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.

Waliyy Dixon

I learned from AND1 how not to treat employees—and at the same time, I learned exactly what it takes to do business at the highest level. Myself, along with others, helped that company gross over $350 million, while the people who built the culture, the energy, and the movement were paid peanuts in comparison to the value we created. Read more>>

Melinda Ebert

I have worked in a lot of different jobs. Each one has taught me new skills and has been training for my current positions! I went through a phase of having jobs disappear due to things out of my cintrol causing me to find a new job each time. These jobs were skills training leadi f up to now. Read more>>

Isra Pananon Weeks

I’ve always had tough bosses. Especially working in politics and advocacy, you have the blessing of meeting so many passionate individuals. I have the benefit of having two careers, one as a Reserve Soldier. Read more>>

Gina Prince

“Hope is not a plan.”

For most of my professional life, I was an accountant. At this time, I had been in accounting for over 15 years, and I was working for a large, well-regarded company. I always knew that an accountant was not what I wanted to be “when I grew up.” But I didn’t know what I actually wanted to be at that time, so I did my job diligently. I showed up and checked all the boxes, but always wishing for more. Read more>>

Bisa Lewis

My academic career, which began in 1993 in a first-grade classroom, advanced significantly in 1999 when I was hired as a full-time instructor at a university. Achieving tenure and promotion in higher education requires a faculty member to demonstrate sustained excellence across three primary areas: research, teaching, and service. This process is comprehensive, demanding a robust publication history, documented effectiveness in teaching and mentorship, and considerable contributions to the university, the profession, and the broader community. To formally seek tenure or promotion, candidates must compile a detailed dossier or portfolio, including a curriculum vitae (CV) and various forms of evidence of accomplishments, such as student evaluations and letters of recommendation. You are required to “Toot your own horn!” Read more>>

Deborah Kuby

At a previous corporate job, when I was leading a big initiative as a leader in Learning and Development, I participated in a call with field directors, as the deliverables being created for the business were going to be delivered in the field to the businesses impacted by this new and improved process. In the call, I was asked to produce a second deliverable for the franchisees, which I said we could do, but needed to delay the deliverable date by a couple of weeks so that all of the bugs could be ironed out with legal and delivered with the initial deliverable first. Read more>>