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.

Yihui Hu

The legacy I aspire to build is one of storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries, amplifies underrepresented voices, and fosters understanding across diverse communities. I want my work to serve as a bridge that connects people from different backgrounds, sparking conversations about identity, gender, and cultural differences. After I’m gone, I hope people will remember me as a filmmaker who wasn’t afraid to tackle challenging subjects, who brought depth and nuance to female characters, and who contributed to the visibility of Asian women in cinema. I want to be remembered for my dedication to creating films that are not just entertaining, but also meaningful and thought-provoking. My greatest hope is that my films will inspire future generations of filmmakers, especially women and minorities, to tell their own stories and continue pushing the boundaries of what cinema can achieve. Read more>>

Cali Goode

I’m hoping to build a legacy that reflects a deep passion for entrepreneurship and a commitment to empowering others through innovation, authenticity, inclusivity, and diversity. With “Kush’N it with Caligirlkush®,” I strive to break down barriers, foster community, and create a space where people truly feel empowered, inspired, and connected. I hope to be remembered as a trailblazer who boldly created her own opportunities. I want my legacy to reflect a relentless pursuit of excellence, a dedication to advancing through innovative projects, and an ability to bring people together. More than anything, I will be remembered for my authenticity and my passion for consistently progressing to reach my highest potential. Read more>>

Hani Nakkour

I’ve thought about this before but in fragments. I think about the big picture often and what would be the defining thing in my life. In all honesty, that is a daunting question to ask yourself, especially in my shoes as someone who wants to do it all. I do hope I accomplish the goals I have in mind whether it be building a brand, creating art and photographs that are seen for decades to come, or even professing when I get older. There’s a range of legacies that I see for myself and they all will include impact, connection and storytelling of some sort. I hope people see me and my work and feel an emotion, something that they can carry within them throughout the day or even the rest of their life. Read more>>

Stephanie Aguguo-orelus

In the almost 8 years since I opened Nina’s Braiding Bar, as with many other businesses, there have been a tremendous amounts of ups and downs. I am proud to still be standing and growing through this journey as an entrepreneur. Having braided hair for most of my life I always plan to remain in a space where I am interact with clients, provide beautiful hairstyles, and create a welcoming space for others. My future plans are to grow the business to the point where I can create more opportunities for other entrepreneurs in the beauty space, offering mentoring to those who may seek it. I hope to leave those who I’m surrounded by with a sense of empowerment and accomplishment. I want to be remembered as someone who made a positive impact on those I have been fortunate enough to meet. Read more>>

John Hunt

Sometimes I feel this answer should be some big song and dance about many things but often I find myself coming back to some simple mantras that have helped me along my professional and personal journey – “do work, bitch less, stack more” – the last part hits with a legacy aspect – “stack more” isn’t just something about making money…..for me, it’s more about memories with my wife and boys, going out to see the world, trying to satisfy the desire to succeed with making sure every client is as satisfied as possible…..I hope my family feels that I was there for them through everything and put them in a place to succeed in life without me there. Read more>>

Milon Parker

I hope my legacy will show the world that it’s okay to be exactly who you are, even if you’re different or don’t fit into society’s expectations. I want to challenge what people traditionally do and prove that being gay or different doesn’t stop you from motivating and inspiring others to chase their dreams. Through my movies, I’m telling the authentic stories of what the LGBTQ+ community goes through, giving a voice to those often misunderstood or overlooked. I want to help people who don’t understand us realize that we’re human, too, and that our worth isn’t defined by our sexual orientation. Just because someone doesn’t approve of who we love doesn’t mean we’re bad people. Read more>>

Daryl Dittmer

I’m not as concerned with what my legacy is going to be as I am about what it’s not going to be. I am fortunate to have experienced some business and financial success in my younger years. A lot of hard work, a lot of long days, a lot of morphing of me and facing my fears. A lot of risks and difficulty as I extricated many of the parts of me that no longer served my life. It was quite an adventure as I slogged through the muck of me and tried with all of the earnestness at my command, to shape a different life for myself and those I cared for. Read more>>

Amina Cush

The legacy I hope to build is one that celebrates ease, compassion, and empathy for humanity. I want to be remembered not only as someone who worked to fill critical gaps in postpartum care but as a woman who cared for herself and others so deeply that it inspired others to do the same. By doing so, I hope to be a force multiplier, creating a ripple effect that impacts future generations. When people reflect on my life and work, I want them to see someone who advocated for historically marginalized communities, ensuring that they had access to the resources, care, and support they deserved. But beyond that, I want to be remembered for embodying and spreading a sense of ease and compassion—for showing that it’s possible to move through life and challenges with empathy, not only for others but for ourselves. Read more>>

Julie Heaton

I hope my legacy will be love. It sounds corny, but it’s true for me. I believe a kinder world starts at home in our hearts first. If I can encourage just one person to cultivate love for themselves and lead from their heart, I’ll have positively impacted the world. Forgiveness, abundance, gratitude, connection, and kindness all start inside and flow to the world from there. We can’t give what we don’t already have. Ultimately, on my last day in this body, I hope people will know I love them. Read more>>

Rick Albert

It is extremely common for people to view Realtors/Real Estate Agents as just salespeople trying to make what is perceived to be a big commission. The reality is, if done right, a Real Estate Agent could be so much more. I come in with a wealth building perspective. I don’t just want my clients to buy a dream home, I want them to also make a great investment in their future. If they are selling, we go in to maximize the potential price by being particular on how to show the property. After I’m gone, I want to be remembered as making an impact on someone’s life that is multigenerational. As someone who helped others to achieve things that they may not have thought they could achieve. I’ve had clients where they never thought they could buy, and we made it work. I’ve helped clients through tough times and had to sell, and we knocked it out of the park. Real Estate isn’t just about transactions, this is about changing lives. Read more>>

Victoria Maxwell

When I first started my photography business, I hadn’t contemplated leaving behind a legacy. My initial hope was simply to be remembered as a good fly-on-the-wall photographer. However, as time has passed, I’ve realized that my deeper aspiration is for people to see the love and admiration I have for the individuals or couples I photograph. Even if I don’t have a prior relationship with my subjects, I strive to convey my genuine appreciation and highlight their beauty through my creative style. While I can’t predict how people will remember me after I’m gone, I hope they’ll recognize that my photography is a gift I was given by the Lord. I live by God’s grace, and I use this gift to share love and kindness with others, just as I have received it. Read more>>

Enesi M.

I really hope to be remembered as someone who made it ok to want to twerk and headbang at the same time. I hope I can be remembered as someone who paired guttural vocals with reggaeton and made that work very well. I hope all my little black and brown girlies, trans*, queer and cis can look at someone like me and feel like its ok to exist and be yourself. Read more>>

Holly Eaton

I hope people remember me for the way I made them feel—seen, welcomed, and truly cared for. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Leave people better than you found them,’ and I do my best to live by that. To me, it’s all about showing kindness, speaking with love, and making sure others feel respected and valued. I want people to look back and say, ‘She always made me feel better, brighter, and more loved.’ It’s not just about how I treat people, though—it’s how I want to show up in every part of life, with compassion and heart. Read more>>

Tonea Cromer

I want to be remembered as someone who helped others heal, build self-confidence, and grow closer to their true selves. My faith has been central to my journey, and it has given me the strength and purpose to positively impact others. However, my message goes beyond religion, it’s about empowering people to find their inner strength and break free from limitations, whether imposed by society or themselves. I came from a place where I struggled with self-worth and direction, but through personal growth, I developed the confidence and self-love that transformed my life. I know what it’s like to feel trapped in darkness, and I want to be a guide for others who are going through the same. I believe in leading by example, showing people that with determination, faith, and self-belief, anything is possible. Read more>>

Tracie Hang

I honestly hope to be remembered as someone who always thinks outside of the box, someone who’s creatively innovative & always pushing the ideas of “what if…”. It’s a very simple answer, but I am so passionate about being creative in everything that I do, whether its designing for a work project or just plating my dinner! If I can inspire someone to be and think creatively, then that is a huge win for me. Read more>>

Kaylene Bondoc

The legacy I am hoping to build is to be a well-respected Filipina woman in the music industry. I believe people will remember me by assisting undervalued artists & creatives while essentially creating a community built off talent, drive, ambition and passion. It is important to me that everyone I work with is not in it for financial wealth but to make their inner child dreams come true. Read more>>

Zachary Kluckman

Legacy is such an intriguing concept, because on the one hand it creates a false sense of pressure to achieve some monumental thing, to leave some lasting edifice or historical footprint that everyone can see. It can lead anyone, but a creative person especially, to question what they have accomplished with the years given to their creation, as if dedicating decades of your life to something you are passionate about is somehow not enough. On the other hand, it can provide us with an opportunity to stop and look at the world and our place in it with fresh eyes, and maybe a new gratitude. Read more>>

Nia Bailey

That I truly cared, and tried. That I created a community where everyone felt safe and secure, where everyone was treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their race, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status. I created a community where everyone had equal opportunities to succeed and thrive. I worked towards improving the quality of education in our community, ensuring that every child had access to quality education that equipped them with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in life. I worked towards improving the healthcare system in our community, ensuring that everyone had access to quality healthcare services, regardless of their financial status. Read more>>