The Freelancer Life: Meet Angharad Salazar Llewellyn
Meet Angharad, a journalist, copywriter, content strategist and founder of The Flex Network who describes her superpower as the power of connection.
Angharad’s love of networking and helping to connect people was the inspiration behind The Flex Network. We talk to Angharad about combating her struggles with self-doubt by surrounding herself with positive people and learn where her passion for networking was ignited.
“The days of stuffy networking events where you go along, hate every minute, neck three wines and shove a business card into the hands of someone in a suit are over! ”
Hello, welcome!
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do and how long you have been doing it for?
I’m the founder of The Flex Network. Through this platform, I champion freelancers, flexible workers and businesses embracing sustainability and flexibility. I create regular content for the website and send job opportunities, industry news and digital marketing insights through a weekly newsletter. There’s also a Facebook Group that you can join to connect with others in the network.
When did you first become a freelancer?
I’ve been a freelancer on and off since 2004! That’s a long time ago now!
Where’s your favourite place to work from aside from your home and why?
I love working in places as diverse as the Natural History Museum’s library, cafes, co-working spaces, The British Library, my home and more! I like to mix it up.
Share your struggles - what do you find hardest about working for yourself and why?
It’s very easy to get crippled by self-doubt – especially when you don’t have a gang of colleagues surrounding you to distract you and shake it off. That’s why I set up The Flex Network – to enable collaboration and combat isolation. Although physical events can’t go ahead right now due to the coronavirus pandemic, there’s always the digital network including the website, newsletter and social media.
How have you found ways to combat these parts of working for yourself?
Networking! The days of stuffy networking events where you go along, hate every minute, neck three wines and shove a business card into the hands of someone in a suit are over! Digital networks are able to survive even a lockdown.
My own passion for networking was ignited after I went to a ‘parents in business’ session where I could take my two children along with me. I loved being able to talk about my career and entrepreneurial ideas rather than just having the same conversation about nappies and sleep routines.
I started the Flex Network immediately after that first session as I felt so energised after that meet-up. I can’t run events at the moment, but I feel like the principle of the network lives on.
Share your perks - what do you enjoy most about working for yourself and why?
I love helping to connect people – whether that’s for a collaborative project, a job opportunity or just some advice. I like the feeling of putting positive energy out into the world. I also enjoy choosing my own office, my own hours and my own colleagues!
What are your top tips for anyone thinking about working for themselves?
Put together a rough idea of a business plan before taking the leap. Think about where your profit is going to come from, and what it’s going to cost you to generate it. Think about what the market needs, and how your specific skill set can help to fulfil that need.
Surround yourself with positive people who are also on a mission to shape a better future through their own business endeavours.
Finally, find a way to give back to society – whether that’s financially or just helping people around you. Try and make a positive change for the future through your business.
What are your top 3 recommendations - podcasts, books, people to follow, sources of inspiration etc. and why?
I love the Doing It For The Kids Facebook group, Work Like A Woman – a book and podcast series – by Mary Portas who has an amazing eye for the next big trend in retail, and I love trend forecasting companies like Mintel who create really robust insights based on hard data.
“It’s a lot more fun to be on an entrepreneurial journey with positive people surrounding you – even if that’s through a digital or virtual network”
What role does collaboration play for you?
A huge part! It’s baked into the core of my business. The Flex Network exists to enable collaboration and combat isolation. It’s a lot more fun to be on an entrepreneurial journey with positive people surrounding you – even if that’s through a digital or virtual network.
What do you love to do? What makes you tick and what do you simply love doing?
I love to write, I feel like it’s a compulsion! It’s a huge part of my identity (I’ve been a journalist, copywriter and content strategist for 15 years). And I am always thinking about the future of business, and the working world. I am always thinking about ‘the next big thing’! I find it so fascinating.
In my personal life, I love beauty. I find it a form of mindfulness. If I am feeling stressed I can be transported to a different mindset enabled by expensive face creams, serums, oils and beautiful make-up. Plus, it makes me feel great!
I also have two children, so a lot of my time is taken up with making sure they are happy, healthy and well-adjusted along with my super supportive husband. That’s a big Priority.
What are you really good at? What’s your marketing superpower?!
My superpower is really the power of connection. I see The Flex Network website as a mix between a magazine, a business network and a way to connect talent with job opportunities – ultimately creating a really engaged community.
As well as The Flex Network, I am a journalist, copywriter and content strategist. You can hire me for anything to do with words!
What is the best project you’ve worked on since going freelance?
What were you doing this time last year? What have you learnt or how have you changed since then?
This time last year, I spent some time freelancing for an agency. I was travelling around Europe, creating video content for a project for EY to encourage more women in financial services. I loved it.
Want to learn more about The Flex Network? Take a look at Angharad’s website theflexnetwork.co.uk and give her a follow on Twitter @TheFlexNetwork and Instagram @theflexnetwork.