Episode 12 - How to future-proof your L&D freelance career?
From The Free Spirits of L+D by L+D Free Spirits
October 27, 2025 · 43 min · Season 2 · Episode 3
About this episode
In this episode, Kelly Rodrigues shares her journey from dancer to L&D leader and discusses how to future-proof a freelance career in learning and development.
Join us on the Free Spirits of L&D podcast as we explore the world of freelancing in learning and development.In this episode, we chat with Kelly Rodrigues: a learning designer, people leader, and part-time dancefloor queen. Currently heading up the global L&D function at web pros. Kelly shares her unique journey from professional dancer to L&D leader, and how the spark for using movement to support people with dementia eventually led her into the world of design, coaching, and leadership.We discuss: why values matter more than job title how to push back when L&D isn’t the answer staying future-ready in a world of AI and Kelly’s powerful approach to setting (and keeping) boundaries as a multi-hat freelancer. Kelly answers Jo Cook’s “Clark Kent vs Superman” question from the last episode, and sets a beautiful reflective challenge for our next guest.Plus – as always – Kelly shares her rates, and why she’s not afraid to say “no” to the wrong kind of work.Whether you’re new to freelancing or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with wisdom, warmth, and a lot of heart.Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn .☕️ Bonus: Yes, she really does have an open-door policy for virtual…
People in this episode
Guest: Kelly Rodrigues
Topics covered
- freelancing
- learning and development
- career development
- AI in L&D
- boundaries in freelancing
- values in work
Keywords
- freelance career
- learning design
- AI
- boundaries
- values
- coaching
- leadership
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: web pros
More episodes of The Free Spirits of L+D
- Episode 19 - The 3 stages of a freelance L&D career · May 25, 2026 · 48 min
- Episode 18 - Is your freelance L&D business solving the right problem? · April 27, 2026 · 43 min
- Everything you missed from Free Spirits Live (Spring '26 edition) · March 30, 2026 · 46 min
- Episode 16 - Losing it all and starting again as a freelancer · February 23, 2026 · 46 min
- Episode 15 - The hidden cost of giving your value away · January 26, 2026 · 43 min
- Episode 14 - What happens when you finally quit and go freelance? · December 22, 2025 · 42 min
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