Freelancing often gets packaged as freedom - the ability to work from anywhere, choose your clients, and escape corporate politics. For Dhiren Seetharam, a South African project manager with over two decades of experience, the reality began quite differently. His transition to independence wasn't a calculated career move or a pursuit of lifestyle freedom. It started with retrenchment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nothing is guaranteed," Dhiren reflects on that pivotal moment. What began as an unwelcome disruption has evolved into a sustainable, rewarding career path. His journey offers practical insights for project managers considering the leap - whether by choice or circumstance. The lessons he's learned illuminate how independence, when approached strategically, can become more than just survival.
Dhiren's career trajectory followed a familiar pattern in the tech industry. Starting as a software engineer, he gradually moved into project and program management roles, building expertise across different sectors and methodologies. The progression felt natural and secure - until it wasn't.
The pandemic-related retrenchment forced a decision many professionals never planned to make. While career advisors often recommend transitioning gradually while still employed, Dhiren's shift was immediate and non-negotiable. His experience highlights a crucial reality: adaptability matters more than perfect timing.
Many project managers on Reddit discuss the ideal conditions for going independent - building a client base first, saving substantial emergency funds, or securing that perfect first contract before giving notice. These are sensible approaches, but they're not always possible. Dhiren's journey demonstrates that even abrupt transitions can succeed when you focus on what you can control rather than dwelling on circumstances you cannot.
The key insight? Your transition story matters less than what you do once the independent journey begins.
Despite the proliferation of freelancing platforms and job boards, Dhiren's initial contracts came through existing relationships. His first significant roles with MTN, Absa, and Old Mutual emerged from LinkedIn connections and former colleagues who knew his capabilities. This pattern reinforces a fundamental truth about freelance project management: your professional network functions as your primary business development engine. Platforms can supplement your pipeline, but relationships provide the foundation.
However, leveraging your network requires more than just reaching out to old contacts. Dhiren learned this lesson early when he presented a partially completed dashboard to a client executive. The reaction was swift and unforgiving - unfinished work erodes trust faster than impressive credentials can build it. The experience crystallised a non-negotiable principle: "Never show half-done work; credibility depends on complete, confidence-inspiring outputs." This isn't about perfectionism - it's about understanding that as an independent, you have limited opportunities to make strong first impressions. Your network opens doors, but your professionalism determines whether they stay open.
One of Dhiren's defining projects involved a finance transformation rollout across 11 African countries for Old Mutual. The scale was intimidating: parallel implementations, completely remote delivery, and a client with no prior experience working with him. Success required more than following established methodologies.
What worked wasn't rigid adherence to textbook processes but thoughtful adaptation to context:
The broader lesson reveals something crucial about independent project management: clients don't hire you for textbook processes. They hire you for confidence in achieving outcomes. Methodologies serve that goal, but they're not the goal itself.
Lesson 4: Professionalism and consistency compound over time
Dhiren's freelancing career has been sustained by habits rather than tactics. His philosophy is straightforward: "Not everyone has to like you, but everyone must trust your work."
Several behaviours underpin this approach:
The lesson extends beyond project management techniques to the fundamentals of professional relationships. Trust builds incrementally through consistent behaviour, and once established, it travels further than marketing ever could.
Dhiren is candid about both the benefits and costs of independent work. The advantages are real: accelerated skill growth through exposure to diverse organisations, autonomy over career direction, and often better compensation than permanent roles. But the downsides require honest acknowledgement: no paid leave, income variability, and the constant responsibility of business development. These aren't temporary inconveniences - they're permanent features of independent work that require systematic planning.
His advice to aspiring independents focuses on practical preparation:
The lesson is about honest self-assessment. Independence can be genuinely rewarding, but only when you plan for its realities rather than just its possibilities.
The compound effect of doing good work consistently
Freelancing isn't simply freedom - it's responsibility without a corporate safety net. For project managers, building a sustainable independent career relies on three foundational assets: network strength, professional credibility, and operational consistency.
Dhiren's journey demonstrates that even when independence begins as a necessity rather than a choice, it can evolve into a powerful career path. The transition from employed to independent project manager isn't just about finding clients - it's about rebuilding your professional identity around different success metrics.
His final reflection captures the essential mindset: "Do good consistently, and it will come back." This isn't naive optimism - it's recognition that independent careers succeed through compound effects of professional behaviour rather than individual breakthrough moments.
For project managers weighing their options, the path forward isn't about perfect timing or ideal circumstances. It's about building the network, credibility, and habits that sustain independence when the opportunity - or necessity - arises.
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