DECODING DRAUPADI
Community
Draupadi at Work
A community of working women looking to become better professionals.
Draupadi at Work is a free, women-only WhatsApp community for writers, designers, marketers and other creative professionals in India, most of them freelancers. It has 10,000+ members and is run by Decoding Draupadi.
On weekdays it's a closed room for work, where members share curated freelance gigs, roles and resources. On weekends the chat opens up for networking, pitching, questions and advice.
We also take the community offline, with meetups, workshops and networking events across cities.
Who it is for
Women who do creative work for a living: writers, designers, social media managers and marketers. Some freelance full time, some take projects on the side, and some are looking for their first paid gig. If you have work to give, you'll find women ready to take it on.
The community started in 2023 as one WhatsApp group for women freelancers. It had 500 members by 2024 and has 10,000+ today.
How joining works
Apply through the Draupadi at Work form. We ask for your name, city, WhatsApp number, what you do and a link to your LinkedIn profile.
We read every application by hand, once a week, to keep the community women-only and serious about work. We check your name and number, then the profile you shared. Applications without a LinkedIn profile can't be approved. Once you're through, we add you to the group and send a welcome email, usually within a week of applying.
What members get
Curated gigs and roles on weekdays, and a room to network, pitch and ask questions on weekends. Invitations to our events, from meetups and workshops to open mics. Features, interviews and press opportunities when they come our way. Deals and discounts from the brands we partner with.
If you'd rather talk to fewer people at a time, there are smaller groups by craft and by city inside the community.
Questions people ask
Who can join Draupadi at Work?
Women in India who do creative or professional work can apply, whether they freelance full time, take projects on the side or are looking for their first paid gig. Most members are writers, designers, social media managers and marketers. The community is women-only, and we check every profile before adding anyone.
Does Draupadi at Work cost anything?
No. Draupadi at Work is free to join and free to stay in, with no membership fee. You apply, we check your profile, and if you're through we add you to the WhatsApp group. All you need is a LinkedIn profile and a few minutes to fill in the application form.
How are Draupadi at Work members vetted?
We review every application by hand once a week. We check that your name and WhatsApp number are real, then open the LinkedIn profile or social link you shared to confirm who you are. Applications without a LinkedIn profile aren't approved. If we can't verify you, we write back and ask for more proof, such as a portfolio link or someone who can vouch for you.
What do Draupadi at Work members get each week?
On weekdays, members get curated freelance gigs, roles and resources in the group. On weekends, the chat opens for networking, pitching, questions and advice. Through the year there are meetups, workshops and other events, press and media opportunities when they come up, and deals from partner brands.
How do I join Draupadi at Work?
Fill in the application form on our site. It takes a few minutes and asks for your name, city, WhatsApp number, what you do and your LinkedIn profile. You get an application number straight away. We review applications every week and add approved members to the group, usually within a week.
More from Decoding Draupadi
