Luminaries Career Coaching offers free professional development to help young women and gender-expansive young adults between the ages of 18-23 jumpstart their careers. For three months, mentees receive monthly career coaching from assigned Step Up mentors who help them define what success looks like for them. We spoke with Amy Tierney who is coaching Maia Wheaton as she navigates her career journey. We asked them what they thought of the program so far and how they have been enjoying their time with Step Up. We first reached out to Amy Tierney, owner of Thrive Images to ask her a few questions as follows:
What does being a Step Up member and mentor mean to you?
Being a Step Up member and mentor is important to me because every step towards showing young women how to be resourceful is a step towards more equitable societies for everyone.
What drew you to Step Up initially?
Women supporting other womens’ businesses at networking events are what initially drew me to Step Up. The programming allowed women to actually connect while also allowing space for the girls it supports. I have found it to be a sincerely supportive community … from the moment I connected with them while they were outreaching at the NAACP Image Awards to the photojournalism for girls program they invited me to co-craft with them to the amazing colleagues I have met.
Tell us about your Luminaries Career Coaching experience. What made you sign up to be a Coach?
We all need someone cheering us on from time to time. I find this to be true again and again as the years roll on and new challenges arise at various junctures. I have benefitted tremendously from professionals who stepped up ahead of me, and then gave time by listening and asking me what I wanted to do and challenged me to think about how I would do it. I also co-crafted a program with Step Up from 2007 - 2011 called “Photojournalism for Girls…the I Dream To” project where we taught over 400 girls in LA, NY and Chicago the skills of photojournalism as the tools to meet with the very women they dreamed to be. Now, as a Luminaries Career Coach, I am able to continue that experience of paying it forward.
What insight or knowledge has Luminaries Career Coaching brought to you so far, personally and/or professionally?
As much as I thought I knew about how powerful and beneficial it is to connect even one professional woman to one up and comer, I have been reminded about the difference between coaching and mentoring: unlocking potential versus simply offering advice. A powerful difference indeed!
Next, Step Up connected with Young Luminary Maia Wheaton.
What does being a Step Up participant mean to you?
To me, being a Step Up participant means being a young woman who aspires to tap into her potential, to walk unapologetically in her power and individuality, and to go on to inspire young women alike to do the same.
What drew you to Step Up initially?
What initially drew me to Step Up was the opportunity for me to recognize my potential as a young woman and to become equipped with the tools to fulfill it.
What made you sign up to be a Young Luminary?
As someone at the beginning of their professional journey, I found myself overwhelmed by a lack of direction. I understood that wherever I started professionally did not have to be where I stayed forever, however, I still struggled with understanding where to begin. Alongside this, I had already submitted numerous applications to a number of positions to no avail. I was beginning to feel quite discouraged, when I received an email about the Luminaries Career Coaching program. I initially felt apprehensive about participating, questioning if the program would be beneficial to someone like me. I ultimately decided to sign up to be a Young Luminary because I wanted better for my professional future and I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. I felt excited by the opportunity to gain understanding on where my applications may have been falling short as well as the chance to connect with a professional in the creative industry. From previous experiences, I knew the women at Step Up would only provide the best for their participants and my experience thus far has proven just that.
What insight or knowledge has Luminaries Career Coaching brought to you so far, personally and/or professionally?
So far, Luminaries Career Coaching has helped me identify more of my character strengths which I believe will be imperative to my career journey. The conversations I have had with my coach have encouraged me to take small steps to face long held anxieties around sharing my creative work. Additionally, the experience brought me a great coach who I could certainly see myself remaining in contact with following the culmination of the program..
Would you recommend the experience to a friend? If so, why?
I would absolutely recommend this experience to a friend. It’s a wonderful opportunity to receive mentorship and support from women who have your best interest at heart. If you are a young woman interested in participating in this program, please do not allow uncertainty about your professional future to deter you. This can be precisely what your coach comes in to assist you with. Plus, when nothing is certain, anything is possible!
