The 100 Jobs Project

020 – SEMPER FI, LADIES: Basic Training, Deployments & 10 Years in the Marine Corps

In this episode, Mysti shares how a last-minute shift during her senior year of high school led her from planning a future in dance to enlisting in the Marine Corps—and ultimately spending nearly a decade in military service. What drew her in? Structure, stability, and the opportunity to build a meaningful career.  As we chat, Mysti shares about everything from basic training and her two deployments, to what she wore to work and how she juggled her relationship and family with a busy military schedule. If you’re curious about the realities of day-to-day life in the military, or interested in how women navigate careers in (very) male-dominated fields, this episode is of you!

019 - JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS: Inside a Fourth-Generation Moving Company

What’s it like to build a career inside a family business that’s been around for four generations? In this episode, I sit down with Mollie, who works in Texas as the VP of Sales for a moving company, that specializes in residential, commercial and corporate relocations — and has been in her family for decades.   After earning a master’s degree in a completely different field, she shares how she ultimately found her way into the family business and into a sales leadership role. We talk about what life looks like when no two workdays are the same — from frequent travel and site visits to coordinating unique, high-value moves. Mollie also shares what it’s like to balance family relationships with work, how she unwinds, and the day-to-day details of life in her role. A great episode for anyone curious about careers in sales, logistics or family-run businesses.

018 - TEACHERS CHANGE LIVES: A Day in the Life of an Elementary School Teacher

In this episode, I chat with Amber, a 5th grade English Language Arts teacher at a Title I school in Maryland. She shares how she never originally planned to become a teacher, what changed for her in college, and how after teaching for a while, she eventually continued on to pursue a master’s degree in Learning, Diversity & Urban Studies at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. We talk about her experience teaching in Spanish through a dual immersion program, finding the age group that was the right fit, and what it looks like to support students from diverse backgrounds, including children facing poverty and learning English as a second language. Amber talks about moving to a new city, and also gives an honest look at the day-to-day realities of the job — from lesson prep and summers off, to factors that impact teacher salaries across the country. And of course, a few  sweet and funny moments with students that make the work so meaningful. Plus, if you’ve ever been curious about the practical side of the job, Amber shares what she wears to school, what’s always in her work bag, and what a normal day really looks like before morning arrival to wrapping up the day beyond the final bell.

017 – WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY AN AIRPLANE? Behind the scenes of the International Business Development

Ever wondered what goes into selling airplanes around the world? Caroline works in International Business Development for a global aerospace and defense manufacturer (aka, helping develop relationships with customers buying aircrafts or related services). Her focus is the Asia Pacific region, which means she's frequently traveling around the world for meetings, events and airshows. In this episode, Caroline shares what her day-to-day looks like both at home and on the road, and how she finds time for grad school when she’s not at work.  We also talk about how growing up in a multicultural household with close family ties to Lebanon and Belgium, along with several study abroad experiences, sparked her passion for international business. Caroline opens up about landing a job offer that was paused during the pandemic, pivoting into another role, and making strategic internal moves to ultimately reach the position she had been working toward. Beyond the job itself, we dive into balancing an intense travel schedule with family, friendships, and life with her fiancé, along with a few favorite travel tips. Caroline also shares thoughtful advice on mentors, career growth, and finding meaning in your life right now, even while building toward bigger goals. You may like this episode if you’re  interested in international business, travel-heavy careers, networking or mentorship.

016 - BUILDING AN ETSY BUSINESS: Scaling a “Side Quest” To Thousands of Sales

Have you ever daydreamed about starting an Etsy shop—but weren’t sure where to begin? In this episode, I talk with Jenna, a Kansas City, MO–based small business owner who turned a side project into a thriving Etsy shop with 2,500+ sales in just a few months. After launching her career in communications and events at an IT company that was acquired by Oracle Corporation, and later working in the nonprofit space, Jenna stepped away from full-time work during COVID to care for her first child. What followed was a series of “side quests”—from photography to resume writing to 3D-printed products—that ultimately led her to launch her Etsy business. We get into how she built and scaled her shop, from pricing and packaging to shipping, reviews, and getting discovered online—plus the resources she used to learn it all herself. She also shares what day-to-day life looks like (everything from frozen burritos to true crime podcasts!) while balancing her business and being home with three young kids. This episode is for anyone curious about starting an Etsy shop, juggling work and childcare, or building something of your own in a busy season of life. 🏡 Check out Jenna’s Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintbyPrintCoShop [https://www.etsy.com/shop/PrintbyPrintCoShop]  📷 Find PrintbyPrintCo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printbyprintco/ [https://www.instagram.com/printbyprintco/]  ✅ Follow the 100 Jobs Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/100jobsproject [https://www.instagram.com/100jobsproject]  🔗 Find us online: 100jobsproject.com