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.
Iryna Barnett
Before starting my podcast back in 2023 I had a few different jobs and one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned is the difference between manager and a true leader. Manager , manages people , tell them what to do and often time how to do it. Manager doesn’t take to consideration that people have different styles of learning and manager often times makes you feel like you are less than because of your position. Manager never admits he/she/they dont know something and they often make mistakes and put blame on other people. True leader on the other hand puts together a great group of people who believe in the mission of the leader and work together towards that mission. Leader doesn’t know everything but she/he/they has team of people of different skill sets who are not only help the leader but help one another. Read More>>
Haojie Jay Ma
Llike all PR and creative agencies, things can get very chaotic. I actually learned two valuable lessons from that experience.
No. 1: which happened during my interview with the CEO. She asked the classic question: “Do you have any questions for us?” I asked, “What do you think is the fundamental rule that keeps you going in the PR industry?” She answered, “Stay curious.” Groundbreaking.
No. 2: “Nothing is urgent.” As a PR specialist and entrepreneur, I’ve often received last-minute requests from high-profile clients. Things can easily spiral out of control—especially when you’re managing multiple accounts at once. As I started growing my own business, I realized how true that is: urgency is often just a sign of poor planning or bad time management. Read More>>
Mariselle (Mari) Gonzalez
I have always loved working with people. I am an engineer with a very well-developed right brain. I am curious and creative. I can solve complex problems with both an analytical brain and empathy by meeting people where they are. Understanding the entire landscape allows me to develop several options as potential solutions to the problem. Read More>>
Dr. Nadia Schulkind, DACM, L.Ac
If there’s one thing my career path has taught me, it’s that no job is too small to teach you something important and that every skill you collect along the way becomes part of the foundation for your success. Read More>>
Arturo Morejon
The Value of Your Time: Why Expertise Deserves a Premium, In the world of entrepreneurship, creative industries, and professional services, time is the most undervalued asset and often the most wasted. As someone with experience, talent, and specialized skills, it’s critical to understand that your time is not just minutes on a clock it’s the result of years of work, dedication, and mastery. If you don’t set the standard for your worth, someone else will at a discount. Funny thing my father taught me you can only get 2 out of three things If you want it fast and cheap, it won’t be good. Read More>>
Maria DeLorenzis Reyes
The most important lesson I learned about leadership – and the one that has shaped me as a business owner – came from one of the worst experiences I ever had in my career. Read More>>
Chelsea Chorpenning
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned, one that continues to shape how I run my business, came from navigating the very different worlds of corporate work, freelance life, and the arts. Read More>>
Aliké Chambers
The most important lesson of my career was delivered in five simple words. Before I launched Oni Threads, I was let go from a role where I was told, “You are not an aesthetic fit.” That one sentence shifted everything for me. It was a stark reminder that being your authentic self—fully and unapologetically—can sometimes be seen as a threat in environments not built to nurture difference. Read More>>