About the Lead Author
Emily Brown is the key contributor and creator of TheCareerPioneer.com, a blog that delivers articles and posts about job industry trends; plus motivational, retrospective stories about career exploration and discovering one’s passion. She is a journalist and serves on the board of the Alliance for Women in Media (National Capital Area Chapter) as the Career Development Chair.
Her work has appeared in Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and others. Emily lives and works in Washington, DC. She can be reached at info@thecareerpioneer.com. Feel free to drop her a line to say “hello,” seek advice, suggest an opportunity or story idea, or provide news of your own.
Remember the kid in high school who was voted most likely to succeed? Well, that wasn’t me. I was voted most likely to become a supermodel. Go figure! I’ve considered and set out onto several different career paths. Let me take you back a little . . . During my junior year of high school, I joined the U.S. Air Force, then later withdrew from the contract.
As a radio disc jockey at a local radio station during my senior year, I decided then that I wanted to become an actress. A year after graduating, I packed up my bags and moved to Hollywood to attend acting school. After a year of theatrical training, I decided that it just wasn’t for me so I enrolled in a junior college. And after 2.5 years I earned my Associate’s degree.
I transferred to Howard University and earned my Bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in Theatre Arts. While working as a journalist for several years (and later in public relations) my work appeared in Bloomberg News, The Wall Street Journal, The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, The Kansas City Star, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The International Herald Tribune, The District Chronicles in Washington, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
When I had my first child in 2008 ten weeks before schedule, I knew that I wanted to stay at home and raise her full-time (at least for some time). But that meant giving up a promising career as a health and business journalist with a leading news agency in Washington. What was wrong with me!? Well, having a child can definitely change your perspective on life.
But my desire to do something more in life started long before I discovered that I was expecting our daughter. I knew that I had a greater purpose, and that becoming a journalist fulfilled only part of it. That’s how I got here.
The blog started out as a desire to write more frequently, more creatively and with greater inspiration. It allows me to be more engaged with my readers and get immediate feedback from the audience.
Most importantly, it serves as another creative outlet while I stayed at home raising my daughter and while working on a variety of ad hoc assignments with an award-winning Washington-area web design agency.
This blog serves as a chance for me to share my story — how I balance career, along with life as a wife and mom — and share unique perspectives on finding your passion through career exploration. I’ve talked to all types of people over the years and surprisingly (or, not so surprisingly) we all share very common values.
I’ve learned from those inspiring people that life’s a journey. And though it’s taken me a while to believe this, I’ve come to the realization that the jobs we have, whether good or bad, prepare us for the next best thing.
When most people spend 40 to 70 hours a week working, why shouldn’t you and I enjoy what we’re doing? It’s time to change the way we think about work and career. It’s time to aim for work that’s more gratifying and more fulfilling.
Thanks to all the people that have supported me along the way. Check out the video below for more details on what’s to come!
