In the modern business world, not every hire is about filling a skills gap. Sometimes, you’re hired not because a company needs your talent but because they fear your potential as a competitor. This idea may sound controversial, but it happens more often than you think, especially in industries where creativity, innovation, and independence matter.

In Kenya and globally, freelancers, designers, developers, and entrepreneurs often face this quiet reality: you’re hired to neutralize you. Companies would rather have you inside the walls than competing outside.

Here, I explore why this happens, the hidden strategies behind it, how to recognize when it’s happening to you, and what it means for your career as a designer, freelancer, or entrepreneur.

1. Why Companies Fear Potential Competitors

Businesses don’t just compete on products; they compete on ideas. If you’re talented enough, your employer may see you as someone who could build the next rival brand. Hiring you is easier than fighting you.

• Talent Scarcity: In fields like design and tech, skilled people are limited. Losing you to the “other side” could be a threat.

• Market Protection: If you build your own agency, you could target the same clients. Better to bring you in-house.

• Idea Ownership: Companies know fresh ideas often come from outsiders. By hiring you, they absorb (or bury) your ideas.

• Psychological Advantage: It’s less stressful to hire potential disruptors than constantly watch their next move.

2. How It Happens in the Creative/Design World

Designers, developers, and creative professionals are prime targets for this kind of “strategic hiring.”

• The Agency vs Freelancer Dilemma: Agencies may hire freelancers with strong client lists, not for skills, but to take them off the market.

• In-House Design Teams: Some companies recruit independent designers who already have a following, simply to reduce competition in the local space.

• Startups Acquiring Talent: Known as “acqui-hiring,” startups or big players buy smaller competitors mainly for the people, not the product.

3. The Benefits and Risks for You as the Designer

Being hired this way can feel flattering. It means you’re seen as a threat. But it also comes with traps.

Benefits:

• You gain stability (income, resources, exposure).

• You get insight into how companies operate.

• You may gain credibility in the industry.

Risks:

• Your creativity may be stifled (your big ideas shelved).

• You may be locked into contracts preventing side hustles.

• You lose time that could have been used building your own thing.

4. How to Tell If You’re Being “Neutralized”

There are signs that you’re being hired for your potential threat, not just your skills:

• The role doesn’t fully use your abilities.

• You’re asked to sign strict non-compete clauses.

• Your employer discourages side projects aggressively.

• Your ideas are noted but never implemented.

• You’re offered a surprisingly generous package compared to your responsibilities.

5. Real-Life Examples (Kenya & Beyond)

• Tech Industry Acqui-Hires: Facebook, Google, and Amazon have bought startups mainly to prevent future competition.

• Kenyan Agencies: Some design and branding agencies hire independent creatives just to keep them from working directly with clients.

• Corporate Firms: Large companies may scoop up young entrepreneurs under the guise of “internships” or “trainee programs.”

6. How to Protect Yourself

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s not necessarily bad but you should be strategic.

• Negotiate Freedom: Push for clauses that allow side projects.

• Build Quietly: Continue learning and improving your craft behind the scenes.

• Leverage the Platform: Use the role to build your network, then transition out when the time is right.

• Stay Aware: Know when you’re being managed vs. empowered.

7. Why This Topic Matters for Designers

Design isn’t just a job, it’s a path to independence. Many Kenyan designers dream of starting their own studios, agencies, or freelance practices. Knowing the hidden dynamics of why companies hire you helps you make smarter career choices.

Sometimes the paycheck isn’t just for your skills, it’s for your silence.

The idea that companies hire you to prevent competition is uncomfortable, but it’s real. The smarter move is not to reject it outright, but to recognize it, use it, and decide how it fits your long-term vision.

If you’re a designer in Kenya (or anywhere else), remember: being seen as a threat means you’re already valuable. The key is deciding whether to play along or break free and compete anyway.

As a web and graphic designer, I help businesses create strong brands and websites but I also believe in empowering designers to grow beyond being just “employees.”

Contact me today if you want to work with someone who understands both the art of design and the business of survival.