We put so much pressure on young women to figure it all out by 22. Pick the “right” major. Land the “perfect” first job. Find your “passion” and turn it into a lifelong career.
But what if we took the pressure off? What if the goal wasn’t to get it “right” forever, but to get started and keep building?
That’s exactly what Lisa Marker Robbins believes. And after talking to her, I do too.
Lisa is the founder of Flourish Coaching and has helped over 4,000 students and young professionals navigate major life transitions. She’s been featured in Forbes, U.S. News, Money, and has an incredible podcast called College and Career Clarity. But more than that, Lisa’s a real-deal guide who helps people make intentional decisions without fear or overwhelm.
Here’s what I learned from our conversation, and what I think every woman navigating post-grad life needs to hear:
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Lisa started her career as a high school teacher, which made sense given her natural gift for educating and connecting. But over time, she made what she calls a series of “micro pivots” and eventually became the founder of two companies and a nationally known career coach.
“I don’t believe in soulmates,” she told me, laughing. “And I don’t believe there’s one perfect job for you either.”
That hit home. Because how many of us feel like we have to choose the one right path or else we’ve somehow failed?
Lisa says that if you do the self-discovery work and understand your natural wiring, you’ll find through-lines that stick with you throughout your career. For her, it’s teaching and helping young people grow. That’s never changed, even though her job title has.
Most people go about college and career planning backward. We pick a school because we like the campus or the football team. We choose a major because it sounds “safe.” We hope a career shows up at the end.
But Lisa flips that.
She teaches her clients to start with the end in mind. Not “where do I want to go to college?” but “what kind of career fits who I am?”
Once you have that clarity, you can work backward:
What majors lead to that career?
What schools offer those majors and have strong outcomes?
What experiences will prepare you along the way?
It’s not about having a rigid 10-year plan. It’s about making informed choices instead of leaving life to chance.
Lisa doesn’t believe you need to be head-over-heels in love with your job on Day 1. That’s a recipe for disappointment. Instead, she emphasizes learning how to like what you do by getting good at it.
“Passion grows with proficiency,” she said. “The more confident you feel, the more you’ll enjoy the work. But you have to give it time.”
In other words: stop putting pressure on your first job to be your dream job. Start with something that fits your strengths and values, and trust that your passion will evolve with experience.
And when it comes to standing out? Lisa’s clear: soft skills and self-direction matter more than a second major or fancy minor.
The ability to communicate well, work with others, manage your time, and stay curious? That’s what employers remember and what leads to growth.
If there’s one message Lisa repeated throughout our conversation, it’s this:
You don’t need all the answers to move forward.
One of her favorite lines? “Courage on the inside looks like confidence on the outside.”
It’s so easy to get stuck in your head when you're trying to figure out what to do after college. But waiting until you feel “ready” usually just delays your growth.
Instead, Lisa encourages her clients to take the first step and trust that momentum builds from there.
Whether you’re doing informational interviews, applying for internships, starting your first job, or simply asking questions, every bit of movement creates confidence.
A career isn’t just about what you do from 9 to 5. It’s also about how you live.
Lisa and I talked about what happens when external structures disappear, like grades, report cards, and professors telling you what to do. Suddenly, you’re expected to manage your time, budget your money, and show up like a full-blown adult.
And that’s hard.
But Lisa says that executive functioning, things like planning, managing priorities, and taking responsibility, is something you can learn. It’s part of growing into independence.
In fact, she sees a direct link between how well someone manages their life and how successful they are in their career.
She reminded me (and I’ll remind you): You don’t have to do it all at once. But you do have to start.
So many women in their early 20s feel behind. Like they should already have it all figured out. But Lisa is quick to say (and I completely agree) it’s never too late to start building something that feels right for you.
And if you’re a few steps behind where you thought you’d be? That’s okay. The only way to move forward is to keep going.
Ready to approach your career with care?
📥 Download my free guide:
Post-Grad Glow-Up: The Career & Confidence Starter Pack College Didn’t Give You
You’ll get resume tips, interview strategies, and emotional intelligence tools designed specifically for recent grads. These are the exact tools that helped me 5x my salary and land leadership roles in my 20s.