Career Path of a Creator and Founder at The SHE Mark
Sterling's career path reflects a dynamic journey from a pre-med biopsychology major to a successful entrepreneur, marked by a pivot toward a passion for the music industry. After several internships and juggling multiple jobs, including "working at an ad agency," and co-founding an artist management company, the experience led to creating their own company, The SHE Mark, in 2020.
Career Development, Networking, Entrepreneurship, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sterling Champion
Creator & Founder
The SHE Mark
Tufts University, 2012
N/A
Biology & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Disabled
Video Highlights
1. Sterling's career path highlights a willingness to take on diverse roles and adapt to new environments. Starting with internships in music production and a music venue, she navigated multiple part-time jobs in New York while building connections in the industry. This showcases adaptability and resourcefulness.
2. Sterling's experience emphasizes the value of networking and leveraging opportunities. She secured roles through referrals and internships, demonstrating the importance of building professional relationships and actively seeking out experiences.
3. Sterling's journey from a bio-psychology major to a successful founder of The SHE Mark highlights the importance of pursuing passions. Her pivots, while sometimes unexpected (like the ad agency role), ultimately contributed to her entrepreneurial success and showcase how diverse experiences can contribute to a fulfilling career path.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
In college, I was an athlete with the responsibilities of sports on top of my schoolwork. My senior year, I also took on an internship. I majored in bio-psychology with a minor in media and communications, as I was pre-med.
My internship was actually in music and production. I interned at a recording studio and for a production company, really wanting to work in the live music space. This was a mid-college pivot from pre-med to following my passion and working in the music industry. I had a lot on my plate that last year.
After college, I moved back home and started interning at a music venue. I worked there for a little over a year, going from intern to a coordinator role very quickly. I enjoyed the experience and learned a lot, but I didn't see much upward growth as colleagues had been in similar roles for years.
So, I decided to move to New York to really tackle the major music industry. When I moved, I didn't have a job or an apartment lined up, just my belongings. I found a place and started applying for jobs.
I eventually landed a few internships and then a part-time job at Sirius XM in their live events department. At the same time, I worked as a nanny for an 11-year-old. This was my routine for a few years.
I then started interning again in the music industry. I've realized that many roles, especially when starting out, are entrepreneurial. This is true for artists and many music industry services, outside of major record labels where I spent most of my time.
I also interned at a music conference in New York. After about four years of working several jobs at once, networking, and gaining music industry experience, I accepted a job at an ad agency through referrals. This was my first full-time role.
I took the ad agency job primarily for the salary and benefits, as remote and freelance work were not as popular then. It was intriguing to get insurance and a stable income. At the agency, I was the office and culture coordinator, responsible for daily operations and organizing events.
Initially, I questioned taking the job because it seemed unrelated to my desired path. However, I took a leap of faith, and it turned out to be an amazing experience. I learned a lot and worked with great people.
Simultaneously, I co-founded an artist management company with two others, managing five artists. I handled creative direction, branding, and day-to-day operations. This period was very busy, with my full-time role and working with artists who often have no set work hours.
It was during my time at the ad agency that I conceived the idea for my current company. After a few years there, I moved from New York to Los Angeles to fully commit to starting and working on my company.
I've been working on my company, The Shemark, since 2020.