Madalin Chirila

For Madalin, building a digital strategy – and a freelance career – is about playing the long game. After starting growth agency Veqora, he focused on working with ethical, purpose-led brands to strengthen their identity and improve digital experiences. Based in Manchester, his approach prioritises clarity, values and steady progress over quick wins. Here, he shares what he’s learned about building a freelance career that feels grounded and sustainable.

About my work

What I do
I’m not your typical creative. While I do creative work, my focus is more strategic, data-informed and research-led. I recently launched my own growth-focused digital agency, where I help plant-based and ethical consumer brands because I believe growth should be aligned with impact. In simple terms, I look at where users get confused, stuck or drop off, and help fix those problems so businesses can grow without relying on manipulative tactics.

My influences and inspirations
I’m influenced by people who care about clarity and ethics in design, not just aesthetics. Working closely with founders has shaped me a lot, especially seeing how real business decisions affect real lives. Manchester’s creative community has also been a big inspiration; it’s honest, grounded and not obsessed with hype.

Is training important to your role?
Training is important, but so is experience. I learned a lot through formal software development training, but most of my skills came from working on real products, making mistakes and learning directly from users. Curiosity, empathy and critical thinking matter just as much as tools or certificates, if not more.

Favourite project to work on from the past year, and why?
One of my favorite projects recently has been collaborating with Just Be Kind, a high-growth plant-based pet food brand. They have an incredible community foundation with hundreds of 5-star reviews and huge sales momentum already. My challenge is to take that existing energy and optimise their digital experience so the website can handle that scale sustainably. I love being close to the reality of a business where the ethics are clear, and the goal is to help a brand that is truly 'doing good' grow.

A normal day usually looks like…
A normal day is a mix of research, reviewing analytics, auditing user journeys and turning those insights into clear recommendations and strategies. I spend a fair amount of time speaking with clients, and while I still design or write code occasionally, it’s less than earlier in my career. I try to protect time for deep focus, but some of the most valuable moments come from problem-solving conversations. Outside of work, I make space for the gym and running, go to the cinema at least once a month and spend as much time as I can with my daughter.

A starter pack for my job, what would be…
First things first: coffee. Alongside that, or shortly after, LinkedIn. Then Figma, Google Analytics and a to-do list that’s longer than I’d like. And, of course, ChatGPT - a surprisingly good-value assistant for thinking things through.

How I got here

How I landed my first few jobs, clients, commissions…
Truth be told, I started a long time ago on freelance platforms and through cold emailing, where I focused on building a strong profile. These days, I’m more active on LinkedIn, where I shamelessly reach out a lot.

I share my thinking publicly, show how I approach problems and try to offer value before asking for anything. Over time, clients start coming through referrals because they trust how I work. It’s never just about the work you do; I’ve found it’s about 70% sales and 30% actually doing the work.

Your biggest challenge along the way?
Learning to balance creativity with financial reality. It took me a while to realise that doing good work isn’t enough on its own – you also need boundaries, fair pricing and confidence in your value. Most experienced freelancers will know exactly what I mean.

My social media and self-promotion vibe is…
Honest and thoughtful. I don’t try to go viral. I share what I’m learning, what didn’t work and what I’d do differently. People connect more with clarity than with perfection.

Three things I’ve found useful in my career

My greatest learnings when it comes to making money and supporting myself as a creative have been…
Stability matters. For a long time, having consistent income alongside freelance work allowed me to make better decisions, stay patient and grow without panic. Charging fairly and communicating clearly changed everything.

My advice

Best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
Say yes more often, as Richard Branson suggests. You don’t need to know everything to start; you can learn along the way and figure things out as you go.

What would I say to someone looking to get into a similar role?
Learn by doing, ask questions, ask for help when you need it and focus on solving real problems and understanding people before tools or trends.