We have had the good fortunate of connecting with Nobel Laureates, titans of industry, rockstars and rising stars across dozens of industries and we have always found their stories about who they were early on to be most fascinating. Below, you’ll find members of the community sharing their responses to this key aspect of their stories.
Carmen Bell-Ross
Honestly, I was the little girl who loved the celebration of life. I’ve always been that person who could see joy in moments and then immediately start planning how to make them even more special. Long before I ever had a business or a brand, I was an architect of experiences — learning experiences, bonding experiences, celebratory moments… anything that brought people together. Read More>>
JIANGWEI ‘Wayne’ ZHOU
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a kid who dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. I loved watching American adventure movies where archaeologists uncovered hidden treasures and ancient mysteries. Even though I didn’t do well in history class and eventually gave up that dream, the sense of exploration stayed with me. I grew up with a lot of freedom. Read More>>
Stanley Agwere
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a kid shaped by culture — by color, rhythm, history, and the quiet power of the village. I was someone who found beauty in the everyday rituals of my people: the fabrics hanging in open-air markets, the stories carried by elders, the pride woven into things made by hand. Read More>>
K8 Shelton
I was a young girl completely in love with flowers — the kind who stopped to look, touch, smell, and study every petal like it was its own tiny universe. I believed whole-heartedly that nature whispered secrets to anyone patient enough to listen. My favourite quote was, “She who hath power gathers wisdom from a flower,” and I took that as literal truth. Read More>>
Pamela Delgado
Before the world told me to stay small, I already knew I was meant to lead. Then society taught me how to shrink. How to be the ‘good Latina’, head down, 9–5, quiet, compliant, invisible. Read More>>
