Experience is often valued because of the lessons prior jobs have theoretically provided us with. While hearing about those lessons isn’t a replacement for actually experiencing it, we thought it would be very helpful to create a space where sharp and generous members of the community can come together to share stories and lessons learned at prior jobs for the benefit of others. 

Jason Shader Smith

One of the most defining moments for MLH was my decision to bet on myself. I’d grown frustrated with the agency world. When I was on the client side, it often felt like ideas got shut down with a “no,” “that’s not within scope,” or “we can’t do that.” That stuck with me. When I started MLH, I set out to flip that script. Read More>>

Jess Nardelli

Honestly, every job I’ve ever had-from my first at 15 to now-has taught me lessons that I carry into running my own business today. Read More>>

Jackie Senkandwa

My professional philosophy is built on the principle of mutual respect. I’ve learned that the ‘ladder’ of success isn’t a one-way street; the people you encounter as you rise are often the same people who hold the keys to your next chapter. Read More>>

Jan Riggins

I was never quite sure what I wanted to do when I grew up. When I went to college, I simply majored in Clarinet Performance because that is what I was good at in high school. I had no career plans and hoped that something would present itself once I graduated. Read More>>

Grace Martin Franklin

One of the most important lessons that shaped me as an artist came from my 11 years as a high school visual art teacher. When you spend your days surrounded by young artists, you quickly see that creativity doesn’t thrive in perfection — it thrives in experimentation. Read More>>

Vicky Quach

The most important lesson I learned at a prior job that has helped me as a business owner is not a skill that could be taught, but a valuable life lesson that has not only impacted my career, but my everyday life. I’ve learned how important it is to truly love your work and to do your work with love and passion. Read More>>

Brian Roberts

I’ve actually never worked on a film or streaming project where I didn’t learn SOMETHING. Working as a producer in the film and television industries is always about putting out unforeseen fires, whether technical, weather related, or simple human error. But maybe one of the most meaningful lessons that I learned was way back in the 1990’s. Read More>>

Michael Sneed

One of the most important lessons I learned from a previous job was the value of professionalism and how it directly shapes a company’s culture. I saw firsthand that when leaders consistently demonstrate professionalism through clear communication, accountability, and respect. It sets the tone for the entire organization. Read More>>

Arielle Schechter

I attended North Carolina State University which has a legendary architecture school. I was lucky enough to learn from one of America’s finest architects, Frank Harmon, who became my guide star. I remember he always said ‘the site is your building.’ Basically, this means to pay full attention to the site where your project is going. Read More>>

THOMAS SMITH

Here’s the **polished version with a stronger, memorable closing line** added: — The most important lesson I learned in school didn’t fully hit me until after I graduated. In high school and college, I took a number of classes outside my main curriculum simply because they interested me. Read More>>

Tyler Murphy

One of the impactful lessons I have learned in my academic career, thus far, is to never take an opportunity for granted. Millions of individuals are not blessed with favorable options to succeed. Prime instance, not many 11 year old’s can compete against high schoolers. Read More>>

Yvette Lopez

The most important lesson I ever learned happened in a college advisor’s office, and it almost broke me. I sat across from someone who held my academic future in her hands, and I left that meeting having agreed to things that derailed my entire plan. Looking back, I can’t even tell you exactly how it happened. She wasn’t cruel. She wasn’t wrong. Read More>>

D’Nai Walker

I studied Public Relations in college and remember a professor telling the class that we have to learn how to figure things out for ourselves. This was after one of my classmates asked a line of questions regarding how and where to find the answers for something she was working on. His response always stuck with me. Read More>>