Chef Z started cooking as a child, and grew up working in over 20 restaurants in every role you can think of. Today, she is a non-profit founder, private chef to NFL players, and a popular contestant on televison’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Chopped.”

Her story of improvising in the kitchen - and in life - holds several important lessons for those of us who don’t want to be labeled too specifically in one career field, or who struggle with how to label themselves professionally.