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.
Steaven Hamlin
After dedicating 19 years to education, with 12 of those years serving as a Director of Special Education for Public Charter Schools in Washington, DC, I found myself at a crossroads. My passion for advocating for students with disabilities and supporting their families was unwavering, but I had reached a point where I felt I had accomplished all I could within my organization. The drive to do more, to extend my impact beyond the confines of my role, led me on a journey of self-discovery and purpose. Read more>>
Catherine Delcin
I began my legal career with an eagerness to learn and an unwaivering devoted interest in providing legal services to existing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. I understood then, the best way to serve the business community is to acquire the necessary legal skill set. This began with completing an Honors Program at Golden Gate School of Law with a curriculum geared towards practical experience. In that program, I completed 6 internships, including a fellowship with the San Francisco, Trial Lawyers Association by the time I graduated in 2010. Read more>>
Phil Chase
I had taught high school and college for many years. By the 2010s, I had worked at Pepperdine and USC, but had come to realize that my work resonated most with high school age students who were just beginning to express their dreams, ambitions and unrealized abilities. In fact, the most common trait I saw in HS students was they sold themselves short, often because others had discouraged them from profound dreams. In the summer of 2017, I was in New York, and had dinner one evening with four of my former high school students, who were now approaching 30! Read more>>