Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.
Shakia Williams
Absolutely — there have definitely been days where I feel like I’m tap dancing to work! One of those moments is seeing the growth of Aurora’s Vines and KiRae Wines in such a short time. Read more>>
Lisa Ascolese
I tap dance to work every single day without fail! My industry is never boring. There is always something new to discover, whether it is a product or a passionate inventor sharing their idea. I find it exciting and inspiring to work with so many creative minds. Read more>>
Sasha Gooray
The greatest joy in what I do is seeing children grow in faith, enjoy learning, love themselves and their family, and achieve academic success. Period. That’s why I do what I do. Read more>>
Ted Wulfers
When I was in college, at 18 and 19 years old, I took on a job as musician at the university Dance Department performing music for the various dance classes or composing music for their various showcases and dance recitals. I learned so much from this work. Read more>>
Autumn Jordan
I think most of what I do is slow, sometimes *very* slow. From how I sip my coffee, the amount of time I spend on most emails, to the cameras I choose to pick up and shoot with on any given day. I’ve come to think of my snail’s pace as my superpower. Read more>>
john harmon
Absolutely. With ObiiGO, I learned that timing matters as much as execution. Early on, we scaled too wide before the market and technology were ready. We had to pause, refocus, and go deeper instead of broader. That decision changed everything. Once we rebuilt around new AI infrastructure, the platform’s value multiplied. Read more>>
Katie Marshall
Whenever I’m working on a painting, I always think that one of the most important ingredients in a painting is time. I’m not generally a fast person (I’m a Taurus, so I like to take my time) and as an artist I’ve started to embrace what not acting fast can bring to my work. Read more>>
Ryan Wirick
When editing my latest documentary Farmacy of Light I put a lot of pressure on myself to finish it as quickly as possible. What began as a short documentary about a local farmer starting a new farm, became a feature length that deals with the epidemic of chronic disease, malnutrition, COVID-19, localizing medicinal foods, and how we heal at the quantum level. Read more>>
Ian Peterman
I would work on the most pressing needs of the human species. Read more>>
Sophie Dupont
If immortality were real, I would build spaces of presence and care — places where people could gather, breathe, move, and create together without rush. Spaces that honor the rhythm of the body, the quiet of observation, and the poetry of ordinary gestures. I would build environments that nurture attention, connection, and the subtle traces of life that endure beyond time. Read more>>
Susan Johnston
If immortality were real, I would build a light-speed transportation system that carries humans across galaxies—encapsulated in sleek, transparent monorail-style vessels. Each traveler would have a chip embedded in their hand, quietly recording how they treat others. Read more>>
Mpls Drew
I would stop waiting for the “right” moment for things. Like releasing music, or even starting new hobbies and everything in between. I’ve learned that waiting for the “right” moment leaves a lot of room for second guessing yourself. Read more>>
Giffy Pluggo
If I knew I had ten years left, I’d stop shrinking to make other people comfortable. I’d stop second-guessing divine timing and treating my purpose like it’s optional. I’d move with full conviction — speak the truth louder, love harder, and build without hesitation. Legacy isn’t about how long you live, it’s about what still moves when you’re gone. Read more>>
Derek Pfister
If I knew I had ten years left, I’d stop putting things off. Life moves fast, like film frames flickering through a projector and before you know it, the moment has passed. What I’ve learned is to make the most of each day, no matter what. Don’t waste your time or your potential. Just do it. Read more>>
Elizabeth St.Hilaire
If I knew I had ten years left, I would stop working and finally make time for all the other things I’ve always wanted to do but never seemed to fit in. I’d let go even more of worrying about what anyone thinks—how I look, how I dress—and lean fully into my artistic quirks and creativity. Read more>>
Maria Deely
To tell you the truth, nothing. As someone who has a chronic illness, I feel like I have missed out on years of my life already so I try to live my life to the fullest. Things really important to me are gratitude, kindness, and time. Read more>>
Kizza Hussein
If I retired tomorrow, my clients customers and the teams I work with would most miss my ability to come up with creative solutions to complex problems. Read more>>
Rachel Grant
I think my clients would miss having someone in their corner who truly believes in them, even when they don’t believe in themselves. They would miss the mix of honest guidance, practical tools, and the down to earth kind of conversations that make the hard work feel doable. Read more>>
Lauren Warmke
If I retired tomorrow I think my customers would miss the tradition of weekly visits. For 6 years I’ve been seeing the same customers each week, my employees and I have come to look forward to seeing them and catching up. Even if it’s to chat about the weather. Read more>>
A.K. Waters
I feel like for as long as i can remember i have had this insatiable hunger to be one of the all time great artists people talk about for hundreds of years after i die. Everything I do is done with the intent to better understand my craft and hone it in. Read more>>
Sonia Rigueras
Right now, I am pursuing a career in a way that I believe in and respect. I want to work on projects that motivate me, that I trust, believe in, and respect. I am trying to build my career the way I have always dreamed of, not the way the industry wants me to. Read more>>
Tyneida Alanos
I’m chasing the vision of making UTE (Urban Travel Experience) a stable and impactful organization recognized around the world — one that uplifts communities, provides opportunities, and reminds people that purpose and unity can change lives. UTE is more than a movement to me, it’s my purpose. If I stopped, I’d feel like I was stepping away from what I was called to do. Read more>>
Brook Allen
I am pursuing a full-time writing career now. I recently retired from full-time music Education. Thirty-six years was a long service, and now I’m chasing my dream. Too many writers have said, ‘I can’t do this… I’m not making any money.’ Or, ‘I can’t get traditionally published, so I’m not going to bother.’ If I don’t write, the stories inside of me don’t get told. Read more>>
Kirsten Langston
Bonds are broken between people when they forget they are people. We are all one and when we forget that and we see ourselves as separate we begin to the see ‘other’ as not as human or as important as we are or as our own needs are. We get bogged down in the daily grind and it can really wear you out. Read more>>
Ivan Palomino
I used to think that bonds were built simply from having common goals, like working on the same project. But I’ve learned that’s not quite right. You can have a common goal with someone you don’t trust at all. The real glue for any bond—whether it’s with a teammate, a friend, or a partner—is trust. Read more>>
Alli Gerrish
An important conversation always happening in the arts involves finding ways to preserve connection with our greater good and with others. We need to be able to disagree and give voice to our differences, while continuing to celebrate individual freedom and expression. Read more>>
Megan Vaughan
What breaks the bonds between people, I think, is disconnection—the moments when we forget to see one another as human. It happens when speed, efficiency, or ego take the place of care, when we move through the world protecting our own corners instead of reaching across them. What restores those bonds is presence. Read more>>
Yasong Wang
I wouldn’t say ‘misunderstand’ so much as ‘not be aware of’, but it would be the amount of times I would have had doubts. I feel like after someone accomplishes something, everyone assumes they always knew they were going to make it. The reality is that many, many times you have no idea if things will work out, but you do them anyway. Read more>>
Shonte Youmans
I think what people may most misunderstand about my legacy is that it’s not built on titles, achievements, or recognition — it’s built on transformation. Some may see the success, the stages, and the spotlight, but what truly defines my legacy is the healing, faith, and inner strength it took to get here. My legacy isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being purposeful. Read more>>
Paul Granger
As a content creator, my work is viewed from the metrics-mindset: my legacy is defined by how many listeners my podcast has, how many books are sold, and how many lives are clearly transformed. Read more>>
Dominika Chabiniak
I’m an incredibly creative person — my mind generates a million ideas a minute. They just flow out of me, often in the middle of ordinary conversations or completely unexpected moments. And I can always feel how people react when I share my thoughts, dreams, or plans. Read more>>
Summer Storm
One important truth I hold, which the majority of people might disagree with, is veganism. I believe animals are here with us, not for us, and that we don’t need to cause fear, pain, and suffering to other living beings just for our taste buds or perceived health benefits. Read more>>
Victoria Tara
The important truth that not many people agree with me on is the value of slowing down and cultivating inner peace. In a world that constantly urges us to act, perform, and look outside ourselves for guidance, I’ve learned that the most meaningful insights, clarity, and alignment arise from within. Read more>>
Othniel Horvath
There’s a truth I believe in: ‘worst that can happen is they say no’, but I even thought about it a bit more and got to the point of the truth: ‘there is no option B, I have to win, I will win’. Read more>>
Mackenzie Morrow
A core truth that I don’t go a day without thinking about is that animals are not here for us, but with us. They are not here for us to eat, wear, or impose our selfish desires on. As a Christian, I’ve always felt veganism aligned with the values of Jesus. Read more>>
Dalia Sherif
One important truth that very few people agree with me on is this: unconditional kindness is not weakness; it’s power in its purest form. The world often confuses kindness with fragility or being a pushover, as if compassion makes you less capable. But I’ve learned that leading with kindness takes far more strength than leading with ego. Read more>>
Terrica Joy Smith
That things will get better and better as times goes on, gloriously so. Most people live with a doomsday perspective that the world is ending any moment. Fear, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness rule the day. I can’t even begin to identify with that mentality. Read more>>
