As an outsider, breaking into an industry can often seem like an impossible challenge and so we reached out to some very generous folks who agreed to share their stories of how they broke into their respective industries.

Aerin Satovsky

Initially driven by a personal goal to clear my skin naturally, I delved into research on health and wellness. As a result, I was exposed to the profound impact of clean ingredients and balanced meals on our well-being. With this newfound knowledge, I launched “Clean and Checked,” an Instagram-based health and wellness platform, dedicated to sharing insights and promoting a lifestyle of healthful choices. My mission is to educate and inspire others to embrace healthier choices in their lives. Looking back, the journey of growing my platform, engaging with an audience, and constantly learning has been incredibly fulfilling. I am grateful for where this path has led me, providing not just a platform to share my passion but also shaping my understanding and commitment to health and wellness. Read more>>

Dr. Eric Ikonne

While pursuing my Master’s Degree at the UT School of Public Health in Austin, I began my professional journey as an after-school program coordinator at Foundation Communities. I successfully implemented a fun, engaging, and rigorous fitness program in this role. Following the completion of my Master’s degree, I made the decision to join the Teach for America program, where I was stationed in Miami for two years, teaching elementary school in various settings. My passion for education has deep roots, instilled by my parents, who emphasized its importance during my childhood. While in Miami, I became acutely aware of the inequities within the education system, prompting me to contribute positively to the lives of disadvantaged youth while advocating for a healthy lifestyle. Read more>>

Monica Behan

I got the job in running a skincare brand (Modicum Skincare) because I created it out of necessity. I was our in British Columbia about 10 years ago and and was on a snowmobile on the glacier and my ski-doo crashed over 30 feet down into a crevasse. I had several broken bones and lacerations on my face. When I was recovering I was looking for something to help diminish the scarring. Nothing I tried on the market worked. So I started to dive deep into my own research to discover what the skin cells needed to support this. I knew it had to be plant based because I believe so much in the power of plants and natures healing abilities. It is how I lived most of my life when it comes to health and wellness, I put my credence into natures gifts. It ended up creating a serum for this and along with helping to diminish the scar tissue, my skin never looked better and friends and family were commenting on it. Read more>>

Nicki Ilie

While at my job in medical sales , I was preparing for a client event and had our giveaway cancel a few days before the event . I quickly stepped In and ordered a bunch of gummies and supplies and made my own gummies for the event . It was such a massive hit I immediately knew I had something big on my hands . Everyone wanted to know where they could order them from and KandyLane was born! Read more>>

Erin Gallardo

After I graduated physical therapy school in 2007 I knew I wanted more mentorship so I could really help the people I would be working with as much as possible. I didn’t feel like I knew enough to really be great, so I applied for a residency program, which is an intensive extra year of studying in your specific field (neurology for me). I planned my next step around making it into that program by moving from Ohio to Los Angeles, then I’d figure out the rest of my life after that. The problem was, I didn’t get accepted for the residency program. As luck would have it, the hospital that provided the residency training asked me instead if I wanted to interview for a job. I was thrilled because it never occurred to me that could be an option. Read more>>

Michelle Meadow Love

I was a member of LA Fitness gym. I strength trained regularly and took group fitness classes. I regularly attended yoga classes and got to know the other participants. One of the teachers started becoming a no show for class. Each time class was cancelled and we were all disappointed. Many of the class members knew I was a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor; as well as an elementary school teacher. After a few times of class canceling, the other class members asked me to jump in and teach. So I did. I had been practicing yoga since I was 19 and already had a teacher’s voice. It was a natural fit and I soon after began Yoga Teacher training. I had already considered becoming a Yoga teacher and this helped me make the decision to do it. Read more>>

Shreyas Sonwane

Meet Shreyas, a recent student pursuing an MBA in Data Analytics and working a full-time job. Eager to embark on his new professional journey as he comes from an art background with a Degree in Film and Television and working as a 3D Generalist for 5 years. Now has decided to work in the Healthcare Industry as a Healthcare Data Analyst and make a big impact on improving patients’ lives. He had spent countless hours refining his skills, obtaining multiple certifications, and resumes, attending networking events, and preparing for interviews. His goal was to land a job in the Healthcare Industry as a Data Analyst, an area he was passionate about. Shreyas’ aspirations were high; he envisioned himself working for a Healthcare company that valued authenticity, care and offered growth opportunities. He wanted a role that would challenge his skills while allowing him to contribute to meaningful projects. Read more>>

Solaris

I’m so passionate about being a psychic astrologer but back in 2005 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – it wasn’t a very common profession. So even though I was very young and had no clue how to start, I still had my heart set on doing this professionally and helping people with their love lives. I tried a lot of different things to try to get the word out there to get a reading from me including having my friends and I walk up and down Lincoln Road in South Beach in Miami wearing bikinis and passing out my business cards with fairies on them! It didn’t work and I felt so weird doing it. I had no marketing experience and didn’t really know what to do so I got a reading from a trance channeler who was very good. I asked him how can I communicate with my angels for guidance and he told me to declare out loud a symbol that I want my angels to use to let me know that they are with me and every time that I see that symbol, to trust it and to follow it. Read more>>

Alec Gladwell

My journey into the fitness industry began somewhat unexpectedly while I was still in high school. A nearby town called Ottawa needed someone to help run a high school track practice for the after-school throwers. That’s when I was approached by Denny Marsh of the Bad Dog Fit Club. He asked if I could lend a hand, and without fully realizing it at the time, that opportunity would pivot my path toward a career I am deeply passionate about today. I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Being into fitness throughout high school, I had my share of challenges, including being nicknamed ‘Fat Well.’ These experiences, while tough, ignited a personal commitment to fitness and well-being. So, when I was asked to help and provide guidance, it wasn’t just an opportunity; it was a moment of transformation. For the first time, I wasn’t the one seeking advice; I was the one providing it. Read more>>

Ty Bechel

After having some life experiences that affected my family and me, I embarked on a soul-searching mission. Trying to understand myself and the world around me, I started a small nonprofit that received some media coverage from local press. One of the articles grabbed the attention of a director from a local agency and he contacted me about an opportunity. I met with him and interviewed for the position. I was later hired. I started working full-time in the field of behavioral health as I continued to grow and build the nonprofit while balancing my family. The goal of the nonprofit startup, Amare, was to assist in uplifting communities impacted by substance use, providing a trifecta approach – assist the individual, family, and community. Read more>>

Jennifer Aponi

Well I guess it depends on which business you’re referring to! For my Tea business, it started about September 2021 with my own desire to create after being inspired when visiting England for the first time for a month. I realized when visiting there that herbs and herbal tea had the potential to bring so much healing and many benefits! I thought “Wow, Mother Nature really provides everything we need!” So when I came back to the states I wanted to start drinking tea very intentionally, like a ritual every day. Putting love, health, and other beautiful things into what I’m putting into my body(the tea). Then I thought to myself, “I’d love to take this further and be intentional about what is hanging out of my cup, I don’t want just a plain piece of paper.” Read more>>

Amos Fisher

Halfway through my final semester of grad school, covid lockdown hit. My partner and I promptly packed up our 4-bedroom airbnb apt and relocated–and then relocated again 3 months later–due to several logistical reasons that made staying at our place not an option. This ended everything i was doing in NYC: playing in three bands, studying karate, in person internship and classes, and spoiler alert, my partner and I broke up a year later after 9 years together, plus my cohort never had a graduation ceremony. So none of this stuff got any real closure. We ended up in my home state of North Carolina. I was nervous enough being new to the field, especially in a place with so little music therapy, and even more so due to my emotional state. Fortunately, an employer created a contract position for me as an experiment–and it went so well my duties doubled and included three other locations of the same company over the following two years. Read more>>

Maggie Lowry

My first job was in the field, a field of garlic. I grew up in the country growing and selling fresh produce and flowers at local farmers markets and natural food markets in the PNW. It felt very much a way of life and how my family and I spent our seasons on the farm. It was always a lot of work and yet I dreamed of a life that would allow me the freedom to live within natures abundance. The trick was figuring out what I could do to make a living that would incorporate working with plants and holistic wellness. Read more>>

Carissa Lataillade

A year after the pandemic in 2020, and several months after graduating, I landed my first paid job with my supervisor Eve Sturges at her private practice MagpieLife Psychotherapy. I had been volunteering at a community mental health counseling center (so I could still collect my hours towards licensure) while fervently scouring the internet for any job leads I could find. I applied to several positions listed on Indeed and prelicesed.com. Sometimes I would get a call back and sometimes I would do an interview but nothing was panning out the way that I thought it would. I didn’t want to continue volunteering, I needed to at least make enough money to pay my bills and living in Southern California was not cheap! Read more>>