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.

Safyra Bakshani

As an entrepreneur I would say my first ‘job’ was really my first client that brought me to the Middle East. I was offering free clairvoyant readings on the beach in Thailand were I had been studying yoga. I met a woman who worked with women in the Middle East. She put me in contact with these girls and I started working with them remotely doing readings on the phone. One person turned into two, turned into ten, ten turned into trips to the Middle East to do group workshops and events. It was a really tough experience of learning a new culture and how to maneuver within that culture. I think that growing up in the US you get a certain privilege of freedom that we don’t know we have. Read more>>

Scotney Young

Originally, I thought I was going to be a family therapist. I got my Master’s in Social Work and specialized in family therapy, and I really thought that was the plan. But before jumping into that career, I had always wanted to join the Peace Corps, work as a volunteer in another country for two years. It felt like one of those once-in-a-lifetime things I needed to do. Read more>>

Yasmine Miller

My first job interview took place at a local chain. I had to perform a fade haircut. I was so inexperienced. I could not complete the haircut. My interviewer completed the haircut for me. When she was done she asked me,”When can you start?” I was shocked to receive the job offer! Read more>>

Wendy

Growing up all I wanted to do was play sports, skateboard, roller skate, and hang out with friends. I had no idea what profession I wanted to pursue. Even as I worked my way through college, it took me forever to decide what I wanted to major and minor in. By the end of my sophomore year, I had landed a couple of roles in our university productions so I decided theater would be my major. I’ve always been interested in sociology so I selected that as my minor. Read more>>

Melissa Webb

My first job as a therapist was at a nonprofit agency serving at-risk youth, and I’ll never forget how it shaped me. Before that, I was a classroom teacher — a job I took because I genuinely wanted to help young people, but I quickly realized that teaching wasn’t my calling. I felt boxed in, unable to connect with students on a deeper level or support their emotional needs in the way I knew I could. So when I transitioned into therapy, it felt like a breath of fresh air — like I was finally in the right place. Read more>>

Tera Pruett

I was a young mom and had a dream of being in the fitness business, yet didn’t want to leave my son or pay for childcare. So, I started my career by working in the childcare at a local gym so that I could bring my son and start to learn the in’s’/out’s of working in the gym/fitness business. Read more>>

DeCue King

My first opportunity came from Dino Spencer at the legendary 5th Street Gym in South Beach, famously known as the place where Muhammad Ali used to train. As a new personal trainer, it can be tough to land a position at a high level gym without much experience. But Dino took a chance on me. He saw my willingness to learn, even if I didn’t yet have a deep resume. That opportunity changed everything. He taught me so much about boxing and fitness, lessons that still guide my career today. I’ll always be grateful for that start. I came in with an open mind, ready to absorb knowledge like a sponge. and that mindset helped shape who I am as a coach now. Read more>>