We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.

Vince Abramo

I discovered a profound lesson during my time as a project manager. It was a lesson that transcended the boardrooms and echoed through the corridors of personal growth. Managing a team of 300 people, my professional journey seemed smooth on the surface. We achieved milestones, earned accolades, and maintained a harmonious rapport with clients. However, the true test of leadership unfolded in the uncharted territory of internal communication. Read more>>

Andrew Zeoli

“You’re gonna be rich” – My screenwriting professor at Michigan State once told me this with a laugh at his office hours. i was probably exhausting him with ideas and details of my nascent screenplays, dreaming out loud, with a level of energy I feel blessed to still be able to access twenty-odd years later. I was probably the only one from the screenwriting elective who utilized his office hours – a hallowed room inside an an ancient midwestern barn-like structure. Maybe it was just an off-handed “go get ’em” response, but to me it was a rare moment of validation, a scrap of bread to a haggard and hungry seabird. It was everything. Read more>>

K-Rahn Vallatine

I learned that education is a tool. I needed to be clear about what I wanted in life, and very intentional about how I chose to pursue and use my education. Read more>>