Episode 9Victoria Raps watched her friends graduate college and take safe jobs with predictable hours and standard benefits. They thought she was crazy for staying at a startup where she worked long days, wore multiple hats, and had no clear job description. Eight years later, she runs operations for a company with over 700 advisors, manages a team of 35 people, and earns more than most of her peers will see for decades.
The ones who played it safe are still waiting for their next promotion.
In this episode of the Take The Power Back podcast, Victoria sits down with Jason Mickool to explain why choosing growth over comfort changed everything.
The conversation covers:
Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on Podbean.
Victoria started at Flagler College in St. Augustine with no career plan. Then she watched an entire class of seniors graduate and fail to land jobs.
“I watched none of them get jobs and it was really scary. All I knew was I’m going to college, I have to get a job. I didn’t know what it was.”
That fear motivated her to transfer to the University of Tampa and get an internship before graduation. She found one at a small financial services startup. The work itself was not exciting, but the culture was. She took a full-time offer and never looked back. Her psychology degree had nothing to do with the job. It did not matter.
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Victoria did the work of four people. She had no benefits. Her friends had comfortable nine-to-five jobs with hour-long lunch breaks and six months of parental leave. Her family questioned why she was working so hard for so little.
She called to quit.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. And I thought you really had to know to be successful in something. My friends thought I was absolutely crazy.”
The conversation that followed reframed everything. Startup culture requires sacrifice early so things can be easier later. The systems she was building, the problems she was solving, the hours she was putting in would compound into something her friends in safe jobs would never have access to.
“It has to be hard now, so it can be easy later. All the work that we spent has paid off big time.”
She stayed. The company grew from nine advisors to over 700. Her responsibilities expanded from recruiting coordinator to Senior Director of Operations. Looking for roles at companies that invest in your growth? Browse jobs from employers who value ambition over experience.
Victoria’s advice to young professionals is direct: find a culture that focuses on your growth, not just work-life balance.
“A lot of cultures try to keep you in those positions for their own benefit. I always recommend try to find somewhere where you can grow, where you can find out how to create goals. Regardless if you like the work, if they’re focused on you growing, you’ll be able to achieve whatever you want.”
She points out that companies advertising generous benefits and work-life balance often offer nothing for professional development. You can have balance for the rest of your life, but what do you actually gain? Meanwhile, entry-level employees at growth-focused companies can reach management in two years instead of waiting a decade.
“Even if it’s not the position that you really want, but the company’s invested in your future and your growth, that may be a good opportunity. The title doesn’t mean anything. It’s the satisfaction in the work.”
If you want to hear from more professionals who built careers outside traditional paths, book a speaker for your student club or organization.
Victoria is blunt about career services: they are not the answer.
“Definitely not career services. I would really look at small businesses around the area. Put yourself in positions where you think the people that you want to talk to are.”
Her approach is practical. Successful people prioritize health, so high-end boutique gyms are networking goldmines. Golf courses, entrepreneurship meetups, anywhere ambitious people gather. The key is showing up consistently and being genuinely curious about their experiences.
“People that are successful will share if you ask. They have no problem saying, this is the advice I would give. Now if you don’t take the advice, then you can’t ask again. You have to be serious about it.”
If you are ready to build something of your own while learning from people who have done it, the Incubator Hub can connect you with resources and community.
It can be worth staying at a startup with demanding hours if the company invests in your growth and the work compounds into real career advancement. Victoria Raps worked without benefits and did the work of four people in her early years. Eight years later, she manages 35 people at a company with over 700 advisors and earns more than most of her peers. The key question is whether the sacrifice leads somewhere or just burns you out. Choose companies where hard work translates into expanded responsibility, not just more of the same tasks.
Your college major does not determine your career path. Victoria Raps majored in psychology and now runs operations for a financial services firm. She never planned to work in operations and initially thought she would become a psychiatrist. The skills that matter most in her role, such as emotional intelligence, leadership, and systems thinking, were developed on the job rather than in a classroom. What matters more than your major is finding an environment where you can grow and develop real competencies.
You find mentorship outside career services by putting yourself where successful people spend time. Victoria Raps recommends boutique gyms, golf courses, entrepreneurship meetups, and small business networks. Successful people are often willing to share advice if you ask with genuine curiosity and follow through on what they tell you. The key is consistency: show up regularly, build real relationships, and demonstrate that you take their guidance seriously.
You should prioritize growth opportunity over starting salary in your first job. Victoria Raps was underpaid for years while building skills and taking on increasing responsibility. That investment paid off: she now earns more than most of her friends who took comfortable jobs with higher starting salaries. Companies that focus on work-life balance often offer nothing for professional development. Entry-level employees at growth-focused companies can reach management in two years instead of waiting a decade at traditional firms.
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