Every day, our team is focused on how to help our audience and community reach their full potential in every part of their lives – personal and professional. Building confidence and self-esteem is one of the most essential requirements for success and below we’ve presented some of the conversations we’ve had around how to build confidence.
Coach Valentin
At the age of 14, I realized that I did not like my body. I was too skinny, and I needed to do something about it. That day, I signed up for a gym and started my fitness journey, which later became both my passion and my career. Read More>>
Dan Walters
I definitely gained a lot of confidence giving presentations and leading workshops. I started to realize my work spoke to people, and they wanted to learn. I realized, too I was very good at explaining photography techniques and how to teach that. Read More>>
Porter Stout Beer God
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through sports.. I used to move around a lot and every year I was the only new person that will be on the team. Having to overcome obstacles of something that became fun. Even though I lived in all of these different states, I still love to come to a new school and see if I was good enough. Read More>>
Janelle Sy’mone
Developed? More like developing… The confidence I have so far has been generated from a point of survival. “Never Let Them See You Sweat”—-but I’m shifting my confidence from being merely performative to being purposeful. I’m owning and discovering who I am everyday and this has allowed me to fall in love with the same parts of myself that I’m discovering. Read More>>
Esma Elmerini
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through my faith and life’s failures,learning from struggles, trial and error, and survival. Each challenge taught me to rely only on God, not on people, and through prayer I found strength, clarity, and the courage to keep going. Read More>>
Allen Thomas
Coming from a broken home, one thing that I was confident in as a young man growing up, was that I didn’t belong. Whether it was at school, playing in the neighborhood, or being around family; I never truly felt like I belonged. Fast forward to adulthood, some years later, I’m still fighting to find confidence on a day to day basis. Read More>>
Nicole Groleau
I feel that confidence and self esteem seem to flow naturally when you are passionate about something. Discovering a craft that truly lights you up, not only fuels your own growth but also has the power to inspire and uplift others. Read More>>
Ametria Perixit
Ametria Peridot’s confidence and self-esteem didn’t just appear overnight—it’s the result of her lived experiences, creative work, and intentional self-development. Here’s how she built it: 1. Overcoming Hardship and Betrayal She’s been open about how past heartbreaks, betrayals, and toxic relationships shook her emotionally. Read More>>
Sunny Monae
Honestly, building my confidence and self-esteem took time and a lot of work. I like to say I built it brick by brick. Growing up, I was that nerdy girl who loved anime and rocked her own style, and people definitely had opinions. Being a little overweight didn’t help either. But dance changed everything for me. Read More>>
Aurora Chernis
Developing my confidence and self-esteem came from struggling for many years to feel good in my own skin. Being a ballerina is one of the hardest paths you can choose mentally, physically, and emotionally. For me, the biggest struggle of those three has been the mental and emotional consequences of pursuing a ballet career. Read More>>
Dasia Thomas
My confidence development started once I began discovering myself unapologetically. I let myself explore anything I was interested in. I’m okay with having awkward moments or being unconventional. All of that helped me let loose, have fun, explore new talents and interests, and ultimately build the confidence I have today. Read More>>
Dean Robinson
I was stiff. I didn’t know how to dance. I didn’t know how to hip-hop, so I studied. Dance was learned. Making music was learned. I could never memorize lyrics of popular songs, and I felt like I was different, because I was. Read More>>
Kristina Bozanich
In my work as a creative director and photographer in the worlds of art, glam, and fashion, I’ve come to realize that confidence is one of the most powerful tools you have. It’s something you cultivate over time. Part of my signature style is wearing bold hats, and they’ve become a fun way to express my brand. Read More>>
Charise Beckett
Confidence wasn’t something I picked up in a workshop or a conference room—it was baked into me at home. My mom used to tell me, ‘They don’t make them better than mine,’ and she said it with such conviction that it became my inner soundtrack. That mantra taught me to walk into every room knowing I belonged there before anyone else validated me. Read More>>
James Orsini
Growing up as the youngest sibling in a family of 4 I was always surrounded by adults. My oldest sister was 16 when I was born, I had a sister 14 and my brother was 10. You can see by the time I was 7 or 8 my siblings and parents were all adults having adult conversations at our dinner table. Read More>>
Tiffany Balk
My confidence and self-esteem blossomed from two key sources: the healthy examples provided by my parents, and a rich tapestry of life experiences. My father’s international business career took our family across the globe. We lived in Brussels, Belgium, for five years, an opportunity my parents maximized by showing us a vast array of European sights. Read More>>
Janelle Britton
They’re definitely not things that ever came naturally to me. I was always a high achiever as a student in high school, college and into grad school. I leaned into achievement as what gave me value and worth–and I hid behind that success for my confidence and self-esteem. It was the same when I graduated and started a good career. Read More>>
Austen Fitzpatrick
My confidence was developed at a young age. My parents instill confidence in me through positive reinforcement and being firm and direct. I developed confidence through sports, peers and trial and error. I think a lot of my confidence comes from not being afraid to fail at new things. Read More>>
Shelby Vaughn
I give a lot of credit for shaping my confidence and self-worth to my parents. They were always cheering so loudly that I never noticed if others weren’t cheering. As a young Black girl in suburban North Alabama, I learned to navigate microaggressions early. I’ll never forget in seventh grade, I got my first taste of intersectionality. Read More>>
LuzCelenia Arce
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through practice and presence. I realized early on that confidence doesn’t just appear. I had to cultivate it by showing up, fully, even when I felt scared or unsure. That means being brave, taking action, and leaning into experiences rather than waiting to “feel ready.” A big part of my journey has been my sensual practice. Read More>>
Jonathan Harris
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through the support of my family and friends. Growing up I doubted myself because I was often bullied in school for being different and not wanting to do things to fit in with the crowd. It left me depressed and questioning myself as a person. Read More>>
Jameela Harris
“The Star Was Always Me” From plot twists to red carpets, she turned setbacks into spotlight moments. I didn’t just stumble into confidence—I staged a comeback worthy of a Hollywood script. Every rejection was my plot twist, every setback a scene-stealer. Doubt tried to dim my light, but I treated it like a camera flash—blinding for a second, then gone. Read More>>
Rachel Heyes
My confidence and self-esteem didn’t come overnight — they were built gradually through experiences, failures, reflection, and small wins. I learned to truly know myself, to listen without judgment, to respect my pace, and to accept that personal growth isn’t linear. Facing challenging moments — like feeling under pressure or not good enough — actually helped me build inner strength. Read More>>
Maria Bush
As a teenager I was extremely shy and insecure, but I always loved to dress up and look at myself in the mirror. Growing up in a small place in Russia in 90s was tough and no a lot of options what to wear (we all girls at school had pretty much same clothes). Read More>>
Stella Boheme
There is something about putting on bright and colorful eyeshadow, a gown with sequins and rhinestones and outrageous red hair that seems to brighten my day and give me the confidence boost I need. Read More>>
Derek Pratt
I wanted to share a little about my journey with confidence and self-esteem. For me, it started at home. From an early age, my parents reminded me every single day that I could do anything I put my mind to. That belief wasn’t just words—it became the foundation of how I viewed myself and the world around me. Read More>>
Mark Gasper
Content Director & Independent Filmmaker With over 400 programs directed across a wide spectrum of genres, formats, and mediums, I bring a dynamic and versatile approach to content creation. My work spans documentary, narrative, experimental, commercial, and educational formats—each tailored to specific communication goals and audiences. Read More>>
Alexandra Diaz
For me, confidence didn’t come overnight, it was something I built little by little, often in the face of doubt and uncertainty. When I first started The Leafy Lounge, I was just a stay at home mom with a passion for plants. I didn’t have a big budget, a storefront, or even much business experience. Read More>>
Alexandra Chan
I think this is probably, for many people, including me, a lifetime work in progress. No one I know has perfect confidence and self-esteem in every situation. There is always room for growth and evolution in this. Read More>>
Isa Marie
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through long periods of repetition and self-practice. I knew I always wanted to be the confident and charismatic woman I’ve pictured myself as throughout childhood, and I had to learn that confidence and high self-esteem are dedicated practices that you owe yourself to grow. Read More>>
Cameron Dantley
Where does my confidence come from? That’s a great question— and honestly, I believe it’s rooted in a few key sources. First, my incredible support system. I was lucky to grow up in a loving family where my parents cheered me and my siblings on, even when we were clumsily fumbling through new hobbies. Read More>>
Jayne Trimble
I am naturally a shy person, and an extreme introvert. I am also the host of TV show, and come across very confident- so when I tell people that they are always shocked. I believe you can be both. And in fact, one makes the other extraordinarily authentic and compelling. A quiet confidence. An inner knowing. A very present undeniability. Read More>>
Ihab Judeh
I developed my confidence and self-esteem gradually over time through a mix of practice, mindset shifts, and surrounding myself with the right people. Building on small wins: I started by focusing on little achievements and keeping promises to myself. Each success, no matter how small, gave me proof that I was capable and reliable. Read More>>
DB FiLMZ
I’d say I’ve always had confidence since I was a kid. I never was scared to talk to people even till this day I’ll have a conversation with a random person. You never know what you can learn with a “Hey! How’s it going!?” and sparking a conversation. Read More>>
H.O.M.E. (Helping Out Made Easy)
Neither of us were really prepared to begin speaking publicly as you can tell from our early announcement videos. We persevered through this fear because we knew what we were doing was bigger than us and meant our pride and dignity had to be put aside. Read More>>
Dr. Jaime G. Raygoza
For me, confidence and self-esteem didn’t come naturally, they were forged through adversity and a lot of intentional inner work. Early in my career, I struggled with imposter syndrome as a gay, first-generation Mexican-American professional. I often felt like I had to work twice as hard just to earn a seat at the table, and I internalized a lot of self-doubt. Read More>>
Angela Radzevich
When I think about how I developed my confidence and self-esteem, two big moments stand out: moving to America as a British expat, and becoming a first-time mom. Uprooting myself from the UK 14 years ago and starting fresh in the U.S. meant I had to find my footing in a completely new environment. Read More>>
Rebecca Rumsey
As a little girl, I always wished I could be someone else. I wanted dark brown hair instead of red, brown eyes instead of blue, darker skin instead of fair. I dreamed of living in a big city instead of my medium-sized hometown and longed for a little sister, even though I was the youngest in a family full of brothers. Read More>>
CeCiiii Yang
I constantly review my previous works and life photos, and I organize them into collections with theme once a few weeks, months and years. For example, I post what I’ve experienced and done on my personal social media account once a week as a track of life. Read More>>
Sabine Charles
Confidence wasn’t something I was simply born with — it’s something I built over time. For me, it started with really knowing my values and what I stand for. Once I had that clarity, it became easier to navigate spaces where I might otherwise question myself. Preparation has always been key. Read More>>
