What is The Bella Insider?
The Bella Insider is a personal lifestyle blog written by Sarah (hello, me!) about leaving my Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) career to pursue a job that fully used my talents & skills. Here you’ll find personal experiences, modern career advice, and an inside look into some of my favorite hobbies: travel, home decor, skincare, and hunting for all things colorful, #sunnyhappybright!
What did you study in school?
I received my B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from The Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.
Why did you choose to study Petroleum Engineering?
I chose to study petroleum engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, because I was deeply interested in how oil & gas touches everyone in all parts of the world.
Since graduating and working for an energy tech start-up, I saw how many women in the industry lacked the support they needed to grow in their careers and make an impact in their companies. It prompted me to move to The Hollis Company, where I now work with an amazing team to give women of all backgrounds and career interests the tools and experiences to change their personal and professional lives for the better.
Do you work as an engineer now?
Currently, I do not! I work full-time in social media content and strategy, which requires the perfect mix of creative and analytical skills for me.
Though, I am so proud to have started my education and career in engineering. It taught me to think critically, work efficiently, and just FIGURE IT OUT. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to meet other women who are fueling a movement of females in tech to create impactful change in the world. I think that is so powerful, and I hope to continue supporting women of all kinds to do what they love.
I’m a senior in college. Do you have any advice for me?
I love helping college seniors. Transition periods are always difficult, but especially daunting when it comes to finding a career you want to stay in. I recommend reading this article about the top advice I give to college seniors first. If you have any more questions or need any more advice, please feel free to reach out!
I work in social media professionally. Do you have any resources or favorite apps?
My favorite resource right now is People Maps. It’s a subscription-based web tool that taps into the Instagram API and allows you to find people in your community, track campaigns and build strong case studies. I’d recommend it to influencers, PR or marketing agencies, or anyone who geeks out over real data-driven insights behind social media. Use my sign-up code to receive $10 off your first month.
If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me here or find me on social at @sarah_thebella!
