Stories are incredibly powerful – their ability to teach, inspire, and create understanding is why we are so in love with storytelling. Most stories have a defining moment and so we’ve asked some of the most talented, insightful folks across a broad range of industries and markets to tell us about a defining moment in their story.

Stephanie Stewart

On March 23rd, 2005 I was in my best friend’s car on the way to high school when I was launched through the windshield after hitting head-on with another vehicle. I sustained multiple injuries mostly to my face. Read more>>

Candace Banks

The sterile walls of the ICU, once a familiar haven of care, became a stark battleground during the COVID pandemic. Witnessing the struggle of patients, particularly those with preventable conditions, struck a chord deep within me. Read more>>

Kristen Weardon

The defining moment that prompted Kristen Weardon to leave her longstanding career in real estate and pursue her passion for life and relationship coaching was a pivotal event – Hurricane Ian. Read more>>

Chanda Leigh

In 2013, I performed an acoustic jazz set at a local venue for an audience of 30-40 people. There was a woman in the audience who was friends with my trainer, who was also in the audience. He and I had dated for a brief time, then things got messed up when I had different plans for my career and we reached an impasse. Read more>>

Jessi Bierling

Back when I was only in high school, I took an elective class on Current Issues. We spent a few days learning about the foster care system and when I learned of the heartbreaking realities and outcomes that children in foster care face right here in my backyard, my heart broke and I thought, “Now that I know, I MUST do something…” Read more>>

Alexandra Toma

The defining moment in my professional career was when I was working at a FinTech start-up in London in my late twenties. I wasn’t particularly interested in finance, but as an Account Manager, you can work in a variety of industries – I’d previously worked in business rates and jewellery. Read more>>

Eleni Piperaki

A defining moment that changed the trajectory of my career happened around 18 years ago. I am originally from Greece, where I earned a degree in French Language and Literature. Read more>>

PORTIA HINES

While working on accumulating the supervised hours I needed to become an LPC I worked as a school based therapist. This position was structured so that my office was inside of the school and any student or staff member could access mental health services in the building during school hours for free. Read more>>

Peter Durand

Early in my career at GE I was fortunate to lead the new e-Business initiative at one of the divisions. This meant being part of a matrixed team of leaders across other divisions. I reported to the CEO of our division and dot-lined to the leader of the global e-Business initiative. Read more>>

Anshu Stephen

I have had several defining moments that I carry with me everyday. I am thankful to have had so many experiences that are daily reminders, that encourage me to constantly question my intentions, actions and conversations with curiosity. Read more>>

Holly Griffin

I would say the defining moment in wanting to work with others in the healing industry was inspired by my own emotional and personal struggles and growth. Read more>>

Jason Betts

I speak on having the right people in your life and inner circle. During COVID in 2020, I felt a little unsure within my profession and new business ventures opportunities. Read more>>

Tracey Gates

For the last 30 years I had felt like I had not yet done what I was put on this earth to do. For many years it was actually a comforting feeling of wonderful things still to come. Read more>>

Neille Solomon

I always wanted to help people heal, I was either going to be a massage therapist or a psychologist. I was a sponge at school and doubly so in massage school quickly learning and excelling to the point where I was teaching my fellow students to fill in where the teachers weren’t able to communicate. Read more>>

Angel Scott

I had been healthy, athletic even, most of my life. But at the age of 40, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disease that changed everything. As a longtime personal trainer and nutritionist, I decided to take a deep dive into hormone, gut, and immune-focused nutrition and radically shifted my idea of what it meant to look, live and feel healthy. Read more>>

Nicole Howe

I became a massage therapist at the age of 20. After attempting to move out on my own and pay for college, I found myself back at home, aimless. When my mom asked me what I wanted to do, because she was taking money out of her retirement savings to send me to school (yes, she’s in the free massage for life program), I shrugged and said I thought massage sounded pretty cool. Read more>>

Andrea Cecilia G. Dunn

Throughout my life, I’ve always felt a calling to reveal truths, acting as an oracle for those around me. This journey took a defining turn when I met a mentor who profoundly influenced my spiritual and personal growth. Read more>>

Laurel Judd

I actually got sick shortly after having my daughter in November 2017 via c-section. I was working as a counseling psychologist on Fort Campbell military post and struggled to go back to work after pregnancy leave. Read more>>

John Pinelli

The origin story of Punch’d Energy’s all natural green Caffeine Gummies was a wonderful accident that seemed too simple to be true. With a background in engineering and consumer electronics at scale, I’ve always looked at user experience as a key metric. Read more>>

Jay Sutaria

In August of 2015, I had been out of college for 2 years and in the process of slowly but surely building my independent personal training business. At the time, I had only a handful of clients, and my schedule wasn’t very busy. Read more>>

Cristal Alvarado

A defining moment in my professional career was having a research article published in a major Play Therapy Journal. For a little backstory, I am a bilingual Chicana/Chicane therapist working with families that primarily speak Spanish. Read more>>

Zhi wei Zheng

Yes, there was a very clear defining moment that changed the trajectory of my career. This moment touched both my professional career and my personal life. It was a moment where I quite literally lost my mind. Read more>>

Dana Lerman

I was a frontline COVID physician, suffering from the mental health fallout of the pandemic and went to Costa Rica to address my struggles. My experience in the maloka shifted the trajectory of my life as a physician, wife, mother, friend and human. Read more>>

Kelly McDermott-Burns

Years ago as I was getting ready to retire from my tech job and move away, I attended a healing circle. The facilitator talked about the healing powers of Reiki then came to each of us in the circle. Read more>>

Nathan Jackson

The pivotal moment in my professional journey occurred when I crossed paths with my mentor. His guidance not only provided me with the chance to transition from a large gym setting to boutique studio coaching but also marked a significant transformation in my coaching abilities. Read more>>

Samantha Gill

I would have to say that my journey in becoming certified in Holistic Nutrition is rooted in my personal experiences. Faced with persistent digestive issues, my health took a toll when my father was diagnosed with ALS. Read more>>

Dr. Melody Thompson

Growing up, I always wanted to be a lawyer, teacher, and counselor. My high school allowed students to have the experience of the courtroom through mock trials. I was selected to give the closing argument. Read more>>

Tina Fraley

Absolutely, there was indeed a defining moment in my professional career that reshaped not only my own life but also the way I approach wellness and how I guide others on their journeys to health. Read more>>

Kenneth Minor

Over the years there have been quite a few “defining” moments, especially as relates to my move from the healthcare field to the world of culinary. Before my journey as a chef, I worked as a business manager for a large neurology practice in SIiver Spring Marland. Read more>>