Building a digital nomad career

When I announced my decision to become a digital nomad, the overwhelming response on social media was filled with curiosity and encouragement. Many asked how a 24-year-old from Bangladesh could afford such a lifestyle. Here's my story—a tale of breaking barriers and living a dream far beyond conventional paths.

The digital nomad lifestyle is all about freedom and flexibility. It allows individuals like myself to earn a living online while choosing various global locations as our workplace. I embraced this lifestyle on January 14, marking the beginning of an enriching journey. Over the past four months, I've connected with hundreds of digital nomads across Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Digital nomads typically fall into two categories: those who prioritise lifestyle and those who focus on their careers. The former group tends to embrace the more leisurely aspects of this lifestyle—meeting new people, immersing in local cultures, enjoying diverse cuisines, and occasionally partying. They generally work enough to sustain their nomadic life, often through freelance gigs without fixed employment. Conversely, career-focused nomads, like myself, place a higher priority on professional achievements and usually reserve weekends for relaxation. As Chief of Staff at Zelf Technologies and an entrepreneur, my weekdays involve 8 to 14 hours of screen time as I manage my responsibilities and grow my startup.

Weekends are my time to disconnect and recharge. Whether it's bike riding, discovering new areas, or socialising with friends, I use this time to step away from work and indulge in my surroundings.

Choosing the Best Countries for a Digital Nomad Lifestyle

The digital nomad lifestyle can vary significantly based on one's preference for leisure or career. My life might seem as busy as that of my peers in corporate offices, but the key difference is my ever-changing backdrop which satisfies my explorative spirit and offers myriad ways to unwind.

A dependable work environment and excellent internet are crucial for me, hence I cannot choose just any location. I look for 'digital nomad hubs'—cities recognised for their infrastructure and ecosystems that support this lifestyle. Southeast Asia is home to several of these hubs, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan, Da Nang, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali. Additionally, cities like Hanoi, Saigon, and Singapore host vibrant digital nomad communities that, while smaller than the major hubs, are quite dynamic.

In summary, the lifestyle is as diverse as the individuals who choose it, tailored to fit different priorities and offering a unique blend of work and exploration.

Challenges and Social Dynamics of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

While the digital nomad lifestyle offers unparalleled freedom and adventure, it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most significant is the cost—maintaining a nomadic lifestyle can be expensive, especially when moving frequently between high-cost urban centers. Additionally, being away from family and long-term friends can sometimes be difficult, as it means missing out on regular personal interactions and important family events.

Despite these challenges, making friends and building a social network as a digital nomad is quite feasible, particularly if you're outgoing. I've found that staying in co-living spaces, attending local meetups, and simply being open-minded and curious are great ways to meet other digital nomads. These settings provide natural opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals who are also eager to build new friendships. Most digital nomads are inherently easygoing and often in the same boat of seeking connections, which makes starting conversations and forming bonds somewhat easier than in more static environments.

In essence, while the digital nomad lifestyle does require some adjustments and can feel isolating at times, the community you find and the connections you make can greatly enrich the experience.

The First Step of Becoming a Digital Nomad

Embarking on a digital nomad lifestyle is akin to preparing a complex dish. It requires not only the right ingredients but also a well-equipped kitchen and the culinary skills to bring everything together harmoniously. For a nomadic life, the essential ingredients include financial resources, geographical freedom, and a bold leap of faith. My 'kitchen' was blessed with a supportive family—loving parents and a caring brother—who played pivotal roles in assembling this life recipe.

Firstly, let’s address the financial aspect: travelling and living globally isn’t cheap. To sustain such a lifestyle, one must either have substantial savings or a steady income that can be managed remotely. Equally important is geographical freedom—there should be nothing tying you down that could hinder your mobility.

However, having money and the freedom to travel isn’t sufficient on its own. One must also overcome a deep-seated aversion to risk, common in many cultures that prize stability and security. This requires what I like to call a significant leap of faith—stepping out of your comfort zone to embrace uncertainty and the unknown.

It's crucial to acknowledge one's privileges when discussing such aspirations. Echoing Mark Zuckerberg, "I know lots of people who haven’t pursued dreams because they didn’t have a cushion to fall back on if they failed." My family provided this cushion for me. Whether through emotional support or a financial safety net, they ensured I could pursue my dreams without the dread of failure. Additionally, my brother’s commitment to care for our parents in my absence allowed me the peace of mind needed to explore the world.

Securing a Global Job that Allowed me to Break Free

How did I achieve financial independence by my early-twenties? It began with a well-paid remote job at Zelf Technologies, a New York-based startup backed by Sequoia Capital, where I am now the Chief of Staff, promoted from Lead Product Designer. Well, how did I land on this job? An early start, a little bit of luck, and a fair share of expertise. My career began in sixth grade as a brand identity designer, eventually shifting towards product design.

My journey to Zelf Technologies began with an unforeseen connection through a friend, Subha Nawer Pushpita, an MIT graduate with degrees in Math and Computer Science. She came across a job posting for an engineering position shared on an MIT channel and thoughtfully suggested they might also need a designer. This led to an introduction to Videh, the CTO of the startup, who was impressed with my portfolio. Although the initial project—an iOS app for restaurant management during COVID-19—didn't succeed, it paved the way for future opportunities. When Pep and Videh founded Zelf, they remembered my contributions and brought me on board as their first hire. Despite Videh’s departure a year later, Pep and I have continued to build Zelf from the ground up.

For those looking to find jobs that accommodate a digital nomad lifestyle, I recommend starting with platforms like Airwork, which connects talent from Bangladesh with global organisations. However, in my experience, the most powerful tool has been networking. Building and maintaining professional relationships can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities. Always invest in your network—it can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Overcoming Traditional Career Expectations During IBA

After high school, I was torn between engineering and design but ultimately pursued a BBA at IBA, University of Dhaka. Initially, I hated my decision after admitting myself to IBA and had a lot of second thoughts. Two years down the line I was ready to let go of IBA and move to the states to study design. Even after getting into RISD, one of the best design schools in the USA, the situation didn’t allow me to switch. But now that I look back, I can totally see how everything that happened actually happened for the best. I didn’t fit in at IBA. And the best college is one where one doesn’t fit. A place that challenges one to grow out of their comfort zone. IBA did it right for me. Not only was I groomed to run teams, I was challenged mentally everyday to grow as a person.

During my time at IBA, I didn't experience the typical peer pressure to pursue traditional roles in multinational corporations (MNCs). From the outset, I was clear about my path—I've always been passionate about design, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The startup world, with its dynamic challenges and opportunities to build from the ground up, was where I saw my future.

By my second year, I was already engaged in projects that not only fulfilled my creative and professional aspirations but also provided financial rewards well above the average offers extended to top IBA graduates. By the time I graduated, my earnings had multiplied, reaching at least five times that of my peers entering conventional roles.

Rather than succumbing to peer pressure, I found myself in a position to inspire some of my closest friends to explore careers in startups and entrepreneurship. My approach has always been to forge my own path—I didn't just go with the flow; I tried to create my own stream.

Growing Professions Suited for a Digital Nomad Lifestyle

In my view, sustaining a long-term digital nomad lifestyle is most feasible for those in professions that rely heavily on technical skills. This includes fields like computer programming, data science, and product design. These professions are not only highly adaptable to remote work but are also standardised globally, which allows for a seamless integration into various job markets around the world.

Such skills can be performed entirely from a computer, offering the flexibility needed to work from virtually anywhere with a stable internet connection. This makes them ideal for anyone looking to embrace the digital nomad lifestyle while maintaining a steady and robust professional trajectory.

Advice for Aspiring Bangladeshi Digital Nomads

To those in Bangladesh dreaming of a nomadic lifestyle, remember that it's about more than just desire—it's about preparation, the right support system, and the courage to take that first bold step into the wider world.

It's said that one should follow their heart, but knowing when to do so is key. My heart wanted to be a filmmaker, but I decided to go for a career in tech. My heart at some point wanted me to leave my job and focus on entrepreneurship, and my brain convinced me to run for another promotion instead. My heart wanted a work life balance, my brain said you will never be 24 again. Heart wanted weekend hangouts, and my brain asked me to meet the deadlines. Heart wanted to buy a black magic cinema, and the brain said invest the money. Brain said to apply for masters, heart said, go travel the world. I rejected my heart hundreds of times so that I could listen to it once. This balance between desire and duty has defined my path. These choices weren’t always easy, but they were necessary to build the life I wanted.

This journey of becoming a digital nomad at a young age, of gaining financial freedom and geographical independence, accompanied by leaps of faith, illustrates a path less travelled. It's about knowing when to listen to your heart and when to use your head. Each decision, whether based on passion or pragmatism, has shaped my life profoundly.

For those aspiring to this lifestyle, understand your privileges, recognize the practicalities, and prepare to balance your aspirations with realistic strategies.

Future Ambitions and Direction

I've always been someone guided more by direction than by fixed goals. At the core, I'm a creative individual who finds the greatest satisfaction in building and innovating. In the near future, my primary focus is to continue developing Zelf alongside Pep, our CEO. Pep has not only been a remarkable mentor but also the ideal professional guide I needed. His extraordinary background, which includes an education from MIT and a decade at McKinsey, has immensely contributed to my professional growth, and I consider myself fortunate to have him as a mentor.

Simultaneously, I am dedicated to advancing my own venture, Ngaze, which I co-founded with Sabbir Ahmed. Ngaze is a project born from our shared passion and vision. It represents not just our entrepreneurial spirit but also our ambition to make a meaningful impact in the education sector. We aim to nurture this venture to fulfil our aspirations and contribute significantly to the field.

a@ngaze.co