Her Story
About Annie
Annie Paluso is a Patient Service Representative at an urgent care clinic in Farmington, Utah, and an independent Bomb Party jewelry representative selling through TikTok. Her career took root early, with part-time retail work in a jewelry store while she raised her two younger children, before she moved into healthcare as a receptionist at a specialty hospital. She went on to spend four years as a Human Resources assistant, followed by a role at the University of Utah Orthopedic Center, where she managed insurance authorizations and coordinated surgery scheduling for three orthopedic surgeons specializing in trauma, hand surgery, and hip and knee replacement.
After stepping away from the workforce for 17 years to raise her children — including a son managing generalized anxiety — Annie returned to healthcare and has since built roughly 11 years of cumulative experience in medical clerical roles. She has spent nearly two and a half years at her current urgent care position, where she checks in patients and supports day-to-day administrative operations, and about eight months building her jewelry business on TikTok. Holding a high school diploma from West High School, she brings a steady combination of customer service skill, clerical precision, and genuine compassion to her work, driven by a desire to see every patient treated fairly and leave satisfied.
Beyond her clinical and entrepreneurial pursuits, Annie has built a warm, engaged community through her TikTok jewelry sales, forming friendships with customers across the country. Her recognition as a featured honoree in the 2026 edition of Influential Women reflects the impact of her dedication to compassionate care and hard work. Outside of her professional life, she cherishes time spent with family and grandchildren, and finds joy in boating, being near the ocean, and traveling.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Annie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to how comfortable I feel working in a medical and hospital setting. That comfort comes from my compassionate nature and from everything I've been through supporting sick family members over the years — the difficult and unpleasant parts of the job simply don't rattle me. I also feel very much at ease connecting with people and selling jewelry on TikTok, which has become another space where I can thrive.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to simply be myself and be a team player. I try to do my job well, get it done, get along with the people around me, work hard, and always lead with compassion.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them the same thing I try to live by: be yourself, be a team player, work hard, and bring compassion into everything you do. Staying true to who you are while supporting the people around you goes a long way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I've faced is learning new hospital computer systems, along with navigating insurance and authorization issues. I also work with patients who have complex needs, including those experiencing suicidal thoughts, which requires a great deal of care and sensitivity. On the social selling side, platform moderation issues on TikTok have also posed challenges for small sellers like myself.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion, generosity, and fairness to others are values I hold close, both at work and at home. Teamwork and family matter deeply to me as well — I try to carry that same spirit of care and collaboration into everything I do.
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