We speak with so many brilliant folks across dozens of industries and when those folks happen to be working for someone else, sometimes we can’t help but wonder why they aren’t working for themselves. How do folks decide between joining a firm or starting their own? We posed the question to the community and have shared some of their responses below.

Rose Dante

I came into the real estate market during the tail end of the market crash, 2010. I was working as a loan officer and I was a manager of a home remodeling company. I was at that job for 18 years. The crash hit the remodeling industry hard as well. Few people ever talk about that. The ripple effect of the foreclosures was far and wide. As work became more challenging and far between I jumped into action. I was a single mom at the time and needed to make ends meet. I signed up for a realtors course. Once completed I took the state test and passed. So there I was ready to make the choice of where to hang my license and who to work with. I interviewed several companies. Ultimately for me, Baird & Warner was the most supportive of new agents. They offered classes for new agents that taught me valuable skills I still use today. 13 years later I am still with the same office surrounded by amazing people who are always available to help support me. They continue to offer the agents education to keep us at our best. Showing us the best ways to serve our clients. Service is key! Read more>>

Bria Virgil

When joining the Miss Black International Ambassador organization, I first joined the team as a volunteer. I worked at the 2021 International Pageant as a Division Assistant. With the climate of the world, (COVID-19 pandemic) the workforce and pageant industry was shifting. Much like other organizations our founder and CEO at the time was looking to move away from her role as leader to focus on family and new endeavors. I was originally approached with the opportunity to join the team as an Assistant Executive Director, with Cierra Thompson as Executive Director at Miss Black International Ambassador. Through our first year in leadership, we restructured our model to the Co-Executive Director roles where Cierra and I hold equal responsibility and power. We felt this was a pivotal step for the organization because it built capacity, we were able to lean on each other’s specific strengths, and it model to contestants, staff, and our audience a shared power amongst black women. Read more>>

Alex Clendenon

When I first started my career as a licensed real estate agent, I faced a crucial decision: whether to join an established firm or start my own venture. With a strong background in technology, real estate photography, and digital marketing, I possessed valuable skills that could have been beneficial in either path. Read more>>