Every time Tessa White, founder of The Job Doctor, shares her entrepreneurial success story, it begins with a description of a time in her life when she found herself a newly single parent with three young children and no education. In many ways she was starting at ground zero when she separated from her husband and set off on a path to establishing a career.
She had gained her first business experience as a young girl working with her father in his clothing store chain, and had found her first career job working alongside Stephen R. Covey, acclaimed leadership expert. This experience combined with the philosophies found in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Covey, would shape the course of her career, and would see her become a role model for women in Utah, and all across the United States.
One unexpected young woman in particular was impacted by Tessa’s groundbreaking journey was none other than her own daughter, Hannah Matthews. Hannah’s gratitude toward her mom was chronicled in an article titled “What It’s Like Growing Up With a Working Mom,” where the younger White daughter spoke on how her inspirational mother took a unique approach to upbringing that involved learning business skills such as writing a resume or using Excel to build a spreadsheet, as opposed to the traditional female skills Tessa had learned in her Utah Mormon upbringing. “I learned how to be independent at a young age, gaining valuable life skills,” Matthews says.
Indeed, White herself admits that she seldom shares specifics about her personal life as it’s a tough topic to get to grips with. “I thought the deliberate life I could control would never look normal,” she confesses. “I found myself dropped into a new story at age 30.”
That story included battling unspeakable trauma that included mental illness, suicide, homelessneess, abuse, loss. “It’s all part of my story,” she says. Such was the magnitude of White’s wounds that she blogged about them in an article titled, “My Sister is Homeless, and Yours Could Be Too.” In it, White chronicles the despair she faced locating her missing sister Jasmine, as well as the invaluable resource of the homeless community.
This Tessa isn’t the person we’ve been accustomed to seeing. But it’s this Tessa who has used these experiences to fill her heart back up. By beating the odds, White rose up as a Fortune 50 Executive to help others find their peace and purpose.
White has put hard-earned life experience to work in the services she offers through The Job Doctor. She knows that many people need assistance to navigate the workforce and wants to create an easier path for others than the path she took. Her work is gratifying, and she loves putting her skills to work, preparing clients for negotiating pay raises, resolving disputes, and asking for promotions. Clients tend to think small about their qualifications and experience. She is a pro at expanding their list of job possibilities.
Tessa started off on her journey thinking she wanted to help individuals who were challenged but couldn’t figure out how to monetize it. She soon realized that one of the problems people often have, especially women, is that they don’t place value on the skills they have or services they offer. For White, it was just a matter of realizing that she needed to do both, to make a living AND make a difference. She’s proven it can be done. “When I started The Job Doctor people said nobody would be interested in renting MY brain. But it hasn’t been the case. From the moment I opened up business, I’ve been deluged with clients. I’ve had to turn away business and find ways to serve more people because the model works beautifully. The business does serve me, and people do need my services. So, it is possible to do both!”
Tessa’s intelligence and generosity shine through as she shares, “I had a full-ride scholarship and dropped out to put my husband through college, then later found myself a single parent without an education. Because of my experience, I want people to know that no matter your starting point, you can dream big — you don’t have to think small! That is my greatest passion in doing the work that I do. I have a soft spot for any underdog who is starting with the odds stacked against them.”
One of the philanthropies that White supports is Dahlia’s Hope, whose mission is to provide aftercare for survivors of sex trafficking, including therapeutic services, medical, education, vocational training, transition into the workplace, residential support, and life skills. Their goal is to help survivors function independently and successfully in society. It doesn’t take a stretch to envision ways that Tessa has been of help to this group. Need vocational training? Need help with transitioning into the workplace? Job Doctor to the rescue!
The Job Doctor website offers a chance to explore what Tessa White is all about. While with her, clients undoubtedly sense they are in the presence of wisdom and greatness. With one click and the price of one session, anyone can have access to life-changing career advice and the privilege of renting Tessa White’s brain.
Media Contact:
Glenda Hovenkamp / Sarshar Hosseinnia, Writer
