A Career Built on Pivots
When I began college at the University of Florida, I started as a biology major on the pre-med track, fully expecting to pursue a career in medicine. Overtime, I realized my real interest was in human behavior, which led me to switch my major to psychology while continuing the pre-med path.
Alongside my major, I pursued a minor in innovation that focused on entrepreneurship, leadership, creativity, and ethics. At the time, I saw it as a way to incorporate business ideals without becoming a business major. Looking back, that program became a foundation for how I approach problem solving, strategy, and leadership in my career today.
By senior year, I was rethinking my career path. I studied for and took the LSAT with every intention of going to law school, but ultimately decided to pause and take what I thought would be a gap year. Before that gap year could begin, I made the decision to fully pivot to business and enrolled in an MBA and Master of Science in Finance program. The MBA gave me a broad perspective on business strategy and decision making, while the MS in Finance provided the technical expertise I lacked.
During this time, travel also became a significant part of my journey. Experiencing different cultures and ways of life opened my eyes to how people think, work, and solve problems. Without those experiences, I don’t think I would be able to approach challenges or see opportunities as clearly as I do today.
I also worked briefly in sales, where I gained valuable experience in communication and resilience. From there, I transitioned fully into finance and began working as an analyst at a B2B manufacturing and distribution company. In this role, I analyze financial reports, develop strategies, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
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Three Takeaways from this experience:
Don’t be afraid of change- every pivot I made ultimately prepared me for who I am today.
Embrace the unknown- some of the best opportunities occurred from stepping into areas that were unfamiliar at the time.
Travel- experiencing different cultures taught me how to see challenges and opportunities from different perspectives.
