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.
Alysson Bourque
Yes, absolutely! Excellence isn’t about applause — it’s about integrity. I give my best because it’s who I am, not for who’s watching. I want the best for my clients. When my clients shine, it’s not because I gave them a spotlight, it’s because they built their own stage. Read More>>
Aaron Medina-Plascencia
I believe in giving my very best effort, regardless of whether or not it is recognized by others. Anything associated with my name deserves my full commitment and attention to detail. As a student in the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, I’ve learned that design requires not only creativity but also discipline, precision, and resilience. Read More>>
Vonnetta Cornish
Yes, I could give everything my best even if no one praised me for it. I don’t know how to stay in a “less than” mode. I’ve always been on the side of “more than” and I give my all with my time, energy, and resources available. Read More>>
Jordan Booth
I think this is such an interesting question. It makes me think about what is truly important to me and how I view myself. In my mind, the thoughts that come to the forefront is ‘do I find my personal value in what other’s think about me’ and ‘am I letting others define me and what qualifies as success’. Read More>>
Tom Griggs
I would stop beginning days by attacking the small things on my to do lists. I’d push harder to put the big things first, the truly important projects of my life, and to let them fill my days as much as possible. Read More>>
Christopher Rico
I love this question because I think about it all the time. I’ve been asking myself this question for 20 years and slowly eliminating the things I would list. Today, I think that list is down to almost nothing. I’m so fortunate to be doing what I feel I was born to do, and what I love to do. Read More>>
Dez Stephens
If I retired tomorrow, I believe my clients would miss my compassion, attention, and kindness most of all—but also my vision for making professional coach training both affordable and accessible. In an industry often known for serving elites, too many opportunities are gatekept simply because of a lack of funds for coaching, training, or education. Read More>>
Akomolafe Oluwatofarati. F
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would miss the heart and intentionality I put into every project. With Royale Writers, it has never been about just delivering a service — it’s about listening deeply, understanding each brand’s unique story, and then bringing that story to life in a way that connects with their audience. Read More>>
Sophia Chung
My fun and whimsical animal characters. I really do think they’re charming! 🙂 I put thought into the things they do, so I would say my art has a warm, human touch. Read More>>
Meghan Rothschild
I think… my social media content. I am a real sassy person online and I make some fun and controversial videos. I think people would wonder where I had gone! Read More>>
Sean Valy
Before I answer, I want to touch on the support I’ve had in my musical journey. Over the years, friends and family have been there for me, but as time passes and people grow apart, that support tends to fade. It’s like people get used to seeing the posts and hearing the songs, so it doesn’t feel as exciting—until suddenly, it is again. Read More>>
Helen Lessick
I’m shaped by the economics of creativity. I’m self-employed, and self-determined, driven to explore the environment through art. I was most shaped by working in and with non-profit artists’ organizations and municipal art galleries in Philadelphia, New York City and Portland, Oregon. Working outside of mainstream commercial venues, I get to carve my own path. That’s invigorating yet rarely easy. New paths turn up rocks! Read More>>
Nithya Karia
<span style=’font-family: "Times New Roman", sans-serif;’>There are five women who have seen all my evolutions and have loved me, challenged me and encouraged me through it all. It’s knowing I have them at my back that has given me the courage to refind myself. Motherhood has been the single most impactful role of my life because it changed my relationship with myself. Read More>>
Erica Gamboa
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the one I have with my mother. I didn’t fully realize it until I got older and had children of my own, but she was always my biggest fan and constantly pushed me to reach my full potential. Read More>>
Andra Douglas
Quite some time ago, I was practicing a pass play at a Sharks practice and one of my coaches told me to keep throwing until I had it perfect. ‘Confidence is born of demonstrated ability!” he told me. Read More>>
Khadijat A. Oluwatoyin
I took the LSAT in 2013 but didn’t get the score I needed to get into my first choice law school (aka the school that my then boyfriend attended). I studied heavily the following year, received a higher score and got in! Read More>>
Tina Mari Rucker
I was about seven or eight when I first understood what power felt like, not the kind that comes from being loud or in charge, but the quiet, steady power of making something happen. Read More>>
Lisiane Birks-Hay
My earliest moment of feeling powerful was not what you might expect. It didn’t happen when I won an award or achieved a perfect score. It happened in front of a crowd, during a fashion show at the end of a modeling course. I was a young girl, feeling so nervous that my hands were shaking. Read More>>
Alison Green
I have a strong memory from when I was in third grade living in North Vancouver, British Columbia, walking to school alone through a rainforest. My mom dressed me in a yellow slicker and rain boots and off I went, alone, through deep trees and no people. Read More>>
Chef (Steve) Corso
Many times. When I first launched the company, I had just been laid off from the highest-paying job of my career. After that, I self-published my first cookbook—figuring out most of the steps on my own. But the biggest bet came when I self-funded the first episodes of the TV show. Read More>>
Isaiah Smith
The last time I felt true joy is in this moment. My life has been nothing full of love and support with my support circle. Having a group of people around that I can call when I’m at my lowest is priceless. I’m truly blessed for this moment. Read More>>
Chris Marie
Two weeks ago, while on patrol with the NYPD in Brooklyn, a little boy walked up to me and just started hugging my legs. Then he touched my knee and said ‘Chase, Chase!’ I smiled, bent down to his eye level and said ‘oh sweetie, I can’t chase you right now, my uniform is a little tight since I put on some weight. Read More>>
David Lewis
You know, if I am being totally honest, the person I am learning the most from right now is my brother in Christ, Jeremiah Jacksun. He is the creative owner and executive producer of the Know Your Platform podcast, and I get to co-host it with him. And man, the change in him over the past year or so has been something else to see. Read More>>
Brandin Hurley
I’m currently obsessed with learning women’s stories throughout history. Women who looked at the political, social, or cultural expectations placed on them and thought ‘yeah, I’m not going to do that’. Read More>>
Geanea Hall
This is a loaded question, lol, but I would have to say I am currently learning how to honor my time, no matter what season I am in my life. Having that in my mind helps me stay present & connected to my dreams. Read More>>
Chef Tharren Printup
I believe that in order to be a high functioning and successful member of society, the most powerful tool/ trait you can possess and execute is the notion of self evaluation and awareness. Whether you are an entrepreneur or member of the work force, so much value can be gained from your own actions and journey. Read More>>
Sammy Clifford
Lately I feel like I’ve been learning so much from my kids. They can be so sweet and sometimes brutally honest. And that authenticity keeps me humbled, I wouldn’t trade it for the world though! Read More>>
Monique Sadarangani
The two defining wounds that shaped me were (1) a deep fear of not belonging and (2) a habit of measuring my worth by productivity and perfection. Both ran like quiet currents under everything I did — how I worked, how I loved, how I showed up for clients and friends. Belonging felt fragile early on. Read More>>
Steven Guistolise
When I was growing up I was afraid I wasn’t going to be good enough at anything to be successful in the work force. I had strong interests in things that I could not utilize as a valuable skill in my mind. As I got older I began working jobs that I thought I would really enjoy. Read More>>
Danielle Green
These “tap dancing” days are happening now for me. I simply LOVE what I do. Working with my community, providing tools, skills and techniques to help navigate emotional wellbeing is my greatest honor and happiness. Seeing people of all ages embrace their own creativity and peace inspires me. Read More>>
Jaylen Ward
Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to play music that was unique and had a sense of identity. I grew up listening to traditional jazz and smooth jazz, but simultaneously I was deep into electronic dance music and Rock. Read More>>
Anna DiCarlo
Yes, all the time. One of the things I do is teach how to ‘practice the pause’. This is so important in everything we do. Good, ‘bad’ and the ugly. The human reaction is to react in the time of emotion. Read More>>
Julian Ribinik
Fads are easy to spot because they usually focus on surface-level aesthetics—colors, editing styles, poses, or the latest “look” that makes a photographer’s portfolio stand out for a season. Foundational shifts run deeper. What I see now is that couples no longer want staged perfection or overly directed poses. Read More>>
Sarah Ceballos
I think the difference between a fad and a foundational shift is that a fad only addresses the external. A temporary fix to whatever it is we’re dealing with or wounds we’re trying to either numb or run away from. Fads come and go. Where as a foundational shift is internal and behavioral that happens over time. Read More>>
Kim Aman
I would build a school garden in every school in the world. We have lost touch of nature and our food system. The average farmer in America is 58 years old and we lose them one by one each day. The planet is in danger and children understand this. You’ve heard this before, Children are our future. Read more>>
Shawn King
If we had all the time in the world, we’d build something that goes far beyond even our current mission—we’d create a global movement that fundamentally transforms how human beings connect through business. We’d build an entire ecosystem where authentic storytelling becomes the standard, not the exception—imagine training centers in every major city teaching entrepreneurs and executives that vulnerability and transparency aren’t weaknesses but superpowers. Read More>>
Michele Vaughn
Even if I had no earthly possessions, no prominent title, and no one knew my name, I would still have my FAITH! It is my personal faith in God that sustains me and provides a spiritual inheritance that this world cannot offer. My faith has carried me through challenging seasons and tough lessons, surpassing anything money or human connections could provide. Read More>>
Kajal Zaveri
If I laid down my name, role, and possessions, what would remain is the essence of connection, experience, and presence. It’s the love of family, the joy of creating and sharing art, and the lessons learned through both challenges and triumphs. Read More>>
Jennie Milton
Yes. Even though I love living in the United States with my husband, I quietly miss my Australian winters. I miss Thredbo, guiding in the backcountry, and teaching snowkiting. Those were golden days of running a small mountain business, helping people discover the joy of gliding across the snow while a kite tows you on skis or a snowboard. Read More>>
Nancy Hays
I am chasing a dream to make my passion project, Riding for America, the story of the greatest jockey who ever lived who was the son of slaves in Kentucky into a major motion picture, based on an existing screenplay written by Eddie and Nancy Heffernan.. Riding for America is already a YA novel, a Chicagoland middle and high school program and a stage play. Read More>>
Loretta Mitchell
I don’t chase anything. Everything is energy and vibration. When you chase, you send a vibrational message to the universe that you are in lack and that’s what you manifest more of. If you stop chasing and start aligning with the right energy (gratitude) you will attract not what you want, but who you are, which will subsequently bring into your reality what you want. Read More>>
Carlton Bell
What I’m doing right now is the kind of work that doesn’t show results overnight. I’m planting seeds for an artistic economy in the South that can sustain itself for generations. For me, that means buying back the block — reclaiming space, resources, and infrastructure that have historically been denied to us, and reinvesting them directly into Black queer artistry. Read More>>
Dre Steinberg
I think bonds break when people stop listening and start assuming. Miscommunication, ego, and a lack of vulnerability create distance. But bonds can always be restored when there’s honesty, empathy, and a willingness to meet each other where they are. For me, restoration often starts with a simple conversation where both people feel seen and heard. Read More>>
Julia Katcher-Persike
What breaks the bonds between people is often rooted in illusion. The illusion of separation, superiority, or blame. When we forget our shared humanity, when ego overshadows empathy, and when we choose judgment over understanding, we fracture the sacred connection that exists between souls. For example, a friendship may break when one person feels unheard or dismissed. Read More>>
Rica Dee
I believe the fruits and vegetables we eat can feel our energy. Even right before we consume them. I believe they can feel if we are grateful, toxic, selfish, etc. That’s what makes or breaks us feeling energized after we eat them, or lethargic. There are tons of people who eat fruits and veggies and still don’t feel or look their greatest. Read More>>
Julian Guyton
I believe that others are secretly struggling with trying to find themselves/their role here on Earth. I believe everyone be wants to be remembered however these days it seems harder to set yourself apart due to rising prices and various laws being passed in the US. Read More>>
Alicia Hill
When I think about legacy, I know some people misunderstand me. I often hear, “You do too much,”—as if my commitment to serving others is excessive. Some even joke that I must be earning extra jewels in my crown. But for me, this isn’t about overdoing anything; it’s about living out my faith as a disciple of Christ. Read More>>
Jennifer Harris
Healing is number one. It’s your job to heal for the pain you either created or didn’t create. It’s your job to birth the best version of yourself and actually see to it that person exists. I will make sure of that with who ever comes into contact with me and I with them. Read More>>
Missy Spears
An important truth I hold that not many people agree with is this- we’re not going to protect LGBTQ folks, or anyone at risk, by walling ourselves off. Too many people have put themselves in little blue bubbles where they’ve completely cut off anyone outside their own experience or worldview. Read More>>
Marina Girgis
That in order to be authentic in your personal brand presence (even real life) you have to share everything about you and your life… I’d take this a step further and add that people think they need to be relatable to be seen as authentic and vulnerable. I say this is BS (in my humble but expert opinion). Read More>>
Julia Parisi
A normal day for me is always busy but rewarding. From Monday to Friday, I work full-time supporting students with additional needs, which is a role I find both meaningful and inspiring. After work, I shift gears into my studies as I’m currently completing my degree to become a primary school teacher. Read More>>
Valentina Forero
The light I’ve dimmed the most is my boldness—the part of me that dreams big, speaks up without overthinking, and moves with certainty even when the path isn’t clear. I’ve always had vision. I’ve always felt called to lead, to create, to build something bigger than myself. But somewhere along the way—after being underestimated, labeled as “too much,” or not taken seriously—I started shrinking. Read More>>
Bailey Hill
One foundational truth in my life is that everyone’s story matters, and everyone deserves to feel seen and celebrated especially in a world that feels so divided right now. I’m a photographer for everyone, and while I do say it out loud often, it also goes without saying because it’s reflected in the people I work with and the stories I capture. Read More>>
Marcus Drones
Intergrity!! Doing the right thing even when no one is around is big for me. In the restaurant industry, so many people cut corners or manipulate others and I’m against it! I want to be known for doing the right thing all the time and not when its convenient. Read More>>
Courtney Chennault
Backpacking solo around the world for a whole year in my 20’s has been on my bucket list longer than I can remember. So of course, pursuing this dream felt all the more urgent when I turned 29 last December. Read More>>
Gary Bernard
Hopefully nothing, but a present ‘regret’ I have, that I can hopefully change, would be acting on an idea the second I have it. Experience tends to build wisdom, and with wisdom comes analysis and much more self-reflection. As a professional, sometimes, (most times) the gut is correct and if there is too much hesitation during the reflection time, it’s incredibly easy to lose momentum. Read More>>
Andru Fratarcangeli
I used to think life would just “happen when it needed to happen.” That passive mindset felt safe, but it was naive. Over time I learned no one’s coming to save you, you’re your own best advocate. If you want something, you have to move now, do the hard work, and earn it. Read More>>
Kiuyan Ran
I grew up in a competitive environment where success was often measured by how close one came to the very top. That belief took root early,I thought that unless I could match the masters of the industry, the work didn’t truly count. For years, the standard was followed with relentless discipline, rarely questioned for whether it was fair or sustainable. Read More>>
Flower Sanchez
Honoring my elders and ancestors. It’s essential to me and my life. Success breeds a lot of things including a weird shift of energy some refer to as “having haters” lol. I personally am not dealing with that, my elders and ancestors handle everything for me, spiritually speaking. I feel as though I’m simply here to complete what they couldn’t and make them proud. Read More>>
Amie Ro
Looking back on many failures that’s happened in my life I think I’ve changed my mind about being successful. It’s something I go back and forth on but I definitely don’t cling on to wanting ‘success’ or proving myself as much as I did when I was younger. Read More>>
Melissa McKenzie
Honestly, the most surprising thing I’ve learned about my customers is that what they think they’re buying and what they actually want are two totally different things. Most come in thinking they just need a “pretty” website or a simple copy-paste job, but what they’re really craving is clarity, confidence, and a system that actually works for their business long term. Read More>>
Sarah Cleveland
Growing up, I had a lot of nightmares and would wake up completely terrified, frozen in my bed. When I finally found the courage to call for my dad, it would start as a whisper and then get louder and louder until there was no way he couldn’t hear me (poor guy!). Read More>>
Teliah Tee
Nipsey Hussel. Without a doubt. In times where I’ve nearly given up due to how fast paced, demanding and egotistically driven the industry can be – Nipsey’s teachings have always been the driving force behind IYCM. His words remind me to keep flowing, going and growing at a pace I’m happy with, in my own lane. Read More>>
Victoria Coburn Harriel
Silly but truthful. UnderCover Brother. Yes the Eddie Griffin character. Not many have seen the movie but those that do know his enthusiasm about being unapologetically himself and standing up for those who needed help. Read More>>
Louise Royer
I rely most on the ideas of my team. Each of us brings a different perspective and expertise, and that’s what makes Legacy possible. Whenever I feel stuck or unsure, their creativity and insights push the project, and me, forward. Read More>>
gemma Ernst
I draw inspiration from everywhere — other designers’ work, beautifully built websites, even articles about fellow business owners and their journeys. Each of these touch points feeds into my own ideas and creative process. I think it’s that openness — the willingness to learn from anything and anyone — that’s helped me succeed at the level I have. Read More>>
Ken Miller
If I’m being honest with myself—yes, I would hire me. Here’s why: I show up with authenticity, resilience, and a proven ability to adapt and overcome. I’ve lived through rock bottom moments, and instead of being defined by them, I’ve turned them into fuel for growth. That kind of resilience isn’t something you can teach from a textbook—it’s earned. Read More>>
