So often mission and purpose driven folks have fascinating stories about where they draw their inspiration from. Often it’s a historical figure and so we’ve highlighted some of those conversations around historical figures and what some of the best and brightest have learned from them.

Rae Lashea

Toni Morrison, although she only recently became a historical figure, is an author, editor and educator who I look up to. Best known for her novels The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon, she began inspiring me since high school when I became familiar with her literature. Some of her books like Sula, Jazz, Tar Baby and Beloved portray women, particularly African American women, in ways that I had never before seen in print. They were physically strong, mentally courageous, socially brave, and fought for what was right in a world that often seemed morally corrupt and full of injustice. One of the most important values I learned from her is to not water down my intelligence just to make others more comfortable. Toni Morrison did not shy away from using big words and displaying her intellect. Instead, she wrote in a way that challenged me to ‘step my literary game up’ not only because of the lexicon but also the way she wove stories together through the eyes and perspectives of different characters. Read more>>

James Mcgregor

I recognized early on that the wheel had already been invented. I looked to people who came before me and had forged an individual path based on their interests and who developed strong personal ideas into professional statements. Tom Thomson was a Canadian painter who went his own way. He dedicated his life to developing his vision as a painter, and immersed himself in the world he wanted to depict. His example of living a life engaged in a pursuit he felt strongly about is something I embrace to this day. Buckminster Fuller was called a Futurist. Architect by occupation, his career went well beyond the established norms. He had ideas so large they were meant for the entire planet. His designs were so forward they were hard to imagine, if not for the detailed plans and designs he presented. He walked an individual path that resonates in sectors far beyond designing buildings and informs how people interact with the world today. Read more>>

Tahnisha Grant

I look up to Madam C. J. Walker as she was one of the first black female millionaires that was self made without the assistance of a man. Her taking a risk on herself gave her an opportunity to flourish in a time when women were dependent on men for survival. Ms. Walkers business venture was so successful she was able to provide employment for her fellow African American women so that they could care for themselves and their families in a legal respectable way. Read more>>