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

Penny Schneider

I have been a high school art teacher for the past 30 years. I have learned so much throughout my career. Organization, planning, running a classroom, teaching, getting my point(s) across, motivating others, the list goes on. As an author illustrator beginning to do book readings, library visits, programs, etc. my teaching experience is proving to be invaluable. Developing a program that will be interesting and that will engage my audience stems from my teaching in the classroom. I introduce myself, explain who I am, why they even should be listening to me in the first place, how they can relate to and better understand and enjoy my story. Read more>>

Kim Bosley

I worked for almost 30 years as in Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine as a Certified Athletic Trainer. Now at 52 years young, growing up in and navigating that space was always challenging. It’s a world dominated with big male ego.

I worked very hard as a young professional to take any and every opportunity to network and be exposed to a variety of sports, people, and experiences. I took a chance and found my niche in cheerleading and performing arts, which landed my a gig with the NFL Baltimore Ravens Cheer & Dance team. A position I held for over 26 seasons. Read more>>

Denisha Gingles

I’ve always known I’d work in mental health. Since high school, I had a vision that I’d own my own practice and create something that served others. I spent years in school, working towards that goal, but along the way, I got pulled into behavior analysis. I loved the natural science aproach to human behavior, so once I learned it, I was sold. What I didn’t expect was the pattern I started to notice after getting certified and working with children and families in a new capacity. Read more>>

Shara Mcglothan

Prior to becoming a therapist, I spent nine years in the United States Navy. This by far had introduced me to my most difficult professional challenges to date. I was required to be on 24/7. After graduating from bootcamp and completing A-school I was assigned to my first ship. My job was to work in the engine room and sure enough I was the only female in my workspace. Now I’m not a girlie girl but by no means did I know anything about engines. On one of my first days, I was given a diagram and assigned the task of following it to get more familiar with the space. I was so lost. I spent hours and hours and barely put a dent in this assignment. Read more>>

Becca Blair

After I graduated from college with my major in exercise physiology and my minor in photography, I really didn’t know what to do with my life. I got married 6 months after I graduated, and in some way I feel like that stunted my creativity and growth. I had done dental assisting in high school and in between college semesters and thought I wanted to do that, but quickly learned I didn’t love the field, and living in Rexburg at the time, everywhere I interviewed was only going to pay $7.25 an hour. I realized I only loved the learning and school part, but working at my dental internship in Utah was one of the loneliest times in my life. Read more>>

Lex Pedulla

My current job has taught me a lot about what it means to be grateful for my health. I work with adults who are battling severe mental illness; being with them, hearing their stories, and understanding their lived experiences has made me appreciate the things I once took for granted-big and small. I have learned that the meaning of life is not to be the most successful, smart, talented, and educated person in the room, but rather the healthiest. And health looks and feels different for everyone. I think I’ve just grown to understand how lucky I am to have the mental, physical, and emotional health that I have. Read more>>

Krishna Betai

With new technologies and new ways of storytelling propping up in the advertising industry, as a creative professional, it’s exciting to come up with new, unexpected, and non-traditional ideas for ad campaigns. Once you get clients onboard with your crazy, innovative ideas, it’s only a matter of time that the world sees your brainchild. Read more>>

Rossana Barrera

I have been lucky enough to have had a professional career in education and human resources prior to becoming an actor. In the past I’ve been a special education assistant in preschool, a mindfulness coach in middle school, an algebra teacher in high school, and a leadership course facilitator and advisor for college students. I’ve also been a human resource consultant, and had other odd jobs like sales associate, production assistant, tour guide, library clerk, among others. Read more>>

Farah Qadeer

During my fourth year at the 5 year Bachelor of Architecture program at The City College of New York, I quickly learned the merits of trespassing my comfort zone. I was both studious and shy- weekday evenings were mostly focused on academics and weekends were often spent planning and preparing for my future. Being appointed the Public Relations manager for our university’s entry into the Department of Energy Solar’s Decathlon suddenly thrust me in front of an audience. My written word (I was always passionate about writing) was now lent a voice and I found myself engaged in public speaking, crowdsourcing for funds and morale for our project, and building a community that rallied itself around a net-zero building project. I built confidence through communication and grew my technical knowledge along the way. Read more>>