About Beyond Cubicles
📢 #BeyondCubicles is a weekly LinkedIn series created by Carolina D’Souza, born out of her own experience transitioning from a corporate career to independent consulting. Since its launch in June 2024, the series has evolved into a platform that showcases the inspiring journeys of several founders who have redefined the traditional 9-to-5.
Through authentic narratives, #BeyondCubicles highlights themes of courage, resilience, and purpose. The stories feature individuals from diverse industries—ranging from tech and education to wellness and adventure—who share their experiences of stepping away from conventional roles to pursue passion-driven careers.Â
✨ Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.
“Position yourself before you pivot.”
For Taqua Malik, the leap into entrepreneurship came during one of the world’s most uncertain chapters: COVID-19.
But her ambition stretched beyond income in turbulent times.
“It was about creating an impact, driving change, and channeling all the experience, skills, and knowledge I’d gained over the years into something that served a higher purpose,” she says.
That purpose became Freedomvisory Ltd, a business built to help companies expand into the Middle East not just strategically, but with cultural fluency.
“Throughout my career, I saw firsthand how businesses struggled to navigate deeply rooted cultural nuances when entering Middle Eastern markets. That gap cost them deals, trust, and long-term success,” she explains.
Even the name reflects her ethos, merging two values: freedom and long-term vision. The mission? Empower businesses through cultural intelligence, etiquette training, and authentic communication.
The transition was anything but easy.
Taqua had to shift from being an industry professional in the legal sector to an entrepreneur. Professionally, she had to break into a field where cultural intelligence is often undervalued while navigating the financial uncertainty of leaving a stable career.
Personally, the growth was just as steep. “I’m an introvert! It took time to accept that no one else would step forward to promote my business. I had to be the face of it,” she says. “Being open and approachable became essential for people to engage with me and understand how I could serve them.”
She leaned into personal branding, building authority on LinkedIn, speaking on panels, and sharing insights through media features. “Instead of just selling a service, I prioritized knowledge-sharing,” she says, adding, “Position yourself before you pivot. Clients invest in transformation, not just expertise.”
That approach also helped her to launch The Souk Tribe, a community-led platform offering strategic guidance to global businesses entering the region.
The journey has been one of self-mastery, resilience, and confidence. “True impact happens when you step beyond your comfort zone. Patience, consistency, and continuous improvement define those who drive change,” she says.
Her advice: “Enjoy the journey, keep improving, surround yourself with the right circle that celebrates and supports you, stay locked into your purpose, and watch great things happen.”