Today we’d like to take a moment to applaud the parents who despite many challenges, did they best they could and did right by their kids. We asked folks to share stories of what they feel their parents got right and have shared highlights below.

Chiamaka Esinulo

My parents have supported my artistic journey from the very beginning.
I didn’t even know it was possible to study art professionally at the university level until my mother told me — and I was overjoyed to apply for a degree in Fine and Applied Arts, eventually majoring in painting.
Throughout my time in school, my parents provided everything I needed, which motivated me to work harder and excel in my art. Read more>>

Selina Fox

Growing up in Southern California, my earliest memories are filled with the scent of mesquite wood and our homemade barbecue sauce. My parents owned seven barbecue restaurants—a livelihood built on fierce integrity and relentless dedication. From an early age, I watched them pour every ounce of themselves into their work, not because it was easy, but because they believed in doing things the right way, no matter how many hours it took. Read more>>

Dhwani Mehta

Some of the most powerful lessons in resilience and determination don’t come from textbooks or classrooms—they come from the quiet, everyday examples set by the people we love most. For me, it was my parents.

Though both of them come from commerce backgrounds, they have been the unwavering foundation of my scientific journey. My mother Mrs. Varisha Mehta, a devoted tutor, modeled the patience and clarity needed to teach—and inspired in me a love for learning and explaining complex ideas. My father Mr. Ashish Mehta, a banker, showed me the power of calm consistency and quiet strength—qualities that would become my anchor during the toughest phases of graduate school. Read more>>

Michael Eisner

I am often asked about my namesake, the former CEO of Disney, and if I am related. For the record, I am not, but usually answer, “I am in the born lucky club, just not the born that lucky club.” In realty, I am in the “born that lucky club,” because my parents did so many things right that allowed me to succeed. Read more>>

Beth Legg

Growing up, my parents gave me the space to try anything I wanted – whether that was art, tennis, and really any activity in-between. They didn’t push their ideas about who I should be or what I should do, but instead they let me try all the things – they gave me the freedom to explore and the trust to find out for myself. That perspective has been so important in my creative journey and especially in my decision to leave a traditional career path. This has led me to try many different careers spanning nonprofit, policy, product management, and now photography. Each role taught me something new and helped me show up more fully in my creative work today. Read more>>

Jose

The best thing my dad ever did to fuel my creativity was to give me access to any books I wanted at any time.

I grew in Puerto Rico, which in the 80s didn’t have a great public library system, but my dad understood the value of books — of loving and appreciating books and of the impact literature can have on a young mind. When I was in my early teens, my mom would often drop me at the mall — usually to watch a movie. There was a small bookstore at this mall, and my dad talked to the owner, gave him a credit card to keep on file, and told me anytime I was at the mall I could stop by the bookstore and buy any book I wanted. So instead of hanging out at the food court or shopping around, I would go to the bookstore and browse. I ended up discovering dozens of authors and genres that would shape my life and ultimately my career. Read more>>

Chinyere Christy Ibekwe

Reflecting on my life’s trajectory — from being a professional basketball player, to a fashion designer, entrepreneur, event producer, humanitarianism , and now pursuing a career in psychology, it is very evident that my parents laid a strong and enduring foundation that has guided me through every transition. Read more>>

Vital Wilsh

Honestly, the biggest thing they did right was never trying to steer the ship for me — even though they easily could have. Both my parents are doctors — my dad was a well-respected one in my hometown, and my mom still practices — but they never once made me feel like I had to follow in their footsteps. Instead, they gave me space to figure out what actually lit me up inside, and then backed me fully once I found it. Read more>>

CASSANDRA GAMBLIN

Teach me to be independent, taught me self worth, I can do whatever I set my mind to do, show pride in myself, my work ethics, work hard nothing id given to you, love yourself first, be respectful, speak up. Read more>>

Raj Belani

The best thing my parents did was never stand in the way of pursuing anything I wanted to, regardless of how “out of the box” it was. When I was 13, I wanted to be a storm chaser. When I was 16, I was so sure I was going to be a magician. At 19, I wanted to become an actor. At no point throughout my childhood did I hear “No”. It was always “Ok, but whatever you decide, just put your heart & soul into it”. That was very liberating, especially growing up as a first generation Indian in the 80’s where all of my friends were pushed to become doctors, whether they liked it or not. My parents gave me the freedom and space to really grow creatively. Read more>>

DARREN TRIMMINGHAM

My parents had a grocery store and the business fundamentals that they instilled , such as getting up
Early , always making sure products were polished and ready to be sold , being courteous, being a steward of service. These were the early pillars of my success. Read more>>

Dolores Slowinski

My parents expected me to do my best throughout my education, My home life was secure and encouraging. My Mom probably would have been delighted to see me join a convent and become a nun; my Dad would have been delighted if I had become a medical technologist or engineer. Read more>>

Tai Shan

When I was 7 years old, I started piano lessons. My teacher was a spindly, middle-aged man with wire-rim glasses named Kurt Whipple. One day, he pulled my dad aside and said, “If you really want her to practice, put the piano in a room where the door closes.” Read more>>

Zoe Keijser

Growing up, our house was constantly filled with music, from Gershwin nights with family and friends singing next to the piano, to melodies on the marimba, and Afro-Cuban drumming classes. My first exposure to dance lessons was as a baby when I would come to work with my dad, tucked down by the piano on the floor, listening as he improvised music for the dancers. What my family taught me from an early age was that art and life are inextricably linked. Music, dance, and art are more a way of being than something confined to a studio or a finished product. One thing I love about dance is how truly alive it makes me feel. Read more>>

Lane O’Donnell

My parents did a great job of instilling a strong work ethic and a sense of personal responsibility in me from a young age. They emphasized the importance of following through on commitments, doing things well the first time, and being accountable for my actions. Watching them consistently show up for work, family, and their community taught me the value of perseverance and integrity. I watched them run multiple businesses together throughout my childhood, working together through both successes and hardships. Looking back, even in the most difficult seasons, they always found ways to fill our home with joy. Read more>>

Lindsey Leichthammer

My parents were monumental in building a foundation for success for both my brother and I. Growing up in the Boston area, there is a grit and resilience that becomes a core value and a baseline of how you operate, and my parents baked that into the lessons they taught us. There isn’t some flashy, extraordinary moment, it was all the small moments along the way: Read more>>