We asked some brilliant entrepreneurs, artists and creatives to reflect on lessons they’ve learned at prior jobs. We’ve shared highlights below.

Dez Bara

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work in various capacities within my industry. As a fashion creative, my work had been focused mostly on design, styling and illustration, but an unexpected stint in the world of Retail Management is really what shaped some of my most valuable lessons and outlook on the industry. Read more>>

Bianca

I began my journey at Christian Louboutin as an Assistant Planner in 2017. Before leaving Louboutin in August 2024 to launch my own business, I was promoted four times, ultimately rising to the role of Senior Planning Manager, where I was responsible for overseeing multiple departments.The most impactful lesson I learned was the importance of embracing feedback and consistently striving to exceed those expectations. This mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability became a driving force of my professional growth. Read more>>

Jessica Dye

My first job following my internship was at The Teen Project, working in a women’s residential rehabilitation program. It wasn’t the job I had envisioned for myself, but after months of applying, it was the first offer I received, and I eagerly accepted. My primary focus at the time was finishing my hours and moving on to the next step in my career. Little did I know, this experience would become one of the most influential of my life. Read more>>

Casey Greene

Prior to working as a full time Creative, I worked in a very high paced job in Manhattan. Deadlines were always coming and going, constant emails and pressure to endlessly moving forward. When all this adds up, it’s inventible, mistakes happen! Unfortunately, in this career, little mistakes that could pop up would have large, irreversible effects. After accidentally having one of these moments, the feeling cut deep, every time, like it was a fresh first time. Read more>>

Demirhan Erim

I have been a founding member of over 10 ventures, and I originated the ideas for about 90% of them. Since I am an engineer, I mostly focused on products, leveraging my strong product development and problem-solving skills. Additionally, with a master’s degree in international marketing, I was also able to consider the sales and marketing aspects of the business. Read more>>

Mike Fraumeni

Early on in my career I worked as an engineer at a busy music studio in Santa Monica, then called Elias Arts. The owner and head composer, Jonathan Elias, had a unique approach to creativity that left a lasting impression on me. At the time, I struggled with the initial stages of composition because I felt this need for the initial idea to be groundbreaking and inspired. Read more>>

Brett Wheeless

Nine years ago, one of the worst jobs I ever had was selling insurance over the phone. Nothing wrong with selling insurance, however when I took the job I didn’t do much research and it was more based on “the grass is greener on the other side” mindset. Spoiler alert: the grass was not greener. The work culture was abysmal, I wasn’t growing as a person, and the goal of sales seemed more or less deceitful. I was blessed with minor success in my first two months but was fired the week before Christmas. I drove to the beach and wrote down mistakes I made to learn from moving forward. Read more>>

Ashley Rodriguez

During my time in the military, rising through the ranks to become a noncommissioned officer, I was immersed in a crucible of leadership lessons. I witnessed, time and again, how leadership could falter when it lacked humanity. The glaring gap in some leaders’ approaches was their inability—or unwillingness—to truly see the people behind the mission. They focused solely on results, often at the expense of morale, cohesion, and trust. Read more>>