Ever felt stuck in a career that no longer lights you up? In this episode, Breeanna chats with July, a former engineer turned wedding industry innovator. July shares her incredible journey of transitioning from burnout in a male-dominated field to launching a creative business that brings couples’ dreams to life. Tune in to hear about overcoming societal expectations, navigating parental skepticism, and embracing your creative instincts to build a business that brings balance and fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

• July's career trajectory showcases a transition from engineering to wedding content creation, seeking fulfillment outside of her day job.
• Embracing one's authenticity in the face of industry stereotypes, July pushes for representation of gender and race in STEM fields.
• The importance of finding a support system, like Engineering Gals, for women in engineering to navigate the challenges of entering a male-dominated space.
• July’s content creation business focuses on capturing intimate, behind-the-scenes moments of weddings that clients cherish shortly after their special day.
• The conversation sheds light on the reality and importance of diversity in STEM, debunking myths around hiring based on diversity quotas.

Notable Quotes:

• "I truly believe that engineering is just fancy, expensive arts and crafts." – July speaks to the creative aspects of the engineering field.
• "I think you really have to be authentic to yourself and who you are." – July’s advice on pursuing a career in a field that may not align with societal norms.
• "Engineering Gals. It's not my page. I don't run it. It's a friend of mine. But there's a whole community of people out there that will post there and you can find other people to talk to so you're not alone in this." – July mentions a valuable resource for women in engineering.

Resources:

• July’s personal Instagram: @julyfolzaye
• July’s wedding content creation Instagram: @PearlAndCoralStudio
• Engineering community on Instagram for support and motivation: @engineeringgals

Tune in to the full episode to journey with July through her transformational story, that not only highlights the bold intersection of art and engineering but also offers a refreshing look at weddings through the lens of content creation. Subscribe and stay connected for more episodes that inspire growth, blend business savvy with creativity, and provide spiritual insights.

About the Guest:

July is a multifaceted professional straddling the worlds of engineering and creative entrepreneurship. With a foundational background in civil engineering earned in 2016 from the University of California, Irvine, she has varied industry experience ranging from CFL, automotive, to aerospace, where she currently excels as a data scientist. In parallel, July has established a niche within the wedding industry as a content creator, leveraging her passion for creative pursuits to forge a unique path that marries her engineering expertise with her artistic flair. Despite facing industry bias, July has proven to be a trailblazer—a testament to her resilience and skill.

BREEANNA KAY'S INSTAGRAM:  @breeannakayphotography

BREEANNA KAY'S WEBSITE: breeannakay.com

MANIFESTING PHOTOGRAPHER PODCAST SHOWNOTES:  breeannakay.com/celebrating-differences