Being bold and assertive, both in terms of communicating a vision as well as standing up for yourself, is something I've struggled with as an East Asian entrepreneur, and it's something I also see other Asians/Asian-Americans struggling with. Growing up, my parents always instilled a respect for ...
If you're going to offer your services for free then try to take on an internship with a company that specializes in what you do. This way you can add that experience to your resume.