Check Out My Experience at My UK-Based Company
Before starting my full professional journey, you can read the detailed story of my 2.5-year experience at a UK-based company where I worked remotely.
Hi, I’m Usman Jatoi. I’ve been working in the digital world for a while now—not because I followed a perfect plan, but because I kept trying things, messing up, starting over, and figuring out what actually works.
I wasn’t one of those people who “always knew what they wanted.” I just got curious early. I was seven when I started messing around with computers. Born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Pakistan—my early years were full of exploration. I tried coding, game development, and app making. Didn’t love it. It didn’t feel like something I could do long-term. I moved on.
Then I gave website design a shot. Played with the front-end. Looked cool at first. But again—too code-heavy. I realized I enjoyed the look and feel part more than the logic side. That’s how I slowly found my way into design.
By late 2019, I was doing graphic design all the time. Not for money—just for the thrill of making stuff that looked good. I started designing t-shirts for a local eCommerce store, theWarehouse.pk. Over 30 designs later, a few even got featured in paid ads. That felt good. Not because of the exposure—but because I knew I was improving.
Then Fiverr happened. I teamed up with a Level Two Seller and delivered over 250 projects as a designer. Sounds great on paper. But the pay didn’t match the work. I quit. That moment taught me something you don’t learn in tutorials: knowing your worth matters. It’s easy to become a “yes” machine and burn out fast. I didn’t want that.
So, I shifted gears—again. Picked up 3D modeling. Spent about a year just learning, testing, redoing. Some days I made progress. Other days were useless. That’s normal. I also started a YouTube channel called “UJTutorial” (now “Usman Art”). Posted videos in Urdu on design and 3D. The views were bad. I wanted to quit many times. But I told myself: quitting just because people aren’t watching doesn’t mean the content is bad—it just means they haven’t seen it yet.
That helped me keep going. But I knew I needed to try more things.
So I added video editing to the mix in 2021. This made sense—it allowed me to bring all my visuals to life. I even started a small gaming channel with friends, but it didn’t feel exciting after a while, so I let it go.
Then something different happened: I worked with my brother to make a full documentary. It took over 1.5 months to plan, shoot, and edit. We did two more afterward. That was probably the first time I felt what it was like to bring a bigger project to life, end-to-end.
In 2022, I started doing client work as a video editor. Mostly local gigs—ads for welfare groups, shops, and restaurants. No big brand names, no spotlight. But it paid and gave me real experience. By this point, I had hands-on skills in graphic design, 3D modeling, and video editing—not just on paper, but proven through real projects.
From Artist to Agency: The Redsglow Chapter
Being good at design wasn’t enough—I needed people to actually see what I could do. That’s when the idea for Redsglow came to life. I wanted one place to bring my work together and present it professionally. So, I started building the agency’s website from scratch using custom code.
I spent over a month working on it, fully focused, doing everything myself. But then it hit me: I’d made things harder than they needed to be. Managing a site long-term without WordPress was going to be a pain. So I scrapped the entire thing and started over—this time in WordPress.
That decision cost me another month. But it wasn’t wasted. Rebuilding from zero taught me more than any course ever could. I had to figure things out on the go, deal with setbacks, and still finish what I started. That process taught me what it really means to build something that lasts—and how to adapt when your first plan doesn’t work out.
Once the site was live, I shifted focus to getting Redsglow visible everywhere. I set up our brand across all major platforms—Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, Discord, YouTube, Reddit. It took time—around a month and a half—to properly build the presence and content for each channel. No shortcuts.
As someone with a lot of past client work, I had plenty to show. So I uploaded my portfolio on Behance, Dribbble, ArtStation, and DeviantArt. I also got verified on 99designs, which gave me some added credibility in the design space.
Starting an agency was a serious shift—not just creatively, but mentally. It forced me to think beyond just designing. I had to learn how to manage, present, and grow something that represented more than just me.
How I Went From Redesigning a Website to Leading an Agency Team
I didn’t exactly walk into the agency world with a grand plan. It started with a simple connection—my brother, Usama, shared some of my work with Deepak Shukla, founder of Pearl Lemon. That one video opened the door, but getting in took time. It was almost a month before I was fully onboarded, and even then, my first task was no small one: redesign PearlLemonWeb.com to look sharper, more professional.
I started with Photoshop, laying out the homepage, then rebuilt it using WordPress and Elementor. It wasn’t smooth sailing. The design didn’t show up properly on their end—just a browser caching issue, but I didn’t want to send a generic fix. So, I recorded a walkthrough video explaining what was wrong and how to solve it. That one thoughtful step—actually showing I cared—made an impression. It wasn’t just about delivering a page. It was about solving problems clearly. That moment led to my formal role in the agency.
Over the next 2.5 years, I moved from designer to Head of Website Design. That meant more than handling layouts and code—I had to manage a team of over 19 people. Leading others brought a whole different kind of challenge. I learned how to break down complex web projects, plan ahead, and deal with the inevitable curveballs that come with running multiple deadlines across a team.
Agency life is fast, and not everything goes to plan. But those are the moments that force real growth. There were projects where things didn’t land right the first time, or where client expectations suddenly shifted mid-way. Learning to adapt without losing focus became second nature. And through it all, I wasn’t just a team member—I believed in the place. I personally referred 17+ people to Pearl Lemon. Together, we helped the company reach 7 figures (PKR) in revenue, and I got to see what it takes to build something sustainable in a real, high-pressure environment.
Client Work, Side Ventures, and Learning by Doing
Even while working at Pearl Lemon, I kept exploring. I took on freelance projects across a wide mix of industries—real estate, travel, ecommerce, NGOs, and more. Some of that work came through direct clients, some through partnerships.
One of the more consistent collaborations was with Abdullah, a Fiverr Level 2 freelancer. We worked together on over 250 projects, each one different in scope and speed. That volume of work forced me to get sharp with time management and communication. I also took on requests from businesses like MetaverseDeviser and AdvancedIncomeMarketing, handled digital tasks for a traveler and a mental health journal (mendiary), and built out an ecommerce website for Canadian quilt company CoachDesign. These weren’t just checkbox projects—they demanded customization, thinking on the fly, and figuring out how to make the digital side work for each specific need.
I also contributed to non-profit projects through Usama2.0, which gave me exposure to working within constraints—tight budgets, specific causes, and limited resources. It wasn’t always polished work, but it was purposeful. And it gave me a fuller sense of the kinds of users I was building for.
Taking Control: Launching My Own Brands
Eventually, I realized I didn’t want to just contribute to others’ projects—I wanted to build my own. That’s when I started Redsglow, my digital business agency. It wasn’t just a portfolio hub—it became the root system for everything else I’ve been growing.
Under Redsglow, I launched Tools Redsglow (a tech directory), DreamJobChaser (a platform to connect freelancers), and HirePakistani (focused on local freelance talent). I also became a co-founder of AlhajarAlfidhi, and more recently, built an AI-based venture called Build On Vibe.
These ventures aren’t polished case studies. They’re ongoing experiments in what’s possible when you take control of the work, the process, and the outcomes. I’ve had wins, I’ve had delays, and I’ve definitely made mistakes along the way. But that’s the part of the journey you rarely see talked about. Building something for yourself means facing everything—technical blocks, time pressure, funding questions—and pushing through anyway.
The Tools I Build and the Skills I Use
Most of my professional work comes down to one thing: building useful digital tools and websites that actually work. I’ve spent a lot of time coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and I work a lot with React for more modern web projects. I use tools like Cursor, Windsurf, Bolt.new, Trae, Lovable, and Replit to speed up the building process.
On the WordPress side, I’ve worked with almost every major builder out there—Elementor, Divi, Oxygen, BreakDancer, BrickBuilder, and others. I’ve used them to create all kinds of websites, from basic landing pages to full business sites.
But I haven’t stopped at just websites. I’ve built a ton of custom tools too. For example:
I used Python automation to publish over 700 pages—this helped handle a huge content job with way less manual work.
I built 1000+ WordPress plugins in PHP—tools like image converters, IP grabbers, YouTube thumbnail fetchers, and custom code adders.
I created Chrome Extensions like:
SEO Researcher Pro for web page analysis
A Leads Scraper
A Volume Booster
A Note Saver
A Design Consistency Analyzer to spot UI/UX issues
I even worked on standalone software like a basic sound booster (FxSound), a to-do list reminder, and a full web browser I called RedsBrowser.
Right now, I’m building a powerful booking plugin (almost 75% done) that connects with tools like Mailchimp and Stripe. It’s one of my most detailed projects so far.
On top of coding, I’ve also done over 300 graphic design projects and a good amount of 3D modeling using Blender.
Quantifiable Achievements
My professional career is marked by solid contributions and measurable results:
- Projects Completed: Contributed to over 5,000 projects in various roles.
- Websites Managed: Directly worked on 160+ websites and managed about 170 websites in total.
- Team Leadership: Managed a team of 19+ members as Head of Website Design.
- Automated Content: Published 700+ pages using custom Python automation.
- Plugins Created: Built over 1000 WordPress plugins (PHP).
- Lead Generation: Performed lead scraping, gathering over 60,000 leads.
- Graphics Projects: Worked on 300+ graphic-related projects.
- Social Media Accounts: Created and managed 7+ social media accounts.
- Earnings: Contributed to 7 Figures in PKR earnings at My Company, and earned from various client projects (e.g., from Abdullah, MetaverseDeviser, from AdvancedincomeMarketing, from a Traveler, from mendiary).
Ready to Collaborate on Your Next Project?
My professional experience is a testament to my dedication to the digital world. If you’re seeking a professional with a proven track record in leadership, complex project execution, and strategic digital development, I invite you to connect.
Don’t let valuable projects remain ideas. My extensive background in building, leading, and solving digital challenges means I am ready to bring real-world experience to your needs. Reach out today to discuss how my professional journey can benefit your next endeavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of professional roles have you held?
My key role was as Head of Website Design at Pearl Lemon Group, where I also managed a team of 19+ members. Beyond that, I’ve served as the founder of my own digital businesses like Redsglow and co-founded AlhajarAlfidhi.
How long have you been working in the digital field?
My journey in the digital world began at just seven years old. My focused professional career includes over 2.5 years in key roles at companies like Pearl Lemon, along with extensive independent client work and my own entrepreneurial ventures.
Can you describe your experience managing teams?
As Head of Website Design at Pearl Lemon, I managed a team of 19+ members. This involved guiding their work, overseeing projects, and setting up clear processes to ensure smooth operations and project delivery.
What types of projects have you led or managed?
I’ve led and managed a wide range of projects, from large-scale website redesigns like pearllemonweb.com to creating numerous custom software tools, plugins, and automation systems. My experience covers everything from web development to digital marketing setups.
What kind of clients have you worked with in your career?
I’ve worked with a diverse set of clients, including a Level 2 Fiverr freelancer (Abdullah, on over 250 projects), digital marketing companies, metaverse developers, and NGOs. My client work spans various industries, adapting to their specific digital needs.
What are some of your most notable technical achievements from your professional work?
Professionally, I’ve created over 1000 WordPress plugins, published 700+ pages using Python automation, built multiple Chrome extensions like “SEO Researcher Pro,” and worked on complex software and PWA projects, including a 75% complete booking plugin.
What are some of your most notable technical achievements from your professional work?
Professionally, I’ve created over 1000 WordPress plugins, published 700+ pages using Python automation, built multiple Chrome extensions like “SEO Researcher Pro,” and worked on complex software and PWA projects, including a 75% complete booking plugin.
How does your diverse experience benefit new projects?
My broad experience, spanning web development, automation, entrepreneurship, and team management, means I bring a well-rounded view to any project. I can see the bigger picture and connect different digital components to achieve a comprehensive solution.