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.

Marialia Pacitto

The idea of wanting to leave a legacy seems to be a pretty typical and innate human desire, stemmed from the volition of making sure we live this life with purpose and direction. I have actually thought about this question quite a bit in the recent past. I feel that having a broad expectation about the impression you will leave on this world after you die is pretty self-serving and futile as opposed to taking small, direct steps just one day at a time to build the type of world you want to live in. I believe this structure is ultimately going to be more impactful than any grandiose methods one can take since these types of acts are typically driven by our own egoism. Our intention should always be about the greater good, and never about ourselves. Focusing on the now and living each moment with intent and action while affecting your direct radius of community causes a sort of ripple effect- which I trust has the strongest ultimate outcome. I believe that true legacies simply create themselves, and all I can hope to be remembered for in this chaotic world is being imperfectly human, and most of all: kind. Read more>>

Jaleesa Chambers

As a mother, creative, and entrepreneur legacy is a constant topic of interest and theme within the work I strive to do. Legacy for the generations of family I will leave behind, the new class of creatives that have yet to be inspired, and the legacy of a lasting and impactful business. As a creative resilience coach, writer, and product developer my goal is to help women make their dreams a priority. To not give up on what they want to create because they are overwhelmed with the daily demands of life, but to see a bright and bountiful future for themselves beyond their social norms. This directly correlates with the legacy we envision leaving behind. Read more>>

Sunny De Leon

I want my legacy to be a testament to unapologetic, radical self-love and acceptance. I hope that when people think of me, they remember someone who didn’t just live authentically but inspired others to do the same. I want my self-love to be contagious, like a spark that ignites a fire in others to break free from the societal norms and rules that don’t serve them. I hope to be remembered as someone who gave people permission—through my words, my work, and my way of being—to fully own who they are, to live boldly, and to embrace every messy, beautiful part of themselves. If my journey inspires even one person to reclaim their power and redefine their life on their own terms, then I’ll know I’ve done something meaningful. Read more>>

Jose Flores

The legacy I’m building is deeply rooted in purpose and empowerment. I want to be remembered as someone who broke barriers, championed accessibility and inclusion, and used my voice and platform to inspire and uplift others—especially within the disability community. My work as a speaker, author, model, and advocate reflects my commitment to making the world more inclusive and equitable. When I’m gone, I hope people will say I was a trailblazer who redefined possibilities, someone who turned challenges into opportunities to inspire resilience and courage. I want to be remembered not just for what I achieved professionally, but for the personal warmth, determination, and authenticity I brought to every interaction. Read more>>

Christina Roey

My Legacy is leaving my business to my boys. That’s why the business is name R&R Natural Hair Care after Ronnie and Rylan. I wanted to leave them a business that they can understand and handle. I have them going with me to Hair Shows, when i speak and making new decisions like my oils, new products and etc.. My goal is to have a school that, so i can teach these ladies how to be on there own. I will have a salon connect to the school. So i can teacher them booth rent, getting supplies, how to carry them selves as business women or men. My goal to have everyone successful! My goal is to be on Tyler Perry shows to be a hairstylist!! I’m still waiting. This is how i want to be remembered from him!! I just need one time and just to be in the back to do the hair. I want everyone to remember me by Crissy made me smile when i sat in her chair!! When i left i know i need to come back because she made me feel comfortable and she educated me about my hair!! Read more>>

Collin Harrington

As Head of Talent at HG Media Group, I think about legacy constantly—not in terms of ego, but because I truly believe that what we leave behind is the clearest reflection of who we are and what we stood for. For me, this journey is about so much more than campaigns and contracts. It’s about completely redefining what marketing can be. I want to be remembered as someone who didn’t just exist within this industry but reshaped it. Someone who took an impersonal, transactional space and made it deeply human—full of meaning and connection. To me, marketing is not just about selling. It’s about creating moments—moments that spark emotion, that resonate deeply, that bring people together. Read more>>

Zach Rippey

I’ve always been fascinated with the words shared on a tombstone. Some choose Bible verses, others opt for family titles like “Father, Son, Husband, Brother,” but I find myself enamored with the words “Man of God.” Either that or “God’s Man.” Whichever of the two ends up on your tombstone, I’d like to think that’s the greatest legacy a man can have. To have everyone who lays your body in the ground know you were a man of faith puts a certain peace in my heart I can’t quite explain. Read more>>

Kaya Phillips

I hope to create a legacy that transforms the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals through innovation, advocacy, and love. My vision is to design groundbreaking technology that makes everyday life easier for the Deaf community and create apparel that ensures they feel truly seen and heard. I plan to take the world by storm and be a trailblazer for those to come. I dream of establishing a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art audiology clinic that addresses the full spectrum of their needs: identity, financial burdens, access to hearing aids, speech therapy, and beyond. Read more>>

Tommy Widekärr

As a writer, I believe that our words are the footprints we leave behind, long after we have departed. The legacy I hope to build is one of connection and resonance—a body of work that stirs emotions, provokes thought, and inspires introspection. My dream is for my stories to serve as a mirror for readers, reflecting their own joys, struggles, and humanity, while also opening doors to worlds and experiences they may have never encountered otherwise. Read more>>

Bre’anna Collins

I’m aiming to build a legacy of love, resilience, and community impact. I want to be remembered as someone who not only overcame adversity but used those experiences to inspire and help others. Through my catering business, Genèse Catering and Events, LLC, I hope to leave behind a reputation for exceptional food, integrity, and the values I stand for—bringing people together, uplifting the community, and ensuring that everyone feels valued and cared for. Read more>>

Nya Woodley

Not everyone will have a legacy, and I am now finding, you just do not know what it would be as time goes by, it may change serval times, however what those near you will always know and it will stay constant, is how you treat people. Thank you for having me share my thoughts again. I love to produce art, but art is a thing you have to set the environment in which it can happen. Another thing I love to do is find creative ways to solve problems. This usually is not planned it can happen by accident or exploring a thought I had years ago. To wrap up this question, I want to be known as a positive person that produce art, whether it be the art of expansive conversations, the art of expressing beauty in architecture that respects nature, or the art of merging colors together on canvas.  Read more>>

Deanna Johnson

As a wedding and portrait photographer, the legacy I hope to build is one of genuine connection, timeless storytelling, and a deep respect for the fleeting moments that shape a life. I want my work to reflect not just the beauty of the day, but the soul of the people and relationships I have the honor of capturing. After I’m gone, I hope people will say that I helped preserve their most cherished memories, that my photos brought them back to a feeling, a moment, or a love story worth remembering. I want to be remembered as someone who cared deeply about my clients, who saw their uniqueness and told their stories with authenticity, empathy, and artistry. Read more>>

Jendina Bowers

The legacy I hope to build is similar to a plant that turned into a forest. I would have said rose from the concrete, but even something as beautiful as a rose has thorns around it, guarding it from the hurt it has experienced. I see the hurt in peoples eyes and the stories they carry as they walk trying to do everything almost perfect. This world has not been nice but it still is a beautiful world, if we just take back the control we let it have over us. Read more>>