Winning comes in so many different forms that it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. The CanvasRebel community is filled with so many incredible folks who have overcome long odds, challenged the status quo and won. Below, you’ll find stories of these winners along with much of the accumulated wisdom on what it takes to succeed.

Rania Stone

My journey has been an exciting blend of creativity and passion. Growing up, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Since I enjoyed cooking, I initially went to cooking school. However, I soon realized that my strengths were in management, so I pursued studies in hotel management. For nearly 20 years, I ran a successful wholesale/import company. Meanwhile, I was also trying to establish myself as an author in Greece. Unfortunately, publishers told me that my chances of success here were slim. as I am a woman writing thrillers and my target audience would be Europeans and North Americans, not Greeks. This challenge didn’t deter me, though. My passion for storytelling persisted, and I eventually teamed up with my husband, Jonas Saul, a Canadian best-selling author. Together, we create thrilling tales that captivate readers. Read more>>

Christopher J, Falvey of Unique NOLA Tours

I am the co-owner of Unique NOLA Tours. Having a passion for everything New Orleans in the many decades before I moved to the city in 2006, I saw a need for more intimate experiences for the millions of tourists that come to the city. I soon found that to be more rewarding than the software development company he had founded in 2001. I have two decades of experience building companies from the ground up in myriad sectors such as tourism, accounting, and the record industry. Read more>>

Justin Ho

I guess it all really started by playing those imaginary games on my own and with friends. Crafting stories and characters, putting ourselves in incredibly ridiculous situations, fighting aliens or trying to escape a sinking ship… talking about sinking ships it probably was Titanic that was the film that sparked the interest in not just filmmaking but many other things as well. But filmmaking was probably the most prominent thing that it pulled out of me, a lot was my awe and curiosity in how they pulled it all off. But mostly it really was the story that I was incredibly engrossed in which filled me with many unrealistic expectations about romance and what “going to a real party” was supposed to be like. To a 7-year-old kid though it was magical, and I yearned to have those experiences (Minus the sinking part). And that’s when I realized just like the goofy imaginary games I played with friends, I could try telling stories. I could maybe recreate things I enjoy, relive moments, use video as a means to time travel, and a way to create magic. Read more>>

Dr Sabine Charles of Charles Financial Strategies LLC

The journey toward my career choice was initiated at CUNY-Baruch College, where I took a double major in French and Spanish languages for the love of traveling and a mission to assist the world’s growing economies. My first career objective was to work for the United Nations, but the hiring freeze at graduation changed the route. I participated in a Career Job Day at my university. The event revolved around accountancy, so I had to alter my approach and choose companies kept from other students with the exact major in accounting. I then collected their business cards and mailed them letters stating that I was interested in international business. Based on this approach I landed a job with Citibank’s global team and worked in Brazil and Panama. Read more>>

Jay Johnson

I started rapping just before college and ended up going down a drug riddled path that I barely escaped from. 8 years sober now, with the best job I’ve ever been at and making high level music at a high rate is all the proof I need that the right decision was made. You can either have drugs and no life, or a life without drugs. I choose life every time. I have 9 solo albums, and two joint albums with Sol bka J. ORUN and Prince Lockett who does most of my production and all my editing. Read more>>

Tyeshia Petrie

My story begins as a young girl who was always passionate about expressing myself in different forms, with my favorites being art and writing. I was the child who always tried to put my best foot forward, whether it was completing school projects that required explaining complex concepts in essays or creating intricate pieces for art class. However, as I grew older, I began to distance myself from my artistic interests, becoming more focused on trying to follow a secure path of what “success” was supposed to look like for a young Black woman in the United States. Outside influences never failed to remind me about the importance of education and having something to fall back on career-wise no matter what. It felt like having hobbies was only cool if it could lead to something clear-cut in the long run, like a sports scholarship, which I didn’t have. Read more>>

Charlisa Harris of Mylani Vegan Haircare & Chadowboxx Salon

My journey began in the humble confines of our family home where I was first inspired by my mother’s transformative touch in hair care. Her ability to uplift spirits through her craft planted the seeds for my own aspirations in the beauty industry. However, life presented its hurdles early on; becoming a mother at 17 shifted my focus from personal dreams to immediate responsibilities. I entered the corporate world to provide for my two children, setting aside my passions for a time. Read more>>

Delphi Glenn

Singing was one of my earliest discovered passions and it came about when I was 6. I always was an entertainer and loved being the center of attention, performing theatrically, dancing or talking! From ages 6 to 12 I was very bullied in school. I grew up in a white neighborhood and received rasist comments and got beaten by classmates. I changed schools almost every year but never fit in. All the time though music was a reliable companion and it got me through the many hardships I went through as a child. I’ve never let go of that connection and always involve myself with musical projects. I’m so happy to say that now at 28, I partly live off my music!  Read more>>

Sheila Jackson

I have had a passion for music most of my life. I have had the opportunity to manage a band and be catalyst to securing a record deal back in the early 90’s. My passion has since brought me to starting my business Mz Jackson Media Group AKA MJMG. This does encompass a record label and a publishing company as well as having a regular show on Apple TV and Google TV. MJMG provides a variety of services to the Indy Artist. MJMG has partnered with SHU Radio out of Brooklyn NY and has other business endeavors with SHU Music Group owner and CEO Spud Brooklyn. This relationship/partnership does build and shop artist to major record labels. MJMG currently has two signed artist. One artist in Africa and Tony Bosco in Baltimore MD. MJMG has working relationships with many artist and producers as well as actors. Read more>>

Michellelynette Hughes of PATHOLOGY ASSIST-TEMP, INC.

Hello, Pathology Assist-Temp, Inc., was established in 2006 in Northern Virginia. The business was established to provide a better work life balance for everyone. We have successfully allowed our employees to work shorter days, half days and weekends as needed. We initially focused on staffing augmentation for elective surgeries; however the pandemic was the nudge we needed to diversify our client base. We slowly begin incorporating government contracting into our overall mostly commercial/private client base. We grew from having only myself as an employee to 7 currently. We now are subcontractors for the Veterans Health Administration. Read more>>

Sasha Hlavinka

My journey began with a relentless battle against poor sleep. Bright lights always kept me awake, from childhood right through college. I tried every sleep mask out there, but they were all either uncomfortable or ineffective. While studying fashion and marketing at the University of Rhode Island, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I sourced the most luxurious, high-quality silk and created my own sleep mask. Friends quickly took notice and started asking for their own masks. That was the lightbulb moment! I realized there was a real demand for comfortable, effective, and stylish sleep masks. So, Perpetual Shade was born. We’ve expanded to include hyaluronic acid-infused masks, Magnesium Mist, and linen sprays. Each product is designed to enhance your sleep and wellness experience. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m so excited about what’s next for Perpetual Shade. Read more>>

T’asha Overton of ProsperiTee Eyebrow Factory

I wasn’t always a service provider/brow artist! I started my business off selling a growth serum for brows that I had created in 2020. I seen a girl on IG make a face product and she sold out within seconds of her dropping it online. Around that time, I was a little bit more into makeup (more than I am now) & I was into making my own products! I told myself I wanted do something like that! All it took for me was to see that and I was dedicated to it. I also sold brow products (pencils, pomades, brow gels, etc).  Read more>>

Margaret Thompson

Both of my parents were actively involved in the arts professionally. My dad was a visual artist who taught at DePaul University for a few years before opening his own private studio, and my mother directed musicals, choirs and plays in various school systems and churches. My involvement with the arts began early. I started classical piano lessons at the age of five and played in recitals by the age of six. I performed with the Rialto Children’s Choir in Chicago due to my mother’s involvement as the director at the time; I performed in her musicals throughout elementary school, and by middle school and high-school I was performing solo piano recitals, performing background music for various private functions, as well as participating in school and church choirs, musicals, and extremely local commercials. Read more>>

Maria Kazikhanov

When I was just 12 years old, my mother passed away. That marked the beginning of my creative journey. I began writing and took long, contemplative walks through my hometown of Moscow, seeing the city through a lens of endless images. It was my way of healing. Even today, those long walks remain my wellspring of inspiration. From that young age, I knew I had a deep love for stories and imagery. Read more>>

Rebecca Parkey of The Parkey Group/Unburdened 6

When I started my private practice in September of 2020, I had been a therapist for fifteen years. I had just moved to Las Vegas and decided, based on the mental health needs in area, that it was time to start my dream of a private practice. From there I was one of the only therapists to allow in person clients. As I grew my business I knew I wanted to have a group practice, so I continued to hire. I started with a student therapist, and after meeting with a business coach, I leapt into hiring two therapists and a psychiatric nurse practitioner for medication evaluation. We continued to grow and after year two I moved my practice into an office setting, hiring administrative staff, and office manager, and began taking insurance. At this point today I am working on building a new business for first responders, health care first responders, and veterans for trauma informed care. Read more>>

Shay Bachelder of Casler Financial, LLC

I started my career in the financial services industry back in 2003 after graduating from college. Even though my degree was in Psychology, I took a job as an Accounts Payable clerk at the corporate office of the company I worked for in college. Through this position, I was given the opportunity to get licensed as a tax preparer here in my home state of Oregon (currently the only state that requires licensing and one of four states that requires testing and continuing education.) I realized that I really enjoyed preparing tax returns and learning the ins and outs of the tax code and how to strategically save clients money. I went on to get my Tax Consultants License in Oregon, which allowed me to open my own tax practice, Casler Financial, LLC which has now been in operation for almost 18 years. I then went on to get my Enrolled Agent designation with the IRS. An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service by passing a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering individual and business tax returns as well as ethics. Read more>>

Beverly Johnson

If I had to describe my journey over the last few years, I would use the word- unpredictable. I never imagined that I’d be a domestic violence survivor. I never imagined I’d have to start over from scratch in my 40s. I never imagined that this journey would propel me to my purpose—the catalyst for becoming my whole, beautiful, quirky, authentic self. Read more>>

Elizabeth Barlow’s Story

I was born in California, but grew up in Salt Lake City, in a house filled with art and surrounded by flower gardens. My father was the late artist Philip Barlow, and after a detour in the performing arts, I followed his inspiration back to painting. Immediately after earning my Master’s degree, I spent some years living in England. I then moved to San Francisco, and continued my arts education at UC Berkeley Extension. I studied drawing and painting with Donald Bradford and others, earning a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts. In 2007, I had the great privilege of studying in New York City at the Art Students League. My work is held in private and public collections, including the Monterey Museum of Art, and I am represented by Andra Norris Gallery in Burlingame, CA. Read more>>

V K

Hello, I’m V K. My initial foray into DJing and music was back in high school, DJing for parties. I didn’t know the theory behind mixing at all, but I quickly picked up skills like beat matching, matching BPMs, and setting up loops to sample. Eventually, I lost interest in being a DJ because of my dislike of private parties and lost confidence due to constant self-comparison. So, I focused on producing instead and got booked at 17 years old as a senior at Studio 7 in Seattle, which has now become a nightclub called Supernova. Read more>>

Karneshia Shantel of Access4Accessibility

My journey started in a small town in Mississippi called Senatobia. I was born with Spina Bifida which is a congenital birth defect that affects my spinal cord. Living life in a small town being the only one for a while with my disability presented its own challenges through my childhood but I was nothing that I couldn’t handle. My parents equipped me with the tools I needed to get through life and succeed. I finished grade school there and went on to The University of Mississippi where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition Science. I left there thinking I would go on to nursing school and get my BSN but life had other plans. I did go on to nursing school in Birmingham, AL but I didn’t stay there long. It wasn’t what I thought it would be due to some lack of accommodations and understanding of my disability. I quickly had to find a way for myself and figure out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. I discovered that I had a passion for my community and wanting to see us progress in the world. First, I had to make a name for myself. I got into modeling in 2015. I learned that I really like entertainment, beauty, and fashion. As I started to get deeper into these worlds, I noticed how inaccessible they were because they weren’t used to seeing people with disabilities. I had to make a difference so I got into disability advocacy work. Today, that work has turned into my new business venture, Access4Accessibility. Read more>>

Kevin Correia

I am currently working as a Human Factors Engineer at Audi in San Jose where I get to create exciting autonomous vehicle user experiences. My journey has had many pivots along the way, and I have had the opportunity to pick up a diverse set of skills and meet many amazing people that have helped me grow as a professional and as a creative. Read more>>

Juan Arango’s Story

My name is Juan. I’m a 29-year-old music composer, producer, and guitarist from Colombia, currently living in New York City. Music has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents, who were music enthusiasts, introduced me to its importance at an early age. Shortly after, I developed a deep passion, talent, and, frankly, an addiction to it. Read more>>

Kimberly King of KDK Marketing Group LLC

I am a former teenage mother who decided to pursue her dreams despite the circumstances and the many negative opinions. I started college full-time two months after my daughter was born and continued my studies until I received my B.S. in Business Administration. Upon graduating; I worked for the temp service for a couple of years before deciding to go back to school and get my Masters while hoping to become more competitive. After receiving my Masters, I became a Marketing professor due to not being able to get a job in my field; however, my passion for Marketing never stopped. Eventually, I started my own business in 2019 after much frustration with the job market and not feeling as if I was walking in my purpose along with encouragement from others. After a few years of going through the trials and errors of my business and not being able to trademark my name, I have now transitioned into consulting. Read more>>

Kirsten Anatone

Truth be told, sometimes I wonder how I got to where I am today! My professional journey has led me through many musical worlds, with the classical world being the impetus for it all. After being inspired by James Horner’s film score to Titanic, I immediately knew I needed to be a part of that musical orbit, so I asked my parents if I could begin taking flute lessons. I didn’t grow up in a musical household, so as one can imagine my parents were quite surprised by my desires. Yet as perplexed as they may have been, they were immediately supportive, both in equal measure. Read more>>