Q&A with Kim from L&D Free Spirits: A space for freelance trainers to connect, learn and thrive
If you’re a freelance trainer in Learning and Development, chances are you’ve felt the highs, the lows, and the “what on earth am I doing” moments that come with the territory.
Enter: Kim Ellis. She’s the founder of L&D Free Spirits – a community that gets it. A space where freelancers don’t have to go it alone. From live webinars and recorded sessions to informal Friday Fiestas and real talk about business challenges, this is where connection meets growth (with a healthy dose of humour and heart).
I’ve had the pleasure of running a free Canva Quick Wins session for the group and am regularly joining in on the Friday chats. Conversations can go anywhere and everything is welcome.
As a true fan, I wanted to share more about Kim, her vision, and what makes this community such a gem. So I asked her a few questions…
1. Let’s start with the mixtape opener.If L&D Free Spirits had a theme song, what would it be and why?
“Freedom! ’90” by George Michael. When you first become self-employed many people get a sense of freedom. Freedom to work with who you want, how you want and when you want.
2. ‘Friday Fiestas’ sound like my kind of networking. What’s the weirdest, funniest, or most unexpected thing that’s ever come up in a Friday Fiesta chat?
What goes on in Fiesta stays in Fiesta ?
3. You’re stranded on a desert island with Wi-Fi and one learning platform – What tool, app or platform do you refuse to live without as a freelance L&D pro?
For me there isn’t just one tool which would be my holy grail — believe me if I could invent it I would make billions.
My normal every-day set up is LinkedIn, Google Workspace, ChatGPT, Canva and the L&D Free Spirits websiteIf I’m editing one of our webinars then I do the captions in CastMagic, edit the video in Camtasia and get clips in OpusClip — oh and use Zoom for the webinar itself.
For client work, the tools I use depend on what I’m doing and who it’s for. One client might want me to rebuild their content into a virtual training session in PowerPoint. Another may want me to convert it into a Rise course or create a branched scenario in Storyline using avatars from Colossyan.So, no matter how much you bend my arm… it’s impossible for me to answer.
The software doesn’t rule me… I rule the software.
4. Trainer Toolkit: What’s your go-to trick or tip- What’s one tip you wish every freelance trainer knew sooner?
Without a doubt Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)! I’ve been running virtual training for well over a decade and OBS is going to take my sessions to the next level… once I master it that is.
5. What’s a common myth about freelance training you’d love to smash with a confetti cannon?
People think freelancing is glamorous — all coffee shop meetings, shiny expos, and working from some dreamy location. It’s not. It’s hard graft.
Work won’t land in your lap. The people who look like they’re smashing it online? Some of them are quietly considering part-time work just to make ends meet.
There’ll be late nights, weekend slogs, and working through holidays (don’t forget the obligatory laptop pic for the socials though).
There’ll be self-doubt. Stress. Wobbles.But if you can find your people early, find your tribe — they’ll be your lifeline when things get tough. That’s what gets you through.
6. You just got a magic budget and 1,000 new eyeballs – What would you create inside the Free Spirits community with unlimited visibility?
I’d put on a weekend conference for freelancers with business workshops, networking and something fabulous like client speed dating. Imagine how amazing that could be.
And it would be completely free for members too.
7. The freelance ride can be a rollercoaster – How do you personally manage the quieter months, both mentally and financially?
I learned early on about the mountains and valleys — I didn’t land my first gig for eight months, and my bank balance was definitely feeling it.
I know what it’s like to wonder if you’ll cover next month’s expenses — and what it feels like when that big invoice finally hits your account.
What works for me is shifting out of the “monthly salary” mindset. I think in payment sprints instead. If one invoice covers three months, brilliant. The next one might stretch that to five, or free up funds to reinvest in the business.
Sometimes the smart move is financial freedom. Sometimes it’s the conference or the new laptop.
And mentally? Having your tribe makes all the difference. When I’m having a wobble, I’ve got people I can call. Just talking it out helps me get back on track and keep moving forward.
8. Learning vs Doing – How do you balance staying sharp as a trainer with actually running your freelance business?
Never think you are the smartest person in the room.
There’s always something new to learn, a new technique or one you’ve not used before.
So attend webinars, go to events, talk to people and read articles.
Stay curious and never be afraid to ask questions.
9. What’s something unexpected a Free Spirit member has gone on to do that made you proud?
When I exhibited for the first time at the Learning Network Connect Conference and then again at the World of Learning Summit, I was supported by our Wizards. The Wizards help out running Free Spirits behind the scenes, but they don’t actually get paid for attending these events. They give their time for the reward of a baseball cap or a t-shirt.
And they do it so they can connect deeper with the community and help it thrive.
Bonus Round: Quick Picks
Favourite webinar you’ve hosted?
Taming the wobble gremlin.
Zoom or MS Teams?
No contest, Zoom all the way (Teams hates me).
Last online tool you fell in love with?
CastMagic… but will be surpassed by OBS (once I learn how to use it).
Dream guest speaker (dead or alive)?
I’d love to get Arnold Schwarzenegger on the podcast talking about drive, having a vision and never quitting.
What’s your coffee shop order?
Coffee is awful, I’ll have a Chai Latte (or an Earl Grey with lemon).
Want to join L&D Free Spirits?
Find out how you can become a Free Spirit at the link below.
You can also DM me to get your hands on a discount code:
https://ldfreespirits.com/become-a-free-spirit/
Connect with Kim Ellis on Linkedin here.
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