europe, Unilever
  • Alp Sezginsoy
    Expertera Founder | DOJO Co-Founder | TEDx Speaker | Agile Workforce Strategist | Future of Work Summits Founder |
    Alp is an enthusiastic entrepreneur with background in consulting, investment banking, and expertise on the Future of Work, On-demand Economy, particularly on the Uberization of Workforce. He is currently working heavily to build global talent pipelines, while enabling new ways of working.
  • Travis Bennet
    COO, Doerscircle
    Ambitious, entrepreneurial leader with 15+ years' marketing + agency experience. Currently running all growth and go-to-market strategies for Doerscircle - an ecommerce platform enabling the future of hybrid work.
  • Glen Hodgson
    Secretary General, Freelance Movement
    With over twenty years' experience in communications, public affairs and lobbying, Glen leads Freelance Movement, a stakeholder initiative on the future of work in Europe. Glen was previously responsible for the Nordics, Baltics and Central & Eastern Europe within an international communications agency. Prior to this he worked for the European institutions as well as governments, blue-chip international companies, start-ups and NGOs as a lobbyist, strategist and communications advisor.

    Glen was also the Secretary General of a European trade association for five years. Today, Glen is a respected commentator on European affairs, digitalisation and labour market issues, as well as a frequent presenter, moderator and panellist at European policy events.
  • Hush Naidoo
    Chair, The Southern African Freelancers' Association (Safrea)
    Hush is a highly astute entrepreneur, businessman and globally renowned photographer with three decades of experience. He has the unique ability to capture humanity at its best through moments that transcend generations. These include events, portraits, board members of listed companies, multinational executives, Hollywood actors and accomplished global leaders such as Oprah and Nelson Mandela. He worked with SAFTA events for more than a decade – capturing the best of the best in TV and film across South Africa.

    Hush is among few remaining photographers who experienced the industry during its transition from analogue to digital. He provided photography solutions to a wide array of clientele - ranging from people to architecture, capturing the brand stories of companies such as Edcon and KFC.

    Hush has a lifelong commitment to going the extra mile, putting the needs of others first. He is privileged to lead Safrea in achieving its next set of milestones, positively impacting the freelancing industry.
  • Bekka Prideaux
    Leadership development and change management coach
    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.
  • Jennifer Lemmert
    Independent communications consultant, Jennifer Lemmert, LLC
    Jennifer Lemmert helps leaders shine and employees connect, making a powerful impact at their companies and within their industries. She's a storyteller with nearly 20 years of corporate communications and marketing experience with heavy hitters in the government, non-profit, healthcare, finance, and hospitality industries. After losing her job in the pandemic, Jennifer launched her consulting business and has never looked back. She lives in the Washington DC area with her husband and three sons.
  • Martin Vrbata
    Art director and senior UX/UI Designer | Founder @ brightly.in | Triathlete | Musician
    I am an enthusiastic graphic designer and open-minded problem solver. I have passion for graphic, illustration, branding and sustainable design. I am able to demonstrate my skills by combining various techniques and different media with attention to detail. I came through a wide range of design experiences such as printing, product design, web design and motion design. I am open to multiple directions and possibilities of the art industry.

    As an UX/UI Designer, I am able to create amazing user experiences while designing high quality layouts, wireframes and mockups for various stages of design and development.
  • Sebastien Aguilar
    Founder and Chairman of SimplyFI, Founder of #FIRE Belgium 8k+ investors community
    Sebastien teaches people how to build wealth on autopilot, with evidence-based investing optimized for performance and peace of mind. He also runs FIREBelgium.com, a community of personal finance enthusiasts who empower each other to build financial freedom in their lives.

    Sebastien is not a financial professional, but he learned the hard way that you don't need to take crazy risks nor pay expensive managers or banks to invest well in the stock market. Instead, you need common sense knowledge and a simple plan.

    After consistently saving and investing during his career he reached financial independence at 33. Today, he teaches busy professionals how to invest simply and effectively via index ETFs, a method proven by countless studies to generate better returns than most professional managers and that requires less than 5 min per month to manage.
  • Sarah Martens
    Moderator | Video coach | Team facilitator
    Sarah has been working as a freelance facilitator, presenter and actress since 2019. After making countless self-tape audition videos and presenting many videos and livestream events during the pandemic, she decided to help other entrepreneurs presenting themselves and their businesses on video.
  • Kritika Narula
    Freelance journalist and content consultant | Consultant writer at UNICEF India
    Kritika Narula is a freelance journalist and content consultant working with clients across the US, UK, and India. She writes about careers, education, technology, health, culture, and the future of work. She specialises in community-driven marketing and extensively hosts webinars, workshops, panels, etc for her clients as a part of the content marketing strategy.

    A mental health advocate, she is also a volunteer committee member at Generation Mental Health, a global mental health not-for-profit.
  • Adam Fillary
    Professional Networking Strategic Advisor | Director of Strategy, Meetings & Events Support Association (MESA)
    With a speciality in networking, Adam's ability to connect has opened many doors. Benefitting from both serendipity and strategy, Adam has created a myriad of opportunities for all.

    He combines his insights about the human spirit, behavioural science, anthropology, and organizational culture with a passion. Adam describes himself as a humanist, anti-technologist, and sacrificial lamb on a mission to understand people and their comfortability better or lack thereof in groups.
  • Adrian Ashton
    International award-winning enterprise consultant
    International award winning enterprise consultant - using toys, games, and quizzes to help businesses, charities, social enterprises, universities, and others, to better get to grips with messy problems.
  • Briana Stuart
    Performer | Choreographer | Dance Entrepreneur | TEDx Speaker
    Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Briana Ashley Stuart is a performer, choreographer and dance entrepreneur. She received her BFA in Dance & Sociology from the University of Michigan and has since worked internationally as an independent artist as well as with a number of companies and artists, notably, StepAfrika!, SJEwing & Dancers, ZIKIT, 4Hoogkindertheater, among others. In 2018, she created STU Arts Dance, a dance consultancy organization that utilizes dance and movement as a means of personal and professional development through engaging dance programming for special events, teambuilding activities, etc.

    She has also been featured in Together Magazine, BRUZZ, Le Soir, & BX1 Media. Currently, she is working on her latest work, Moving Meditations, a multidisciplinary work about healing which will premiere March 25, 2023 at KVS Brussels as well as Gorges Ocloo's latest work the Golden Stool, the story of Nana Yaa Asantewaa, premiering at Toneelhuis in Antwerp on April 27, 2023.
  • Fay Goldstein
    Co-founder and CEO, Folio | Former Marketing Director in Venture Capital, Startups, and NGOs
    Fay has 10+ years of experience leading branding and communication efforts for non-profits, government agencies, tech companies, and a VC firm. Prior to founding Folio, she was the Director of Marketing and Communications at Entrée Capital. In the past, Fay was the Strategic Communications and Development Manager at Upstream Security and the Managing Director of a US-based political communications NGO. Fay graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida International University and holds an MBA from Reichman University.
  • Antonia Loncar
    Communication Expert, European Commission | Senior Communications and Project Manager en Europe's MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV)
    Seasoned communication professional specialised in strategic communications, EU project management and online content development. With more than 12 years of experience, 10 of which in EU Affairs, Antonia works across sectors helping private, public, not for profit and international organizations find their voice and shape their digital communications. Freelancer since 2021, she currently works at the intersection of media, tech and AI helping public discussions create a safe framework to grow together rather than in parallel and at different speeds. Fluent in 5 languages, she has a MA in International Relations, BA in Comms and is currently also pursuing a PhD in Politics hoping to grow and give a research framework to her experiences.
  • Bozhidar Ivanov
    Content Writer | Marketing Manager of Open Sofia and Tiger Technology
    Bozhidar has been writing since he was old enough to hold a pen. After finishing his English and Creative Writing degree, he set his sights on marketing and writing content that informs and entertains.

    He has written over 100 articles for brands like Myprotein, Freelance Business Community and Open Bulgaria, plus countless social media posts, short stories, poems, and pages in his journal.

    He has been on a journey to uncover the secrets of great writing, and he is eager to share what he has discovered, before the wisdom slowly drives him mad.
  • Eleanor Mayrhofer
    Freelance webdesigner
    In her 25 year design career Eleanor has done everything from book compositing to designing mobile apps to methodology and agile process design for global creative teams. She's worked on projects for clients such as Chronicle Books, Vodafone, BMW, Audi, Bosch-Siemens Hausgerät, T-Online, and more.

    She escaped corporate life in 2010 to start her own eCommerce business selling printables. Her work was noticed by Goop, Martha Stewart, The New York Times and Pottery Barn Kids. For the past two years she's been having a really good time helping expat business owners in Germany get their websites launched in a day.
  • 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
    Chris Raulf is the founder of Boulder SEO Marketing, a top-rated Denver-based SEO agency. He's also the founder of Chris Raulf SEO Consulting & Training. Chris and his team assist local, national, and international customers with all of their search engine optimization needs. Chris is a globally recognized international SEO expert. He frequently speaks at events around the world. Besides teaching his own classes in Colorado and around the United States, he's also a lecturer in online marketing for the University of Strasbourg, France.
  • Georgina Fezler
    Digital Marketing Specialist, Budapest Pride | Founder, Slow Social Agency | Slow and Ontological Coach
    Been a freelance strategist, and content creator (photography, video, copy) for more than 10 years now. Full-time freelancer for years and have a small agency where we work together with other freelancers. Local and international clients turn to us for social media strategy and content creation, we have developed a method called Slow Social - that embraces slow values and maximizes value for social content creation. I am a coach, an integral psychology learner, and a practitioner. We have been using AI for content creation since 2022 and currently have local (Hungarian) and international research about AI-assisted content creation. Would love to present that as well in October.
  • Jen Corcoran
    Award-Winning LinkedIn Training | Trusted Advisor for Introverts, Empaths and HSPs | #1 Trusted Marketing Advisor UK and Top 10 Business Advisor UK
    Jen Corcoran is an Award-Winning LinkedIn Training, Trusted Advisor for Introverts, Empaths and HSPs, on a mission to help sensitive, introverted and empathic female coaches, consultants and trainers to toot their horns on LinkedIn in an aligned, easy and fun way. With her authority marketing, she helps them super boost their LinkedIn profiles, make genuine connections and attract consistent ideal clients using her 4-stage PACT framework (Presence – Action – Connect – Track). Jen was titled as #1 Trusted Marketing Advisor UK and Top 10 Business Advisor UK in 2020.
  • Ido Rann
    Founder of Webbyness, 17 years in the IT industry
    Ido Rann is a web designer and consultant, who creates and optimises websites for small service businesses who need to stand out. Using a versatile toolbox of IT and marketing knowledge, Ido takes his clients on a journey that puts their business on the highway, with a memorable website that captures their essence and converts.

    Ido started his journey in the IT industry 17 years ago, learning software development and UX design in the Israeli Defence Forces' IT corps. He discovered a passion for web design when starting a blog about his journey with stuttering, which led him to pursue a career in the field. He is still passionate about writing, educating and sharing his personal story with stuttering.
  • Kamila Zahradnickova
    CEO at Lakmoos | Skipping afternoon naps to make it to Forbes 30 under 30
    Kamila Zahradnickova founded Lakmoos, which focuses on automating innovation. Kamila is a behavioural scientist by training and applies behavioural science to business. She currently researches innovative behaviour and designs strategies to wake up dormant innovators.
  • Kelsey Frick
    Freelance translation account manager | French to English subtitling specialist | Social media consultant
    Kelsey Frick is a freelance translation account manager, French to English subtitler, and social media consultant. After going freelance during the pandemic, she found success supporting other freelancers with how to navigate LinkedIn, the translation industry, and their business, all with a touch of humour. Kelsey was a finalist for the IPSE Freelancer Awards New Freelancer Category in 2022, regularly speaks at translation conferences, and has been featured in podcasts and books for her work in the industry.
  • Ivana Recmanová
    Freelance proofreader and Content Writer at Sloneek
    Ivana Recmanová is a writer, translator, proofreader, and an advisor on communicating with neurodivergent and LGBT+ people. A language and linguistics graduate from University College London and Palacký University in Olomouc, she served as a member of the Advisory Board for People with Disabilities' Rights at the Czech Office of Defendant of Rights between 2018 and 2020.

    In her work, she focuses on intersections of human rights, education, science, art, and information technologies. Her portfolio includes, but is not limtied to, editing blogs of Transparent (Czech NGO dedicated to trans* advocacy) and BlueGhost (Czech marketing agency), translation of English articles related to disability for Czech magazines and of Spanish essays and poetry by Latin American intersex activists, and proofreading Czech blog posts for Sloneek (Slovak start-up).
  • Lode Schoors
    Founder ExtraExpertise | Digital growth marketeer
    Lode is a full-time freelancer, father of a 3-year-old toddler and entrepreneur - startup founder of ExtraExpertise. With more than 20 years experience in marketing and IT, Lode enjoys share learnings, inspire people and coach starting entrepreneurs.
  • Monika Fischer
    Mindset coach for solopreneurs
    Monika Fischer has been working as a freelance translator and interpreter since 2009 building communities around her own business. She is a mindset coach for solopreneurs and trilingual intercultural communication trainer.