Celebrating Women’s History Month in 2023

Only 37 percent of management positions globally are held by women. Although women have made leaps and bounds in leadership positions, there is still a gender gap.

However, we’ve come a long way, and that’s worth celebrating. Here at FreeUp, we’re fortunate to have a good number of women in leadership. And we want to inspire you and celebrate Women’s History Month in 2023 by introducing you to some of the amazing women leaders here.

Keep reading to learn more about the inspiring women leading the way at FreeUp.

Meet Our Director of FreeUp Operations Mackenzie

Tell Us About You and What You Do

“My name is Mackenzie, and I work in operations at FreeUp Marketplace.” 

What Does Women’s History Month Mean to You? 

“Women’s History Month is a time that we can reflect on how women have made an impact on society.”

Who Is the Most Influential Woman You Know? 

“The most influential women for me are all of the girls on our FreeUp team that keep the day-to-day running smoothly! Many are moms who are working from home while also keeping their families running. I am so lucky to have such an amazing team.”

What Have Been Your Barriers, and How Did You Overcome Them? 

“You can have everything, just not all at the same time! It took a while to learn that you can’t take on the world, and you have to be able to prioritize.”

What Makes You a Good Leader? 

“I love seeing my team learn, grow and achieve their goals. My favorite thing in the world is when a team member gets promoted or gets to where they are wanting to be in life.”

What Advice Do You Have for Other Women Growing Their Careers or Businesses? 

“Make decisions based on your life goals, both professionally and personally! Your professional and personal life have to align in order to be successful and happy.”

What Do You Love About FreeUp? 

“I love the connection that FreeUp has with its freelancers along with the customer service we provide. We treat both freelancers and clients equally and value both in the marketplace.” 

Meet Our Senior Account Executive: Brittany

Tell Us About You and What You Do

“I am the Senior Account Executive for FreeUp! I help manage our Phone Team and ensure our clients have all the resources they need! 

I LOVE to travel, try new foods, and have adventures! I currently work remotely and travel with my husband, Ethan.” 

What Does Women’s History Month Mean to You? 

“Women’s History Month is a reminder for me as a woman to be grateful for the liberties I have and the women before me who fought for them. It’s a reminder that real oppression still exists for women in countries across the globe, and we have to use our rights to help them.”

Who Is the Most Influential Woman You Know? 

“My husband’s Aunt Terri. She is a wonderful person who has overcome so many obstacles and hardships and yet still manages to treat everyone she meets with respect and kindness.

She worked a full-time job and then part-time at a local University so her kids could get free tuition and still found time to volunteer to teach Mexican immigrants the skills needed to pass their citizenship tests.

She always has the best advice and kind words for anyone in need, and she is willing to have an adventure at any moment. I strive to be like her, and whenever I am up against something tough, I ask myself, “What would Aunt Terri do?!”

What Have Been Your Barriers, and How Did You Overcome Them? 

“The biggest barriers I have faced have definitively been those of my own making. Getting in my head and feeling like I am not good enough or worthy has stopped me from achieving some really big goals in the past. 

Luckily I have been able to work on controlling the one thing I can, me! Gaining confidence and assuring myself that I can do anything I set my mind to has helped me get to where I am today!”

What Makes You a Good Leader? 

“I am a servant leader (according to my leadership style quiz, haha), and I think that is true. There is nothing I would ask of my team that I would not do myself. I try not to take myself too seriously and make working an enjoyable thing for the team. 

I would hate for anyone to feel dread about logging in for the day, so a little humor goes a long way!”

What Advice Do You Have for Other Women Growing Their Careers or Businesses? 

“Never stop learning. Don’t be afraid to say I don’t know how to do that can you show me, and if you are too scared or shy to ask, then buckle down and learn on your own! Youtube University Graduate here!

There are new tools, software, skills, etc; constantly emerging, and it is overwhelming, BUT, learning just one new thing can help you become more organized and productive.”

What Do You Love About FreeUp? 

“The flexibility to be able to work remotely is invaluable. FreeUp empowers so many of us to have careers without sacrificing our livelihood! 

In regards to women, there is something to be said that 95% of the FreeUp internal team is female, and we are crushing it! FreeUp empowers the working mothers on our teams like no company I have ever seen before. It is an amazing company run by truly inspiring people, and I am proud to be a member of the squad!” 

Meet Our Head of Accounting: Leiden

Tell Us About You and What You Do

“I’m now working in Accounting/Billing department. But for the longest time, I was part of the Customer service team. 

I love challenges. I like finding solutions to problems and helping people resolve their problems/achieve their goals..” 

What Does Women’s History Month Mean to You? 

“This is the time to appreciate the freedom, empowerment, and recognition we now enjoy.”

Who Is the Most Influential Woman You Know? 

“Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand. She’s a great leader and a good mom.”

What Have Been Your Barriers, and How Did You Overcome Them? 

“We all experience problems and heartbreaks and disappointments. According to Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” 

I learned that I have to guard my mind. Instead of thinking about the problem, I think about solutions. And I tell myself that I can do it.”

What Makes You a Good Leader? 

“1. I care about each member of my team. I find satisfaction when they improve and achieve their goals. 

2. Communication is key. So many factors to consider – personality, the right choice of words, and breaking complex thoughts into simple terms. This is something we learn through experience.”

What Advice Do You Have for Other Women Growing Their Careers or Businesses? 

“Focus on your strengths. Believe in yourself. Serve people.”

What Do You Love About FreeUp? 

“We’re a family. I love to see how we care for each other. I’m thankful for the flexibility to do what I do best.” 

Meet Our Ticket Matching and Freelance Success Team Leader: Chiqui 

Tell Us About You and What You Do

“I am a mom of three beautiful kids, and I just gave birth to my youngest last February.  I have been a freelancer for more than a decade now. 

I spent most of my freelancing career with FreeUp. I am the team leader of the Freelancer Success and Ticket Matching Team. We are responsible for freelancer recruitment and helping them succeed in the platform. .” 

What Does Women’s History Month Mean to You? 

“For me, it means celebrating the battles that women throughout history fought and won. It is recognizing their role in society and their lifelong struggle for equality. Women’s month is also a celebration of life, for it is in a mother’s womb where all life begins. ”

Who Is the Most Influential Woman You Know? 

“The most influential woman in my life is of course my own mother.  She was well-known in our community because she was a retired teacher with a strong devotion to God. She was a strong person and the kind of person who never stopped achieving her goals, even if the odds were against her. 

Although she was not very vocal about how much she loved her family, she showed us how big her love was through the sacrifices she made just to see us succeed in life. Unfortunately, my mother died last month, but she will always be my inspiration and will always be in my heart.”

What Have Been Your Barriers, and How Did You Overcome Them? 

“Being a mom and the breadwinner of the family, my daily life is like juggling, not balls but knives where it is more stressful, expectations are higher, and the pressure heavier. I am expected to not let a single piece fall, or everything will start falling down. 

I overcome the challenges that come my way by always thinking about my kids. No matter what life throws my way, my kids will always come first. ”

What Makes You a Good Leader? 

“I don’t dictate; I listen. I learn from my team, and they learn from me. ”

What Advice Do You Have for Other Women Growing Their Careers or Businesses? 

“Believe in yourself. There is nothing you can’t do if you put your heart into it. Be strong, because there will always be challenges that will come your way. 

Be smart, because the freelancing business is not easy. Always upgrade your skills to keep yourself in demand and indispensable. And most of all, always treat your client’s business as if it is your own. ”

What Do You Love About FreeUp? 

“The most important thing to me right now is to never miss a single day in my children’s lives. FreeUp gives me the chance to take care of my family while I work, to be there as they grow up, and still be able to provide for their needs.” 

Meet Our Support Team Leader: Jane

Tell Us About You and What You Do

“I am a mother of 2, working as a freelancer since 2016 and an entrepreneur since 2019. I love to travel and do long drives together with the family during our free time. 

To know more about myself, I’d like to share this blog written by a co-team member way back in 2018. ” 

What Does Women’s History Month Mean to You? 

“It is a great reminder to celebrate the milestones reached by women and their extraordinary role in all walks of life.”

Who Is the Most Influential Woman You Know? 

“The most influential woman I know is Mother Theresa, who is a Catholic missionary who changed the world by showing us the true meaning of charity. 

She spent her life helping the poor by feeding the homeless, educating the poorest of the poor, and treating the lepers.”

What Have Been Your Barriers, and How Did You Overcome Them? 

“I have encountered some barriers in the past and had to go through one difficulty after another, and each and every time, I was always up to the challenge. There were times when I needed to sell stuff just to earn extra money for the family because the salary wasn’t enough to support our daily means, making us, my husband work day and night. 

The path was very difficult, but I chose not to give up. I held on to God’s promise that he will not leave us alone and just trust His processes. No doubt, I was able to pass through these barriers.”

What Makes You a Good Leader? 

“Being a democratic and servant leader. Someone who can communicate, help build growth and relationship, earns the respect of the team, never stops learning, and leads by example.”

What Advice Do You Have for Other Women Growing Their Careers or Businesses? 

“Confidence is the key! Get a coach or a mentor; that’s very important. If you can’t, make sure to keep learning, read more books, and attend different courses that will support the business.”

What Do You Love About FreeUp? 

“FreeUp takes both client and freelancer support very seriously. What I also love about FreeUp is the support from one another, making me feel that FreeUp is not just a marketplace but a family to me.”  

Thanks for Celebrating Women’s History Month in 2023 With Us

Here at FreeUp, we’re very fortunate to have some amazing women on our leadership team. We’re glad we had the opportunity to share more about them for Women’s History Month in 2023. 

Are you ready to make your mark? Whether you’re a business owner or freelancer, we’re here to support you. Book a call today to find out more about how we can help you.