We asked some fantastic entrepreneurs and creatives to tell us about their first job in their field. Check out their stories below.

Alissa Chapin

My career started as a Registered Nurse in 2014 as a medical-surgical nurse on a cardiac/telemetry floor. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2013 and had my first child 2 months later (February 2014). Fun fact: I sat for my NCLEX 2 days before I gave birth! I decided to stay home with my daughter for the first few months of her life, then landed my first job later in the year. I was working 3 12-hour night shifts per week at the time, which had its perks, but between night shift and having an infant at home, sleep was not a thing that year. The job in itself was very challenging and rewarding simultaneously. Read more>>

Danielle Evans

When I first became a certified Personal Trainer, I interviewed for a position as an independent trainer with a company called Texas Fit Chicks. It is a company geared towards helping women reach their fitness goals through strength training in boot camp style. There were a few phone interviews and a virtual interview meeting with a few instructors in the local area. I was instructed to scout out a location to hold the fitness classes and the members would sign up to come. At the time, I had little to no experience and was a nervous, but I knew that this would be a great way to step into the fitness world. I worked with Texas Fit Chicks for almost two years while I was in undergrad. I genuinely enjoyed my time getting to know different women and their walks of life, and their “why”. Read more>>

Rosanne Marmor

At 12 years old I joined a journalism program called Children’s Express (CE). I quickly became one of the kids who did interviews on my own all over New York City. From 1974 through 1994, I worked for Children’s Express, first as a kid reporter and then assisting running a bureau in Alameda CA. CE had loads of wealthier kids from Manhattan. They came to my school, full of more wealthy kids not knowing I was there. (My parents used my grandmother’s address so I could go to a fancy school). I didn’t know they weren’t recruiting me, so I joined. I was a shock to their system, more streetwise and tough than they were used to but the founder was intrigued with me so they began sending me out on stories about other kids who were poor, sick or in need. Read more>>

Erin Carroll

I am a believer in all things integrated; and paths being laid far before we know how and why they will surface. There were many jobs I had that led me to the field I am in now. From early on, I was drawn to helping jobs: babysitting and nannying, volunteering in special education classrooms, teaching dance, and outdoor education. But the defining moment, and my first official, paid teaching job I got when I was 22 years old, traveling and volunteering in South America after graduating from college with my BA in creative writing. Finding my voice through poetry and loving my partner at the time so intensely that I would follow them anywhere – opened up my world and helped me see all the ways I could grow into an adult who changed the world. Read more>>

Allison Santini

Divine timing/trusting the Universe. Went to Quinnipiac University– and was in a 3 year undergrad/3 year grad program to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. In my final undergrad year I started to realize that Physical Therapy wasn’t EXACTLY what I wanted to do. So I graduated with my Bachelors in Health Sciences & decided to ‘take a year off.’ I had also got my Personal Training certification on my own time while I was in school, so the summer after I graduated I lied home and was leaning into that, as well as doing some part-time modeling. I hit it off with a girl I met at a casting, and we kept in touch. In the fall of that year (2013), she asked if I would want to move to NYC and be her roommate (I am from an hour north of the city, so it wasn’t that far for me anyway). Read more>>

Kira Denney

I was a graduate student in West Palm, juggling coursework, internships, and the ever-present anxiety about what life after graduation would look like. Like so many students in my field, I needed a job that not only fit around my academic schedule but also gave me a foothold in the mental health world. That’s when I stumbled upon an administrative position at a Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program (PHP/IOP) for eating disorders. Read more>>

Nakia Prince

My first job as an RN was one of the best jobs a new nurse could have! I graduated in Spring 2013 with hopes of working a job that had a good manager, staff and obtain a preceptor that was passionate and patient with new grads. I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to work but I knew it wasn’t the ER or ICU, but something in between. Well, I did just that, my very 1st interview was on a 48 bed CVICU Stepdown floor. I was already familiar with the manager and staff since I completed clinicals there. I knew this was where I needed to be! I stayed there on nightshift for 2 years, and it was the greatest experience for me as a new grad. Although I was challenged for many days to the point I wanted to cry and go home, I never gave up on my dream of becoming a great nurse. Those challenging moments made me into the nurse I am today! Read more>>

Shirley Carlisle

My journey into the fitness industry started when I was 22 and wrapping up my final semester of earning a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. I chose Kinesiology because I’ve always been passionate about sports, health, and fitness. Growing up, I watched my mom teach countless group fitness classes, and I naturally developed an interest in how the body moves and how to help others move optimally. Read more>>