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

Heather Sharfi PhD

My first job was at Harvard Medical School, where I had the opportunity to work alongside top scientists from around the world. It was both exhilarating and overwhelming. I was thrilled to contribute to groundbreaking research in the development of novel cancer drugs, while also being awed by the state-of-the-art equipment and the brilliance of my colleagues. But it wasn’t just about hard work—these scientists also knew how to celebrate. Their ability to balance intense dedication with vibrant social life later became my PhD motto: Work hard, party harder. Read more>>

Lady Of Banks

I was trying to pick between which of the options were available, but my first internship changed my life. I was in college and in the communication school when I applied for a position at a midsize international communications company.

I started in human resources, which is where my desk would be in the news building. Yes I said news. I’m as old as newspaper. And when I met with the head of HR, I wanted to be exactly like her. Read more>>

Brian Coxton

I grew up in Atlanta, where football and basketball dominated, but in my family, tennis was everything. My father was our first coach, and my older brother, who is 13 years older than me, was my inspiration. Watching him compete fueled my love for the game. However, I quickly realized how few Black players were in the sport. Navigating that reality wasn’t easy, but I learned early to focus on my game and carry myself with dignity. Read more>>

Amanda Nesbitt

After graduating from grad school in the summer of 2015, I was eager to step into the world of mental health counseling. But securing a job as an unlicensed therapist in Georgia was far from easy—most positions required full licensure, and at the time, I had only received my Associate LPC. It felt like a never-ending cycle of applications and rejections, each one a reminder that I wasn’t quite where I needed to be yet. Read more>>

Alexis Melton

I got into mental health because I needed to get off the ambulance due to medical reasons. While I was on an emergency psychiatric call, a therapist showed up on scene with law enforcement and watched the interaction go from high emotion to low emotion. For some reason that really sparked my interest and when we got to the emergency room I spoke with the therapist. She talked to me for a while and the rest was history. I applied at the school she graduated from and had every intention of just going through school with the end game of working for the county mental health services. Midway through school something I hit my rock bottom and discovered I was not well. Through my internship and work with Veterans and first responders, I discovered I was severely depressed and in burnout. It was through my work as a therapist in meeting others like me I found myself and healed. Read more>>