We asked some brilliant entrepreneurs, artists and creatives to reflect on lessons they’ve learned at prior jobs. We’ve shared highlights below.

Suhelen Gutierrez

As a former correctional officer. I learned the importance of being a good citizen. Respect and honesty. I integrity is very important. I treat my customers like family. They are a huge part of my success. Read more>>

Laura Aguirre

One job I had in the past was working with pastors, priests, and people living religious life struggling with their mental health. In many cultures, these are people who are held in the highest respect and are authority figures. I was also taught to regard them in a position higher than myself. To challenge them is not the norm. Working with them, I learned that they also struggle with human issues. I learned how to reach people in this position and help them address their mental health. It was through this experience I learned to be confident in my profession. I became more confident in working with couples and families in need. This experience also helped me learn how to advocate for others, as many clients had to go back to the environment that led to them struggling with their mental health. I use this to help others find the confidence in themselves and the power to voice their needs. Read more>>

Miranda Meyer

I started my career as a nutritionist in a busy functional medicine practice here in Denver. It was a very high volume practice, and I had between 15 and 30 minutes for follow ups with patients. This meant I had to run through a symptom checklist, what they were eating, how they were feeling, and update their meal plan plus supplement recommendations in an incredibly short amount of time… The result? I missed things. A LOT of things. Symptoms, comments, and clues that could have helped me get to the root cause of their chronic health issues. Read more>>

Dr. Natasha Ward

I was in my earlier stages of education, and I was teaching at a Title I school with at least a 93% free/reduced lunch rate. My class had a range of academic levels from Special Education to ESL (English as a Second Language) to General Education to Gifted. Despite having every academic level, I had high expectations for ALL students, and I was, and still am, a firm believer that all students can and will learn as long as we teach and facilitate in a way that’s responsive to them. Preliminary testing season was approaching, and I knew there was a lot to do with the students to prepare them for what’s to come. After the first testing season ended, the results came in. My Assistant Principal pulled me to the side and gave me my results. I looked it over with a smile on my face because my students did EXCEPTIONALLY well.  Read more>>

Kimberly Swett

The most valuable lesson I learned in my 15-year career as a political consultant was the critical importance of relationship-building and problem-solving under pressure. These skills have been instrumental in my journey as a business owner. In political consulting, every campaign is a startup with a definitive end date – election day. consultant, Politics is all about people, and success often hinges on your ability to form connections that transcend surface-level exchanges. Whether you’re working with candidates, donors, or volunteers, relationships are the backbone of the work, and they are built on trust, communication, and consistency. Read more>>

Ian Melamed

Back when I was in college I ran a theatre company. I actually met a lot of the people I currently work with at Psykout! there. It was, without question, the highlight of my college experience because I got hands on experience doing the kinds of things that allow you to have a career in any creative field, the kind of things they don’t teach you in class. Things like leadership, fundraising, communication, and diplomacy. But I think the biggest lesson I learned was that the most important part of your job as the leader is picking the right team. If you have the right team the project moves smoothly. If you have the wrong team, you -personally- have to make for what your team lacks, and that’s how people get overwhelmed and burnt out. The second most important part of your job is maintaining your team. Read more>>

Tarea Smith-lewis

Since 1990, I have accumulated extensive experience in the mental health industry. Presently, I hold Florida State certifications as a Mental Health Professional, Certified HIV/AIDS Counselor, and Emergency Response Instructor. Previously, I served as the Lead Mental Health Professional at a dual diagnosis facility for three years, concurrently establishing my business while working full-time. My primary objective was to enhance my family’s well-being and contribute to achieving financial stability alongside my husband. I firmly believe that sustaining a family requires collective effort and collaboration to truly prosper. Read more>>

Jennifer Alexander

I worked for 10 years at a production pottery business. In addition to being thrilled to do ceramics each day and opening up the idea that a career is possible in art, I also was able to learn different aspects from the business side. The most impactful of those for me was bookkeeping and accounting. If not for working there I wouldn’t have found a reason to take accounting classes and earn a bookkeeping certificate. Now that I own an art business, I find this knowledge absolutely crucial for organizing and understanding my income and expense, which influence my business decisions. Read more>>

Sierra Houk

I’ve experienced a variety of work environments, from a few different teams at Amazon to a mid-sized ad agency to non-profit to now working on my own as a freelancer. Maybe the most important lesson I’ve learned is how to create an environment where I personally can be creative. For me that looks like working alone in private where I don’t feel like I have to perform or present a certain way. Offices just aren’t set up for my flavor of neurodivergence and in them I felt like I was spending all of my energy fitting into the environment—plus the energy of actual doing the work. In those situations it doesn’t matter how much I like the work, I’ll eventually get burned out. Read more>>

Bess Gamblewilliams

The most important job that I held was that of a non-commissioned officer in the military. This promotion was the start to developing invaluable leadership skills. These skill sets included marching and calling cadence to move a platoon of veterans. You are also interacting with top leaders who have specialized skills. Great leaders are highly respected and admired. Read more>>

Meaza Getachew

Never underestimate yourself. In my professional career working in the international development space, I’m often the youngest person in the room. I spent way too much time comparing myself and my capabilities to others, completely diminishing the time I put into my own professional development. One day I was chatting with a boss of mine who told me how she always appreciated my fresh ideas and how I brought different perspectives in whatever rooms we were in. I realized the aspects of myself that were different from other more “seasoned” professionals is the exact reason why I was hired and belonged in those rooms. Read more>>

Brooke And David Pitchford

What has been the most important lesson that we have had in a job that has helped us today in running our business? Our answer might not be exactly what you would imagine. David and I have been married for 5 years now and have been running our business for 4 years! We met working together in the kitchen of our local Chick-fil-a. So I would say that an important lesson we learned is how we work so well together. I can look back on our chick-fil-a days and remember our kitchen manager always putting us together on a station because we simply had great chemistry. (Romantically and work-wise haha!) David and I’s love story is a bit unique: we met, one week later David told me I was going to fall in love with him and get married, and 10 months later we did just that! Read more>>

Tyrone Elder

I worked a bread & pastries delivery route with my dad and I gained insights into accountability, leadership, and independence, each of which was necessary for the daily responsibilities and challenges of the position. Accountability was crucial in the role, my dad held me accountable daily. My first response of accountability was showing up early enough to fulfill orders, organizing them according to the stores I delivered to, and leaving on time to meet the delivery. Delivery service requires a strict commitment to schedules and routes. If deliveries were late or incomplete, it impacted customers, retailers, and the business. I quickly learned that my actions directly affected others, instilling a sense of responsibility. Time management and organization were key for the role. Read more>>

Erika & Zach Moreland

Made By Moreland KC has grown into a thriving side gig, blending our unique day jobs with a shared passion for creativity. Despite coming from different professional backgrounds, we love finding ways to bring the best of both worlds into Made By Moreland KC. Zach leads IT for a company in North Kansas City, where he’s worked for over 12 years. His passion for cutting-edge technology drives him to integrate innovative solutions into both his work and everyday life. Erika, an elementary school teacher in Olathe, Kansas, has been teaching for more than 13 years. Her curiosity about technology and its practical use in the classroom led her to earn a Master’s in Educational Technology, further fueling her passion for finding meaningful ways to use tech in her teaching and daily life. Read more>>

Lenny Montes

Before I started my own business, I worked dozens of jobs. I started working while in high school, and as a college student worked at a staffing agency, as a professional dancer and most often as an experiential marketer. Those are the people who you meet at grocery stores or festivals handing out samples and getting you to try the latest greatest thing. Out of all my jobs, marketing and dancing were the two that stuck the most. In the early 2000’s, I toured as a professional dancer, and worked myself up the ladder to become National Director of Operations for a boutique marketing agency. I traveled the country and met many people from many different walks of life. Many times I felt like I didn’t belong because I was the youngest or one of two (if not the only) woman in the room. Read more>>