Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Harris.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amber. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story begins my freshman year of college, I walked onto the Women’s Rowing team at UCSD. I double majored, held every leadership title I could, involved myself in extracurricular clubs and activities while working a part-time job selling furniture in Pacific Beach. I had good grades and even an internship with the Public Defender and Athletes to Careers but toward the end of college, I still had no idea what I wanted to do or what I was qualified for.
I remember thinking “there are so many jobs out there, how do I know which one is the right one for me? I have everything to offer a company and the mindset to be successful but I don’t want to take the wrong step after graduation”. It was overwhelming but I knew Howie Jacobson, the president and founder of Athletes to Careers.
Howie told me to “keep in touch” which is exactly what I did. I called him every few months to see how things are going and when would be a good time to start interviewing. He held out on me and eventually asked if I would be open to starting my career with A2C. Without knowing any better, I said: “a job is a job, let’s do it!”
I cried every day for six months.
All I ever wanted growing up was to be a businesswoman. The transition from student-athlete to the “real world” was one of the hardest obstacles I’ve ever faced. I was not prepared for the doubt, insecurity, confusion, and frustration that comes with identity changes, rejection, Corporate America and TAXES.
It was a long road but I asked a lot of questions, kept my eyes and ears open and learned from my mistakes. I used what rowing taught me and put my head down and trusted the process. I live by the saying “it’s not about how you start it’s about how you finish”. I’ve never been strong out of the gate but I’m consistent, I pay attention to detail and I won’t give up until I’ve crossed that finish line.
Now, I confidently guide and coach former athletes through interview processes whether it’s their first or next step in their professional career. I can stand in front of a group of senior athletes and tell them “life is scary and hard and you should be scared, but you’ve got a free resource that can help you sort through the BS” (that’s me!). I’ve lived the identity changes, I’ve seen people’s careers flourish, I’ve helped soon to be father’s provide for their families and mother’s re-enter the workforce.
I love what I do and the process of finding success.
It’s important to mention, success means different things to different people and my job is to help them find a vehicle that will get them there. I work hard every day for the people who reach out for help and they are the ones who got me here!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been far from smooth! And if it is smooth for you, you don’t know the satisfaction and confidence you’re missing from overcoming a challenge.
Corporate America is starving for ambitious, driven women. You don’t have to be a dog or a shark to be successful. You have to care about others, want to make the world a better place and be willing to take a couple of punches here and there. But, women take punches all the time, even from their own children in their bellies! I don’t know if Corporate America is tougher than labor.
My advice for young women considering where to start is this: if you take the hardest job you can and master it, nothing you will ever do will be that hard again. And think about how prepared and ahead of the game, you will be.
On a personal note, I love to work and every day face the struggles of being a modern, single working woman who always seems to have dishes in the sink (even when I feel like I haven’t eaten that day). I have dishes in the sink now, my laundry is sitting in the dryer, I have to brush my cat for fleas, and I haven’t eaten. How does one find time to do it all? Still trying to figure this one out. If anyone has the answer, please call me.
Finally, for those starting a successful and potentially lucrative career, being a young woman facing many social pressures will be hard and you won’t always know which direction to take (family life vs. career). This path and advice is not for everyone but for those that this resonates with, I’ve dedicated and front-loaded my 20’s to establish a foundation for the rest of my life. I’m committed and unwavering. There will be no rock left unturned. You have to be relentless to get everything you want.
What should we know about Athletes to Careers? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Athletes to Careers is a traits and characteristics focused business. We focus not on the experience on the resume but what’s inside the person. Our specialty is working with former athletes anywhere from 0-5 years of experience.
We work with athletic departments across the country to reach the senior athletes who need a coach to help them when they hang up the cleats.
We work with businesses across the country who are looking for driven, competitive, and energetic individuals to join their teams.
And, we are FREE for the athletes we work with who know exactly what they want to do, what they think they want to do or have no clue at all.
I’m the proudest to share our story and sit down with anyone who has questions. Even if things don’t work out in the immediate future, it’s a long-term relationship and never hurts to network!!
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
In the midst of my senior year, not knowing what career I would pursue, in one of my classes I read an interview with Sheryl Sandberg.
She was asked, “Did you always know you would be the CEO of Facebook?”
To which she responded something along the lines of “no, we didn’t have the internet when I was growing up”. But, the most impactful thing I read was “the reason I don’t have a plan is that if I have a plan, I’m limited to today’s options.”
I took that as, as long as you’re taking steps forward you’re always going to get to where you’re going.
And of course, my mother, who taught me the most important lesson of all. It went like this:
“Amber, what is the key to success?”
“I don’t know Mom, studying hard.”
“No.”
Getting good grades?”
“No Amber, the key to success is NETWORKING.”
“Okay, Mom.”
Now, “thank you, mom.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.athletestocareers.com
- Phone: 775-560-5956
- Email: aharris@athletestocareers.com
- Instagram: @coach_amberharris
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-harris-57a31510a/
Image Credit:
Chris Feldman IG: feldmann_photo
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