Shaylee Bartlett

The best career advice I’ve received is to dream big and aim higher than what feels comfortable. A colleague once shared the story of the first athlete to break the four‑minute mile – a barrier long believed impossible. Yet once one person achieved it, many others soon followed. That lesson stuck with me: when you pursue a goal that feels just out of reach, you often discover you’re far more capable than you imagined.

I’ve also learned that you don’t unlock that potential alone. Having people around you who challenge you, push you, and stretch your perspective makes an enormous difference. When others believe in your abilities, sometimes before you fully believe in them yourself, it creates momentum. It expands your sense of what is possible and gives you the confidence to step into goals that once felt intimidating.

Don’t underestimate yourself. You are far more capable than you realize, and your hard work truly will pay off. It’s easy to doubt that when you’re in the middle of school, assignments, or the day‑to‑day grind and wondering if any of it will matter. But it does – especially when you have a vision for your future and your career. The effort you put in now will come to fruition in ways you can’t yet imagine. One day, you’ll look back and be grateful you kept going, because that persistence will open doors, create opportunities, and allow you to make a meaningful impact.

Surround yourself with people who support your growth, challenge you, and believe in your potential. Your network matters, and having mentors, especially other women, can make a huge difference in building confidence and navigating your path.

I love seeing young professionals find success early in their careers as they chase their goals and put in the work. Success doesn’t just happen; it’s built through grit, time, energy, consistency, and discipline. Trust that you belong here, trust your abilities, and give yourself permission to pursue big things.

One of the biggest challenges I faced early in my career was entering a field (Emergency Management) where many professionals had decades of response experience – often as former police officers, firefighters, or emergency responders. They brought years of real‑world incident response experience, and I didn’t have that same background. What I did have, however, was formal education. My degree gave me a strong foundation in emergency management principles, and I chose to lean into that strength.

Because I didn’t have access to response opportunities, I immersed myself in case studies, after‑action reports, and real‑world examples to understand how others responded in high‑pressure situations. Learning from those experiences helped me grow my knowledge and strengthen my skills.

Ultimately, it's not about matching someone else’s background. It’s about knowing what you bring to the table and investing in it. Instead of comparing my resume to others, I focused on my unique experience and what I had to offer.