We recently connected with Brittany Byram and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

I have always wanted to make a difference with others. I currently work in Corporate America and at first I thought I made a mistake as I was passionate on sales. I loved sales but I want to have more time for myself and family.

A goal of mine is to always stand out. Every work place or job I have had since I was 16 years old I was available to shock everyone with my work ethic or personality.

Brittany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My past to where I am now is a little bit of a roller coaster. Let’s start with my careers because those are like a roller coaster.

My first job was in retail at the age of 16, I got the job because my grandmother worked as a cashier and she told me to go to work for the holidays. As the holidays came to an end, they wanted to keep me on payroll. I stayed at this job till I was 18. I learned everything I could with this place. I even trained a manager the flow of the store because basic retail training only teaches so much.

As I was looking to grow myself and career I applied for a supervisor position. I told them I would go to college locally instead of moving to a university if I got this job. I was very passionate about this, I wanted to lead.

The manager at the time told me “just because you have been here for a few years and just turned 18 does not mean you deserve a management job. You won’t get it”

I turned in my 2 weeks. Worked somewhere else than went to college out of state.

Well, I hated college. Big waste of time for me. I felt I could use my time doing other things like getting job experience instead of a piece of paper that tells whoever I majored in whatever. As I came home from college, the man that gave me my first job 16 was hiring. I went to work for him again, later became his supervisor at his store.

I loved retail. I wanted to be as high up as regional managers I wanted to grow, but I didn’t have the patience to wait that long for one title. I wanted to be the top of the top now.

At 20 years old I left my supervisor position and became a guest service special event manager at a local zoo. This is and will always be my family bb hands down. I was on cloud nine. I was learning so much, I was in the community, I was making a difference. This lit a fire under me and I absolutely loved it.

As I was in this position of leadership and responsibility, no one tells you about taking care of yourself. At 21 years old I started going to therapy, later went to a doctor and got diagnosed with extremely high anxiety and depression. I was put on medication. I developed an eating disorder. I didn’t love myself. I hated my life so much. At 22 years old I left my guest service and special event manager position and started studying to be an insurance agent.

As I was studying to be an insurance agent, my grandfather got diagnosed with kidney cancer. I stayed home with him for 6 months and they doctor said that was the only thing that kept him alive.

I failed my insurance exam 16 times.

I put myself into so much debt chasing a dream I thought I wanted.

As my grandfather got better I decided to start my career in sales.

I started as an car sales lady. What a roller coaster, I didn’t know anything about cars but I sure did sell 13 of them my first month!

I loved it, but hated the hours and nasty men.

As the pandemic hit, I had a friend reach out to me about being a phone sales representative for a phone company.

I took it. Phone sales is so much easier than car sales. I did this job for 2 years and what a blast. Discounts on your phone bill, being on your phone all day, do a side hustle without having someone asking why you’re on your phone, heaven on earth I promise you.

Than I saw a job opening for an event coordinator become open. A part of me missed it, and wanted to have a better schedule again without working every weekend.

I left my sales job and went to a nonprofit as their event coordinator.

I struggled so much. The pay wasn’t what it was in sales. No benefits, wild boss, wild events like didn’t make any sense, and a ton of micromanaging which I do not like. But the people I met was unforgettable. I stayed at this place for 6 months, the micromanaging just made me snap and couldn’t handle it.

I started my career in the financial industry. Wild right? I never thought I would a banker or teller or anything like that. I found a local credit union that had a mission for the community and opportunities for anyone that was willing to do the work and learn.

Today I am currently as a teller talking to my leaders about my future. One of them being a leadership role, than me going into a role to be better involved in the community. To help me get more involved with the community I work part time with a local marketing entertainment company that gets me connected with the community but most importantly grows my connections to grow my future.

My goal in life is to make a difference in any way I can no matter what job or career I am.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have had to unlearn “stop listening to everyone they don’t know jack shit anyways” People will always want you to fail and motivators always want you to be successful. Surround yourself with motivators.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I joined a network marketing company (mlm) loved it so much. I loved the people and mission but I couldn’t hit the number my mind wasn’t into it like my heart was. But I always posted on social media DAILY. I did stories of me driving on my way to work and ranting about the bad drivers and just daily struggles.

Now that I have left network marketing my social media is still growing with me being myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/brittisgrand?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=pkox9xlly2sq