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.

Jenny Castro

There was definitely a specific experience that changed the trajectory of my career and that defined my passion in its current state relating to a mentor of mine. A few years ago I joined a social community in which we all shared the same values and goals in mind. Through this community, we had the extraordinary opportunity to gain wisdom and mentorship from former mobster (Michael Franzese) turned motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and highly influential social personality on social media and so forth. Franzese has appeared in numerous documentaries and has been interviewed by the likes of Piers Morgan and Tucker Carlson due to his fascinating experiences. Read more>>

Mollie Birney

There was absolutely a defining moment! I first started working in the mental health field as a therapist – I specialized in addiction and eating disorder treatment and worked with families and couples in crisis, and although I enjoyed the work itself, in sessions I felt like I was constantly biting my tongue. We we’re trained to operate within a certain framework that felt a little sterile and withheld, and my work felt overwhelmingly careful. There were so many things I couldn’t say for fear they wouldn’t be clinically appropriate – I couldn’t ask disruptive questions, I couldn’t share my personal history, and I couldn’t freely share my opinion, even when it would have unquestionably changed the game! Read more>>

Sergio Huerta

Most physicians are commonly motivated to go into medicine with a genuine desire to help others. Surgeons are driven into a specialty by the appeal to observe tangible results from interventions. Global Health in surgical care is at the heart of these innate feelings in helping others in the greatest need of medical care. It is difficult to pinpoint a defining moment to get to where we are today with our registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Aid Via Action Inc (AVA), which aims to promote surgical health equality in Northern Guatemala. Our experience has been a trajectory and a number of pivotal moments in the delivery of health care abroad have shaped the defining goal of the organization. Read more>>

Thalia Vivens

The word “career” in itself stirs me, undeniably. When you finally learn what exactly it is that makes you feel excited, empowered, and eager in regard to your own life, that is when you find what your “career” had ought to be. As someone who is currently seeing a therapist, I feel that the conversation in regard to finding and defining your career is something that I have hyperfixated on for quite some time. I began dancing when I was 2 years old. Ballet was my home and I greatly enjoyed it. As time progressed, other factors began to come into view, when I was at an age to finally notice, that the reality of being a dancer is not always the glamorized illusion of “balletcore” that we see in media. Granted, nothing about this field is easy. There are physical and mental demands, manipulation of the mind and body, and that’s the art in itself. Read more>>

Valentina Bain

Growing up, I faced numerous chronic health issues. From a young age, I underwent countless tests, but the medical community struggled to pinpoint the root of my debilitating health problems. During the first chapters of my life, I often felt in pain, lost, and unsure of my future. Despite these challenges, I discovered a passion for fashion and began modeling in hair shows, print ads, and runway events. My chronic health issues made everything more difficult as my weight and energy levels were unstable, my gut was in constant pain, my skin was very broken out, and my confidence was non-existent. Still, the excitement of the fashion world drew me in. At 18, I decided to pursue this passion further by moving to Paris, believing this was the direction my career would take. Read more>>

Samuel Alix

When confronted with crucible moment during my military career, the option to trust God or go with status quo, I selected faith rather than mainstream, and as a result, walked into my true destiny and calling. It required sacrifice and soul searching, but no regrets. Peace, tranquility, hope, wellness, healing, and love resulted. Read more>>

Elena Burkhart

For the past 10 years, I worked in a private cardiology and internal medicine practice in The Woodlands, Houston area, treating patients with various heart conditions, from high blood pressure to heart attacks. While medications and procedures helped manage symptoms and extend lives, I came to a crucial realization: many of these conditions stemmed from lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and weight gain. Although genetics play a role, much of what I saw was preventable. This led to an epiphany—rather than treating advanced diseases, why not tackle the “elephant in the room”: unhealthy lifestyles and weight gain? Prevention, not just treatment! The idea resonated with me. Read more>>