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.
Mari Kawamura
I feel that all my dreams have come true, in one way or another. And yet, as soon as something is realized, the heart naturally reaches for more. We are never fully satisfied, and that restless desire is part of the force of nature itself. Read More>>
Ian Thomas-Minor
Absolutely. Much of my career has been about standing up for young people, often in spaces where their voices weren’t heard or where systems worked against them. As a nonprofit leader and now as a Juvenile Detention Supervisor, I’ve been intentional about advocating for reform over recidivism — which hasn’t always been easy. Read More>>
Rob Cook
For me, the difference between a fad and a real foundational shift comes down to principles. Fads come and go, but foundational shifts are rooted in spiritual truths that never change. The most significant shift in my own life was realizing that my feelings weren’t caused by circumstances, people, or events outside of me. They were being created from the inside out. Read More>>
Kim Exshaw
When it doesn’t feel right; it feels overwhelming– too much. Recently, I was offered a HUGE opportunity from a very well known fabric company. Honestly, it was the opportunity of a life time for me. And at first I was so excited and very flattered by this offer but the more I sunk into it, the more I felt overwhelmed and corralled. Read More>>
CALIA BRENCSONS VAN DYK
I’d stop procrastinating. I’d stop asking for permission. And I’d stop seeking approval from others. I’ve always been a people pleaser, but I think this generation has learned to take risks in a way I never knew. Even though many would describe me as a risk-taker—someone who has forged a path for others—I know I could do more. I’d write the script. Read More>>
Sean Ward
I would stop trying to impress people and get off of social media completely. It sucks you dry, from the amount of time and dedication you need on it, just to stay relevant. This time you spend there, takes away the time you have in the studio. It takes away the time you have with your family and loved ones. Read More>>
Pamela Vega
I’m still carrying the labels of “too much” and “not enough.” For years, I tried to shrink or shape myself to fit expectations—how I should look, create, or show up in the world. I’m learning to let go of those stories and instead embrace the full spectrum of who I am: intuitive, authentic, imaginative, and vibrant, unapologetically alive in my own rhythm. Read More>>
Edit B Kiss
That we are Multidimensional beings having a human experience, and if we want to see real positive improvements in our physical reality, we actually need to access the other dimensions and start fixing things there: ancestral healing, karma healing, inner-child healing, connecting with spirit guides and ascended masters for guidance and blessings. It is all possible for everyone. This is not something new. Read More>>
Laurence Dallas II
I think the one thing I’ll regret is not ever playing a college game on paper. That was something I wanted badly, but life took me in a different direction. The silver lining is it gave me a front-row seat to impact sports in another way — through media, storytelling, and building platforms like Clear the Air. Read More>>
Adam Odsess-Rubin
There’s a lot of fear in the air in the United States at this moment. It feels like our government is punishing any institution that promotes diversity, labeling them as ‘woke.’ They are censoring our art and our history, hoping to eliminate any criticism of our government or our country. Read More>>
Amanda Chase
Passion alone isn’t enough to keep a business going. You have to be honest with yourself about how you’re going to make money and sustain it—especially if it’s your dream and passion—because otherwise, you’ll end up working a 9-to-5 in a job you don’t love. Read More>>
Rachel Scott
Failing teaches us how to get back up. Failing also teaches us to be humble and kind by reminding us that we are all human doing our best in this crazy journey together. Read More>>
Kerri Herlihy
Actually just this past weekend I celebrated my 50th birthday and felt incredibly loved. I was surrounded by my closest friends from every chapter of my life. My fiancé Jason organized the whole thing and it was truly so special I think everything deserves that kind of love, including myself. Read More>>
Sophia Rodriquez
I admire my grandfather Dan Sarkisian greatly. Over the years I have watched him run Haig Precision with such class, mercy, integrity, love and transparency that it has truly defined him not only as a business owner but as a human. Read More>>
Ari Rose
I would hire me if you wanted to hire a unique, heartfelt, and professional Magician and Mentalist, who has a creative and unique approach to Magic, built for the modern times, with personal meaning and interaction built into every routine and experience! Read More>>
Mikara
Oh definitely! Even just today I submitted my new song ‘wrote a song for you but you’ll never hear it’ for release and I was so excited and ready to celebrate haha. I always look forward to getting in the studio with my friends. Read More>>
Carmen Moses
I find a reason to dance and celebrate at my job every day. When I see a kid accomplish something they thought was impossible, when a coworker thinks of something spectacular to do that they might be a little unsure of at first, when we work collaboratively and make big things happen that we were only dreaming of before. Read More>>
Paola Lopez-Garibay
Every opportunity I get to empower, enhance, and inspire someone is a day well lived. Whether through a word of encouragement, a shared skill, or simply leading by example, lifting others up fuels my purpose. Seeing someone gain confidence, unlock their potential, or find hope in their journey reminds me that true fulfillment comes from service. Read More>>
Ruth Hillman
Oh I am hard-core tap dancing to work. My business is exactly what I have created and what I built it to be. I love everything about it. I would be really sad if I had to stop for some random reason. I really hope that never happens. Read More>>
Sarah Kauzmann
During the first six months of this year (about four and a half years into running Pipit’s), I built out a full commercial kitchen in my walk-out basement. I did about 90% of the work with the help of my parents, brother, and sister-in-law. Read More>>
Shameka Green
Loudly! I enjoy seeing people believe and hope again. People who believed trauma was going to rob them of their joy forever. I’m a certified hope dealer in my opinion. I’m excited for my ‘NEXT’. Read More>>
Daniel Shuster
The days when I’m tap dancing to work are the days where I get to be onsite experiencing new things. I was recently invited to a behind-the-scenes opportunity to visit Disney Cruise Line’s theatrical rehearsal space in Toronto, Canada. This facility is where Disney trains and rehearses all the casts who perform the broadway-style live entertainment onboard all the ships in the DCL fleet. Read More>>
Bob Barry
First, I don’t tap dance! At 82 walking can be challenging. I am most fortunate that at my time in life, I am not only ambulatory, but I am still out working, photographing concerts and musical events. Read More>>
Angela Ficken
Absolutely—there have been seasons where I felt like I was practically jazz-handing my way into work. One was when I first launched Worried to Well-Balanced and realized women around the world were downloading my tools and saying, ‘This is exactly what I needed.’ It was like watching an idea I’d scribbled in a notebook suddenly take on a life of its own. Read More>>
Ari Moshe Wolfe
Yes absolutely. My life is between me and me. I want to do what I do because it’s my truth and calling, because I believe in myself. Read More>>
Antoinette Peterson
I don’t do things for praise or recognition, I do it because I genuinely care and see it as a privilege to use my skills to help others. Of course, recognition feels good, but what really fuels me is the fulfillment of seeing an idea I had come to life and make a difference. It’s an indescribable feeling Read More>>
Marsha Rowe
Absolutely. I’ve learned that true fulfillment comes from giving your best not for recognition, but because it’s a reflection of who you are and the values you hold. In my work as an artist and founder of Heavenly Beads & More, there were times when I created pieces that I poured my heart into, even when sales weren’t immediate or praise didn’t come. Read More>>
Jah Dreddz
Could I give everything my best, even if no one ever praised me for it? Ironically, I’ve wrestled with that question myself. For a long time, I thought validation was proof that I was on the right path. But I’ve learned that real purpose isn’t measured by applause—it’s measured by how much of yourself you’re willing to give when no one’s clapping. Read More>>
Christopher Stewart
I believe a large part of my make up is that I make extremely conscious efforts to do good and take the extra steps when no one is watching or there to pat me on my back. My career in the restaurant industry has been a tough one and sometimes the praise doesn’t come even when you have a full dining room. Read More>>
Michael W. Gray
I am blessed with absolutely incredible humans for children. Two girls and two boys. (Erica 23, Skylar 21, Derrick 20 and Jake 18). They are super respectful and as you put it, truly listen to me. Read More>>
PATRICE Grimball
I would have to say the first person who truly listened to me was my therapist, Tiffany Glover. She gave me insight into why I felt and thought the way I did, and for the first time, I began to understand myself on a deeper level.
Sondra Schwetman
I had that strange or unusual experience a couple of days ago. School at the university just started. I was winding up class for the day and I was talking to a student about what I was working on Artwise. I was talking and I looked around and there were 5 or 6 students who had joined in the ‘audience’. They even asked questions Read More>>
Mandy Davenport
Yes, absolutely. Back in January of 2022 I toured a suite and really started considering the idea of going out on my own. At the time I was still working in a full-service commission salon. A co-worker and I had tossed around the idea of opening a space together, but deep down I wasn’t fully certain it was the right move. Read More>>
Sarah Coppens
Before I acquired BarBees this May, I had been searching for a business to buy for about 6 months. I looked at a number of different businesses and thought I had found what I was looking for and I had submitted a letter on intent on one of them. Read More>>
Rachael Speirs
Many times I have been glad that I did not act fast or impulsively. I notice a lot of people (especially ‘these days’ which makes me sound old) will jump to intense, emotional or impulsive conclusions without hearing the whole story. Or will act in ways driven by confirmation bias. Read More>>
Alex Noelle
This question is sooo on point for my artist journey. The new music I’m releasing soon on all streaming platforms has taken years longer than I thought it would take to get together. Health issues, pandemic issues, and unexpected life circumstances slowed the creative process down in ways I couldn’t have predicted, and it has often felt disappointing. Read More>>
Karly Abel Kantarevic
If immortality were real, I would build a living ecosystem of healing—spaces that feel like sanctuaries in every community, where people come not just for care but for connection, ritual, and renewal. I’d devote eternity to growing a movement of healers and visionaries who ripple out change across generations. Read More>>
Lexie Jay
The way I feel right now in my career, I would spend lifetimes building *exactly* it’s what I’m building today. Our label, Division Eleven, actually started as a way to strengthen our distribution relationships so we could better pitch music for our band FEATURETTE. Read More>>
Mariel Méndez
“I would create a sanctuary for self-discovery, a space where people could grow, evolve, and embrace their truest selves without fear of judgment.” Read More>>
Natasha Ragland
If immortality is real, I want to build a body of work in art and music that reflect my most idealistic dreams and profound thoughts and feelings. I want to lift people into a higher vibration where they can enter a space of sacred beauty and feel the love and the joy of their true nature. Read More>>
Matthew Ward
My marriage, my community, my art, and my spirit. Read More>>
Brian Yulo Ng
Coherence. I like to believe I’ve created something that can function beyond my name, role, or possessions. For me, coherence is a living pattern — one that others can follow, adapt, and carry forward. The true test of coherence is whether it continues to live outside of you. The greatest artists and makers created things that took on their own life, independent of their presence. Read More>>
Marina Gee
I love this question. One of my mentors, Blaine Bartlett, said something along those lines once: ‘Who would I be if everything that identified me as Blaine was gone?’ I’ve thought about it ever since. I’ve come to believe that the ONLY thing that matters down here is the nature of our connections with other people. Read More>>
Tammy Darmel Moore
If I laid down my name, role, and possessions, what would remain is the impact of the work I have done and the lives I have touched. The relationships built, the communities uplifted, and the seeds of hope planted would continue to speak beyond titles or material things. Read More>>
Kelsey Pettus
If I laid down my name, role, and possessions, what would remain is my family, my friends, the people who love me, and most importantly, my identity in Christ. My identity isn’t rooted in what I do as a profession, what I own, or even how others see me. It comes from my Father who created me. Read More>>
