“I belong here, these are my people.”
-Deborah Stephenson
Founder of Same Seed Different Soil LLC, Certified Professional Career Coach
My dad was a boilermaker…
he built electrical plants all over the US. Our little family did quite a bit of traveling for dad’s work when I was young, but by the time I was old enough for first grade my mom knew it would be better for us to be settled back home in New Mexico and let dad do the traveling.
We settled in Farmington, but the travel bug was alive and well in me! Still something surprised me every time I went somewhere new: The people.
Maybe it’s just me, but New Mexico is…special.
People open doors, say hello, look you in the eye, offer a smile or a wave. When I come home it’s still the safe, friendly, welcoming place I’ve always known, and haven’t found anywhere else.
The only thing that can even come close to the quality of the people? That sky.
The color, the incredible height of it, the feeling of being able to see forever, and the intensity of the sunshine.
I ended up in the healthcare field by chance. Although I married young and was blessed to stay at home full-time with my beautiful daughter, the relationship didn’t last.
The silver lining, however, was discovering a great sense of purpose in being a dependable and valued worker.
My career in healthcare was long and largely fulfilling, but the true joy came from creating solutions to problems and motivating teams to accomplish the work that needed to be done.
I was also the person people turned to for help with personal problems or issues.
In those early years, I climbed the ladder into leadership roles without the need for a degree.
But sometime in the mid-90s, the landscape shifted, and a degree became necessary if I wanted to advance further. By then, I had remarried and gained a bonus son from my husband’s first marriage.
It took some time, but I earned my Bachelor of Science in Management in 2015 and completed my Master of Healthcare Administration in 2020.
By 2022, I had become frustrated with the corporate environment I was in. However, given my age and the years I had spent focusing on obtaining multiple degrees, I felt I couldn’t just walk away from my corporate career.
I spent a great deal of time talking to family and friends…
My daughter suggested I become a certified coach and start my own business.
The idea lit me up inside!
As soon as I heard the suggestion, I knew it was the path I had to take. And as she reminded me of all the times I had guided and encouraged my co-workers toward career success over the years, I realized I had the skills to make it happen.
It was my own dissatisfaction that led to the creation of Infinity Coaching and Consulting LLC. At the time, it was solely to help women like myself navigate their career transition journeys.
As I continued my work, I realized that many women, like myself, found their way into careers by sheer happenstance—positions that offered great financial rewards but, over time, left them feeling…
"There’s got to be more to life than this."
This realization became the driving force behind starting Same Seed, Different Soil LLC.
I recognized that if I could reach young people early—while they were still making decisions about their careers—I might be able to influence the paths they chose.
Combining this with my experience as a hiring manager, I understood that many students in New Mexico were not receiving the training, education, and coaching they need to succeed in the workforce.
Deborah’s Passion
Helping youth unlock their potential and build sustainable careers. With a background in career coaching and more than 40 years in business leadership, my team and I guide young individuals through the transformative career planning process.
Our Team Mission
Same Seed Different Soil is empowering local youth by guiding them towards life-long professional careers that align with their unique drives and needs. Through personalized coaching and career navigators, we connect young individuals with New Mexico’s workforce demands, amplifying their growth opportunities in the job market. Our mission is to position New Mexico as a leader in career prospects for the next generation.
