Post-Grad Updates: From Business to Law?!
It's been about 2 weeks since I graduated from the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business
"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.” - Neil Gaiman
Unica's Note Collections is a journal newsletter of personal growth, professional learning experiences, and gratitude moments.
1-Year Grad School Reflection:
I spent one year in my Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program at UW.
Here’s a short summary of what I did during the program:
Started a gift dessert treat business and made nearly $1,000 throughout the process: https://www.instagram.com/gunidelight 🍬😋
Interned at my first corporate gig as a Marketing Editorial at Highspot, a sales enablement software company 💎👩🏻💻
Collaborated with Airbnb + Amazon as a paid content creator. Here’s the portfolio I used that landed me brand deals: https://unigodina.my.canva.site 🎥✨
Wrote and published my first ebook on How to Start & Monetize Your Side Hustle - on sale for $12 (20% off) 📖 💫
Launched my own LLC business and online product design store (buy my totebags, journal books, mugs, etc.)! 💖 💸
Created an 8-week content academy on all things content, marketing, product design, sales, user experience, and customer engagement growth — SIGN UP NOW to secure your spot for my graduation discount!! 🚀✍️
Landed my first 9-5 job as a Financial Litigation Paralegal at the U.S. Attorney’s Office 👩🏻💼🏢
10 Things That Helped Me Achieved My Goals …
Being persistent and staying consistent no matter how hard things get.
Getting at least 6-7 hours of sleep + waking up at the same time every day (so that your body is used to the routine).
Create a daily habit. Set a time in your day (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, etc.) to take action (even baby steps) towards your goals. I do this every morning — knowing that every time I wake up, this is the activity that I do to reach my goals, one at a time.
Hold yourself accountable. Talk to people about your goals. The more you share, the more you may gain. There are people out there who are willing to help you. Don’t be afraid to communicate and share your stories.
Write down your goals. Handwrite them. Don’t just type it out. Grab a physical notebook and pen. I know this is crazy to believe, but 98% of what I had written down has come to life. When you write, you are more likely to commit and get those goals checked off your list. Just think of your notebook as your superpower.
Have the mindset of success. Shifting my phrases from, “I hope I can do this” to “I know I can do this. I am capable of doing this” is a game-changer.
Research and find people who share a similar goal as you. If there is a path you want to take, learn from people who are already in it.
Networking — but it’s not just a one-time conversation. The key is to stay consistently engaged and connected to people who will help you succeed and achieve your goals. Buy them coffee. Write them a gratitude note. Show that you VALUE their time.
Be open to doing things that you’ve never done before. Because this could potentially lead you to a new path that you never knew you needed.
Just start and go for it. This is often, by far, the hardest part, especially since we tend to compare ourselves to other people. Don’t let anything hold you back. Remove those blockages. Clear your mind and focus on being who you want to be.
So … how did I go from Business to now working at the Law Office? And why?
I leveraged my business background. It’s what got me into the federal government.
I spent about 3 years in student government and doing legislative affairs/liaison work in higher education, and found a passion for advocacy.
I spoke with local legislators, district representatives, and paralegal/legal assistants — gaining insights into what working in government looks like.
Even as a UGC (user-generated content) creator, I've handled legal work in contract negotiations, spoken with lawyers, and ensured regulatory compliance when collaborating with brands.
I feel good about making a positive impact and taking the initiative to create change in my community and in small businesses/brands.
My current workplace at the law office needed a business-minded, organizational guru, and I took the opportunity to make a more efficient team workflow with my business background.
Separating my personal + professional life:
Personal = Creator/Business Owner
Creativity is my outlet. It fuels my energy. It recharges my soul.
I love the flexibility of being a content creator on the side, as it allows me the freedom and autonomy to create what I want, rather than turning it into a full-time commitment.
Imagine having to be constantly innovative at a 9-5. I’ve interned at a startup where my spirit of designing and creativity slowly faded away, and I didn’t want that to happen again.
This may be different for other people but as a content creator … I want this to be my creative outlet (something I turn to after I get home from work).
Professional = 9-5 Structure
I need structure. While I appreciated my time in the startup world, it's not what I'm looking for at this stage of my life. Currently, my job aligns with my values of financial stability, benefits, and work-life balance, which are my priorities at the moment.
My “why”:
I consider myself a changemaker — “someone who has found the self-permission to advance change for the good of all. It is someone who is intentional about solving a social or environmental problem, motivated to act and be creative.”
My career goals and priorities could look different every 2-3 years, but for now, I am very grateful and lucky to have found this path of career stability + the freedom to create and run my own side hustle business outside of work.
I appreciate the support I’ve gotten from even strangers I met at a local pop-up fair/farmer’s market, professors and colleagues I learned from at Foster, and connections I’ve made at the law office.
What does any of this keep telling me to do?
NETWORK. ENGAGE. CONNECT. LISTEN. SHARE. START.
Ask yourself, “What am I committed to doing differently — starting today?”
Final Thoughts:
Do your research. Write your goals. Talk to people. Take action.
Don’t wait for opportunities to come. Start now, even small steps lead to bigger things. It’s never too late to start something new and change the trajectory of your life. It’s YOUR TURN to invest in your personal growth and professional development.
Remember to celebrate even small wins!
What are some key takeaways you learned from my blog?
Share your thoughts below! I’d love to hear them!
Thank you again for reading my newsletter. If you are interested in following up on my personal growth + career development, let’s stay in touch!
My social channels and online business storefront:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/unica-le
Instagram: instagram.com/unica.le
Portfolio (work with me!): unigodina.my.canva.site
E-Commerce Store (order my book + physical goods!): unigodina/shopmyproducts
Cheers to all the unique adventures we've had, and all the amazing adventures we WILL have!
Unica 💫