We asked experts from a broad range of industries to open up to us about things they know about their industry but that we probably don’t and we’ve shared some of those responses below.

Tiffany Tobey | Sommelier & General Manager

A lot of people hear “Sommelier” and interpret that in to some wine snob with not much education. I have two Bachelors degrees and feel like I learned more while becoming a Sommelier than I did in all my years of college. Wine is not just grape juice…it is Geography, Science, History, Heritage, and Passion. Read more>>

Leslie Cabrera Fuentes | Wedding & Event Floral Designer

I am huge on expressing all of the hard labor and process behind floral design. Aside from working with beautiful blooms, we spend most of our time in front of a screen invoicing, quoting and e-mailing our couples for the big day or for any special occasion order. During wedding and holiday seasons, you don’t stop working until the work is done. There’s constant e-mailing back and forth with not only the couple but the wholesalers, maybe event freelancers, sometimes their venue. For example, depending on the size of the wedding I sometimes begin prepping as of Wednesday or Thursday before the event. Read more>>

Omaima Alshaikh | Baking Business Owner & Artist

Most people looking from the outside in don’t realize the amount of time, labor, and dedication it takes to run a small business. Most small business owners have responsibilities outside of their work like 9 to 5 occupations, maintaining households, schooling and education, not to mention the time dedicated to self care and their social/family life. As a small business owner myself, I’m the only one behind my business, so tasks like marketing, creating products, pricing, organizing/maintaining a schedule, and keeping stock of inventory all fall squarely on my shoulders. Being a junior in high school, I find myself constantly juggling the responsibilities of my work life, school life, and personal life, and am still learning how to do so without getting overwhelmed or working myself into the ground. Read more>>