Winning often looks like a long trail of losses that were too weak to keep you down. We are beyond inspired by the stories below. Resilience cannot capture the true nature of what so many of these entrepreneurs, artists and creatives possess and there is so much to learn from the folks highlighted below.
Jessi Moreno
I began the earlier part of my career in the restaurant industry after culinary school 11 years ago. Throughout these years I really wanted to go after all the experiences that came my way. I wanted to have fun with my career so I traveled. I was hungry for new experiences and new cultures. Through these moments I’ve met so many inspiring recognized seasoned chefs in the industry. When I had the opportunity to run my own kitchen I learned a lot about myself and my role as a leader. My focus revolved around the creating my own voice and individualism through my work. While this was a valuable time for my career as an executive chef, I felt a push to break away from my environment I was in and instead connect with my roots, back to the source of food, back to my family traditions, and embrace uncertainty. My AH-HA moment came from being reminded of my earliest moments with food, sourcing, and cooking began in Mexico and with my grandparents. Since childhood and into my adulthood, cooking with my maternal grandmother was my one of the most comforting times. And my grandparents from my dad’s side played a huge role in my career too. They owned a dairy farm in my Mexico and as a young girl I would beg my grandpa to let me go with him at sunrise to see how the cows were milked and see how my grandma made cheeses that would feed their community and families. This had been right in front of me my entire life and I love these moments, I feel like these ah-ha moments make life worth savoring! Read more>>
Vicki King
I am a pianist. I fell in love with piano when I was 5 years old. I knew I wanted to teach piano when I was 14 years old. I began teaching the following year and have continued to teach until the present. I’m now 78 years old and still love teaching. My students range in age from 5 years old to 75 years old–from beginning students to very advanced. I never audition students. I only ask that they have an interest in learning to play–no matter what the level. My goal when I was 14 was to teach on the college level. After getting my Master’s degree in piano, I knew I had only begun to learn all there was to my craft. I continued to study–in Europe and in this country. I got my Doctor of Arts in Piano Pedagogy and realized I still needed to keep learning. I still work each day to learn more. I’m proud to say I have made a difference in the lives of many of my students–some of them have gotten doctorates and are passing the knowledge forward that I have given to them. Read more>>
Saul Gomez of GomezTintLLC
Let’s start about 8 years ago when I was fresh out of high school clueless of who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. I was originally going to go to college for architectural designing but it wasn’t what I had envisioned and realized it was not for me. I have always had this hard passion of being my own boss and doing things my way. I was very good with line art and always enjoyed using my hands and creating things. In came window tinting where I quickly grew to love it. Being a car guy my whole life and being introduced to window tinting and vinyl wraps, I knew this was something I could easily pursue. I was working for a shop for a few years until Covid-19 hit resulting in all of us losing our jobs and not being able to return. I was almost lost and clueless of what to do and how to move forward. I knew this was my time to take things into my own hands and start my own business which has been a great success. Read more>>
Aliona Solomadina
I began my journey in graphic design at the Kharkiv Academy of Design and Arts in Ukraine. I was captivated of magazines, and book covers and from my teenage years, I wanted to do such things. Over the past decade, I’ve been based in Kyiv, dedicating exclusively to graphic design across various fields, including culture, fashion, and education. I have a deep passion for this profession and continuously seek to explore and refine a wide range of skills and approaches within it. At the beginning of my career, my tasks and commissions were more technical, but I developed my own design vision over time. Now, I follow a more artistic approach, offering not only design services but also working on personal art projects. Read more>>
Valerie Vedral
The Vulgar Vegan is a gourmet vegan cupcake bakery. We bake delicious cupcakes that are made with high-quality, premium ingredients and served with a side of sass. We love to create truly unique vegan cupcakes that you won’t find in any grocery store – from the vegan Hawaiian french toast-topped Breakfast at Tiffany’s that is dusted with edible diamond glitter dust to the blueberry lavender delight Damn Right I Got The Blues. The Vulgar Vegan’s cupcakes were first served at a wedding several years ago before the business was even born – people still talk about those cupcakes to this day! Our cupcakes have been served at weddings, birthdays, baby showers, graduations, bridal showers and more. This all got started years ago with a homemade chocolate-vanilla marble cake for a kids’ birthday party and, well, the rest is history. Store-bought cake or cupcakes have been flat-out refused ever since. Read more>>
Kelly Porter of Barre Roots
Barre Roots started as an alternative to therapy. OK, maybe that’s a stretch. Maybe it isn’t. But when I was 22 I was living alone outside of Philadelphia, and was at a pretty low point in my life. I was seeing a therapist once a week to help me deal with a great deal of anxiety. There was a barre studio next to my therapist’s office. But at that point in my life, you NEVER would have found me in a gym. My anxiety was too much. But every week I would look through the window of this barre studio, see the ladies in there who all looked so happy, and the workout didn’t look too crazy, so I wanted to give it a try. I talked a coworker into going with me for the first time, and I was HOOKED. I went back every day that week. It wasn’t long before I swapped my therapy sessions for barre classes, and I never looked back. Barre helped me not only get control of my physical health- but, most-importantly, it helped me build confidence. I decided to become a certified barre instructor because I wanted a deeper understanding of the workout, and that furthered my obsession with barre and my connection to it. Read more>>
Kimberley Zagyva of Joi Virtual LTD
I was thrown into entrepreneurship rather unexpectedly. In December 2019, just a week before Christmas, my husband was made redundant. At the time, we had two toddlers and an 8-week-old baby, and I was a stay-at-home mum—he was our main earner. He struggled to find new work, and then COVID hit, which left us living on the breadline. In a panic, I pulled out my old 10-year-old laptop and started searching for any way to make money online. That’s when I discovered Upwork. I took on as many small projects as I could, which eventually landed me two big clients. From there, things started to grow. Fast-forward four years, and now I have a successful business as an executive virtual assistant and web designer. Read more>>
Nikhaule Martin’s Story
I was born and raised on the vibrant Southside of Chicago, where I spent much of my time at the public libraries, at church, and school, actively involved in my community throughout my early years until now. I had an incredible support system—church mothers, teachers, librarians, family, and friends—all of whom poured into me and helped shape who I am today. When I went to college, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to give back to my community in the same way my community had given to me. Community has always been at the core of who I am, so majoring in Public Health felt like a natural fit. After college, I dedicated my work to the Black and Brown communities in Chicago, particularly on the South and West sides. My career has always focused on marginalized communities—I’ve taught high schoolers, worked with seniors in diabetes prevention, provided HIV case management, and served as a care navigator. My passion has always been to serve communities that I’m a part of and that reflect my own experiences. Read more>>
Terrilynn Dubreuil
My first watercolor painting was on lined composition paper. Created when I was 6 years old. I came across it when I cleaning out my parents’ home after their passing. It is a painting of our house on the lake, from the lake view, with shadows and reflections in the water. Looking at it objectively, I’m impressed with the ability of the child. We had no art teachers in school growing up until high school .. and then it happened to be my mother who made inroads to be the teacher. Any other “art activity” was just a classroom teacher giving us fun stuff to do with crafts. My mother had a BA in Biology but when I was about 10 she decided to get into art. Through osmosis of her learning and painting, the instructional and history books she had is how I learned the most about art. Read more>>
Adrienne Stein of Dr. Adrienne Stein ND (My Naturopathic Business, Thrive Menopasue, And Menopause Is My Puperpower
I have been a Naturopath for 20+ years, and started my journey in a roundabout way. I have an undergraduate and Masters Degree in Anthropology where I was introduced to different medical systems throughout the world. That is where I first learned about Chinese medicine which takes into account different diets based on different seasons, and has a much more holistic view of disease and health. I found this incredibly intriguing and I started to explore these ideas more by reading natural health magazines and books like Dr. Andrew Weils Natural Health. Dr. Weil was a real role model for me as a medical doctor that incorporated diet, vitamins and herbs to not just treat disease, but to treat the root cause of why disease is there in the first place. Read more>>
Charmain Bertram of Integrity Designs / Absolute Rubbish
According to my parents the only real tantrums I threw as a small child where when it came to choosing out my own outfits. By the time I was 4 I changed 3 times a day at least. My mom taught me how to sew when I was 9 and something sparked! I began taking clothes apart and altering them into my own visions. When I was 10 the movie Clueless came out and a few years later the Spice Girls hit the scene and that was it for me. Fashion was my world. The way to express myself without saying a word. Fast forward to 18 when I started participating in the Gay Pride fundraiser fashion shows designing 10+ look collections for the runway show and also for my first custom client; a 6’2″ drag queen! No boundaries except my own imagination. I was in heaven! Read more>>
Chris Linneweber’s Story
Linneweber’s Sauce Company continues to evolve every year. It all began when I started traveling for a living in my teens. I began trying hot sauces that were sitting on tables in southern United States and found that I enjoyed spicy foods. I worked industrial construction and would be gone for weeks or months at a time. When my friends started buying houses and planting their own gardens, they also planted chili peppers. Every summer a couple of them would become over run with the chilies. They knew that I like spicy things, so they’d call and say- come get these so they don’t go to waste. I’d make pastes, powders, and sauces out of them when I while I was waiting on the next job and would give them away to friends and family. Years of doing this eventually led to people coming to me asking where they could buy the products. Read more>>
Jess Sabine of The Rose Room
When I was attending college outside of Philadelphia, I took a job at a local coffee shop. It was the first job I had ever had that I felt connected to and inspired by. This was in 2006 and the cafe was a hot spot for local artists to play music, show their works, gather, and collaborate. Coming from a small town in Central Massachusetts, I had never experienced anything like it and I completely fell in love. I spent the next 12 years of my life moving around the US and working at different cafes. I worked at some of the best places in Philly, Colorado, Maine, and on Nantucket. I gained experience from doing. From showing up and paying attention to how different cafes operated. There was always a dream to have my own space but I had no plans to do that until I met my husband in 2015. His experience in fine dining + my experience in cafes brought our individual dreams to life when we opened The Rose Room Cafe in Webster, MA in November of 2018. We had a three month old daughter and no money in the bank but we were determined to make it happen. Read more>>
Kishori (kelly) Skinner
I, Kelly Skinner, now known as Kishori Gopi, have walked a diverse path—from the fast-paced world of competitive ski racing to the spiritual and healing realms of bhakti yoga, spiritual teaching, energy healing, and end-of-life care as a doula. Early Life and Ski Racing: I grew up with a deep passion for skiing and dedicated much of my early life to becoming a competitive ski racer. The sport required immense physical endurance, mental toughness, and relentless drive. During this time, my life revolved around discipline and the pursuit of physical achievement, and ski racing became a core part of my identity. Transition to Spirituality: However, after breaking my femur while racing for a Division I NCAA team in college, I began to feel a deeper calling, one that the competitive sports world couldn’t satisfy. This inner longing led me to explore spiritual practices, eventually discovering the ancient tradition of bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga, focused on devotion and love for the divine, touched me deeply. After a few years of dedicated practice, my spiritual teacher, Radhanath Swami, gave me the name Kishori Gopi, symbolizing my spiritual rebirth and commitment to this new path. The name Kishori Gopi is representative of a young Radharani (the Goddess) who is eternally loving and dancing with Krishna (God). Those that know me closely, see how apropos this is to my dancing, fluid, playful, devoted nature! Read more>>
Crystal Romero
My Journey: From Soldier to Advocate I spent 16.5 years in the military. From age 17 to 34, I spent my formative years in the military. Leaving the service brought on challenges I wasn’t fully prepared for. Transitioning to civilian life was tough, especially with PTSD and moral injury weighing heavily on me. I hit some of my lowest points after leaving, including filing for bankruptcy and a suicide attempt in 2014. These moments tested me in ways I never imagined, but they also shaped the person I’ve become today. I found healing through veteran retreats, connecting with others who shared similar experiences. This community helped me realize that I wasn’t alone, and that support became a lifeline. As I healed, I began to turn my focus outward, becoming an advocate for veterans like myself. Since July 2020, I’ve worked to support veterans who’ve experienced sexual trauma, faced deportation for nonviolent crimes, or struggled with mental health issues. This advocacy led me to contribute to important legislative efforts, like the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act and The Brandon Act, which were huge milestones in my work. Read more>>
Evo Bluestein
My father was a multi-instrumentalist, folksinger and professor of American literature and folklore. He used music in his teaching. He also performed publicly. At a certain stage, all four of his children were ready to join him in a family band. We had hosted well-known folk musicians at our home all our lives and now we were ready to go out and perform, which we did. When my father taught in Japan, China, and other countries, the five-piece band would perform a range of American folk music. We also recorded numerous record albums of American folk music. After playing for folk dance around the country I created a school program where I could call dances and play live music in order to prepare an entire school for a “barn dance” at the end of the week. It was very successful around the state of California and I have been doing it for 30 years. Read more>>
Barbara Waterman-peters
Art has always been part of me. All through elementary, middle, high school, and college I took every opportunity to study and participate in the visual arts. Creating and showing my work was a strong focus, but I also taught, eventually as an adjunct at the college level. In addition, I helped form arts organizations and an artists’ cooperative. Later I pursued a graduate degree and continued teaching at the university level. Life presented me with other opportunities to serve on arts organization boards, to jury and curate shows, and to initiate community and public arts projects. I was deeply involved in the development of a city arts & entertainment district. Read more>>
Sarah Colomé of Collective Futures LLC
Like many, my goal was never to start a company so it’s been an interesting road to get here. I was burned out when I started Collective Futures. Desperately trying to keep my head above water after bouncing from one dysfunctional organization to the next, all the while leading some very heavy trauma-response work. I started the company because quite honestly – I believe the work of creating change can and must be better. I watched as organizations and campuses proclaiming values like wellbeing, inclusion, equity, and innovation would say one thing then turn around and enact harm toward their own teams and communities. You see, I’ve been the entry level hire who is experiencing abusive managerial practices, fooled into believing scarcity and that my organization’s “family” dynamic was an allowable excuse for toxic behavior. I’ve been the manager caught between performative leaders and underserved communities, and I’ve been retaliated against for holding an organization (and leaders) to its own values. I’ve also been in rooms with those who know these choices don’t serve us, or our missions. The people who may not necessarily know what lies ahead, but know that change is messy, but that there is beauty in those moments. And that those moments build to a wave of transformation greater than what we ever started with. Read more>>
Savannah Campbell of Caribe & Co.
I started my career on a relatively typical path – I started in a vocational high school culinary arts program before going to culinary school. I attended Johnson & Wales University and got my Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts and my Bachelor’s Degree in Food and Beverage Entrepreneurship. From the time I was very young, I knew I wanted to own a business – I had thoughts of opening a restaurant, food truck, and a catering company. I’ve even created business plans in my spare time detailing the different business ideas I’ve had. After graduating with my degrees, I moved across the country from culinary school in Rhode Island to the mountains in Colorado to work in the banquets department at a resort. As my first post-grad job, I loved being hands on and learning as much as possible from 400 person weddings to charcuterie boards to feed 1,000+ people to pastry in the off season. Then, the pandemic hit in 2020. Gatherings were out of our vocabulary for over a year and my job was in a hiatus state. During this time, I decided to move back to the east coast and pursue other ventures. Read more>>
Jenna Lueck
I’m sure plenty of kids don’t look forward to getting on the school bus each morning. I was never one of them. For me, the 30 minute ride from my family’s dairy farm in rural Iowa to school felt like magic. Especially when I got a window seat. The bus would wind along the road, and I would sit with my nose pressed against the glass, watching the valley below. Waiting. There would be nothing to see but thick patches of fog until suddenly – POP. There it was. A world of color would appear where the fog lifted momentarily, revealing a farmstead. Red barn. Silo. Old farmhouse. Rolling green hills surrounded by blazing orange, red, and yellow fall trees. These were the types of farms most people only see in the movies. But I got to see them almost every day. It was beautiful. Even as a kid, I knew I had a view that no one could take for granted. Read more>>
Katherine Leung
I started my journey in the world of independent publishing and community building almost by accident. Growing up, I had mixed experiences with writing and creativity in school. I tried working in the school newspaper staff and applying to our school literary journals with disappointing results. But I always loved to write and share my writing with others, especially through blogs, scrapbooks, and zines. The same with art- I had a very traumatizing experience in advanced art classes while in school. Our art teacher had no business working with children and yelled at us a lot. I spent a lot of time designing graphics for t-shirts and posters for my church, and even got to paint a nursery mural. Those challenging experiences taught me the importance of believing in myself and creating my own opportunities. School and institutions were not just going to let me in easily. Read more>>
Scott & Stephanie Shangraw
Scott and Stephanie’s journey started over 20 years ago. After selling a successful health food business, They decided to pursue the world of arts. First creating incredibly sculptural fine furniture, they made the transition into creating one of a kind carved wood sculptures. Read more>>
Christina Landini
I gave birth to my son on March 26, 2020, and I was excited to have newborn photos taken of him since he’s my last child. Unfortunately, due to COVID, our session was canceled. I had an old Canon Rebel camera, so I decided to take a few photos of him myself. Although the photos didn’t turn out as I hoped, I discovered a passion for photography and dove in quickly! I’ve now been a photographer for four years, and I love every second of it. I started my journey in the Bay Area, and now I’m a photographer in the Tahoe area, where our forever home is in Truckee, California. Read more>>
Tricito’s Story
I fell in love with Hip-Hop music early once I heard OutKast song ‘So Fresh, So Clean’. My parents didn’t really listen to rap music in the house often, mostly R&B and Christian music; whenever I was around cousins and older family members is when I got to really indulge into the world of Hip-Hop. I started making music, or writing music I should say at an early age with a few of my close friends. Any instrumental we could find, we would try to make our own versions of the song. We would record in my friend Josh Sanchez’s garage listening to 50 Cent, The Game, Li’l Wayne and a few others. Kanye West was really the turning point for me on when I wanted to actually make music and create my own songs. I always wanted to make something witty and lyrical at the same time. Another artist, Lupe Fiasco also I want to say help created my sound. Read more>>
Riccardo Barletta
I’ve always been drawn to music, even though no one in my family played an instrument. In elementary school, I saw a classmate learning to read sheet music during recess, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever (yes, I know, I was a bit of a strange kid). That moment sparked something in me, and I decided to enroll in a local music school to learn an instrument. Over the years, I explored various instruments, played in rock bands and orchestras, but it wasn’t until high school that I discovered the world of music production. I instantly fell in love with the ability to create sounds and textures, and that passion led me to where I am today—making music for advertisements, TV shows, and trailers. Read more>>
Jennifer Chassman Browne of New Ground Educational Consulting
My road has been circuitous. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 6 years old. My diagnosis was a challenge for my whole family, as I was raised by a single mother and had 2 siblings. I made efforts to hide that I had arthritis as I didn’t want to appear different. Mostly, my arthritis wasn’t obvious to those outside of my family. When I was young, I was fairly shy and awkward, though I enjoyed sports. Thus, in spite of my medical diagnosis, I loved being outside and playing with my brother and friends. As a child, teenager, and young woman, I played soccer, basketball, and softball. I always enjoyed reading and writing, and have continued to use writing as a way to tell my story and to connect with others. Read more>>
Ling-yen Jones
I started my business, Ling-Yen Designs while I was in college, driven by a passion for becoming an artist, metalsmith, and jeweler. Over the past thirty years, I’ve developed several lines of jewelry, including the Unmentionable series with Asian-inspired faces, Windows of Opportunity as a nod to metaphorical and literal architecture and homes, and my geometric lines. From a young age, I’ve been captivated by tiny, intricate objects like jewelry and dollhouse-sized items, which continue to inspire me. I learned about the historical practice of survivors and travelers hiding small valuables in the linings of their clothing or within jewelry, such as bracelets and earrings, sometimes even including precious stones. Read more>>
Gemma Lessinger
I am a born and bred city girl, from Slough in Berkshire. Although my family for generations were London based, my Dad always had a special place in his heart for Cornwall. We would come on holiday here every year when we were little and that is where this special place stole my heart. After a few failed (or lost our nerve) moments of my husband and I moving to Cornwall, we finally did it in 2011. Originally from France, he loved Cornwall from the very first trip I brought him on to visit the county. I had taken a GNVQ in Art & Design , along with A-Levels in Graphics and Photography and I loved the variety of the work I did during that time. I then went onto university to study a BA Hons in Fashion and Communication. That was incredibly creative and involved drawing and graphics and photography, but my painting took a back seat. I loved the world of fashion, being able to use clothing as a way of expressing yourself, much like painting but it was accessible to everyone. Read more>>
Madeline Yankee of Woodfield Properties
I originally went to school to become a geologist, but life had other plans. My mother, Cynthia, a realtor in Sonoma Valley, saw the potential in vacation rentals and founded Woodfield Properties, the first vacation rental company in the area. As the vacation rental industry grew, so did our business, with my mom’s real estate referrals complementing our growth. In 2013, my parents needed assistance with the company, and I decided to change my career path and help them out. This decision turned out to be a blessing for our family. My husband, who suffered a back injury and could no longer work in his trade, joined me after obtaining his real estate and broker’s licenses. Together, we transformed a small family operation into a thriving business. Read more>>
Steve Ramona of Doing Business with a Servant’s Heart
Steve Ramona discovered his calling at a young age and is now on a mission to share his secret sauce for success. He thrives on forging meaningful connections, sharing introductions, and watching people flourish. His contagious passion for the Law of Increase makes his podcast “Doing Business with a Servant’s Heart” successful. This show is chock-full of inspiring stories about overcoming challenges and serving others. Steve has a knack for spreading good vibes and elevating those around him. He learned from his dad that the entrepreneurial spirit is a great way to make money. I can share stories of how people serve, struggle, and win. We must overcome something, so why not learn to serve and overcome it much faster? I learned early in our Health Club the importance of customer service. I knew the more I served, the more it was a win-win for everyone. I enjoy working with people, referring people, and helping people grow. The Law of Increase is my mission when I network around the world. Read more>>
Carter Camille
I’d say my future of having my hands covered in mud started as a child by spending my days digging in the dirt of the garden with my dad. By making mud pies and witches brew in the backyard with my sister. By burying myself in the sand at the beach. The connection I have felt to the earth ever since I was a child is something I’ve never been able to put into words. Which is why ceramics and it’s teachings have been a voice I didn’t know I needed. Bare Minimum Ceramics was born out of a strong desire to feel seen and heard in this world. As an individual who battles the affects of mental illness, finding a creative outlet was the only thing that would keep my mind and anxieties at bay. So I turned to the thing that brought me a lot of joy in high school; pottery. Read more>>
Carol Teitelbaum, Mft of Creative Change Conferences
I have been a psychotherapist since 1985 and when I am delivering a talk I always say , and that is a really long time. I have been assisting people who suffered trauma ever since, studying with some of the greatest names in the field. Today I produce the It Happens to Boys Conference and we are in our 16 th year offering hope and healing to male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Read more>>
Quentine Nyoni’s Story
I have always been a student of the creative industry, eager to absorb all knowledge and explore my curiosity. I have worked in various roles, from designing nightclub posters to directing low-budget music videos, and I have been recognized with local awards for my work. I also had the opportunity to be a creative director for the National Art Merit Awards brand in Zimbabwe, specifically the creative studio department. However, my journey is far from over. I left my hometown of Gwanda at the age of 20 and moved to the capital city, Harare. The beginning was tough as I struggled to navigate the new environment. In just one year, I had a breakthrough when my artwork was displayed at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in front of all 55 presidents of Africa. Read more>>
Vee Castro
I started by creating just as a hobby and then sold my first painting to a friend of mine. After that first sale I kept promoting my work online and it really helped get my work and name out there. Read more>>
Natalie Terrasas
Bianca and Natalie were best friends in high school and we have continued our friendship. Natalie moved to the coast with her children and husband. For over 20 years she worked as a financial advisor. Bianca opened her own brick-and-mortar shop but decided to close after years to spend more time with her children and open her own online boutique. Bianca and Natalie enjoyed taking pictures for Bianca’s existing online boutique and felt God pressing both of their hearts to start a business venture together. Following God’s nudge, Bianca and Natalie found the working of their business fall into place. From dressing up in high school to opening their own business in October of 2023, their soul mission is to make every woman feel beautiful from the inside out. Read more>>