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

Clelia Stefanini

My (now) husband and I moved to Nashville in 2015 with no real plan. I knew I wanted to get into the fitness world, specifically CrossFit, and one of my first goals was to find a gym to work out. Since I didn’t already have a job, funds were low and membership at a local box was expensive, so I sent a shot-in-the-dark email. I have always been gifted with excellent organization skills, so I point blank asked if they needed any help with their administrative side of operations in exchange for membership. The bold approach worked, and I started working there immediately. It turned out that they were desperately seeking someone to help organize and keep track of the day to day. Within the first month, it was clear that they were understaffed and needed to hire more coaches, and to my delight they offered me a coaching position if I would obtain a CrossFit L1 certification. Read more>>

Jesse Mendoza

As a child, I would always touch a part of a person if it was hurting. Although, that was not the best thing then, it usually hurt them more, I believe that was my natural healer coming out. I grew up around Reiki and most things you grow up around, you really do not pay too much attention to until it isn’t around you anymore. Read more>>

Shicara Holiday

My first job in healthcare was as a front desk receptionist at SpineAlign Center in Atlanta, working with Dr. Sherra Conde. Funny enough, I spent years avoiding the healthcare field. After high school, I was set on forensics and criminal justice, and when my mom suggested nursing school, my response was always, “I don’t want to work with people who have a pulse!” Read more>>

Alecia Beckford-stewart

I am extremely fortunate to say that my first job in the chiropractic field is still my current place of employment. As a Canadian student at an American school I had the intention and motivation to find myself an opportunity of staying in the state of California. I knew that the chiropractic field is saturated in so many different cities, so it was amazing to find a practice to do my internship at that actually had the capacity and provided me the opportunity to stay. I’m able to help people in a proactive way. Focus on Injury prevention not just pain management. I’m also able to pay it forward. The guidance, care and honestly joy that I was able to receive from other Sports Chiropractors that were in my life along my athletic journey. Read more>>

Janelle Dawsey

My first job in this field was at Odyssey Family Counseling Center in College Park, GA, a place that primarily served African-American clients navigating a range of challenges—mental health struggles, family and relationship issues, substance abuse, and more. Looking back, I can honestly say it was one of my favorite jobs in this field because of the community I was able to serve. Read more>>

Ashley Rosser

In 2019 I lost an ex-boyfriend to overdose. After learning the context to his death, I became engulfed in anger, in sadness, and I wanted answers. At first, I wanted to know every detail about his last day. I wanted someone to blame. As days went by my questions changed from “who sold him bad drugs?” to “what even is an overdose?”. This shift in my thinking changed the trajectory of my life. I went from seeking justice to seeking knowledge. Read more>>