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.
Ashley Asberry
I was fun 😂 I love nothing more than being around people I love and laughing till I cry. As I’ve gotten older and I see so much injustice and inequity and so much harm happening and it just doesn’t have to be this way!! Read more>>
Char Newell
I was a fearless girl who believed she could do anything, have anything, and be anything. I moved through the world with boldness, curiosity, and an unshakable sense of possibility. Then, somewhere along the way, the world started handing me labels, expectations, and limitations. Bit by bit, it felt like the beautiful puzzle pieces that made me uniquely me were taken away or hidden. Read more>>
Aruna Inalsingh
When I was young, my family moved from England to Trinidad to the US — three very different environments. And when we were in the US, we moved from Maryland to Florida to New York — again, three different cultures, During this phase in my life, I was a quiet observer, learning about my new environments and fitting in like the others. Read more>>
Danielle Sheree Brown
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was seen, I was heard, and I was unapologetically me. I was sassy, confident, and curious—I did what I wanted, when I wanted. I grew up surrounded by power, money, and influence, so I saw early on what success could look like, but I also saw the pressure that came with it. Read more>>
Joseph O’Connell
I was a maker and I grew up in a family of makers. My grandfather had been friends with Edison’s youngest son and our house was filled with motors, gadgets, lab notebooks and other things from Edison’s West Caldwell laboratory which was nearby. It was also filled with laughter, books, music, plants, sewing, woodworking, painting, ceramics, cooking and every kind of making imaginable. Read more>>
Adelheid Waumboldt
I chose to answer this specific question because I strongly believe in the reeducation of the human psyche regarding self-realization and reinvention. You can wake up any day and begin again, start fresh, change small or large things about yourself; if desired, you can literally wake up tomorrow and change everything. Read more>>
federica sbordone
This question brought me back to a very specific, traumatic moment from my adolescence—a key day, a symbol of my life, among many. Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a happy, serene, cheerful, optimistic, and light-hearted girl. I loved Avril Lavigne’s music, wanted to learn to play the guitar, and I dyed my hair pink. Read more>>
DoubleTime Twins Ava & Loretta
We were born showgirls – we know that sounds so cliche because Taylor Swift “Life of a Showgirl” is trending right now, but it’s true. We have been performers for as long as we can remember and every job we’ve had has helped us be the showgirls we are today. We’re so grateful and excited to continue to learn and grow. Read more>>
Arindam Dasgupta
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was simply a curious observer — someone who loved to explore, notice details others might overlook, and find beauty in everyday moments and ask questions. I was the kid who could get lost watching light shift through a window or who felt fascinated by the way people express emotion through small gestures. Read more>>
Evie Chang
This is an interesting question, honestly I think it was the opposite for me. My parents were immigrants who worked hard to give me and my sister opportunities, and so my entire life I was being told who I had to be – cautious, smart, successful. Read more>>
Eric Christen
I was both a rebel and an innocent explorer. I saw deeply and felt deeply. I saw that magic was a real thing. I trusted nature but not necessarily authority. My father got on my nerves a lot. My mother seemed devious. School, and later university, were a disappointment. I was an explorer and the universe seemed vast and unlimited. Read more>>
Diana Daniele
I was a shy, curious, poetry-writing, ocean-loving, laughing, baking, singing, dancing person. The World told me I had to be ‘perfect’ and ‘cool’ to be loved and accepted. This wrong thought lead me to fear that the secret I kept–the fact that I was not ‘normal’ and that I’d never be ‘good enough’–would come out, and I would lose everything. Instead, I lost myself. Read more>>
Valery Milovic
Exactly who I am, now. I have always been an outsider. Never a follower. The world doesn’t dictate to me. Read more>>
Alex Cattoni
I am who I’ve always been: loud, opinionated, sassy, goofy, kind and adventurous. The more I listen to my gut, make brave decisions, and follow my heart — the more of me I show to the world 🙂 Read more>>
