By: Mpho Shelile
In the ever-evolving landscape of work, traditional employment structures are giving way to the rise of freelancing. As the performance of economy continues to flourish, entrepreneurs are stepping up to the plate, leveraging their expertise to teach individuals the art and science of freelancing.
Entrepreneurs with a keen understanding of market trends like Thomello Stephen Mats’asa recognize the growing demand for freelancers across various industries. Thomello is a 24-year-old self-taught software developer, freelancer, digital nomad, and indie maker with over 10 years of experience developing software solutions.
In an interview with Informative newspaper Thomello stated that he is an internet entrepreneur, with experience selling 3 artificial intelligence (AI) startups. Adding that his latest avenue is helping people particularly Lesotho youth – make a living for themselves through freelancing.
“I started freelancing by chance. When I left University after finishing my 1st year at NUL I was certain that I had to find a means of income and at the time the only skill I possessed was of software development. So I started asking people if I could provide my services for a small pay. That worked for a while till I realized it was unmeasurable, unpredictable and downright hard to provide services locally,” Said Thomello.
He further expressed that he started his research and discovered “freelancing” and ever since that point he has never looked back. If anything he stumbled on freelancing by chance driven by desire to make a living for himself.
“I have always shared my freelancing journey with people but never did it in a public setting with a large audience. It’s only in the past few months that I aggressively shared this content – helping people to actually start freelancing for themselves. Through this constant and consistent sharing I realized that people only understand half the things I share on my Facebook – so I teased the idea of making a workshop. To my surprise people actually liked the idea and really wanted to be a part of it. In just 3 weeks of preparation over 340 people committed and came to be a part of this movement,” he voiced.
Thomello imparts practical skills crucial for success in the gig economy, from crafting a compelling portfolio to mastering time management and communication skills. These courses cover a spectrum of abilities needed to thrive as a freelancer.
He hosted a freelancing educational workshop on the 6th and 7th of January. They hosted 200+ participants the first day and 140+ the second day, where everyone who attended walked away not only with info but with actual freelancing profiles to give them a start-up to freelancing. The idea was to create a small platform which everyone can share valuable insights on how to make a living through freelancing.
He however stated that many people and businesses supported (sponsored) the event however his main sponsor was Holberton- a new school in Lesotho that doesn’t only strive to provide the latest technology subjects – but also provide high end , quality and in demand skills which guarantee to help students find jobs. There were also other companies like Media Space, Unlock Visuals, Kofi Khafetsa and many more that aided this initiative to life and success! “I am appreciative of their contribution”.
Thomello informed that they are already planning on hosting other workshops in the next foreseeable future. Beginning the end of this month, where they will be hosting a virtual event where they will also give people an intro to freelancing.
He added that his purpose as an entrepreneur for such workshops is to emphasize the importance of adaptability, resilience, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Stating that by instilling these competencies in people individuals can navigate the uncertainties of freelancing and build a sustainable career.
He concluded by stating that entrepreneurs are playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of freelancers. Considering the fact that they share their knowledge, experiences, and insights, they empower individuals to embrace the freedom and flexibility that freelancing offers. Adding that his dream as a freelancer is to see the youth of Lesotho freelancing, with the guidance provided by these entrepreneurial mentors to become increasingly invaluable, paving the way for a new era of self-driven and successful freelancers.