Session: Freelancing as a Ticket to Travel
Running my own freelance business has given me the freedom to travel around the world, and spend as much time with friends and family as I want or need to. I spent 5 months in 2019, and 7 months in 2021-22 working while traveling around 12 countries. Despite a variety of Covid-related restrictions, it's still possible to pursue "living the dream." I'll discuss important considerations like Covid testing, quarantines and closures; visas and paperwork; budgeting; being a solo woman traveler and worker. I'll offer tips on how to approach scheduling work, communication and meetings around time zone differences and in balance with a desire to get out and experience new locales and cultures.
Bio
An enthusiastic self-taught web developer since the dawn of websites, Polly runs her own game/app development company, Codyssia. She has won recognition and awards as a filmmaker, journalist and project manager in work spotlighting social justice, racism, LGBTQ+ and mental health issues. She has provided high-impact leadership for businesses, non-profits, creative projects, teams, and workshops.
Polly has spent the last two years leading the creation of Time Machine, a groundbreaking app that helps people connect lovingly with their past and future selves. The project is part of her passion to use technology to improve mental, physical and financial health equity in our society. She is a co-author on a research paper that emerged from the project.
She is working to increase diversity in tech, gaming and interactive experiences, in terms of who is creating, what is being created, and for whom. She recently spoke about the future of apps and games at SXSW 2022.
An enthusiastic world traveler, Polly has spent 12 months in 12 countries in the last 3 years. She has lived in five countries, and is a dual US-Canadian citizen.