“I always tell people when they’re wanting to make a change career-wise or trying to figure something out the best piece of advice I can offer is to really be fearless,” said Sarah Ashley Schiear during the opening session of Samsung 837’s Fall Discovery Series aimed at giving college students and young professionals the opportunity to listen to an intimate career-centric conversation with high-profile professionals in their fields.

Schiear, who moved to New York City five years ago after an unexpected third place win on ABC’s “The Taste,” in 2013, has parlayed that success into building a thriving private chef and expert entertainment business and is now channeling her knowledge into building her experience-driven retail concept Salt House Market, with the mission of helping customers curate “more joyful moments at home.”

Entrepreneur Sarah Ashley Schiear speaks to audience members following the opening session of the Samsung 837 Fall Discovery Series.

Entrepreneur Sarah Ashley Schiear speaks to audience members following the opening session of the Samsung 837 Fall Discovery Series.

College students and young professionals who attended the session had no shortage of questions for Schiear, asking for advice on everything from how she chooses to partner with someone in business, to how and when she determines it’s safe to share business ideas with others and one audience member asked her to reveal the saying she has tattooed on her left wrist.

Schiear proudly held up her arm with the tattoo that reads, “Sans peur,” in French, which translates to “fearless.”

Schiear was candid and conversational about risks she took as she began to build her business and encouraged others not to be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone even if you think you might fail.

“There was a point in my career that I was making a big decision to double my rent for work purposes and it was a big risk,” explained Schiear. “I had this vision and wanted to create this space where I could do the work that I needed to do and a lot of my friends were asking, ‘Aren’t you nervous? How will you afford it?,’ and to put it in perspective I just asked myself what’s the absolute worst thing that could happen,” explained Schiear.

The answer for her was simple: There was a possibility she wouldn’t be able to pay rent and she would have to find a new place to live once again, but she told herself even that possibility wasn’t a life or death situation and so it was worth the risk.

A recent college graduate in the audience, Fatima Bouchelta, visiting from Brussels, Belgium said Schiear’s advice was inspirational for her.

“It definitely opened my eyes to the fact that you just have to try and get out there to achieve success, even if you fail. Just try again,” said Bouchelta.

Schiear didn’t hesitate when asked to share one successful habit that keeps her in the right mindset for building her business. “Meditation – a life-changing thing – I meditate every day, I’ve been doing it for almost two years now and it’s made the biggest difference in my personal happiness as well as success of running a business,” explained Schiear, challenging everyone in the room to give themselves a promise to try it for five minutes a day for one month, to begin to see the benefits.

The Fall Discovery Series runs on the mainstage of Samsung 837, from 6:00PM-8:00PM, and is open to the public. Following each discussion, attendees have the opportunity to receive a complimentary review of their resume from a Samsung HR representative as well as get a professional headshot taken to use on social media profiles. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/837/events/fall-discovery-series.