From Crunching Numbers to Creating Content: How My Accounting Career Led Me to My Media Passion

Tapeka Fennell-Francis
3 min readMar 16, 2023

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It’s not uncommon to feel lost or unfulfilled in our jobs at some point in our lives and I was in that situation when I worked in accounting. Though I appreciated the stability and financial security it provided, I found myself unhappy going to work every day. However, this job led me to discovering my true passion in media.

I started my career in accounting, like many others, because it seemed like a practical choice. However, as the years went by, I found myself feeling increasingly unfulfilled. I was uninspired, and the idea of spending the rest of my life in a job that didn’t excite me was daunting.

During that time, I asked myself how did other people find their purpose and how did they know what they wanted to become in life? I started to reach out to people about their careers, which turned into “interviews,” and I was hooked! I discovered my love for storytelling and the power of media to connect people and ideas.

As I explored my passion for media, I realized that I wanted to do more than just create content myself — I wanted to learn about the industry from those who had made it their careers. I began reaching out and interviewing people whom I admired, and to my surprise, many industry professionals were more than willing to share their stories and insights with me. This led me to attend events and conferences, network with other creators and industry professionals, and take classes to hone my media craft.

After making the decision to pursue a career in media fulltime, I knew it would not be an easy transition. However, with the passion and drive that comes from doing what you love, I was willing to put in the work. I created content on social media, completed several celebrity interviews, became a mentee with a television executive, and experimented with several types of content to find my niche. I continued to learn and grow in the industry, leading me to create my own business, and within 5 years of my career change — I was recognized side-by-side with my peers as a top female within the industry for the state of Alabama!

One of the most important lessons I learned from my experience is that it’s never too late to make a change. It’s easy to get stuck in a routine and convince ourselves that we’re too established to pursue a new career path. But the truth is, it’s never a bad time to chase our dreams and find fulfillment in our work. Taking risks and stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to amazing opportunities and personal growth.

Networking and building relationships with like-minded individuals were also crucial to my success. The media industry is highly collaborative, and having a strong support system and network of contacts has been invaluable in my career.

Finally, it’s important to have a positive mindset and believe in yourself. Pursuing a new career path can be daunting, and it’s easy to doubt ourselves and our abilities. But having confidence in ourselves and our skills can make all the difference in achieving our goals.

In conclusion, my journey from accounting to media was challenging, but it led me to discovering my true purpose. If you’re feeling unfulfilled in any aspect of your life — take a leap of faith and explore your passions. You never know where it may lead you!

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Tapeka Fennell-Francis
Tapeka Fennell-Francis

Written by Tapeka Fennell-Francis

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Tapeka Fennell-Francis is an award-winning Multimedia Television Personality | Top Women in Alabama Media, award recipient.

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