We were lucky to catch up with Jessica McDevitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

One of the most frustrating aspects of our education system is its complicity in normalizing unpaid internships—often disguised as “for college credit” opportunities. This contributes directly to underrepresentation in so many fields. By requiring students to work for free in order to gain “experience,” we’re inherently excluding those who can’t afford to do so. The candidate pool shrinks to only those with the financial privilege to do so, and that’s a huge problem. The ask then becomes for college students to invest time into building your business in exchange for ‘experience’.

College students are already overwhelmed by paying for college in of itself, living independently, paying for rent or room +board and groceries. Asking them to simultaneously work for free—sometimes 15 to 20 hours a week—isn’t just unrealistic, it’s disrespectful. What’s more, students are actually paying their universities for the credits tied to these internships. In some cases, it’s three or four credits—meaning they’re literally paying to work for someone else’s business.

I’ve heard fellow business owners and entrepreneurs justify these internships as “supporting a student’s growth,” but I think that’s a cop-out. What we’re really reinforcing is the harmful idea that in order to get ahead, students must work for free. We’re essentially saying that a dream career is only accessible if you can afford work unpaid. And that’s not okay.

On a related note, I also wish the education system would better prepare young people in managing finances. Most graduates leave school knowing how to write a thesis, but not how to manage a budget, file taxes, or even understand the basics of investing or retirement. There’s a huge gap between academic knowledge and practical tools for living a fulfilling, sustainable life. If we want to set students up for success, we need to give them more than a good GPA and diploma—we need to give them financial literacy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Jess McDevitt—founder of Amplify Services, host of the podcast More or Less (with Jess), and someone who’s spent the last decade at the intersection of mental health, music, and social impact.

I am a Jersey girl, born & raised with no connections to entertainment, no generational wealth, and no understanding of the industry — just a fangirl who went to a lot of concerts. Yet, my mantra has always been: Start where you are with what you have. At 17, I organized a mental health benefit concert in my hometown, raising $1,000 for a non- profit with no experience—just an idea, hard work, and grit. This experience ignited my entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to turn awareness into action.

Fast-forward to now: I’ve led social impact campaigns for artists like Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Orville Peck—working on initiatives that span causes like arts education, pediatric cancer, and civic engagement. Before launching my LLC, I spent several years at the Recording Academy, where I created their student mentorship program and curated 30+ events alongside some of the biggest names in music.

During the pandemic, I launched More or Less with Jess, a mental health podcast for artists and creatives. It’s grown into a global community, with listeners in 15+ countries and guests like Hunter Hayes, Lauv, Chelsea Cutler, and Joy Oladokun.

Each day, I strive to be a catalyst for change at the intersection of mental health and entertainment.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A big lesson I had to unlearn (as do many entrepreneurs!) is that my worth is tied to my productivity. Living in NYC combined with working in entertainment, it’s easy to fall into ‘hustle culture’ and the mindset that more = better. There was a time that I felt constantly being busy, and constantly achieving was the only way I could prove my value.

Early in my career, I said yes to everything and took on more than I should have. Slowing down meant I’d lose momentum, or fall behind, or be replaced. This scarcity mindset is quite common in my industry, and only leads to burnout.

The shift started during the pandemic. Like many others, I was forced to sit still, to just be—and it was deeply uncomfortable. I had to confront the question: Who am I without my to-do list? Around that time, I launched More or Less with Jess as a way to process the uncertainty of the world and open up conversations around mental health.

Since leaning into my toolbox (therapy, yoga, friendships. boundaries), I see rest as a reward – I need to fill my own cup before filling the cups of others. Today, I try to lead with balance and an abundance mindset. Taking care of myself has to be the number one priority in achieving success.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Burn Rate by Andy Dunn should be required reading for every entrepreneur. Without giving too much away, Andy — founder of Bonobos– shares his experience of building a company while struggling with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
What I admire most is how Andy transformed that pain into purpose and now leads as a mental health advocate and speaker. His journey shows that when we lead with empathy, we build stronger teams, better cultures, and more sustainable businesses.
Trying to suffer in silence negatively impacts every facet of our lives. This book reminded me that true resilience doesn’t come from pushing through; it comes from facing what’s real and creating space for others to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicamcdevitt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moreorlesswithjess
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-mcdevitt
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@moreorlesswithjess