My name is Urooj Khan and I live in a remote area of Pakistan with my husband and family; my access to work and many activities are limited. But it was different growing up; unlike most parents in Pakistan, my parents were very particular about ensuring their daughters get as good an education and life as their son. They knew that life was not easy for women in Pakistan, especially after marriage, so they did everything they could to make sure we studied whatever we wanted to pursue and were able to stand on own feet. I went to LUMS for my college degree in Anthropology, considered the best business/social sciences university in Pakistan.

Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to work for animal rights in Pakistan and build an animal sanctuary or a shelter. However, when I grew up I realized being a girl it wasn't as easy to work on this goal as I had imagined. I could not go to places to raise awareness for the cause, nor could I transport or rescue animals, much less raise money for them. Even now, as a married woman, I still cannot freely go out and work for this cause. Someday, however, I hope to be able to do something substantial for animals in Pakistan.

Part of that optimism comes from Odetta, and how it has opened my life to possibility. I met [Odetta founder] Katharine Wolf when she came to Islamabad to research Pakistan's freelancing market. And when she told me about the Odetta idea, I absolutely loved it. It was something very similar to the kind of workstyle and life I wanted, although, to be honest, at the time it felt like wishful thinking on my part.  

I have been working for Odetta for more than a year now, and wishful thinking has turned into reality. The hyper-flexible model of choosing your own work times and duration during the day is just amazing. And to add to this mix, you work from the comfort of your home. Odetta has empowered me in every sense of the word and it has helped remove dependency on others from my life.

I have a feeling of accomplishment now. I live in the middle of nowhere and I still earn money. I have had a boost in self-esteem and unlimited learning due to the nature of my job. Thanks to Odetta, on my deathbed, I won’t have the regret that I compromised my personal life due to work.