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.

Tara Soltow

I was two months away from graduation when I found myself in a brainstorming meeting with the founders of a boutique experiential marketing agency in Chicago. I had met them through my job with Red Bull, where I was part of the team supporting the upcoming Art of Can event. Somewhere between throwing out ideas and taking diligent notes, they turned to me and asked, “Do you have a job lined up yet?” Read more>>

Maria DeAngelo

I was a public school teacher for many years, and that experience taught me lessons that I bring to the studio each day. As an educator, collaboration and communication are important skills to guide students. Teaching is a creative profession where I learned to meet each student where they were and help them to grow in a positive learning environment. I believe that one of the most important skills an educator models is being a life long learner. As a studio artist, learning and pushing my practice is crucial. Read more>>

Hayley Gregory

The most important lesson I’ve learned at prior jobs is to leave as soon as you realize you’re not a fit. Looking back, I wish I had left jobs that weren’t a fit sooner than I did. Unless you are the top of the ladder, organizations won’t bend and shape to fit you. If you’re not a fit, you’re not a fit and it’s best to bow out instead of bucking against the misfit. Knowing when something isn’t for you is as important as knowing when something is for you. As soon as you know it’s not a food fit, leave. Staying in jobs that make you unhappy or uncomfortable is bad for mental health and emotional health and drains joy from your life. Find a new job first if necessary, but don’t stay stuck in an unhappy job. It’s a trap that keeps you from your true potential. Read more>>

Alexis Thompson

For fourteen years I have run a business in skincare. I still do, but now I am working ON the business instead of inside of it. Being allowed to take a step back because it is officially self-sustaining is the best feeling. However, a mature business doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work, mistakes, a little pain, a lot of sleepless nights, and one KEY factor that so many business owners reject, forget, or choose not to partake in: Networking. Read more>>

Haley Cubell

Art had always been a significant part of my identity as a kid and young adult, but after taking college art classes, I lost my inspiration and confidence in creating. A close friend, mentor, and coworker of mine told me that to find purpose and inspiration, “follow what makes your heart beat faster”. Around that time, I attended an art fair with my sister, and the experience left my heart racing with excitement. Inspired and motivated by my friend’s advice, I slowly began creating again, making four colored pencil drawings over the next few months—a medium I hadn’t touched much in the four years since college. Read more>>

Tina Clarke

When I was a kid, I was the classic overachiever—straight A’s, teachers adored me, and every adult asked the same question:

“So, are you going to be a doctor or a lawyer?”

Honestly? I’m so glad I didn’t take that path.

My parents came from humble beginnings—my dad from a tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it town in New Hampshire, and my mom, one of 11 siblings, from rural Philippines. Education was everything in our home, and my mom made sure I followed the “safe” path: study hard, finish school, and get a stable job. Read more>>