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. 

Daniela Kent Torres

In taking a two-year initial yoga teacher training, I learned that developing expertise as a yoga teacher is both a technical and spiritual practice. And the spiritual practice is the most important part. Read more>>

Lori Lenhart

I obtained my first degree from the University of Florida in 2006, and during my training I realized that what drew me most strongly to healthcare was not only the science, but the privilege of caring for people during vulnerable moments in their lives. I found that I genuinely enjoyed sitting with patients, listening to their stories, and understanding the concerns that brought them in. Read more>>

Joseph Gallucci

**The Best Advice I Ever Gave a Client** One of the most impactful pieces of advice I ever gave a client had very little to do with obtaining better rates and everything to do with improving the way their business operated. The client was a manufacturer of high-performance automotive racing parts. Read more>>

Julian Ribinik

Finding Key Partners: The Luxury NYC Wedding Market For me, the biggest partnership breakthrough wasn’t about cold outreach. It was about being genuinely useful first, then positioned as the obvious choice when opportunity came up. The clearest example is my venue relationships in NYC. Read more>>

Lauren Chambers

As a wedding planner, my business relies heavily on strong vendor partnerships. One of the most important vendor relationships I established was with local wedding professionals whose services directly impact my clients’ experiences. One backstory I have is my relationship with Hannah From Flora by Hannah. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly how Hannah and I first connected. Read more>>

Kim Atkins

Five Minutes of Peace As a new social worker, I quickly learned that our work is not only about paperwork, resources, or treatment plans—it is often about relationships, unfinished conversations, and helping people find peace. One patient changed me forever. She had been admitted to hospice with brain cancer. During our counseling sessions, she shared pieces of her life with me. Read more>>

Cassi Pearce

There are several pathways to becoming a midwife. The one I chose was an apprenticeship under a credentialed midwife who acted as my preceptor, what’s called the PEP route, or Portfolio Evaluation Process. Through PEP, you build your clinical experience and education over time, and once you’ve met all the requirements, you’re eligible to sit for the exam to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Read more>>

Daphne Benford-Smith, Esq.

First starting out, I joined a law firm to gain experience as an attorney generally although it was not the type of law I wanted to practice. I did start my own firm at one point when I wanted to pivot into doing the type of law that lights me up: working with creatives, entrepreneurs, and those in the video game and animation industries. Read more>>

Juancho Rodriguez

I’m one of the lucky few creatives who has a manager looking out for their best interests, and by extension, a team whose synchronicity with my goals in the industry has made all the difference in this new stage of my career. Read more>>

Hayward Thompson

Yes, I actually have 8 agents currently based across the USA and one agent in the U.K. I was blessed to be named as one of the 100 artists per year that goes to the Applause International Talent Search sponsored by the ARTS. I performed in front of 125 casting directors, agents and the like and walked out of there with 8 agents. Read more>>