Her Story
About Kandice
I started working when I was just 16, waitressing for a couple years because I grew up really poor and had to pay for everything myself, including my car. After that, I moved into sales with Fanfare Sports Marketing, where I called business owners to see if they'd be interested in purchasing marketing packages. Sales wasn't really for me because I don't like to bother people and the rejection really set me back. But then I got hired as a branch secretary at a publishing company, and that was big for me. I was young, and my branch manager was gone all the time, so I led meetings, verified all of the sales representatives' ads, and designed logos. I'm very proud of that position and the way I made it look effortless. It just made me feel like I was really helping out. Writing and journaling have always been something I'm gifted at, and I've recently discovered it's my biggest coping mechanism. I love writing because I know what to say and how to make people feel something. Right now, I'm a stay-at-home mom looking for work, but I'm only looking for jobs tied to what I've done before. What I really want at this age is to help out, to benefit and impact other people's lives, especially with all the negativity I've gone through. I want people to avoid that in any way possible. I've been through a lot, including treatment-resistant depression since I was 15, past struggles with drugs, and three years ago my fraternal twin sister went missing and is still being searched for by the Department of Justice. Each time I've faced something difficult, I've figured it out through a lot of self-talk. I have so many stories that I want to turn into a positive because I know society doesn't always see how bad things really get. I want to share my story because if this person came out of it, maybe others could too.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kandice
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my ability to overcome challenges to self-talk and figuring things out on my own. I've been through so much in my life, including treatment-resistant depression since I was 15, past drug use, living in difficult situations, and losing my twin sister who went missing three years ago and is still being searched for by the Department of Justice. Each time I've faced something difficult, I've figured it out through a lot of self-talk in my head. It's shocked me how I've been able to get through everything. Even though I've had professional caregivers like therapists and other providers who have helped me out, I've had to rely on myself a lot because even the people I love in my life sway different ways and are never in one position or direction, which drives me crazy because I'm the opposite.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise them to look deeply within themselves to see what they want. Do you want to go to college? Are you ready to enter the workforce? I would just want to make sure that person was certain about their path. I would also want them to know that most people are supposed to stay on a grounded path because that's what keeps you growing and being able to establish more and more. Otherwise, that's not going to happen. You need that consistency and direction to really build something meaningful in your career.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.