Over the years as we connected with incredible from folks from almost every imaginable industry we realized that every nook and cranny of our economy is full of small business owners, artists and creatives who live and breathe what they do – and their stories are nothing short of heroic. It’s the immigrant parents who overcame the odds and kept their small business alive for decades allowing their next generation to thrive and the artisans who pour their passion into every piece and refuse to let even the most common items remain mundane that make our communities come alive. The stories below will inspire you and we hope you’ll take the time to read and connect with these incredible folks.

Meg Stautberg

The best investment I’ve ever made has been in my craft itself. The time spent shooting for the sake of creating, not just delivering. Early on, I started planning free creative shoots with friends and other local creatives. There wasn’t a client, a shot list, or a deadline. Read more>>

Matison Card

The best investment you can make is always in yourself. Whether that be a class or certificate program, investing in your skill set and knowledge will always lead to more opportunities and connections within your field. For example, I took a six week burlesque intensive course with Empowerment in Heels and immediately saw results post final show. Read more>>

Denisse Urbina

In all of my years in this profession, I got to the conclusion that we as people it does not matter the race or nationality we don’t take care of our feet properly. There is a big lack of information that puts our health at risk all because we don’t take care of them the way we should. Read more>>

Billy Guan

Initially, I started off as a personal producer for many years. I did not have a team in place. I tried to put a team together in place but people either left, never got certified, or did not want to do the work that was required of them. Read more>>

Katie Byrnes

I found my first manufacturer while living in Hong Kong. Being so close to the manufacturing world was a huge advantage, especially since I didn’t have a formal background in design or production. I learned everything hands-on visiting factories, feeling fabrics, and seeing how patterns were developed. Read more>>

Asaf yalif

I have been blessed with many wonderful patients whom I’ve had the pleasure of helping through their journeys with cancer. From the very start of my career, helping those traveling through one of life’s darkest chapters was not just a pastime, but a passion. One of plastic surgery’s greatest assets is its’ ability to restore form when it is lost. Read more>>

Jane Frumberg

One of my favorite parts of being a therapist is noticing the micro-moments that may seem small, yet hold so much impact. The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of all growth — if a client doesn’t feel safe, supported, and understood, it becomes difficult for them to open up or create change. Read more>>

Luz Maria Villanueva

Yes — I’ve seen more U-turns than a taxi driver in Manhattan. When I began my career in 1980, psychology was a stiff-collared world that spoke mostly of disorders and diagnoses. We searched endlessly for what was wrong with people. But the road curved. The field began to loosen its tie, open its heart, and remember that the human spirit is not a case file. Read more>>

Marysol Rezanov

All social work students that attend the Masters in Social Work program at UNLV are required to initially attain exposure to the vast social work field. In the Social Work program, there were three tracks to select from, which was Welfare, Administration, or Direct Practice. I personally chose Direct Practice because I wanted to become a Licensed Clinician. Read more>>

Souvik Dasgupta

Internship | Apprenticeship | Experince: Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Souvik has an impressive bar resume spanning over 4 continents UK, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States, working alongside some of the greatest brands and the greatest minds of the bar world. Souvik graduated from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland, with an International Hospitality Management degree. Read more>>

Charis Kelley

Yes, I’m represented by an art dealer who has become both an advocate and a partner in my creative journey. Finding her was truly a labor of love — a woman of color art dealer in Texas is rare, and discovering her felt like divine alignment. Read more>>

Beatrice Solo

I have always been very comfortable with death, which at least in the US I believe is a very uncomfortable subject for most. I have always loved science and nature and death practices as well as conservation from a very young age. The art of taxidermy has evolved and is less seen in your day-to-day household and its more experienced in museums. Read more>>