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.

Concita Thomas

I got my first job in the fitness industry as a direct result of solving my own problem. At the time, I was a new engineer working in the automotive industry, still carrying the weight I had gained throughout college. Year after year, I tried different workouts, hired personal trainers, and followed all the advice I could find, but nothing stuck. Each attempt ended in frustration when I couldn’t maintain the progress I made. Read more>>

Dawn Hanson

I spent over two decades as a nurse and developed a passion for health and wellness, even owning a yoga studio for several years. My interest in aesthetics grew over time, particularly in natural approaches to aging, like skincare, laser treatments, microneedling, and biostimulators. When I was pregnant with my son, I decided to dive into the world of aesthetics, taking over 100 hours of online and in person aesthetic trainings and attending laser school, all while preparing for motherhood. After my son was born, I applied for a part-time job at a plastic surgery center in Austin, Texas, determined to break into the field. It’s notoriously tough to get that first job, but after 9 months of working there, I transitioned into a full-time injecting role. Read more>>

Jaci Wilson

The road to start Dogtown Running Club began during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the world was flipped upside down and so much of what was ahead was uncertain, running is what I held close to my heart. Having lost what then was my dream job due to the pandemic, so much of my perceived identity was lost. The energy I poured into my career for years was suddenly diminished to a small severance package, the elimination of daily human connection, and many hours alone with my own self-pitying thoughts. Running was the one thing in my life I felt in control over. Running became my best friend, my confidant, a place where I could dream, discover and challenge myself. Read more>>

Briana Quinlan

My first job in the social work field was at a world renowned pediatric tertiary care facility in Baltimore City within their Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) community program. There were two sides to this program: one side worked with emotionally disturbed youth placed in the foster care system and the other side worked with medically fragile and developmentally disabled youth in the foster care system – all of whom required specialized care and training to maintain their placements in foster care while they awaited a more permanent family and living situation. I worked on the medically fragile and developmentally delayed side. Read more>>

Melanie Zorrilla

When I got my first job in aesthetics, it felt like stepping into a world that had always intrigued me but seemed just out of reach. I started my nursing career in the ER—fast-paced, high-stakes, and intense. While I loved the adrenaline and the ability to help people in critical moments, I also felt a pull toward something different. I wanted to combine my medical expertise with my love for beauty and artistry, but at the time, aesthetic nursing felt like a closed-off industry, one where you had to “know someone” to get in. Read more>>

Maya Jefferson

Since I was younger, I always wanted to be a therapist. I always felt that I gravitated towards people who needed support whether it was related to family, friends, or relationships. After going through my own mental health issues in high school and learning more about various treatment options, my career choice was solidified. The field of eating disorders however is very niche and particular. There are not many providers of color in the field of eating disorders and I knew that I would have to work hard to network, connect and raise awareness. I was really fortunate to have a wonderful supervisor during my undergraduate internship. She always informed me of opportunities and provided my name in spaces to obtain jobs and experiences. Read more>>

Thomas Belliston

I had just moved to Houston with my wife in October of 2017 and was looking for a job. I had just graduated with a BS in political science but was basically applying for any job I could, in any field. I landed a job at a senior living center as the “Fitness Director.” But that’s not where the story begins. I was miserable there, and it was just an unhealthy place for me to be mentally and emotionally, so I immediately started looking for employment anywhere else. During this time, my stress relief was the gym. I would get off work, then head straight to the gym to blow off steam. I’m a pretty friendly and outgoing person, so naturally started making friends at the gym. One day, the director of sales came up to me while I was working out and just asked me flat out if I would like a job doing sales for the gym and possibly training a few clients. I immediately said yes and began working there the following Monday. Read more>>