Parents teach us many things including how to be a parent. We can learn from their mistakes, sure, but we can also learn a lot from the things they got right. We asked successful entrepreneurs and creatives to open up to us about their parents and what they felt their parents got right. 

Alison Stern

My parents have always supported me, without question. My father was a fine artist whose canvases and sculptures were all around me. For sure his design sense was very influential. My mother had an eye for beautiful, fine and simple things. As a young child, my mom would have me feel soft and elegant textures. Read More>>

Kassidy Clothier

My parents did so many things right, but one of the biggest was always encouraging me to chase my dreams and believing in me. They never pushed me into a “safe” path and instead supported me in pursuing what I was passionate about. They also gave me practical wisdom, like encouraging me to go to community college instead of taking out large student loans. Read More>>

Alyssa Franco

One of the biggest things my parents did right was teaching me the value of hard work and showing up, even when it’s not easy. Growing up, I watched them stay consistent, committed, and resilient no matter what was going on. There wasn’t this idea of “waiting until things are perfect”—it was always about figuring it out and moving forward anyway. Read More>>

Fé Vásquez

From my mother, Judith Peñuela, I learned how to solve problems and get things done. She spent her career in the corporate world, and whenever people found themselves stuck in the middle of a complicated transaction, she was the person they called. Read More>>

Sky Betz

I wouldn’t be where I am in my life, who I am in my life, if not for my Dad. From Day 1 I’ve been a Daddy’s Girl; unabashedly, unapologetically, wholeheartedly. My father was my first teacher, my earliest protector, and my hero many times over. Read More>>

Annette Cho

My relationship with my parents has long been complex. It cannot be reduced to unwavering love and support alone; there were wounds, the slow work of understanding each other as human beings, and at times, the pain of letting things go. However, within all that complexity, there is much I am grateful for, and one of those things is the trust they have in me. Read More>>

Lauren Battin

Growing up in a military family meant constant change. We moved often, and people regularly came in and out of our lives. There was a lot of joy in the experiences, but also pain in the goodbyes that came with moving so much. What my parents did really well was keep things honest and real. Read More>>

Hans Hernke

This all started for me in high school when I was attending The Master’s Academy in Oviedo, Florida. I was part of the drama department and performed in school plays, but at the same time I also had an agent—Central Florida Talent. My agent would send me out on auditions and occasional film and TV shoots during school hours. Read More>>

Chiara Carroll

I tell people that I would not have been where I am today without the vision that my father casted for my life. I’m blessed to have both of my parents in my life, they’re still married, and they’re actively part of my life. They have invested so much into me and believed in me from the start. Read More>>

Wayne M Andrews

My parents gave us the world — one museum, one concert, one cultural site at a time. Long before I understood what any of it meant, they were quietly teaching us that the arts were not a luxury or an afterthought, but an essential part of being alive and paying attention to the world around you. Read More>>

Jessica Adam

I feel that my father always trusted me, and that was the biggest thing that felt ‘right’ for me growing up. He might have HAD questions about choices I made, but did not question those choices, if that makes sense. He never tried to influence the path I took, and trusted that I knew what was best for myself. He was (and is!) unconditionally supportive. Read More>>

Ryan Manalili

one thing I am truly grateful for was having parents who were open to communication and really let me try things. Whether it was skateboarding, or music, my parents really let me try things. Sure there was some push back at the beginning, but once they recognized these things were how I wanted to express myself, they were all in Read More>>

Karly Stringham

My parents always emphasized the importance of trying and following through, rather than being the best at something. Growing up, the expectation wasn’t perfection or winning—it was effort and completion. If I started something, I was encouraged to finish it, even if it was hard or I wasn’t naturally good at it. Read More>>

Dr. Sara J

Growing up in a household where addiction, poverty, hustle, and God were the bones that held up the four corners of every home we inhabited, I truly can say my parents got ‘being their authentic selves’ right! While writing that first sentence felt a bit strange, that in itself was honest. Read More>>