Is self-employment really as independent as the name suggests?
In this conversation, Dr. Laila Marouf is joined by Matthew Knight — independent strategist, mental health activist, and founder of Leapers — to explore what freelancing and self-employment actually require beneath the promise of freedom and flexibility.
Together, they unpack why the “self” in self-employment is more myth than reality, how confidence quietly erodes without the structures employment used to provide, and why rest, community, and what Matthew calls “active design” are not optional extras but the foundation of a sustainable career. They also reframe freedom itself, not as independence from others but as an ongoing, intentional design of interdependence, with Matthew's own conviction: “I don't think freelancing gives you freedom. I think it increases flexibility.”
Knowledge Mindfulness Porch is a space for thoughtful conversation hosted by Dr. Laila Marouf, exploring how Knowing (New Learning), Being (New Leadership), and Doing (New Living) unfold as interconnected, living practices in times of unconventional change and polycrisis.
Join us on the Porch. Connect: knowledgemindfulness.com