Career Outtakes: Hot Takes on Failure and Success

At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we believe every journey has bloopers, but it’s those moments that shape us into the leaders we become. Not only do they keep us humble, they remind us that failure isn’t the end – it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and ultimately succeed. To explore real-life examples of this, we reached out to industry professionals from some of our national partners, NASCAR, The Coca-Cola Company, Jimmy John’s, Cxmmunity and Charles Schwab Foundation, who shared with us how they’ve turned their career bloopers and tough moments into valuable lessons. Each of these leaders shares a pivotal moment in their career, offering insights on how to deal with failure and how to define success in your own journey. Whether you’re figuring out the career you want, or learning how to overcome failure, these stories can help empower you to carve out a path to your own success.

Meet the Leaders

Pete Stuart, Managing Director, Impact Strategy and Development, NASCAR

Pete Stuart, Managing Director, Impact Strategy and Development, NASCAR

Pete Stuart leads NASCAR IMPACT, an umbrella platform that drives NASCAR’s efforts in sustainability, community engagement, and social initiatives. With a focus on partnerships and programs designed to engage youth across the country, Pete plays a crucial role in shaping NASCAR’s positive impact on communities.

Facing Setbacks: Pete’s Oops Moment

“After graduating from college, I took what I thought was my big break into the sports industry, moving to a new city for a role in sales. However, the excitement quickly faded as I realized sales wasn’t aligned with my strengths. I felt embarrassed and disappointed for taking the job, and decided to move on. Fortunately, my career mentors encouraged me to pursue opportunities that better matched my skills.”

Advice to Youth: Focus on the Present

“Have goals and plan ahead, but also be present in the moment. Find enjoyment and fulfillment in what you’re doing now. Work takes up such a large percentage of our lives, so find a place where you’re surrounded by kind people and are consistently happy to arrive at work in the morning. In time, you’ll reach your next steps and achieve your goals for the future.”

Carla Deegan, Senior Director of Community Marketing, Coca-Cola North America

Carla Deegan, Senior Director of Community Marketing, Coca-Cola North America

Carla Deegan oversees the community marketing strategy for Coca-Cola North America, creating a positive mission impact for nonprofit partners while fostering community engagement for Coca-Cola’s brands. Carla’s journey reflects her commitment to giving back and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Seeking Feedback: Career Reflection

Try your best to seek feedback and look at it as a “gift”. Before you laugh, I know it is not always easy to actively seek out areas of improvement, but it is truly the only way we grow. Be the person who asks their peers and supervisors “how can I improve” or “How can we work better together next time?” It is a muscle that you build and will become more natural over time, and more importantly give you the feedback and resilience you will need over the course of your career.

Advice to Youth: Find a Career that’s Fulfilling

“Focus on careers that bring you happiness and joy, not just income. Take time to explore what that might be. Try new things and don’t be afraid to walk away from a job that doesn’t fulfill you, because we spend so much time at work. Ask someone you trust to be a sounding board, and always ask for help when you need it.”

Kate Carpenter, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, Jimmy John’s

Kate Carpenter, Vice President of Integrated Marketing, Jimmy John’s

Kate Carpenter heads marketing and communication strategies for Jimmy John’s, overseeing campaigns across TV, digital, social media, and PR. Her team ensures that every consumer touchpoint tells a compelling and consistent story that draws people to the brand’s products. With a career that spans various industries, Kate has developed a unique perspective on leadership, innovation, and marketing, which she now brings to her role at Jimmy John’s.

Learning from Mistakes: Kate’s Leadership Lesson

“Years ago, I had the chance to lead a significant innovation initiative and often met with senior leaders to update them. In one meeting, I was asked challenging questions I hadn’t fully considered. Instead of admitting I didn’t know the answers, I tried to come up with solutions on the spot. The president of our business unit stopped me and said, ‘Kate, it’s okay if you don’t know. Work with the team on the solution and get back to me.’ This taught me that it’s important to have the humility to admit when you don’t know something and that ‘I’ll follow up with you’ is a perfectly acceptable answer.”

Advice to Youth: Keep an Open Mind

“When I graduated from college, I thought I needed to have my whole life figured out. What I’ve learned is that finding a fulfilling career often involves trial and error. The key is to stay curious and approach every role or project from a learning mindset. This can lead to discovering strengths, interests, and opportunities you never expected.”

Julian Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Cxmmunity

Julian Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Cxmmunity

Julian Fitzgerald is a social impact leader with a deep passion for using workforce development as an economic equalizer for underserved communities. A former United States Marine and proud Boys & Girls Clubs alum, Julian understands the importance of leadership and innovation. As the co-founder of Gaming Cxmmunity, he is committed to closing the digital divide in the tech and gaming industry, aiming to impact emerging diverse professionals.

Career Journey: Turning Failure into Success

“I was a justice-involved youth, and joining the Marines was what really helped me turn my life around. A Gunnery Sergeant once told me to ‘schedule your downtime if you want to stay out of trouble.’ That advice stuck with me, and I started volunteering for nonprofits. That experience led me to fund development, consulting, and eventually founding my own organization. I’ve learned that giving back isn’t just about helping others — it’s also about creating sustainable change by empowering people to help themselves.”

Advice to Youth: It’s Never too Early

“Don’t let the perception that something is unattainable hold you back. In today’s world, you can start building and contributing to your future at a young age. Whether you’re 14 or in college, begin iterating on your ideas and creating something tangible. This process informs you about what you want to do and what you don’t want to do. The earlier you start, the more experience and insight you’ll gain, and the more confident you’ll become in your ability to contribute something meaningful to the world. Remember, it’s never too early to begin.”

Casey Cortese, Program Director, Schwab Community Affairs and Charles Schwab Foundation

Casey Cortese, Program Director, Schwab Community Affairs and Charles Schwab Foundation

As Program Director for Schwab Community Affairs and the Charles Schwab Foundation, Casey Cortese oversees national financial literacy partnerships, grantmaking, and employee community giving programs. Casey and her team work to strengthen communities nationwide, empowering employees to support causes they care about and making financial contributions to nonprofit organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The Courage to Ask: Casey’s Early Career Insight

“One of my first jobs in college was running programming for the campus radio station. After a quick training session, I was left alone, feeling terrified and unprepared. I quit, thinking I had failed. Looking back, I realize that feeling challenged didn’t mean I was incapable. Instead, I learned that asking questions shows curiosity and a willingness to learn. This experience shaped my understanding of how to deal with failure — not as a setback, but as an opportunity to seek support and grow.”

Advice to Youth: Go Exploring

“You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your career right now. Give yourself room to experiment, explore, and find your strengths. Try new things and remember that the skills you develop can be applied in many ways. Each role you take on will bring you closer to figuring out the right career path and defining success on your own terms.”