We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Annette Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Annette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Deciding to open 1st Step Healthcare Training was the biggest risk I’ve taken. I decided to take a leap of faith and execute my plan of opening a training school. I was working as a registered nurse and noticed that patient care was lacking due to nursing assistants not receiving classroom training. So, I decided to open 1st Step Healthcare Training and train them to the standard I believe would be a gold standard.
I also knew I had to do something bigger and train and educate my community to help get them employed quick to help them with providing for themselves and /or family.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At 1st Step Healthcare Training, I solve the problem of limited access to healthcare education, especially for those who may not have the traditional qualifications like a high school diploma or GED. I focus on providing an opportunity for people of all ages, starting at 16, to break into the healthcare field quickly through our three-week CNA program. My business helps open doors for individuals who thought they couldn’t make it due to lack of education or financial challenges. I’m not just offering a certification—I’m offering a way for people to transform their lives, just like I did.

I’m proud of a lot of things, but one of the biggest is how we keep tuition affordable and even offer scholarships to one or two people each month. I remember what it was like not being able to afford school, and I’m doing everything I can to help people who are where I once was. Another thing I take pride in is that we don’t just certify people and send them on their way. I mentor my graduates, guiding them on their next steps in education or career paths. I also celebrate every class with a graduation party because, to me, finishing the program is a huge accomplishment, and I want my students to feel that pride.

It’s about more than just a piece of paper—it’s about building up a person’s confidence and giving them the tools to change their life and the lives of those they care for. I’m proud of every single student who walks through my doors and leaves with the skills, mindset, and motivation to succeed.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There I was, knee-deep in paperwork, balancing a tight budget, and running my CNA classes when it hit me—what if this wasn’t enough? I realized something. People need more than just a basic healthcare certification—they need a path. They need to be able to climb that healthcare ladder, rung by rung, all the way to the top.

That’s when I decided to pivot.

Instead of stopping at CNAs, I thought, “Why not train phlebotomists? Dialysis techs? Patient care techs?” Heck, why not go all the way to LPNs and RNs? I saw the future—my future, my students’ future—bigger, brighter, and full of possibilities. It was like finding a hidden staircase behind a door I hadn’t noticed before. And once I opened it, there was no going back.

So I rolled up my sleeves, applied for more grants, and started expanding. I started a phlebotomy program and will add on more.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

I started 1st Step Healthcare Training because I know firsthand how difficult it can be to break into the healthcare field, especially when you don’t have the traditional education or resources. Growing up in a tough environment, I had to overcome a lot of obstacles, including dropping out of school and becoming a mother at 16. But I also know that with the right guidance and opportunities, anything is possible. My mentor believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and that belief helped me become a registered nurse. I wanted to pay that forward.

I built my business with a mission: to create accessible, affordable healthcare education for people who might not have any other way in. I saw too many people struggling to find a path, and I wanted to offer them a first step—a program that gives them a real chance to change their lives and their futures. That’s why my CNA program doesn’t require a high school diploma or GED, and that’s why I offer mentorship, celebrate every graduate, and even provide free education for those who truly need it.

1st Step Healthcare Training is more than just a business; it’s my way of giving back, of helping people—especially people of color—realize that they can succeed in healthcare, no matter their background. I want to see my students not just pass a test, but walk away knowing they have the potential to go further in this field than they ever thought possible. That’s why I started this, and that’s what keeps me going every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.firststephealthcaretraining.com
• Instagram: Instagram/Firststephealthcaretraining.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1ststephealthcaretraining.com