Internships and apprenticeships are a time-honored rite of passage in many industries. We’ve asked some brilliant folks to share some of the most important lessons they learned during these early experiences in their career.

Sarah Stroup

In the spring of 2015, while working as an associate marriage and family therapist, I faced the imminent loss of my grandfather to cancer. He was a remarkable man, a loving patriarch who had immigrated to the United States and achieved the quintessential American dream through his entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up, their home, just down the street, became a second home to me, a sanctuary from my own turbulent home environment. It was my grandfather who instilled in me the values of hard work, unconditional love, and entrepreneurship, shaping the very foundation of who I am today. Read more>>

Valentine Avoh

My favourite internship was at Alexander McQueen.
During my time there, I was completely mesmerized by the buzzing creativity in the studio. Seeing all the moodboards, experimenting with fabrics, and being surrounded by such vision and artistry was incredibly energizing for a young designer like me. Read more>>

Joya Wesley

Now that I’m a certified weight-loss coach, five years into maintaining a healthy body weight nearly 200 pounds below my peak, I can consider all the years I tried unsuccessfully to reverse obesity as one huge preparatory apprenticeship.

Beginning in 1977 at age 11 when my sixth grade school picture captures the first appearance of pudge on my pretty little face, I studied under dozens of diet doctors, workout instructors and other experts. Read more>>

KJ Murphy

Ok….I have a story for you…..back when I had first started in the industry I worked at this super fancy high end salon in this very old money neighborhood. We mostly got people that just wanted your normal blonde highlights with long layers or little old ladies. However, one day this guest came in looking for a razor pixie haircut. She was given to me because I was kind of the rebel and known in the salon for doing more artistic hair services. So this Lady sit in my chair and tells me she wants a razor haircut and she shows me a photo she had cut from a magazine what was about the size of a post stamp and only showed the front of the cut. Read more>>