Winning often looks like a long trail of losses that were too weak to keep you down. We are beyond inspired by the stories below. Resilience cannot capture the true nature of what so many of these entrepreneurs, artists and creatives possess and there is so much to learn from the folks highlighted below.

Richard Dent IV

I moved around a lot as a young kid but spent most of my childhood in Lafayette, CA. The people around me were, and still are, my mom, dad, sister, and various dogs. As a child, I loved playing dress-up as different characters. After watching a movie, I would be inspired by a character, gather whatever costume elements I could find, and do my best to become that person. As I grew older, I was naturally drawn and guided to the visual and performing arts. Although I was athletic and played many sports, I felt a bit out of place; the competitive aspect never resonated with me, but the arts allowed me to thrive. Throughout my adolescence, I worked both backstage and on stage at my local theater, as well as in school and summer theater programs. I was fortunate to be raised by two artists: my mom, a singer, and my dad, an actor. They provided a strong foundation and believed in my life as an artist. With their support, I realized I did not want an education focused on academics. Instead, I sought an embodied experience. Read more>>

Virginia Crouse

I first fell in love with dance when I watched the “Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses” movie. From a very young age, I loved music and moving to everything I heard and finally at the age of 8 years old I took my first dance class. Read more>>

Björn VW

I relocated to the United States in 2005 and began my journey working as a server at a prestigious country club in the heart of Florida. Juggling responsibilities in both New York and Florida, I found my way to California before realizing that it was New York City that truly captured my heart. It was in this vibrant and dynamic city that I decided to plant my roots, establishing a flourishing career as an Event Planner. Read more>>

Karen Blair

Crayola crayons in the box of 64 colors with the sharpener in the back, who among you remembers getting your first one? The smell of the wax, the range of color and the ability to maintain a sharp point are still fresh in my mind. A sense of wonder and possibility still come every time I open a tube of oil paint or gesso a canvas. I was lucky in my parents who encouraged me with my art or perhaps they recognized that I had no other readily discernable skills or ability. I attended The University of NC at Greensboro where I spent the majority of my time in studio art and art history classes. Read more>>

Xavier Dalencour

I born In Port-au-Prince, Haiti on February 17, 1981, form a Haitian Dad and a French Mom. I am come from a family of teachers and intellectuals, whom was really open to world, the society and I was immersed very early in an environment that was very open to music, classical music especially, with an aunt concert pianist and music teacher, and also to painting whose rudiments were transmitted to me by an amateur painter father, but I can say drawing and painting was always valued in my environment. I starting to draw at an early age in my notebooks and schoolbooks, drawing first and painting have inhabited me my entire life without the thought of an artistic vocation ever arising. Read more>>

Christy Hunter

Growing up, I was obsessed with watching the National Geographic channel and looking through their magazines. It combined two things that I loved: animals and photography. As the oldest of two children, I was the first in my family to attend college. As I started looking at schools to apply to, it became very obvious to me how expensive my education would be. The art school that I had my heart set on didn’t accept typical scholarships or provide financial aid. So I decided to pursue another passion of mine (foreign languages) and went to a more affordable local university. Read more>>

Seán Barna

I have been a drummer since 9 years old, semi-professional by 14 years old, and professional by 22 years old, when I served as the drummer and percussionist for that national Broadway tour of The Producers: a Mel Brooks Musical. I did not write songs or sing until I was about 25 or 26 years old. In 2014 I released my first EP of music, entitled Cutter Street, followed by my first LP, Pictures of an Exhibitionist, in 2017. Read more>>

Spenser Olson

Spenser Olson is an American Christian singer, songwriter, and producer. Known for bringing new life to pop music, blurring the lines between genres, and his thought provoking lyrics. Olson’s first release dates back to 2013. He later released his first full length album (Your Love for Us) in mid 2016, which has since been heard in over 70 countries. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Spenser started leading and writing music at his local church at the young age of twelve years old. Spenser has continued to push the boundaries, regardless of his age, and perform on high levels. Spenser’s surrendered life and commitment is prominent, and the calling on his life is indisputable. Spenser’s drive, not only in the entertainment industry, as well as other entrepreneurial avenues is evident. Currently, Spenser produces music with his label Studio Sixteen Music Group, while continuing to make impacts with his own new music, such as recent singles “All Those Lies” in January 2023 and “Choose to Stay” in May 2024. Read more>>

Yuliana Sleme

I started as an actress in a Caribbean Mexican island. I really loved performing, and thanks to the lack of opportunity I my high school, I went and found myself a new member of the local theatre company. And so I had my first job! Read more>>

Dayana Aleksandrova

In 2017, I was miserable at my office job. I worked in the sales department of a tech startup and to be honest, the environment had gotten quite toxic. All I wanted to do was to be free – to wake up whenever I want, work from wherever I want, and travel. So I made a radical move – I quit without savings or a plan. I had a couple hundred bucks to my name so I took a flight to the Dominican Republic to volunteer at a tree house resort. Read more>>

Kamilah Martin of Katalyst

When I look back on myself as a kid, I was always trying to figure things out, trying to make things “better,” wanting to make sense of why things were the way they were…and if they didn’t make sense to my 7, 8, 9 year old brain, would question why they couldn’t be done differently. Read more>>

Amanda Norton

I am the oldest of 6 kids and the only daughter. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot. There was a lot of chaos during childhood and my parents divorced when I was 7. I am a survivor of child abuse and sexual assault. My mom turned things around when I was a teenager and went back to school for a degree in accounting. I am very proud of her for going back to school as a single parent of 6 children. She continues to be a supportive and loving mother and grandmother, and I am grateful she is my Mom. Read more>>

Lil Prince Charmin

I started performing at the age of 4yrs old doing Mr. James Brown covers then moving on to the King of Pop Michael Jackson. At 6yrs old my mother started me a Facebook page called Paris Josef aka Baby Brown and once my page started picking up momentum I started getting booked for shows. At 9 yrs old I started writing my very own music. Then at 10yrs old I went to the studio and recorded my first single written and produced by me. Read more>>

Amy Deneson

The entirety of my professional market making experience has led me to being the co-founder and executive director of the Cannabis Media Council. For over 20 years, I have led edge brands, businesses, and mission-driven organizations to supportive communities for mutual, collective benefit. In 2016, I shifted into the regulated cannabis industry with my heart and mind set on applying my executive marketing acumen to helping people learn more about this amazing plant and how they can legally access tested, trustworthy, sensational cannabinoid products. Read more>>

Dean Pagano

My journey in the art world began at a young age, driven by an innate passion for visual expression. Over the years, I honed my skills and developed a unique style that resonates with my inner vision. Establishing Pagano Studio in New York City was pivotal, allowing me to showcase my personal artworks and paintings on a larger scale. Read more>>

Ace/Dice Bundy

I’ve been doing art ever since I can remember! The first memory I have is drawing Blaze the Cat on a large piece of paper. I believe my grandmother still has it. I went from making fanart and sonic ocs traditionally, to mastering digital software and drawing comic covers, art for games, and designing characters for various media. Read more>>

Melissa Clouser

My background is in Art Education and after I graduated with my undergraduate degree I was teaching Visual Arts in middle schools for a while and loved it. I had twins in 2019 and they were only a couple months old when the pandemic hit. I was able to stay at home with them for their first two years and when I was ready to work outside the home again I wasn’t interested in going back into a traditional school setting–but still wanted to teach. I decided to open Cut & Sew PHL so that I could continue to teach but on my own terms. Read more>>

Jonathan Shaw

Art has always been an integral part of my journey. Whether it’s sketching, painting or mixed media collage, creativity has been an amazing outlet for me to process life and faith on a deep level and a beautiful way of meditating if you will. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to pursue my calling as an artist and support my family. I owe much thanks to friends, family, collectors and fans; the support and encouragement I have received means so much to me. Read more>>

Zuri Moon-Golston

Golston Creations was started from the ever flowing creativity of Zuri. What began as a hobby quickly emerged as a blossoming business as friends, family and even strangers began to inquire about how they too could obtain the beautiful creations. With the support of her devoted husband and business partner, Zuri was able to leave the security of employment to jump into the entrepreneurial world. The calendar quickly filled with custom orders and vendor request Sipretty is the first brand from Golston Creations, specializing in custom wine glasses. We have provided various custom vinyl products such as canvas templates for paint and sip events and t-shirts. Read more>>

Rori Zura

Since 2016, I have been discovering lumps in my breasts, not to mention a significant family history of various types of cancers, mainly breast cancer. Given my dense and cystic breasts, I tried to obtain a preventive mastectomy to avoid experiencing what my family members had gone through. Read more>>

Kate Dawson

Ok, put on your seatbelt, cuz my story is like a wild ride through Creativity Town with stops at every artsy station! From the get-go, my life has been all about creating. For a cool 11 years, I was deep in the theatre world, acting and singing my heart out. I absolutely adored the spotlight, but sometimes, those roles just didn’t quench my creative thirst—some were zesty and thrilling, others, well, not so much. Read more>>

Elizabeth Clar

I have been creating since I can remember. When I was young I expressed my unique style with different colored neon socks, poofy colorful scrunchies and leggings covered in safety pins with beads. In other words- I am meant to live this passion. Read more>>

Raguel Gabriel

I’ve aways had the deepest connection to music. As a child and even as an adult today-it’s my refuge and the passion inside of me that refuses to die. I grew up in the church in Trinidad where of course you were surrounded by music and I think that’s where the seed was planted. Mum, dad and my sister-we were all musical. I was exposed to every type of genre as I grew up but it was not until I fell into classical music that I think I found my true voice. It was classical that got me through one of the hardest times in my life-the death of my father-and it completely rewired my brain. That’s the only way I can describe it. There is this version of me before I discovered classical, and the version of me after. The latter being a more positive, less anxious, peaceful and openminded man. To say when everything really started? Well, that would be when I was offered the role of Tony in a musical called West Side Story. I say it like that because at the time I had no idea what that musical was-and I was not even looking to get into musicals or theatre. I had a look and I had a voice and I wanted to sing so I did it. At the time I was very much enamored with that rounded tone that classical singers possess and I started to imitate it as much as I can. After wrapping up Tony, everyone around me suggested that I pursue formal classical voice training and so I found an amazing teacher who taught me for years and my voice completely changed. I became a classically trained tenor and found myself successfully performing in fully staged operas, musicals, plays and more. After I played Marius in the Caribbean premiere of Les Miserables I was inspired to audition for drama school in NYC. I wanted to explore acting (with text only) so badly and so long story short, I was accepted by the Stella Adler Studio in Manhattan where I studied for three years alongside continuing my singing and voice work. After graduation I worked like crazy to stay on as an artist in the US and through the ups and downs-I am still here. Its all been a journey directed by my heart, my compass. It’s like one thing leads to another, step by step. The one thing I never dreamt I’d be was a producer. That title came out of the need to express myself the way I want, truly. As a singer and actor you spend a lot of time yielding to others’ direction and vision. As a producer, it’s the opposite. People seem to have a thought of what someone with a classical voice must look like, what place they should be from, or even the things that person should be involved with. While classical music is special to me-all music remains so as well. So I keep exploring and challenging myself. A wonderful memory of mine was being a part of a Rock and Roll inspired play and a Rhythm and Blues musical. I’m currently in a phase where I am enjoying exploring a huge amount of new classical songs that somehow align with where I am in my life and what I am going through. In 2021 I produced my first ever recital of songs by Franz Schubert in NYC which completely resonated at the time. It was the first project under my very own RTG Productions. Sometimes I wonder if I could ever sing that music again because I’m not in the place I was and feeling certain emotions I was at the time. Last year, on the weekend of my birthday, I produced the follow up recital called ‘Night and Dreams’ in NYC. It included the most beautiful songs that had been with me for two years and frankly, they all touched me because I was going through exactly what the texts said. Thoughts on life, death, mortality, loss and the feeling of finding someone finally that you love, resting with them with closed eyes on a brand new morning. At this point I am still in NYC and have many new pieces that I am working on with my coach. When, where and in what form I perform them is yet to be determined but as always-my heart will tell me the details. Read more>>

Christopher Stewart

My story started very early on. I come from a very skilled and leader focused family who also loves food, dining and hospitality. We have had the extreme privilege of being able to enjoy food and dining willingly and freely at a high level and that is due to my late grandfather being an Executive Chef at some very prominent hotels throughout his career. I like to say I was literally born to do what I do. He and my family granted me the space to explore all kinds of cuisines and there was simply never a food that I couldn’t taste. Dining out was just our norm and it really exposed me to different cultures and levels of hospitality. Read more>>

Josh Stein

I was born in New Jersey and lived there until moving to Northern California at 17. I went to school at UC Riverside in Southern California and the University of Liverpool before relocating to Napa. Along the way, I have been a graphic designer and creative artist, musician, writer, professor, and adult beverage maker, among other things. I am currently finishing my MFA at School of Visual Arts in New York City. My artwork has been nationally and internationally published numerous times and exhibited in a wide range of locations around the world, including the Popular and Contemporary Culture Museum in Tallinn, Estonia; the CICA Museum in Seoul, Korea; Adas Israel in Washington DC; Burning Man in Blackrock, Nevada; and Gallery 1064 in Seattle, amongst many others. I have had multiple solo shows in California and Washington states and have participated in numerous duo and group shows nationally and internationally. I work in highly textured metallic and fluorescent acrylics in my 2D projects and work with industrial plastics in various ways for 3D. I like to boil it down by saying my formal training in calligraphy, graphic design, and color work; more than three decades as a researcher, teacher, and writer in cultural analysis in the vein of the Birmingham and Frankfurt Schools; and a decade and a half as a commercial artist and designer for multiple winery clients bring together my influences of Pop art, Tattoo flash and lining techniques, and Abstract Surrealism and Expressionism to the extreme edge where graphic design and calligraphy meet the Platonic theory of forms. Read more>>

Jennifer Hart

My story is long and layered, filled with life experiences that have shaped me into the woman I am today. Some moments would drop you to your knees, taking your breath away. I won’t pretend my life has been easy—it’s been far from it—but I’m thankful for every lesson that has molded me into the compassionate and creative person I’ve become. Read more>>

Daniel Laurent

I was raised with both parents which later in life, I realize was a blessing as so many were not fortunate to have that. I had the streets and the underworld in full view but not being glamorized. It was a time when community was very much present and those who were involved in street activities, if talent was recognized, they protected it and didn’t try to consume it. I was protected. Not only from my parents, but those who operated in the underground economy and professionals alike. I knew it then and appreciate it even more now. So many examples. So many instances to recount. Read more>>

Déja Simpson

I have loved to create music ever since a little girl. However, the lost of my little brother to gun violence is what truly inspired me to pursue my music career and take it to the next level. The traumatizing experience led me to questioning my own life and decisions. I decided to use the unfortunate event as motivation to share positive music can uplift and decrease the violence in my neighborhood. Read more>>

Megan Johnson

LoveFamilyHealth began in 2015 as a lifestyle blog. I was three months away from welcoming my second baby and eager to rejoin the workforce. However, as a military spouse dealing with long stretches of my husband’s absence and the high cost of childcare, I realized I needed a way to earn extra income from home. Blogging seemed like a perfect fit. Read more>>

Lianne Torres

Sure, I’d be honored to share my journey. It all started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the world seemed to stop, but my personal turmoil was just beginning. I found myself trapped in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship, an experience that nearly cost me my life. Read more>>

Jamie Catherine

My passion for the creative arts has led me in many different directions over the years. In 2018, I had an epiphany, vision to start designing and creating notebooks, journals and planners. This was sparked through my own personal battle with anxiety and depression. Read more>>

Art Parnitudom

The first moment I decided that film could be something that I’d pursue the rest of my life was in the small navy-walled bedroom of my childhood home. It was 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. I was laying on my stomach with my legs kicked up. An old and thick CRT television in front of me, its lights flashed as I was absorbed to the sight & sound before me. The film was The Dark Knight (2008) – I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, to be quite honest. Read more>>

Ja’el Mendez

I spent a year in Florence, Italy, obtaining a Master’s degree in Foreign Policy and Security from James Madison University. After graduation, I returned home, hoping to work in the Peace and Security field. I followed the exact path, getting a government contracting job in D.C. and eventually going into federal service. I met my former business partner at this job, and the rest is history. She propelled me into the events space and became a valuable mentor. We launched the Coordinated Collective in 2019 and have coordinated over 150 weddings with amazing couples from all over the United States. Read more>>

Stephanie Green

God gave me a bag of balloons! Whenever someone asks me about this, I imagine people might think I’m crazy. Seriously though, God did provide me with a bag of balloons through some good friends of mine. There was a period in my life, as I’m sure many of us have experienced, where I had no passion for anything and no clear idea of what I wanted to become. Although I’m very skilled at doing hair and was encouraged to pursue a career as a hairstylist, it was no longer something I enjoyed. I prayed and asked God to give me something to be passionate about, something I would love doing that could also support me financially. Read more>>

Pete Coco

I started my journey as a portrait photographer during the pandemic. Although I had worked in the industry for many years, portrait photography was a relatively new venture for me at that time. All of my schooling was in music, but in 2020 I decided to take my passion and turn it into a business. It was a necessity at the time, because my other business had been closed due to the pandemic. I started the photo studio out of a very dark time in my career, but I am so glad I did! It has been such a rewarding journey. I think my background as a jazz bassist has helped me to develop my unique vision as a photographer, as there are many similarities between the two art forms. Read more>>

 Shemuel Parker

I have always had a deep passion for music. I remember when I was a child and my mom purchased me a hip hop cd. My parents are divorced and my dad would not allow me to watch MTV or BET. I attended private Christian schools. One school in particular is where I started my music career. Read more>>

Jessica Lewis

My story starts with curiosity. I’m curious about everything. How does something work? Why? Could it be better? Is it worth my time? How can I help others succeed? Read more>>

 Jeff Revilla

My journey into the world of live events and podcasting began in 2015 when I launched the “Stuff I Never Knew Trivia Game Show” podcast. Recording that first episode was a revelation—it showed me the immense power of real-time connections with people from all corners of the globe. This experience planted the seed for what I later conceptualized as the “infinite seat” theater. Read more>>

Alexis Haselberger

I’m a time management, productivity and stress reduction coach! I spent the first 15+ years of my career managing operations and HR at several early-stage start-ups, where there was way more to do than people to do it. Burnout was rampant. While working in these high-stress environments (and having a couple of kids along the way), I started developing and implementing strategies for productivity at work, and in my personal life, to ensure that goals were met, balls were not dropped, and that, most importantly, stress didn’t get the best of me. Read more>>

Jalen Johnson

Well, to sum it all up, I grew up in a Christian household so I was raised in the church by my parents and grandparents and the whole church community in the neighborhood. I used to love going up to sing in the choir with my family & then as I grew older I started to gain a real love for not just singing but music in general. Fast forward a few years later, we lose the King Of Pop and the world is shut down and I’m about 7-8 years old so I barely knew who he was at that time & his music, his story, just everything Michael Jackson brought to the culture was something different. I feel like that could never be done again or forgotten in history. I wanted to become that. I wanted to be like Michael, so as a kid I used all the time I had to study him. His moves, his music, the choreography, everything down to a T. One day, my mom caught me dancing one night and asked me “Why don’t you sing while you dancing?”. That made me realize the true purpose of entertainment, showcasing your best capabilities. That’s not easy to do, especially as a kid, but there’s always love in it even as an adult. Studying the greats & applying what works for you when you get the answer is what got me to where I am and where I’m headed. If it wasn’t for my family & the ones who paved the way, I wouldn’t even be interviewed right now. Humble moments like this keep me encouraged. Read more>>

Kathryn Gianaras

I am a proud Greek San Francisco Native. I attended UC Santa Barbara where I immediately joined the UCSB Waterski Team. In my second year on the team I was elected to be on the leadership team as the Social officer and was named Captain of the team my senior year. After starting working as a data entry employee, I quickly became the Sport Club Student Manager and upon my graduation, I was promoted to Office Manager for the UCSB Recreational Sports Department. In 2012 my parents offered my sister and I the opportunity to open a restaurant of our own in the same location that my parents owned their Greek Restaurant called Panos that they ran for 20 years from 1977-1997 before renting the space out to Pasta Pomodoro from 1997-2013. Upon accepting this once in a lifetime opportunity, I quickly moved back to San Francisco to work at a restaurant in order to gain necessary experience and prepare to open our own restaurant in the heart of Noe Valley with my sister. I was 25 years old with somewhat minimal experience when we opened our restaurant on March 16, 2015. Through hard work, extremely long days and perseverance our restaurant, NOVY, became a great success and has proudly been open for 9 years now. My father taught me at a young age that you can do anything you put your mind to and I have lived by that my whole life and have had many successes. Read more>>

Ryan Kovacs

Poetry has always been a passion of mine and storytelling at the forefront. It wasn’t until I discovered that the two could be combined, that my real story began with writing novels-in-verse. I was inspired by the author Ellen Hopkins and her Crank Series initially and began to understand the capabilities I possessed to tell stories through poetry. Read more>>

Dylan Dent

I’ve been enamored with art, entertainment, and culture for about as long as I can remember. The interest grew throughout my life but I never thought it would evolve into an actual pursuit. When I was 22 I was in a season of change and it was time to make some big decisions. My options were re-apply to grad school, go into the workforce, or take a big swing and chase your dreams (something I was mostly considering as a joke). While I was mulling things over I got in a fairly gnarly car accident (hit by a tractor trailer while stopped on the interstate). This was my second fairly bad accident in three years. I walked away from both without more than a scratch or two. Read more>>

Carmen Sclafani

I’ve always been drawn to the music and art since I was a young kid. Art came very natural to me, but my ability to write and play music was more of a slow process of time and focusing on learning the craft. I was playing small clubs and coffee houses in New Jersey and New York, and just growing as a musician and writing songs. The whole Wiser Time project started in 2001 and has evolved into my musical “On The Road” and stories from my travels. Read more>>