Exploring Many Paths with Our Guest, Lisa Sticca-Conrod
Career Conversations for Gifted Youth is a webinar series hosted by SFRM’s GY Member at Large Brandon K, where GYs hear directly from professionals about their careers, challenges, and choices. The goal is to give gifted youth inspiration and honest advice as they imagine their own futures.
Meet the Speaker
Lisa Sticca-Conrod has worn many hats throughout her life: professor, lawyer, entrepreneur, curriculum designer, nonprofit leader, coach, and tutor. Her background spans education, law, publishing, advocacy, and psychology. She also returned to school later in life to study educational psychology and neurodiversity so she could better understand her twice-exceptional daughter.
Her career shows that you do not have to choose just one path. You can explore many different directions and still build a meaningful and fulfilling life.
How It All Began
Lisa earned dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and international studies, with minors in Spanish, music theory, and performance. She once dreamed of being an opera singer. Unsure of exactly where she fit, she pursued law school because it seemed to tie together her interests in people, culture, business, and justice.
Along the way, she began tutoring almost by accident when she helped a family in need. What started as a small favor became a lifelong business. This openness to opportunity, combined with curiosity, shaped her career path.
What She Finds Most Fulfilling
Teaching and tutoring have brought Lisa the most joy. Whether in university lecture halls or one-on-one with students, her greatest rewards have come from thank-you notes and the realization that she has changed lives. She emphasizes that when your worst day in a role is still better than your best day somewhere else, you have found the right fit.
Advice on Finding Your Passion
Lisa offered a recipe for discovering what excites you:
- Be open-minded. Try new things, even if you are unsure. A hobby or volunteer activity can open unexpected doors.
- Know yourself. Understand your habits, personality, and preferences. Are you introverted or extroverted? Do you prefer deep focus or broad exploration?
- Learn from experiences. Each opportunity builds skills, people connections, and clarity about what you want.
- Volunteer. It is a way to build skills, meet people, and help others at the same time.
Obstacles and Ethics
One challenge Lisa faced across careers was pressure to compromise her ethics. Whether in law, corporate work, or education, she sometimes had to choose between keeping a job or staying true to her values. She always chose integrity.
Her message to youth: never compromise your ethics for money, prestige, or external expectations. True success is living in alignment with your values.
Advice for College-Bound Youth
- Choose a college with a strong core curriculum that exposes you to many fields. You may discover passions you had never considered.
- Look at activities as much as classes. Your lifelong friends and defining experiences often come from extracurriculars.
- Do not rush into a major or graduate program. Taking time to work, volunteer, or explore can save you from debt and regret.
- Remember that education should inspire you, not box you in.
Skills That Matter Everywhere
Lisa highlighted several transferable skills that help in any field:
- Listening to understand, not just to respond
- Communicating clearly in writing and speech
- Collaborating with people who think differently
- Staying curious and willing to learn at every stage of life
Coping with Pressure and Expectations
Gifted youth often feel pressure to live up to labels or societal expectations. Lisa reminded everyone that you are more than grades, transcripts, or job titles. You must define success for yourself.
Trust your instincts. Ask what you love, not just what others think you should do. Be willing to slow down and take time to decide. As Lisa said, success is not about chasing someone else’s definition. It is about waking up each day excited to do the work in front of you.
Preparing for the Future
For high school students, Lisa recommended:
- Challenging yourself with rigorous courses where appropriate
- Exploring community college classes or dual enrollment
- Volunteering to gain skills and connections
- Getting a job to build people skills and responsibility
She also stressed that colleges look for well-rounded students, not just the highest GPA.
Final Message
Lisa closed with this advice: Be happy. Do what you love. Success will follow when your work is a natural extension of who you are.
Be Part of the SFRM Gifted Youth Community
The SFRM Gifted Youth Program is dedicated to creating spaces where gifted youth can learn, grow, and imagine new paths for themselves. Career Conversations is just one way we connect families with professionals who share their journeys and insights.
Each session is designed to inspire, spark ideas, and show that there are many ways to build a meaningful career and life. Join us for future events and become part of a community that values curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning.