In this article we have interviewed Brand & Creative Marketing Director Alejandra Fonseca. With a background in medicine and an impressive multicultural background, Alejandra has been a remote worker and expat for more than 15 years.

Q: When did you start working remotely?

AF: I started working remotely in 2009. I started a blog back then in Portuguese, about History and Art (my favourite topics) as a matter of Mental Health coping mechanism. Then evolved to get the 1st blogger agreement with UMI (Universal Music). Back then we were bloggers (very proudly) and the word influencer was not what it is today. Social Media was starting moderately. I was working back then on my own as a doctor in many clinics, but because 2008 happened and the recession was upon us, believe it or not, clinics started to close, so that is why I resorted to writing and sharing a blog online. By 2011 I had started a YouTube channel, and it was growing a lot, I was getting brand boxes daily … until my YouTube channel was stolen, and deleted all the videos and subscribers (I had a lot of followers and growing). I returned to Blogging and stayed away from YouTube for some years until I came back recently. With blogging I started to have contracts for posts, press trips, press products, I got to travel to many places and I am so grateful to brands and companies for that. After that the world of remote working started to open up more, and then started to work also with companies, having a monthly stable income and meeting people from all around the globe.

Q: How many countries have you visited as a remote worker?

AF: I visited many countries, and lived in many as well, from Spain, Portugal, Dubai, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Estonia, Holland, France and UK, I could go and see many spots from those countries. Many more to come.

Q: How did your studies shape your current career?

AF: It helped a bit. Because I could work in an office or clinic in a country, but as a polyglot it helps to talk the language, grabbing the culture and live like the locals. And you can always study what you want to become. Knowledge is out there, and today is easier.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

AF: My plans are very much tied to my family, specially my kiddo. He is the 1st in my list, BUT he is exactly like me. By the time he was 3 weeks old, he started travelling with me. We love a good travel and meeting a lot of people on the way and trying out food, entertainment and know more about culture. He is being raised as a polyglot as well. My plan was always not to stay in one place for more than a couple of years (I get the itch… hehehe).

Q: What is the achievement you are most proud of?

AF: My kid, haha! This is what mother says, right? I will say my kid and my work and knowledge. Those are the morals I transmit to him. Learning and working hard and having respect to you and your work/time. What I have grown as a person and professional is what I am proud of. And I see my kid doing the same or saying things I normally talk to him, and him telling those same things to his friends. That is what I am proud, keeping a positive mindset and achieve your goals.

Q: What would you advise to someone who wants to work remotely and travel?

AF: Do it. The World is yours to grab. Nowadays it is so easy to be living in Italy and work in the US or Japan. There are many many remote jobs, from normal payment to huge pay cheques, depending on what industry you are interested in. It might take some time to get a remote job, but eventually you will get there. Create a CV just for your remote work and of course, keep your social media clean, neutral and professional. Because remember that remote jobs will ALWAYS check your social media, as they can’t run a background check on you sometimes. Create a social media just for that professional persona. Keep that Linkedin proper and network without spamming.

Website: http://alejandraslife.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-fonseca7/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alelifeofficial/