Explore how the pursuit of greater freedom is reshaping the way we work. This Xolopreneurs portrait of Community member Gabriele Omar Lakhal dives into the rise of solopreneurship, remote work, and the quest for unprecedented control over one’s career and lifestyle.
👋 Hi Gabriele! Could you please introduce yourself to our community?.
"My name is Gabriele Omar Lakhal, and I'm a designer and marketer from Milan. As a kid, colored pencils and Legos were my best friends. I spent hours drawing fantastic worlds and building imaginary cities. This passion for creativity and design grew with me, turning into a real professional adventure when I got my diploma in Advertising Graphics.
Since then, I've never stopped learning and reinventing myself in the world of design and marketing. "
That’s very exciting. How has this continued to inspire your life?
"In 2021 I completed an advanced training course in user experience design at the Politecnico di Milano and obtained certification in the Business Aware Design Framework by Sefirot in 2023.
Over the years, I've had the good fortune to work both in creative agencies and within various companies. These experiences have allowed me to see design and marketing from different perspectives, enriching my approach to work.
Working in agencies taught me to juggle multiple projects, and think 'outside the box,' to satisfy diverse clients. On the other hand, working in-house gave me a deeper understanding of day-to-day business challenges and how design can directly impact company goals.
This dual perspective has taught me to balance creativity and practicality: now I know how to propose innovative solutions that are also aligned with real business needs and constraints. I've developed the ability to communicate effectively with both creative teams and business stakeholders."
What is it you’re doing now with all of this creative experience?
"Today, as a freelancer based in Milan––the beating heart of Italian business and design––I dedicate myself to brand and web design, marketing strategies, and I'm currently an Elementor expert. I love helping companies and other freelancers tell their story and their unique value proposition through effective and engaging digital solutions.
This passion stems from my belief that every brand has an extraordinary story to tell. I'm excited by the discovery process, working closely with clients to unveil what makes their business special. What I truly love about my work is seeing how the solutions I create can have a real impact. Whether it's a website that increases conversions, a marketing strategy that attracts new customers, or a brand design that captures a company's essence, there's great satisfaction in seeing my clients achieve their goals. Moreover, using tools like Elementor allows me to quickly translate creative ideas into functional realities, making the design process not only effective but also fun and rewarding.
My passion for this work drives me to keep pushing the envelope, constantly learning and experimenting with new technologies and approaches. Currently, I'm diving into the world of 3D design with Blender and exploring digital illustration with Procreate."
What did you do before freelancing, and why did you switch?
"Before becoming a freelancer, I worked for various communication agencies and companies in different businesses (ex. food and beverage and consulting). My professional journey took a radical turn when I decided to leave the world of communication agencies and companies to become a freelancer. This choice stemmed from a desire for greater freedom.
I started by opening my VAT account with Xolo Italia, determined to work independently with various clients and projects. My first assignment came through word of mouth: a friend recommended me to her father, an occupational physician, to create the brand and website for his practice.
The beginning wasn't easy. Networking and finding new clients proved challenging due to my inexperience, but these hurdles pushed me to improve my client acquisition and professional relationship-building skills. Freelancing has given me unprecedented control over my professional growth. Now I can decide autonomously how and when to update my skills, a luxury I didn't have as an employee, where training was managed by the company.
This freedom has led to exciting opportunities. Currently, I'm collaborating with a company whose mission mirrors my values: helping businesses attract and retain talent through customizable back-to-work solutions. Contributing to this project by redesigning their visual identity and website is incredibly rewarding. Of course, I've faced difficulties too. I've had to manage clients who requested extra work beyond initial agreements. I resolved these situations by clearly communicating the value of my skills and establishing transparent hourly rates.
Despite the challenges, the ability to align my work with my passions and the autonomy in guiding my professional development make freelancing an extremely fulfilling career choice."
What’ve been your top freelancing challenges and benefits, over traditional employment?
Autonomously managing my workflow and constantly searching for new clients. I've developed several key strategies to address these!
- Organization: I've learned to use time management tools like Notion and Google Calendar to structure my days and projects.
- Proactive networking: I regularly attend industry events such as Connext by innovatoors.it, which has significantly expanded my professional network.
- Diversifying client acquisition channels: In addition to word-of-mouth, I actively use Instagram to showcase my portfolio and attract new clients. The platform has proven effective in building relationships and generating leads in my industry.
- Continuous learning: I dedicate time each week to remain competitive by updating my skills.
- Building long-term relationships: I focus on retaining existing clients by offering high-quality service and constant communication.
Despite these challenges, the benefits are significant: greater flexibility, the ability to best express my creativity, and the opportunity to grow professionally by following my interests. Solopreneurship allows me to manage my time independently and build direct relationships with clients.
My advice for those wanting to take this path is to be prepared, patient and persistent. Building a freelance career takes time, but with the right mindset and strategies, it can be incredibly rewarding."
You’ve been freelancing since April 2023; what are your biggest learnings from this past year?
"My freelance experience has taught me the crucial importance of time management, clear communication with clients, and constant updating of technical skills.
These lessons came from real situations: delayed projects pushed me to use Notion for detailed planning, while misunderstandings with clients taught me to clearly define goals and expectations from the get-go. I've also realized how essential a solid and diverse professional network is, especially during periods of less work.
To build it, I attend industry events, am active on LinkedIn and Instagram, and have created a WhatsApp group with other freelancers in the field. This multi-channel approach has helped me find new opportunities and stay updated on industry trends."
Would you change anything about your journey so far?
"Looking back, I should have started specializing in specific market niches earlier and invested more time in creating content to position myself as an expert in my field. However, I'm actively working on this aspect now.
I'm currently specializing in helping mental health professionals position themselves online independently from third-party platforms. I identified this niche by observing the growing interest in mental health in Italy and therapists' need to free themselves from the constraints of online platforms that retain a large part of their earnings.
To address this challenge, I've launched the liberamente.co project with a colleague. We're creating targeted content, using a mix of tools like Google Trends and Answer The Public to identify topics of interest. Our content strategy is based on 50% informative content, 30% entertainment and 20% sales, with a current focus on a freebie for contact acquisition.
I’ve got some tips for those in a similar position:
- Closely observe your market: What new innovations have been introduced? Are there new online services?
- Interview professionals in the field to understand opportunities and challenges.
- Create a content strategy balanced between information, entertainment and sales.
- Be patient in user research and learn to ask the right questions.
The biggest challenge has been conducting in-depth qualitative research, but patience and the right approach are crucial. Although it's too early to see concrete results, I'm confident that this specialization and targeted content creation will lead to a stronger market position."
What one thing would you leave the readers remembering?
"The key to success as a freelancer in design and marketing is the balance between technical skills, creativity, the ability to understand client needs, and continuous professional development.
Solopreneurship offers the unique opportunity to shape one's career by following one's passions."
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