Tabitha Turner
Web Post Resize (Instagram Post (4:5)) - 1
Nashville has never been short on ambitious women — professionals who dream bigger, work harder, and open doors for those who follow.
From entrepreneurs and executives to creatives, advocates, and innovators, these women are making an impact in their industries, strengthening our community, and proving that success is even more meaningful when it’s shared. They are leaving a lasting mark on Music City — one bold decision at a time.
How did your career evolve into what it is now?
After graduating from Howard University with a journalism degree and six to seven PR internships under my belt, I went on over 100 interviews in an eight-month period to get a PR job. That amount of rejection was discouraging, but it taught me to be open about my career path and to lean on others to help.
It would take 2.5 years to finally get a job in PR, but to get there was challenging. It took networking to get freelance opportunities to add to my resume. Networking was a challenge in NYC because many rooms expected you to walk in as “somebody important” instead of being a space that is welcoming and resourceful.
While I noodled on how I could change networking in NYC, I navigated what I thought I wanted as a career. I was finally working in PR, but I hated the place I worked. I would experience my first layoff nine months into that role. I finally saw my networking pay off once I was honest about what happened to me. I took a temp opportunity at ESSENCE magazine under the lifestyle editor until “I got on my feet.” There, I rediscovered my love of writing. It was also nice to be on the other side of the team and expand my knowledge of media from a publicist to a writer.
I became an email marketer and web UX designer by transferring my skills. I started to miss storytelling, so I started freelance writing and was encouraged to share my job search journey. I decided to build a personal brand and start the Lemons 2 Lemonade blog, which then turned into the Lemons 2 Lemonade Mixers. I was finally ready to create a networking experience as I had always envisioned and help put more people of color and women on stages. This year marks 10 years of doing that work.
Many women wear more than one hat — professionally or personally. What’s a part of your story that doesn’t fit neatly into your job title?
My story isn’t neat at all. It’s messy. I’ve pivoted a lot for survival. I haven’t worked at the glitzy companies. But through survival came goodness. I found my passion and my purpose. If my career went as planned, there would be no Lemons 2 Lemonade. I was able to create and own something that has helped others.
How do you define success?
Success, to me, is being able to end the day knowing I did something I love, something that brought me joy, something impactful, and something that aligned with my purpose.
What advice would you offer young women who hope to follow a path similar to yours?
It’s okay to be multidimensional and multifaceted. You don’t have to be one thing.