Someone recently asked me “how do you go from being a choir teacher to a writer and brand strategist?”. The answer is simple: It’s all storytelling. 

I have always been interested in finding the answer to one question: Who are you talking to and why? The only difference has been how I’ve told that story. 

My entire career has been built on a series of pivots. I started my career in music education, teaching high schoolers how to communicate through song. When I left teaching, I started applying to roles that had requirements I knew I could do: communications, project coordination, event management—all things I had done as a teacher. However, sending a resume that showcased those skills through education language didn’t. 

I had to think of my experience teaching in business terms, which made me realize I was essentially running a business by myself as a choir teacher. I had all the transferable skills and experience many of these organizations were looking for. I just wasn’t using the right words to connect with my audience and show results of my work.

So I learned to pivot.