Ditching Traditional Work and Creating a Career That Works for You: Part 5

Image Credit: Allobee

As the 2020 landscape for women in the workforce has drastically shifted, so too have our needs as mothers. Working Momkind is committed to being a resource for you, which is why we've created an interview series highlighting the careers of five working moms and their successful leaps from traditional work to the freelance hustle, and building their brands to becoming Founders and CEOs.

 As we close out our series with Part 5, we chat with Brooke Markevicius, Founder and CEO of Allobee. Allobee is a virtual platform dedicated to connecting freelancers with micro and small business owners to create jobs and offer support for the 43% of women leaving the workforce when they have kids, as well as the ones being forced out due to the current pandemic. Allobee's support for women in the freelance world also simultaneously provides resources to their micro and small business clients, helping them thrive and grow. As women's careers continue to shift, Brooke explains how Allobee advocates for them along the way by creating jobs, community, and support; because even though you can, you don't have to do it all on your own. 

Brooke Markevicius, Founder & CEO, Allobee

Brooke started her career in non-profit management. She has a Bachelors in History & Education from Appalachian State University and a Masters of Computer Information Systems from Boston University. In an effort to get moms paid more and on a bigger scale, Brooke took her tech skills and love for supporting mom-owned businesses and merged them into one idea, Allobee. She lives in Durham, NC, with her two kids, Lily & Lukas, her husband, and their two rescue dogs.

WM: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today! Can you tell us more about life before Allobee and your experience in the world of freelance work? 

Markevicius: I left my early career in non-profit to go into tech after seeing the power of technology for good. I got my masters in computer information systems from Boston University, and right after graduation, I was hired at Postmates in operations. I helped to launch their southeast region and loved working in a fast-paced start-up environment. When I got pregnant with my daughter, I went back to work way too soon and found that the atmosphere was not supportive or flexible to a new mother. I knew it was not something I wanted to continue. I quit and, shortly after, started freelancing in web development and project management. I loved working with small businesses, solopreneurs, and start-ups to bring their ideas to life.  

WM: We can imagine how rewarding it must have felt to help bring ideas to fruition! Did your freelance work inspire the conception for Allobee?

Markevicius: I predominantly worked with female entrepreneurs and business owners. A few years into that, I was approached by a friend about starting a co-working space for moms. I had always wanted that space for myself, so I helped her get it up and running. The business now has two locations, and I couldn't be happier that the vision is still thriving! Through that experience, I saw women were supporting other women in our space; they were buying from one another, referring to each other, bartering, and had created their own little micro-economy. It hit me one day that every woman should get to experience this, and I began to think of how I could use my tech skills to make it happen. That was the birth of the idea that would become Allobee.

WM: We agree and love that you recognized women are often each other's biggest supporters. Your tech skills created Allobee, a unique platform providing resources for small business clients and a freelance workforce. Can you elaborate on the benefits gained by both parties when working with Allobee? 

Markevicius: Allobee provides support, visibility, and growth for our micro-business, small business, and start-up clients. While their industries vary, they all have a few common traits: Time Poor, Overwhelmed, Small Team or No team, and Decision Fatigue. We take the hassle out of these common small-business obstacles by hiring and outsourcing, vetting, and making sure we have high-quality experts to work for them. We act as an extension of their team, so there's no worrying about billing, project management, or if a hire won't be a good fit. We take care of everything for busy business owners, allowing them to focus on their top priorities.

We also did a lot of research on how we could best provide a positive experience for our freelancers! Though we are open to working with all caregivers or women in the "in-between" phases of life, our current workforce is all women and 98% mothers. I had both wonderful and horrible experiences freelancing and had personally seen how other start-ups treated their "gig workers." I vowed not to do that. 

We've seen first-hand how providing our workforce with connection, community, and support results in them providing higher quality services to our clients. Allobee handles all the marketing, billing, sourcing of jobs, and any project and account management needed. Our freelancers just have to show up and do what they do best! This is especially beneficial if you are freelancing as a side hustle, not wanting to grow a large business, or testing the waters to see if freelance work is the best fit for you.

WM: For someone looking to transition from traditional work to freelance, what level of professional experience does Allobee require to meet their small business clients' needs?

Markevicius: This varies depending on the service provided. We do require references and work samples or a portfolio to prove that you can do the job being asked of by our client. However, we also recognize that many women wanting to work with our clients are often at a transitional point in their lives. They may not have the resume to back them up, but the work itself.  

That being said, we do have a rather thorough process for being an Allobee Expert. You first apply directly on our site at allobee.com/join-us, and from there, we send you a more detailed application. Once that is complete, we decide if we want to move forward with reference checks and portfolio reviews. Upon successful completion, we invite you to our onboarding session. From there, you can become an Allobee Expert and start receiving jobs.

WM: Once hired, how do you match business owners and freelancers to ensure that expectations are met at both ends of the spectrum?

Markevicius: Our algorithm connects our clients with an expert that is the most qualified and has the most experience for the specific job that is available. Our Lead experts thoroughly review our expert's first two projects within that category of work. They also monitor every project going forth for quality control. We are continually adding to our algorithm by reviewing data and previous match results. We also have a rematch guarantee if our clients are not happy at any point, which rarely happens. 

WM: Allobee offers a wide range of services; which ones are the most sought after?

Markevicius: Technical Assistance and Marketing Assistants are our top service month over month, but we also support many podcasts through editing, launching, and management. Many clients like that they can grab as little at 10 hours of assistant work under $500 and get a lot of support.

WM: While Allobee is still an early-stage start-up, you've gained a ton of traction this year, and continue to create jobs, while also providing support for clients. As the workforce for women continues to shift amidst the pandemic, what gives you the motivation to keep pushing forward and growing?

Markevicius: As a former freelancer, I created Allobee because I wish I'd had it as I pivoted out of working in a tech start-up and into freelancing. I know first-hand how much work goes into marketing yourself, keeping a steady stream of clients, and learning the ins-and-outs of running a business, all while doing great work and taking care of your kids.

As a CEO and Founder, I have seen an increase in the need for freelance jobs throughout 2020. I believe the uptick is due to businesses having to get creative with how they could afford to keep operations running smoothly in a year of declining profits. We saw many clients who had to stop working with a firm that charged $5K+ but could utilize our services on a month-to-month lower charge or a one-time 10-hour package. Our approach is more sustainable, and we "grow with you," which is really important for businesses, especially this year. 

My motivation is to impact the world by providing jobs to women, particularly mothers, that pay more and on a bigger scale while helping to support and grow small businesses along the way. 

WM: Brooke, thank you for speaking with us today and empowering women by creating an incredible resource like Allobee! 

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