We asked some fantastic entrepreneurs and creatives to tell us about their first job in their field. Check out their stories below.

Claudia Baettig

I interviewed for my first job as an acupuncturist before I even received my physical license to practice in California. I had already passed my licensing exam and registered with the state, just awaiting my physical license. After nearly four years spent earning my doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, I was eager to start working. I remember feeling a lot of pressure to make all of the time, energy, and tuition count. Read more>>

Raeanne Silver

When I was 18 and going to school for dental hygiene, my dad said I needed to get a job within one week otherwise he wasn’t going to pay for college any longer. I reached out to my friend who managed a tanning salon, and I interviewed with the owners and got the job. I absolutely loved it. I was meeting with clients, selling tanning packages. To my surprise, it was a high-pressure sales environment, which I thrived in. That is where I found my love for business and sales. Read more>>

Mon’Tee Sorrells

My journey into this field really started with a major life shift. At the time, I was a teenage mom in a small town, trying to pursue a nursing career. I was also navigating abuse from my daughter’s dad, and that season of my life forced me to make a hard but life-changing decision: I had to leave. I admitted to myself that I needed a fresh start, so I moved to Austin to be closer to family, to support, and honestly, to better my life and my daughters. Read more>>

Rick Mathes

In a nutshell, My journey started in December of 1992 when I was involved in a catastrophic car accident. An elderly gentleman got confused and pulled off the median of Interstate 10 right into the high-speed lane, where I T-boned him at 70 miles an hour. He died being airlifted to the hospital, and I fractured every vertebra in my lumbar spine and was in physical therapy five to six days a week for almost two years. Read more>>

Melissa Chera

From Ballet Roots to Building Body and Ballet Collective: My Journey into Creating A New Platform In The Fitness Industry

Growing up, movement was my language. As a young girl, I
did ballet, where every plié and tendu taught me discipline, grace, and the beauty of intentional movement. Those early years on the studio floor weren’t just about dance—they shaped how I saw the body as a canvas for strength and artistry. Read more>>

Elis Bradshaw

I came to the fitness industry via the back roads. I was not active as child or teen (I played in jazz band and edited my high school literary magazine), and it never crossed my mind that I would do anything physical as either a job or a hobby. Then, during my second year of college, I started dating a cyclist. They borrowed a friend’s bike and took me out for a ride; it was terrible! I was beyond out of shape, had to stop several times, and walked my bike up all the hills. At the end of the ride, I cried. Read more>>

Stephanie Pierce

I was working part time at Tractor Supply in a new town I had recently moved to. One afternoon an animal control officer came in the greenhouse reeking of skunk! I got to talking to that officer about what sort of calls they deal with. The conversation ended with this gentleman telling me they were currently hiring an officer and that I should apply. I applied that night. I interviewed for the position and was hired the next week. I wanted to finally be able to make a difference in the animal community. I wanted to see changes in animal welfare and help to find resources for those that could help themselves. I am so thankful that opportunity presented itself because I met a lot of incredibly amazing people that are still helping me and my vision become a reality. Read more>>