In this episode of South African Tech Marketers, we sit down with Nomalanga Dlamini, a digital marketing consultant whose career has spanned freelancing, in-house roles, and now agency life. Her story is not a polished LinkedIn case study—it’s the real, gritty progression of someone who’s figured things out on the job, built a client base from scratch, and learned when to pause, pivot, and upskill. If you’re trying to break into international freelance work or wondering how to build real, hands-on digital marketing experience that global clients will actually value—this episode will give you specific steps, sharp mindset shifts, and hard-won truths that’ll move your career forward. Topics Discussed: Building a marketing career with no formal plan Turning a garage-based connection into a global client Learning SEO, ads, and analytics on the job When to freelance and when to return to stability Why understanding buyer psychology beats knowing the tools How to start without a portfolio, personal brand, or Upwork account Takeaways: Start with your network. Referrals built Nomalanga’s portfolio before she ever logged into Upwork. Tools don’t matter without psychology. Understand your audience first—then choose the platform. Freelancing is a business. If you can’t pitch, negotiate, and self-manage—you’re not ready. Agency work can be a level-up. She returned to full-time for structure, skills, and mental health. Your first client? You. Market yourself before marketing others. Every campaign won’t work. Learn. Adjust. Protect your peace. Connect with Nomalanga:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nomalanga-dlamini-55b23b151/Wiggle Digital: https://www.wiggledigital.co.za/ Produced by: www.globaltalent.coJoin the community: https://globaltalent.co/community/