Experience is often valued because of the lessons prior jobs have theoretically provided us with. While hearing about those lessons isn’t a replacement for actually experiencing it, we thought it would be very helpful to create a space where sharp and generous members of the community can come together to share stories and lessons learned at prior jobs for the benefit of others.

Abbie Palmer

I am also a board-certified music therapist and I previously worked in hospice care. Hospice was my first job out of college. Something I learned, while offering music therapy to terminally ill people as my full time job, was to never let time pass where you feel like you could be doing something more fulfilling. To really live every day to its fullest. So I follow my dreams, and my dreams change a lot. Currently I just started vanlife, so I am now a full-time musician, living in a van, being in nature and following my passions day by day :) Read more>>

Monique Suárez

Before becoming a DJ, I spent over 20 years as a social worker. That experience taught me how to connect with people from all walks of life, navigate tough personalities, and build real relationships—skills that have been invaluable in my creative journey. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to be the kind of person you’d want in your corner. Whether in life or work, the energy you bring matters, and surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference. Read more>>

Jessica Lindbo

One of the most defining seasons of my professional life began under the guidance of the only Massage Therapist boss I ever had. She took me under her wing early in my career, and for that, I will always be grateful. She believed in me enough to hire me and trust me with her patients and her practice. I learned so much from her—not just through what she did well, but also in the ways she struggled. In truth, she taught me just as much about the kind of leader I didn’t want to be, and for that, I hold a deep appreciation. Read more>>

Jessica Janniere

The most important lesson I learned on the job came when I was just 14 years old, and it shaped everything about who I am today as a business owner.

I had the incredible opportunity to work through the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program, which placed me at a nursing home. What started as a summer job ended up changing the trajectory of my life. That summer, I was introduced to the field of therapeutic recreation and developed a deep love for serving the elderly. Read more>>

Erin Jernigan

Before I ever started my first business, I made a commitment to invest in my own growth. Since 2007, I’ve been intentionally shaping who I want to be—exploring self-help, asking tough questions, and building habits that aligned with the future I envisioned. That journey—eighteen years of intentional personal development—laid the foundation for how I show up as a leader today. Read more>>

Steve Piacente

As a rookie sports reporter at a small Florida newspaper, I butted heads with the local high school football coach. He felt I should be a cheerleader for the local team. Ten years later, as Washington Correspondent for another newspaper, a U.S. senator and I clashed for the same reason. He felt I should write only positive stories about the local senator. The lesson I learned was that you must stay true to your core values. Most important is not being liked – that will come. Most important is the integrity of the work. Read more>>

Katheryn Barton

One of the most important learning experiences in my professional journey came when I transitioned from working as a sign language interpreter—a flexible, on-the-go kind of job, with a lot of transitions—to an office position with the state of Missouri as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist. I was excited to be supporting clients who were Deaf or hard of hearing in a new way, advocating for them and helping them navigate employment and education goals. But what I didn’t expect was just how difficult it would be for me to adjust to the structure and environment of a traditional office job. Read more>>

Deaniera Wibisono

I had previously done a lot of accounting, operational, and marketing work for my non-industry related experience. Afterwards, going to grad school for screenwriting seemingly used none of that knowledge. But continuing in the film industry and looking for entry level jobs, it was tremendously helpful. PA or any assistant position will require coordinating and budgeting that isn’t particularly taught on the creative side of film school. So in the end, experience outside of the creative is very useful within it. Read more>>

Caleb Jordan

For most of my adult life, I worked managing health clubs. I moved around quite a lot with these roles and each new city brought new experiences and new people. Throughout my time I learned that most of what we do is sales of some kind. Whether selling a physical product, an idea, or convincing your team to share in your vision, it all boils down to helping someone find the answers they need to move themselves in the right direction. Each person you interact with is different, so I learned quickly to go into each situation with as few preconceptions as possible. Read more>>

Dominique

I was working my first job in the mental health field as a professional. I was a group faciliator at a community mental health agency, supporting individuals with severe mental illness. I noticed there were unused raised beds on site, so I asked my manager if I could start using them for group. An excstatic YES! Please! was the response. I began integrating time out in the garden into our wellness groups. We began integrating themes and concepts related to environmental, occupational, emotional, physical, and social wellness. Read more>>

Shabnam J. Kermani

I’ve learned something valuable in every job or opportunity that I have had, because in every one of them, I met really wonderful people whom I learned really important lessons from, both in the arts and in life. One specific one I can mention is learning how to be a good team member and collaborator. I learned from many experiences that it is so important to know your role and your place in a team. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. It is a fact that every role and position has its own certain expectations and responsibilities. And while it is helpful to be flexible and be able to wear many hats, you always want to make sure that you are fulfilling the responsibilities of your main role, and are not taking over another person’s role. Read more>>

Erika Cruz

While working in the tech industry, I knew it wasn’t my purpose and I felt like I was “wasting” my life there. However, once I started my business it became clear that while in tech, I learned all the necessary skills to run a business. I see this come up for my clients too– they feel like they’re wasting time at a job they know they won’t end up at. However, I have them reframe that thought. I ask them “what skills are you learning today that will support you in running a business?” this question completely shifts how they see their current job. Read more>>

Jasmine Loew

Oh man, School. I had always had a relatively easy time with school as a kid, teenager… It never really challenged me. In fact, I learned that I could get straight A’s doing the bare minimum. And that trend continued until my last year of high school. This is when the world started to feel oppressive and unforgiving, unfriendly and my dreams for the future took a hard 90 degree shift in a direction I had not planned long on going. During this time, my mom had re-married, quite quickly after a long drawn out divorce. New husband had 2 kids, my mom 3, so we managed to cram into our small 3 bedroom house. This started my first year of high school. It was fine until it wasn’t. The first year was mostly fun. Read more>>