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.

Mathangi

After spending three years in the private sector—and juggling a lot of public sector projects on the side—I hit a wall. I was deeply frustrated. On paper, things looked great, but inside, I felt disconnected. I knew I wanted to do something more meaningful, something that aligned with my values. Read more>>

June Myers

When I was a young mother, I breast-fed all three of my children. I just loved the bond that was created and the moments of relaxing cuddling my babies. Early in my 40s, I was in need of a new job. A friend told me about a position at WIC encouraging breastfeeding. This sounded very appealing so I applied. Read more>>

Rebecca McGrath H.

One of my High School Teachers who became a Mentor, suggested I apply to this new Child Care Center that her friend was the new Director for. Most of my jobs have been based on “word of mouth,” and someone who knows me.
I can not stress enough the power of building relationships & how that can help you as you work and grow professionally. Read more>>

Yizhuo Li

It started as a simple of hobby of mine. Back then I was still in my undergraduate year, studying a degree in biology and chemistry. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life outside of simply completing my studies. But then the pandemic hit and we all had to go into lockdown. Classes were suspended for months and there was very little to do at the time. It was the perfect opportunity for me to revisit some of my past hobbies to pass the time, and I slowly started getting into drawing. I was drawing for fun and drew whatever struck my fancy at the time. It proved to be a great way to pass lockdown and served as a great distraction from what was going on in the world. Read more>>

Kacie Gikonyo

My first job as a death doula? Well, let’s just say it didn’t start with a typical job application. I was an RN for over 10 years, working in end-of-life care—so I’ve been around death for a while. But after years of witnessing the cracks in the system and feeling like there had to be a better way to help people, I made a big pivot. Leaving healthcare wasn’t easy, but I knew I could offer something more personal, more meaningful, by stepping into the role of a death doula. Read more>>