Walking into a room full of people who truly understand the freelance hustle is energizing. Last week, I joined the Working Wanderers meetup at Kahoffee in New Muthaiga Mall, and it reminded me why I chose this unconventional career path.
The room quickly filled with creatives, tech professionals, and entrepreneurs, each bringing their own story and expertise. I grabbed coffee and immediately struck up a conversation with Damaris, who runs Zee’s Chips and Snacks and is now venturing into curated event catering.
Her passion for creating memorable food experiences was contagious, and we spent twenty minutes discussing the challenges of scaling a business while maintaining quality.
What stood out most was how genuine the connections felt. Sylvia Wangeci, an Architect and the founder behind Working Wanderers, has built more than a networking space. She has created a community. Unlike typical networking events with awkward small talk and business card exchanges, here, people genuinely shared insights and offered support.
I also met several inspiring professionals, including Simon Mbugua Wachira, an outstanding and money-oriented IT consultant; Ian Ndegwa, a tech writer; Caroline Kavale, a virtual assistant and marketer; Sam Mutisya, an Ashoka Changemaker; Joy Nzioka, a legal and fintech simplifier; and Isaac Kamatu, who leads humanitarian water and farming projects.
The speed networking session was both nerve-wracking and hilarious. We had 60 seconds to pitch ourselves, as if we’d stepped into an elevator with Uhuru Kenyatta. Some pitches were polished, others stumbled, but everyone left with a sharper sense of how to articulate their value.
The whole event gave me a light-bulb moment: sometimes, to go to the next level, you really need to be challenged by people who are doing better or making more money. You can always be king in your village, but if you want to play on a bigger stage, you have to associate with the big boys. Simon’s mindset and energy embodied exactly that.
Kahoffee itself set the tone perfectly. The staff were attentive without hovering, the coffee was excellent, and the vibe struck a relaxed yet professional balance. Serious business conversations felt natural, not forced.
By the end, I’d made several genuine connections, not just contacts. Follow-up conversations are already happening, collaborations are in the works, and most importantly, I left reminded that freelancing doesn’t have to be isolating.
The next session is on November 6th, and I’m already looking forward to it. Not just for networking, but to continue conversations with people who get it. Sometimes, the best professional growth happens over coffee with kindred spirits.
