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.

Tanya Triber

In my first job out of graduate school, I worked for a small B2B marketing agency called Brand Theory. The owner was a stickler for processes. Everything we did was outlined in project management software, every client document was templated to allow for client approvals, literally every ‘i’ was dotted and every ‘t’ was crossed. Read More>>

Heidi Slack

From my very earliest memories, I have been an artist, a creator, and a helper. My crayon scribbles turned into private art lessons, leading me all the way to a BA in Studio Art from UCSD. Read More>>

Chervice Belton

I learn at an early age to get the job you want not the job you get. Working for a 9-5 is cool if its something you love love doing. I have always wanted to be on my own lane in entertainment and drawing as always been with me as a child. Read More>>

Danielle Green

Prior to starting my own business, I worked as a preschool teacher for 14 years. We have a week long curriculum on health and wellness. During this week I introduced the kids in my class to sound bowl (singing bowl) meditation. The children loved sitting with their eyes closed and listening to the beautiful sound. Read More>>

Kevin Bowersox

Having worked for several corporations I learned that the idea that the private sector does things more efficiently than the government is a flat-out lie. Size is the problem in both cases. Small to medium organizations perform better than government, but large corporations are every bit as inefficient as any govt. bureau. They just add people at the top sucking up money. Read More>>

Lana Al-Sabe

One key lesson I learned during my time as Chief Resident of the General Surgery Department, leading a team of 50 residents, is that true leadership requires being socially smart, not submissive. Leadership is not about control or authority, it’s about influence. People don’t follow the rules, they follow the vibe you create! Read More>>

Rose Evelyn

I am wildly inspired by the quote from Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’.” It’s easy to understand this and embody this now in my career, but I wish I could have learned this earlier (as many of us do with hindsight). Read More>>