Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our hope with the Portraits of Resilience series – we hope the stories below will inspire you to tap into your own resilience.

Sergio Villanueva

I think about where I come from and all I have went through. When I have feel reluctance to do my job, I think if I wasn’t afraid of taking that risk or that situation, there is no reason to fear doing my job. I have my affirmations, my goals, that are written out and I look at those every morning. That is what keeps me going. Some people I know or knew will never have an opportunity to chase their goals, so it wouldn’t feel right to not keep pursuing my goals. Read More>>

Brady And Maise Wilcox

When we started our company, we encountered several challenges, especially launching during COVID. Delays in shipping, difficulty finding reliable suppliers, and unpredictable timelines made the process complicated. Despite that, we stayed focused and found solutions. We adjusted our approach, explored new ways to reach customers, and kept moving forward. These early obstacles helped shape the way we operate today—practical, flexible, and determined. Read More>>

Bonnie Bley

My resilience comes from the lessons passed down by my parents and grandparents, who lived through the Great Depression and World War II. Their strength, adaptability, and resourcefulness shaped my mindset. My father, who served in the Navy in Panama at the end of WWII, taught me discipline and perseverance. My grandparents, who endured economic hardship, instilled in me the value of hard work and determination. Read More>>

Brandon Rose

I have always been a physically tough child, playing all the contact sports possible. But with entrepreneurship, it is much more of a mental resilience game. Every day is different, and there are so many ups and downs. It has definitely not been easy, but what keeps me moving forward and motivated is truly loving what I do. Additionally, working for someone else and helping build their dreams really just does not sit well with me. Read More>>

Richard Parrott IV

I would say I got my resilience from my mom and nana. They are some of the most hard working and fearless people I know. Just being around from them overcoming obstacles in their life, while still being there for me always resonates.

Outside of that just wanting to be the best I can. Read More>> 

Rich Maserati

“My resilience, ultimately, comes from a deep-seated belief in the mission of Tulsauce Media and the incredible team we’ve built. But if I had to pinpoint its origin, it stems from early experiences where I learned that true growth often emerges from navigating challenges. It’s not about avoiding setbacks, but about seeing them as invaluable lessons. For me, resilience isn’t just bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward with new insights and a stronger resolve.  Read More>>

Ryan Hayes

Where do I get my resilience from? That’s a great question. I’d say it really started about a quarter of a century ago when I had no idea what ‘resilience’ even meant, but I was already living it.

Back in grade school, I was placed in all remedial classes. From the outside, it probably looked like I wasn’t trying hard enough, or that I just couldn’t keep up. But inside, I knew even then that I was an excellent, capable person… Just an unfortunate one. One who had to work thrice as hard to be seen for what I already knew I was. Read More>>

 Julia Deaton

From having to pick myself up time and time again throughout life. I’ve had to overcome numerous obstacles in my personal life which has given me the strength to implement that in business as well.

Also coming to grips with the fact that failure is part of the process. No one is perfect at something the first go-round and you’re not going to become exceptional without getting back up and trying again and again. Read More>>

Christine Moore

My resilience is born from necessity. One of the things that has truly played a large roll in this is motherhood. I do not think there is a stronger thread to overcoming than that of being responsible for another human. As an eldering woman, I see my children in others. When I was in India I asked a sage how I can overcome being judgmental of others. All he said, and yet so profound was, “YOU are their mother.” Read More>>

Heather Lee

I am deeply proud of my resilience. In fact, it’s my favorite human quality—and I’m especially in awe of the resilience of women. Our lives are filled with emotional, mental, and physical challenges, and yet we continue to rise. The way we respond, adapt, grow, and move forward is a reflection of a profound inner strength and wisdom that women hold in abundance. Read More>>

Josh Houseman

Resilience, for me, wasn’t built in a single moment — it was forged over years of setbacks, heartbreaks, and having to start over when everything I’d worked for collapsed.

Personally, it began when I was a kid — the only male gymnast in a small town where that wasn’t exactly celebrated. I was ridiculed for being different, but gymnastics taught me something I didn’t fully appreciate at the time: how to fall, get back up, and try again. That mindset would come back to save me more times than I could count. Read More>>

Janet Heilbronn

My resilience has grown over time and has come from living through some deep struggles. During the times when I felt disconnected or ‘broken’ I slowly learned how to meet those places with honesty and care. Many times I was not sure I would find my way back but through a process of introspection, I learned how to broaden my perspective, rely on something greater than myself and partner with life in such a way that I began to notice how much easier the load felt when I let others in meaningfully.  Read More>>

Viktoriia Gorbachevska

My resilience comes from responsibility — to myself, my children, and my family. The war forced us to leave everything behind and start over in the U.S., without knowing a single person. I didn’t have the option to give up. I had to keep going — for my kids, so they could live a better life, and for myself, to prove that we could rebuild from nothing. Read More>>

Dima Kontar

My resilience comes from my upbringing and my sense of purpose. I was raised in a family that taught me the value of showing up even when things were hard. I watched people around me push through challenges without complaining, and that modeled a quiet strength I carry with me.

Being the only one in the room who looks like me hasn’t always been easy. I’ve had to navigate doubts—both external and internal. But over time, I’ve learned to see that as a source of power. I’ve come to trust that my voice matters, even when it’s different. Read More>>

Mila Troncoso

From surviving. Life hasn’t always been kind — I’ve had to fight to stay afloat and alive more times than I can count. But I made a choice: I wasn’t going to let the hard things define me. I turned everything meant to break me into fuel. I don’t come from ease or comfort, but I come with fire. Once I decide on something, I go all in. I don’t like “what ifs.” I want to live full out — no regrets, no holding back. That’s where my resilience comes from. It’s not pretty, but it’s mine. Read More>>

Shanny Erwin

My resilience comes from my faith. Trusting in the lord while pursuing is what keeps me grounded and focused. I also have a good support system that pours into me and encourages me on a daily basis, my mom and dad. Last but not least my children. They give me the strength I need to continue even when I feel at my lowest sometimes. Seeing their faces makes me wanna keep going and not give up. Read More>>

Arlene Pace Green

The resilience I have started with my family legacy. One of my mom’s favorite sayings growing up was, “life is about choices.” I was raised with the belief that we have the power to bounce back and create the life we want through the choices we make; even when starting in very difficult circumstances. And I saw this example firsthand in my family. In the 1930s, my grandparents made a choice to move their family from Creekstand, Alabama, to Tuskegee, Alabama, in a covered wagon. Read More>>

Dyana DeCoteau-Dyess

I draw my resilience from my family and the community on the reservation where I was raised. Like many of my siblings and younger cousins, I grew up surrounded by generational trauma and harmful cycles. However, one positive aspect I noticed—both in my family and the larger community, which faced similar struggles—was how everyone responded when someone was in need. People showed up without hesitation if someone needed help, food, or support.  Read More>>

Michael Scherer

My resilience has been forged through pain, faith, and an unwavering belief that I was meant to create something meaningful—no matter the cost. I’ve lived through years of debilitating illness, battling three autoimmune diseases that robbed me of my ability to play the piano and even care for my children. There were many days I could not get out of bed, and many mornings I couldn’t move my fingers without my wife gently helping them unfold for 10-15 minutes at a time—simple moments that used to feel like the end of everything I loved. Read More>>

Tragil Wade-Johnson

When people hear the name “Wade,” they often think basketball. They think bright lights, NBA championships, and red carpets. But my story, the one God wrote for me, isn’t about fame. It’s about faith, family, and fight. And most of all, it’s about resilience.

I am the proud sister of Dwyane Wade, and daughter of Pastor Jolinda Wade. But long before the world knew our last name, we were just a struggling family on the South Side of Chicago, trying to survive. Read More>>