- Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangora quit her job as a freelancer and started her own technology business.
- DeStefano-Tangorra used AI like ChatGPT to streamline her work and grow her business.
- She advises freelancers to leverage transferable skills and take advantage of new technology.
When Jacqueline DeStefano-Tangora started freelancing, she was working as a financial auditor at PwC. And a few years later, at the age of 30, she became the CEO of her own company.
When the pandemic hit, DeStefano-Tangora joined the freelance platform Upwork to pursue technology and data analysis projects.
In 2021, as her customer base grew, she launched Omni Business Intelligence Solutions. Shortly thereafter, she quit her corporate job to work full-time on data and intelligence strategies for clients.
“I always knew I wanted to own my own business or do something in a leadership role,” she told Business Insider. “My business started taking off so well on the Upwork platform that I decided it wasn’t a side hustle anymore.”
In its three-and-a-half years of operation, OBIS has generated 131 new contracts and approximately $470,000 in revenue on Upwork, according to documents reviewed by BI. DeStefano-Tangorra also makes money from clients outside of the freelancing platform, but she declined to disclose that revenue.
side hustle and Freelance Gaining momentum since the pandemic That's because more and more people are looking for remote, high-paying job options outside of the traditional 9-to-5 job. Last year, 64 million Americans made some or all of their income as freelancers, making up 38% of the U.S. workforce, according to Upwork data. This is an increase of 2% from 2020.
DeStefano-Tangora encourages other professionals looking to pivot their careers to turn to freelancing and emerging technologies.
Identify your transferable skills
DeStefano-Tangorra said her accounting background translates well to her new career in data analysis. She was already adept at skills that would help her build an OBIS portfolio, such as data scrubbing and insight development.
“I was always looking for anomalies,” she said of her previous job at PwC. “My mind has been trained for that.”
She advises other freelancers to think about the industry knowledge they already have and how it can be carried over into a side hustle or full-time job.
Relying on the skills she was already good at gave DeStefano-Tangora the momentum she needed to succeed as a freelancer. Changing her career can be daunting, so she said it's important to choose a field that already interests her.
Use technology to your advantage
Building a business in the technology industry has put DeStefano-Tangorra at the forefront of tools like ChatGPT. And gaining experience with generative AI has given OBIS a competitive edge, she said.
New technologies can disrupt business and job markets; DeStefano-Tangora said there could also be opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“'How can I make this work?' That's my mindset,” she said.
DeStefano-Tangora said he wears “so many hats” as a founder, but embracing technology is helping the business scale. So far she has used AI to organize complex data, write blog posts, and help with marketing for her company.
“I don't just do one thing for the company,” she says. “I’m a salesperson, a marketer, an accountant, a technology consultant.”
build a network
DeStefano-Tangorra said she initially valued growing her profile on Upwork and positive reviews from customers over money. As she began taking on more clients, her income naturally increased.
Freelancers in the technology and AI sector must not only provide high-quality work, but also be open to how the field is evolving, she said. She takes the opportunity to attend and speak at events, and she said she continues to learn how her industry is changing.
“Build a network of people and resources you can rely on to keep you sharp,” she said. “Whenever you work with technology, especially now, the pace of change is so fast that it takes everything you have to keep up.”
Did you quit your traditional 9-to-5 job and take on a side hustle or freelance job? Can you tell us how you make and spend your money? To contact this reporter: Please contact. allisonkelly@insider.com.
