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.
Natania B. Parker
Yes, it’s so great to be able to be featured in this publication again! So during my last interview, I spoke about my beginnings as a child with a super busy extracurricular schedule. A child, who then grew into an adult, with an even busier schedule. Picking up where we left off, I’ve had some amazing developments with my non-profit foundation, being able to be a helping hand to several hundreds of families last year. I also spent a bit of time as a NYC Charter School teacher. I’m currently enrolled in school full-time at NYU, concluding my Bachelors degree I started 10 years ago. I freelance as a contracted brand ambassador and creative consultant for multiple companies. Read more>>
Francesca Delisle
Life has a way of stopping you in your tracks when you least expect it. My brother passed away suddenly at 36 and it completely stopped me in my tracks. It flipped my life inside out. When you hit that space of hurt and loss you either change or stay in that negative space of pain. This is where I chose to completely let go and give into whatever God was calling me to do. I had no goals, no plans, I left it all in the hands of the Universe and listened. Read more>>
Ben Ramirez Reed
I would say the beginning for me in business starts with working in my mother’s business. She started a dog daycare and boarding facility when I was younger, which quickly became my first job. I worked, taking care of dogs, up until collage and then returned to manage the business and employees after I graduated. I learned a lot about entrepreneurship from watching her and that business. Everything from hiring the first employee to dealing with problem clients (because I don’t know Any business that has Those!). But even when working in the family business, I knew I wanted my own. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Read more>>
Jill Gulotta of Jill Gulotta LLC and Jill Gulotta Nutrition
I think when I think about my story and how it has shaped who I am today and the work that I do, it starts with my transition to college. I went to college at Lafayette University to play Division I field hockey. I was coming from a very successful and happy high school career and couldn’t wait to start this next chapter. What I did not expect was that this would be the chapter of my unraveling. The transition to college was an extremely challenging one and left me struggling mentally and emotionally resulting in engaging in an eating disorder. Because of this I had to leave college and all the dreams of what I thought would be. What followed was years of struggling with food and my body. While I tried to figure out what the next step for me was, I found myself at Fordham University pursuing a degree in finance. Read more>>
Cloud
Sure. I’ll start with my background. I was born in Colombia and was adopted and brought to the US as a baby. Cloud is short for Claudia which is my birth name. I’ve always had a love for singing and dancing. Growing up I was in choirs, school productions, dance teams, and more. Shortly after graduating high school I moved from Los Angeles to Oakland and started writing and recording my own songs. I also became one of the founding staff members at Oakland School for the Arts. Since then, I’ve officially released an EP, two singles, and two music videos, and have featured on various projects with other music artists. I’ve also designed and launched two collections so far, of apparel and home goods, featuring aspects of my songs. My “Lifted and Gifted” collection is based off of my most recent single “Super Natural”. I highlighted that lyric from the song to pay homage to the support and encouragement I’ve received from family, friends, and my fans. Read more>>
Stephen Wolf
Writing started in 8th grade when my English teacher prompted the class to write three scenes. One was of a location, another was of a person, and the third was of an object we randomly picked from a box. I linked these three together into what would become my first story idea, The Teardrop Crystal. The following year, I wrote a novella, Legend of the Starsword, which I have more recently rewritten into a novel. I’ve written stories through the years, always growing my craft with each new story. In 2015, I started self-publishing my novels, the Red Jade series. Read more>>
Erin Hanson
My name is Erin Hanson. I have been painting in oils since I was eight years old. The thing that drives me to pick up my brush every day, the thing that drives me to paint is COLOR. When I was a teenager, I worked in a mural studio. The first job I had was color matching for the other artists. We had about a hundred gallons of acrylic paint spread out across the warehouse floor. The main artist would walk between these hundred gallons of paint holding a few Dixie cups and he would go around mixing and dabbing together a set of colors. He would then hand the Dixie cups to me, and my job was to make an entire gallon of each color and the colors had to match exactly. Read more>>
Angie Chiuzzi
My parents left Argentina in the mid 80’s to start a new life here in the US after having lost everything with the government’s economic crisis. My sister and I were born in here, while my two older sisters immigrated with them. We didn’t have much, but when we were able to go back and visit family, those trips back to Argentina were like stepping into a warm hug. Asados with the whole family, laughter bouncing off the walls, and that special feeling of having two homes. Read more>>
Julia Chebotar of www.healthchefjulia.com Personal Brand AKA Health Chef Julia
My culinary journey began with my grandmother, whose love for food ignited my passion for cooking at a young age. From the moment I donned my first apron at the age of eight, I knew that the kitchen was where I belonged. Inspired by her creativity and skill, I embarked on a lifelong pursuit of culinary excellence. As I grew older, my passion for cooking only intensified. I honed my skills through formal training and hands-on experience, immersing myself in the vibrant culinary scene of New York City. From bustling restaurant kitchens to luxurious yachts and private jets, I embraced every opportunity to expand my culinary horizons and push the boundaries of traditional cooking. Read more>>
Aaron Ableman
From the very beginning, my life was deeply rooted in the fertile soil of an organic farm—a landmark that not only cultivated crops but also sowed the seeds of my future activism and artistic journey. Under the nurturing influence of my parents—a visionary farmer and author, alongside a dedicated public health care nurse—my childhood was framed by a backdrop of both natural beauty and a deep commitment to service. This unique environment instilled in me a profound respect for the Earth and an understanding of the interconnectedness of all life. Read more>>
Michelle Penington
I was born and raised in Southern California where I danced with Ballet Pacifica in Laguna Beach. I have also studied photography and attended college at the University of Houston where I received a BS in Psychology. Using my love of art and travels as inspiration. I am a self taught artist and continue to master my own style while still being considered an Expressionist/Contemporary artist. I have had the pleasure of living in Cave Creek, AZ for over 25 years. A very supportive art community. My artwork has been featured in various publications, galleries and in shows around the town.. Original works are for still sale at Brix Wines, Carefree Spirits Distillery, and Local Jonny’s in Cave Creek as well as at my private ‘Studio at Rancho Mañana. Read more>>
Russ Sharek
I didn’t start off by calling myself a clown. Early in my performing life, a person with significantly more formal training and foolish wisdom called me that. I thought to myself that “clown” seemed like a fairly accurate warning label for the aggregation of misfit strangeness that is me, and so I ran with it. By academic definition, I’m considered a folk artist…which is a pleasant way of saying I’m an idiot who has learned everything I could in the hardest way possible. By being willing to go and pester the living legends, I’ve been able to learn from some of the best clowns and physical performers in the world. Read more>>
Galit Ventura-rozen of I have 3 businesses, commercial professionals, Empowering U and Everyday Woman I will focus on Everyday Woman
At 21, while my peers were hunting for job opportunities post-college, I felt a different calling stirring within me. The idea of working for myself ignited a fire in my belly. That’s when I boldly decided to pursue my real estate license. Within two years, I took the plunge and launched my first venture in commercial real estate. Seeing a woman at the helm of such a company was a rarity. Despite the challenges, I found solace in my love for my work and the belief that I could carve out a path to success for myself and others. Read more>>
Sara Neves of Unicorn Designer Studio
I’ve always enjoyed being creative on the computer, but never really gave it much thought. I would edit videos for my best friends, create posters for school projects, and I always took pleasure in designing PowerPoint presentations for school. I guess it comes as no shock that SIMS was my favorite desktop game. Curiously, I won a national digital art contest at the age of 13. However, I wasn’t aware back then that digital art could be a profession. Since I was a good student and loved math, art didn’t seem like the obvious path for me to take. Read more>>
Krystianna Pietrzak of Inkpot Creative®
My story begins in the world of book publishing. I grew up being a huge reader and wanted to design layouts for books! I interned in multiple publishing houses around Boston in college. However, graduating during 2020 wasn’t the easiest. I struggled to find a job and ended up creating my own business instead that year instead. I haven’t looked back since! Inkpot Creative® started as a social media management brand but morphed into design when I went back to my roots. I studied media arts and graphic design in college and it’s what I’ve always loved. Website design in particular is something I grew a big interest in because of how layout-oriented it is. It feels a lot like designing interior pages of a book but in a way that the reader can interact with what they’re reading even more. Read more>>
Ebony
I started getting 101s with Goldstar747 about a year ago . She has helped me so much. I found her on keen.com and went to heavenplug.com where she lead and guided me to better ways of life I highly recommend and respect her. Read more>>
Nasir Reed
I began my influencer career in 2020 after creating point-of-view videos that went viral on TikTok and earning over 500k followers. This allowed me to establish my platform. Following high school, I relocated to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University to pursue a degree in fashion design. Being in college has given me a lot of opportunities, such as the chance to network with everyone around me, participate in numerous fashion events, and serve as a brand ambassador for several companies. In addition to being a rising stylist and influencer, I also model frequently. Read more>>
Luis Berrio
First let me say thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed. My story isn’t such a traditional one. Before I embarked on my acting career I was an NYC undercover narcotics Det. and former tactics instructor. I did that for over 24 years in NYC. I’m very proud of my service to the people of NYC. Never would have thought I would be an actor in this second chapter of my life. One of my first jobs was being a cop in a friends music video . That day something clicked, I believe God told me that day”Why not try this,Luis”. From that day on the fuse was lit , and the passion for this craft of acting and the art of storytelling began. Read more>>
Stephen Martucci
Certainly! Here’s the revised version with the additions: My expertise in the trade began in the 1970s, learning from my father. When he passed away in 1985, I fully embraced the lessons he taught me about working with high-end clientele and employers. By 1989, as a self-motivator and an innovator, I became a pioneer in the frameless shower enclosure industry, contributing significantly through numerous installations and educational efforts. Read more>>
Bria Janaye
Growing up I always gravitated to all things beauty. I always found myself being front and center, from watching my mom at the nail salon getting her eyebrows done to standing in the mirror watching my grandmother put on her makeup as she would get ready for the day. Later in my adolescence years beauty had later evolved from an interest to then giving me confidence. Growing up as a lower class African American girl in a predominantly upper class Caucasian environment I was always constantly comparing my beauty to the other younger girls. Comparison of body image, hair type, and even wardrobe. In my high school years I would take some of my mom’s products (what little she had) and dress up my eyes with some eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner. This would give me such a great a boost of confidence when walking through the halls. Read more>>
Allie Gray
As a little girl I always had motivation to do “big” things. That is one thing that didn’t change about me as I grew up. Throughout my high school journey I have conquered many tasks. I gave myself motivation to be involved in as much as possible. Starting with making varsity cheer my freshmen year, then getting the title of junior class president, as well as National Honors Society President. All of these titles and tasks shaped me into the leader and role model I strived to be while growing up. My biggest accomplishment has been my journey through pageants. Starting my junior year of high school I decided to put myself out there and sign up for the Miss Lake Festival’s Teen pageant located in my hometown Celina, Ohio. Read more>>
John Winstanley
Today, we’d like to introduce you to John Winstanley . John was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Domonique Cooper. Read more>>
Kerry Chaput
Growing up, I listened to my father’s eleventh grade US History class debate in my living room. For me, history come alive every Thursday evening as high schoolers discussed the most tumultuous times in our country. Even as young as eight years old I recognized one thing: no one was discussing women. In all the years I hid behind the couch and listened in awe to these cool teenagers, not one woman was brought to the discussion. It left me feeling both ignored and angry. So when I wrote my first story at age twelve, it involved a woman protagonist and was set decades before I was born. The story was terrible, but the excitement of creating something from the feelings in my teenage mess of a brain felt magical. Read more>>
Gowri Sudha
We hear a lot of stories about how farmers feel helpless and are burdened with crushing debt without a way in sight. As part of a family with a long history in farming, I have always believed farmers are very important for the planet and play a vital role in society. I was moved by the many stories of the farmers’ struggles that I saw in the news and heard from friends and family.. Read more>>
Bob Chesney
Bob & Nancy Chesney created a Musical Review concept named Nancy’s Cabaret, and introduced it on February 16, 2019 to an adult community audience in Orange County California. The 120-minute program, performed in two acts featured classic songs from hit Broadway Musicals such as Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, West Side Story, Cabater, Phantom of the Opera, Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes, Les Miserables and several other shows. Four talented performers (2 Men & 2 Women) sang the songs accompanied by professional music tracks to the delight of over 100 residents. Read more>>
Kelsey Barbour
Like a lot of people, I was sent home to work remote during Covid. I loved it. I was more motivated than ever and worked as much overtime as possible. Towards the end of 2021, I was sent back into the office. I quickly realized that this was not the best choice for me and started looking for something remote. I* had worked in customer service at this point upwards of 10 years and it was surprisingly difficult to find a remote position. FInally, my current company was the only company to respond to my application. I did a lot of research and found this was a company I was confident I could grow with and decided to jump at the chance, taking a pay increase, confident that I could work hard and quickly move up. And I did just that. Read more>>
Amaria Daniels
Before I Introduce Myself, I have to give all glory and honor to Jesus. My story started with my family. Growing up with such a large family (10) I was introduced to sisterhood and community at such a young age. I love family but for me, growing up I always felt a sense of isolation, never really vocalized how I felt, and found myself in cycles that left me broken. Me, now at 22, having created a community of women I love to reference as ” The Girls” came from all of my life experiences. I started social media back when I was in middle school, as most girls loved Youtubers. I’ve always had a love for creating, rather its, self care, cooking, diys, etc, I was always a creative girl who loved sharing my life. Read more>>
Dr. Phyllis Pelzer
As a young girl, I can recall a family gathering where I was sitting in the middle of my aunt’s wooded floors in the living room. I was separated from everyone else listening to the radio, and wondering how did all those people get inside the radio. I’ve always loved music and was so excited that they were all there inside of the radio. Little did I know I would, one day be a communicator and others would be listening to my voice as an ordained minister, empowerment mentor, author, podcaster and entrepreneur. I would love to say it’s all a part of God’s plan for my life as to where I am today, being passionate to serve faithbased encouragement to empower others to live victorious lives. He has given me a gift of encouragement and it has manifested opportunities I did not imagine. I am grateful. Read more>>
Claire Carley
When I was very young, I began taking dance classes. That led me to being in dance competitions— which fueled a love of performing. From there, I began to dance and ultimately act in community theater. With some acting classes and several years of theater experience, I decided it was something I wanted to go to the next step of on-camera acting. Undying Faith was my first on camera role. I was 16 at the time. Since then, I have learned so much. The love of storytelling has propelled me towards a career both in front of the camera and behind camera. Read more>>
AJ Foxx
I feel like I’ve found my perfect match in my career. Ever since I was little, the sight of streets morphing into bustling hubs of tents and vendors would send waves of excitement through me. I was the kid who knew a guy who knew a girl for just about anything, and connecting people was my kind of fun. Interestingly enough, I ventured into dental assisting after school and spent a good four years in the field, navigating through various roles. But, there was always this itch for something more engaging, something that didn’t ask me to dial down my personality. Read more>>
Naseem Muhammad
To understand the process and journey we’re on now we first have to take you back to the Mac, in other words Macon, Ga where we were born and raised. First, we start with Macon itself, it’s home to legends like Otis Redding, Little Richard, Jason Aldean, Vinson Muhammad, and many more. Naturally coming from a place with rich musical backgrounds it’s only natural through various programs along with being related to Little Richard himself that my brother and I Inhabited some of those gifts and talents. Music for us started early with both my brother and I taking piano lessons while Rashid eventually got into trumpet playing slightly, along with this writing our first song at the age of 8 and 5 years of age. Along with that, we would start performing at The Douglass Theater; which led to us becoming more confident in performing and writing music. In addition we grew up in Bloomfield which wasn’t the safest neighborhood in the city, and our parents wanting to monitor our education closely we were homeschooled; Read more>>
Lakisha Bradley
Absolutely! My journey is one that intertwines art, healing, and community. It all began in Lewisville, Arkansas, where I grew up surrounded by creativity and service. My father was a self-taught artist (who worked at Celtic Farm and Timber) , and my mother was a servant leader (School Cafeteria Manager) in our community. From an early age, I was exposed to the power of art and the importance of giving back. Art was always a part of my life. I was active in art, sports, and band at Lewisville Red Devils High School, and I graduated in 1996. However, as life took its course, I found myself in a 16-year career at Walmart Corporate. Although I was successful, I felt something was missing. I realized that I had drifted away from my passion for art and the deep sense of fulfillment it brought me. Read more>>
Lorien Cortez
My Backstory: I grew up in the vibrant city of San Diego, where I was surrounded by the beauty of the sun and the sea. Though life was bright on the outside, internally I often felt a sense of disconnection. Like many, I carried deeply rooted emotional wounds of generational trauma that shaped my interactions and self-perception. My father’s estrangement from my Pima grandfather left me without the deep sense of belonging that my soul yearned for. In my search to fill the void created by a lack of connection to my heritage, I turned outward, exploring Native American studies and spiritual practices, eventually finding solace in a sweat lodge community during my early adulthood. Read more>>
Demitri Haney
Although I have been a social worker in a professional capacity for the last nine years, I have been a caretaker amongst family and friends for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was given the nickname “the peacekeeper,” and I was educating my peers about healthy relationships in high school. Throughout college, I volunteered for ride-alongs with my local police department responding to domestic violence calls. I loved every second of this and thought I was destined to become a police officer. While this was not the path I took, it was obvious that I was meant to work in the social service industry. Read more>>
Miriam Cruz
I’m Miriam Cruz, and my journey has been one of transformation, resilience, and passion. Years ago, I found myself in a dark place, struggling with depression and feeling disconnected from my purpose. In 2019, I made the decision to take control of my life, and that’s when everything changed. I left my job, started my healing journey, and began building the life I had always envisioned. With the support of therapy, a development coach, and my spiritual path, I broke free from the limitations that were holding me back. I set a goal to achieve freedom of time and money—and today, I’m proud to say I’ve accomplished it. Through my coaching program, I now share my story, not just as a testament to overcoming hardships but as a way to inspire and empower others to take charge of their lives, too. Read more>>
La Javi
I was born in 1986 in Santiago de Chile. My parents were both politically active and cultural workers, which was considered forbidden and a threat to the nation under the current dictatorship. This led to the entire family’s exile to Sweden. My earliest memories of growing up in Sweden were marked by racism and the feeling of not fitting into the new society. This made me a very angry youth with great legal pathos. The new country had taught me to express myself freely and I did so mainly in text. I wrote a lot of poems which then developed into lyrics. Music has always been a big part of my life. We sang a lot of folk music at home but also a lot of progressive music with conscious lyrics. This led me to the world of reggae. The music was about freedom and struggle and a fire grew in me. Read more>>
Deloris Hervey
Deloris Akins-Hervey Child of God, Mother, Director, Writer, Acting Coach, and Producer. A woman of many talents, Deloris delivers authentic stage plays, acting courses, films, and more through her production company, DD’s Showbiz. She has been a vibrant part of the Houston arts community since 2012. Her passion for youth and the community led her to establish the 501(c)(3) organization, Youth Acting Corner. “At Youth Acting Corner, we are dedicated to providing children with a variety of learning techniques. When children are able to touch, feel, and listen, it significantly enhances their learning experience. Our students actively participate in film productions, collaborating with Brilliant Women In Film and DD’s Showbiz. They gain hands-on experience both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.” Read more>>
Jennifer Kramer
With over two decades of experience in human resources, my career began as an internal HR professional, focusing on both tactical and strategic HR needs within my organization. In 2010, I transitioned to an outward-facing HR role, addressing the HR needs of clients and their employees. Throughout my career, I have remained a true HR Generalist, not specializing in any single area such as payroll, benefits, or total rewards. My passion lies in consulting, where I manage diverse HR needs for multiple organizations simultaneously. Read more>>
Lindsay Coats
Business partners Sin Van V and Lindsay Coats met in a dance class circa 2005. We had both danced a majority of our lives – Sin was returning as a teacher at a local studio and Lindsay as an adult student. The connection the two had was instant despite their many differences. We became friends and over time started hosting charity events benefitting local organizations and families that were in need. Sin for Charity was a 501(c)3 organization that the pair ran for about 3 years. Sin’s creative flair and Lindsay’s organizational skills were a perfect match for ensuring every event was over the top amazing and well-executed. Vendors and people we met along the way often asked if we did event planning for corporations or if we could help with something they were doing (graduation parties, anniversary parties, etc.). So we thought, “why not start a business together?” Read more>>
Mariel Alper
Mia: My first home improvement project was installing floors at my parents’ house when I was 12 or 13. My parents (especially my mom) played an integral role in allowing my siblings and I to try things out. When I was 19, my father tasked me with putting in a kitchen backsplash for my mom as he did not want to pay a contractor to do it and he knew that my brother were too busy and my sister was too young. After I did that project, I realized how much I enjoyed doing home improvement projects. When I first became a teacher, I quickly ran out of money paying my contractor to complete small upgrades to my parents’ rental property where I was living, so I started doing some of the work on my own and my contractor told me I should start my own business and get licensed. Read more>>