Meet, Pernell Thompson, Head of Fitness Partnerships at Zeamo

What industry are you in?

Pernell: Health & Wellness

Where do you work?

Zeamo

What was your journey like to get to where you are in your career?

Coming out of college, I trained high performance athletes on both the collegiate and professional level and thought I would continue my career in that space. However, after landing an entry-level position at a corporate wellness startup, I was able to work my way up to a Business Development Manager role until I left the company. I'm very grateful for this journey because I was able to learn the business from all angles which help lead me to my current role today.

What was one of the most challenging lessons that you learned during your process?

One of the biggest lessons I've learned during this process was to always be prepared presentations. It is very important to do your research and practice a day or two before.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned during your process?

In corporate, your performance is analyzed daily from your higher-ups (whether you know it or not) and so its very important to go the extra mile when completing tasks. This habit can help determine whether or not you will be considered for a promotion.

What was your biggest obstacle?

My biggest obstacle was learning how to manage my time in the startup world. In startups, you wear many hats and so it's very crucial to prioritize work.

When did you realize you were going in the right direction, professionally?

When I accepted my new role at my current employer. I noticed how passionate I was about the industry and how valuable I was to the company.

What was a pivotal moment in your career that led you to where you are now?

My pivotal moment in my career was when I took the leap of faith to leave my last company for a bigger role at a new company in a new city.

How did you overcome doubt during your career journey/transitions?

It's funny, when you first start out in a new role or a new project, you may hear that little voice in your head asking "Am I good enough." I overcame these doubts by my eagerness to learn and willingness to make mistakes that I could learn from.

For those who may be experiencing imposter syndrome, what advice would you give that has helped you?

We all have imposter syndrome at times. The key is to be open to making mistakes that you can learn from.

Feel free to share any experiences that you didn't mention, but you think would be useful advice for someone.

When taking on an entry-level position, take the time to learn about your company from all sides of the business. This habit along with a strong performance could easily help propel you into a bigger role within the company.