In our experience, talking about legacy is often subtly discouraged by society and we find this to be deeply unfortunate. Thinking about the legacy you would like to build can help you better align your work, life, time – your sweat and tears – with your values. Below, we’ve tried to create a space for folks to start conversations about they legacies they are hoping to build.

Victoria Mallard

I hope to build a legacy that embodies creativity, resilience, and a commitment to community. After I’m gone, I’d like people to remember me as someone who seamlessly blended the worlds of engineering and beauty, inspiring others to pursue their passions fearlessly. I envision being seen as a connector—someone who brought people together through shared experiences and a love for Miami’s vibrant culture. I aspire to be remembered for my contributions to both the civil engineering field and the beauty and wellness community, particularly for fostering an inclusive online space where everyone feels empowered to express themselves. Ultimately, I want to leave behind a message that encourages others to chase their dreams, embrace their uniqueness, and make a positive impact in the world around them. Read more>>

Tj Sweet

When I think about the legacy I want to leave behind, it centers on a simple but powerful idea: making the world a more grateful place. I believe that when we truly see and appreciate each other, we can live more fulfilling lives and, at the same time, create workplaces that inspire high performance. My goal is not only to help individuals live with gratitude but also to inspire leaders to make leadership more human—where employees are seen, valued, and heard, and where gratitude fuels long-term success. Read more>>

Tarris Marie

I want to build generational wealth for my children and leave a legacy of inspiration. I hope to be remembered as an artist who has left her mark through the messages she conveys in her movies and stories. Read more>>

Kesha Knighten Hughes

Legacy becomes more meaningful when you become a parent. You start to think about what you will create for your children to carry forward. This makes you reflect even more: What will your obituary say? What story will your life tell? As you grow older and gain more insight into how life has unfolded for others, you learn the hard lessons you may have been shielded from as a child. Now, at the proverbial “grown-up table,” you understand more deeply the missteps and decisions that shaped others’ legacies—some of which I strive to avoid. Read more>>

Gina Aguirre

When I think about the legacy I want to leave behind, it’s not just about financial success or scaling a business to new heights. For me, the real measure of success is the positive impact I can make on others. It is deeply rooted in empowering women, especially those who give so much to their families and careers that they often forget to prioritize themselves. So many women struggle with self-esteem and self image, feeling like they don’t have the time or energy to focus on their own well-being. I want to change that narrative. I want to show women that investing in their health and fitness isn’t selfish—it’s a necessary step toward living a more fulfilling life. Read more>>

Jenny Roth

I didn’t start my business to build a legacy. I just wanted to earn an extra $200 per month for my family so I could pay for my daughter’s dance lessons or have extra wiggle room in our grocery budget. Legacy? I was 28 with three kids, ages four and under. I just wanted to work from home while still being a full-time mom to our daughters. So, I made a list. I wanted to work, but my work had to: Be something I could do from home (check) Read more>>

Shannon E. Stephan

I’ve always believed that in order to truly understand a person, you need to look at where they came from. I can remember concerning myself with the concept of mortality and legacy from a very young age. I grew up in a religious household and grappled nightly with the concept of death, Heaven, and Hell. When I was in elementary school, my beloved third grade teacher passed away after a long battle with cancer. Because I did not know how else to process this immense loss, I began to write poetry. A priest read the very first poem I ever wrote aloud at my teacher’s funeral, and her husband kept it in his suit pocket. I have used writing to cope with death and loss, and to make sense of the uncertainties in life ever since. However, it’s not necessarily the metaphors or symbolism in my writing that I want others to remember. It’s the person behind them. Read more>>

Wesley Hobbs

I decided at 9 years old that I wanted to be a Film Director. I aspired to be like the greats – Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, George Lucas, and so many more. I quickly discovered after graduating college that this effort would be met with extraordinary challenges. I saw in front of me a saturated industry where artists just like me strived for greatness. in 2018, I made the decision to keep my passion at the forefront of my goals, but to expand upon it in order to develop a career that would bring my skill sets into new forms like Marketing. This pursuit has taught me one thing, sometimes it is better to be known for your ability to adapt and expand rather than settle for one expertise. Read more>>

Sharon Byers

Legacy is a funny word to me as it feels egotistical so let me change the question to be focused on what I try to represent every day in hopes that will describe me when I am looking down from above. To me, there is a significant difference between being a manager and being a leader. As a manager, people are assigned to you but being leader, people choose to follow you. True leaders are able to elevate individual differences as assets, and turn them into successful teams. This is what I do every day. I take great pride in listening to my current and past teams saying “you have made me better.” Read more>>