Stephanie Deskins

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

As bad as it is to say, being female. Both the music industry and the law enforcement service are male dominated areas. As a female you have to work twice as long and ten times harder. You can't be shy and you have to step up, be sure of yourself and prove yourself early on to gain respect.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

Don't take anything too seriously, including yourself. A good sense of humor will get you through anything.

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

I knew from a very early age I loved music. I also grew up in a law enforcement family so as I got older and music was not paying the bills it just made sense to go into that field.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

It's either very stressful or very sad. The hardest things in life are the unknown. I help find missing people and we don't know where they are, how they are, what happened to them, etc. On the other hand, sometimes we find them and the outcome is not what we had hoped for.

How did you start building your network?

The internet! It can be an amazing took when you use it properly. Just find the right people, the professionals, and approach them in a professional but casual manner. Don't be shy and introduce yourself.

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

It's a battle of attrition. It's hard work but it's more like a marathon when you are deciding what you want to do and then going into that field on an entry level.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

Absolutely. My parents did NOT want me to be a musician after high school and I did not want to go to college. In the end, they won and I majored in Criminal Justice. I'm glad for it.