One of the easiest traps to fall into — especially as women — is believing we have to “pick a thing.”

One lane.
One title.
One tidy little path that makes sense to everyone else.

And then I sit down with someone like Carley Kintzle… and I’m reminded (again) that real life is rarely tidy or linear… and that’s actually a very good thing.

Carley is in her final year at Iowa State studying agricultural communications and PR… but that’s just one thread of her. She shows cattle. She runs a jewelry business she started back in 2020 (Wild Orchid Co.). She’s had dream marketing internships across the U.S. And recently, she picked up a camera “just for fun”… and now she’s photographing livestock shows and second shooting weddings.

What stood out to me most wasn’t just that Carley is talented (she is). It’s that she’s open.

Open to trying something before she has it all figured out.
Open to walking into a room and introducing herself.
Open to mentors who push her a little past comfortable.
Open to learning by doing, and letting the learning happen in real time.

Starting before you feel ready

Carley started Wild Orchid Co. during COVID because she wanted a creative outlet and something to pour her energy into.

Here’s the best part: she hadn’t even made leather earrings before.

Her mom’s response was basically:
“Carley… are we sure this is a great idea?” 😅

So Carley practiced. Made a few pairs. Took photos. Launched anyway.

And as trends shifted (and as she grew), the business grew too — evolving into Native-made jewelry and Navajo pearl stringing. It’s a really good reminder that you don’t have to have the whole plan… you just need the courage to start where you are.

Mentorship that stretches you

Carley talked about mentors who didn’t just cheer her on, they challenged her.

The kind of mentors who say, “Try this,” and your first thought is, “Wait… you think I can do that?”

Those are the people who help you grow in the best way. Not because they hand you a blueprint to success or automatic confidence, but because they help you build it one brave step at a time.

Networking (that doesn’t have to feel gross)

Carley also said something that made me smile: she used to roll her eyes at the word networking because college people say it a million times.

But now she gets it.

Not in a fake, salesy way. More like… the simple courage of walking up to someone and saying:
“Hi, I’m Carley. Nice to meet you.”

That willingness led to coffee chats, real connections, and ultimately a role with Corteva as a social media specialist — a “dream job” she honestly didn’t think would happen while she was still in college.

A little reminder for all of us

Carley is in an early stage of her life and career, but her mindset isn’t just “young person wisdom.” It’s human wisdom.

Challenges can fuel you.
The right people can stretch you.
Opportunities can come from the most unexpected conversations.
And you don’t have to choose one lane to be legitimate.

Her message was simple:

Just go for it.

And if I’m honest? I think we all need that reminder sometimes — no matter what age or stage we’re in.

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Listen to Carley’s story in Episode 235 of The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth now streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.