E42 - Freelance career after leaving academia: freedom, insecurity and finding balance

In this second part of my conversation with scientific writer and science communicator Sónia Gomes Pereira on Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, we move beyond leaving academia and into what comes next: building a freelance career, and a life that actually feels aligned.

Sónia shares how she transitioned into freelance scientific and medical writing, how she found her first clients, and what it really takes to navigate self-employment without a clear roadmap. We talk about the realities of freelancing - from flexibility and autonomy to financial uncertainty, difficult clients, and learning to set (and enforce) boundaries.

But this conversation goes deeper than career paths.

We explore how academia shapes our identity, and what it means to grieve not just a career, but a version of yourself. Sónia reflects on the skills she brought from academia (discipline, persistence, adaptability), as well as the patterns she had to unlearn, like overworking, people-pleasing, and tying self-worth to external validation.

We also talk about:

• choosing your time and designing your days
• privilege, security, and the reality behind “freedom”
• building a portfolio and getting your first opportunities outside academia
• volunteering, networking, and creating your own path
• reconnecting with life outside of work

And finally, Sónia shares honest advice for PhD students who feel lost, overwhelmed, or unsure about their future - including the importance of self-compassion, having a life outside academia, and not postponing your happiness.

This is a deeply human conversation about work, identity, and what it means to choose a life that fits you.

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Sónia's info:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniagomespereira/
Website: https://www.soniagomespereira.com/