Stories are incredibly powerful – their ability to teach, inspire, and create understanding is why we are so in love with storytelling. Most stories have a defining moment and so we’ve asked some of the most talented, insightful folks across a broad range of industries and markets to tell us about a defining moment in their story.

Gina D’Andrea-Penna

As I’ve been wrapping up my Ph.D. in neuroscience while simultaneously starting a fitness coaching business, giving a presentation to fellow neuroscience graduate students last year was particularly significant for me. Read more>>

Michele Cho-Dorado

I had been about 8 years into practice as a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. I had dedicated so much time and energy to get there and it was my whole identity, that’s all I knew. Up until then, I was taught to work hard to get a good job. And then to keep working to save up for retirement. Read more>>

Miranda Griffin

When I was in my 40’s, I began the journey of menopause. Several years earlier I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and was encountering arthritic pain along with sinus infections several times a season and monthly migraines since high school and even developed Reynard Syndrome. Read more>>

Danny Bader

I was 28 and working as a bartender and roofer–just trying to “find myself.” I had graduated college and had a sales job which was not fulfilling. One day, my friend who owned the roofing business and I were lowering a ladder which touched an overhead electric line with about 8.000 volts running through it. We were both electrocuted and died… Read more>>

Melissa Rodi

To me, my defining moment was when I was faced with a pivotal decision that I knew would forever change the course and trajectory of my life. I already knew my love of aesthetics and my passion for helping people was front and center in my life and career. Read more>>

Luisa Lopez

Becoming President of the Latino Social Work Coalition has been a defining moment for me and my career because it really highlighted to me the importance of powerful advocacy in the “room where it happens”. Read more>>

Jan Cañete

Returning to college at the age of thirty was an exciting, yet challenging time in my life. I obtained my Associate’s Degree while working two jobs and raising a daughter as a single mom. My concentration of study was Fine Arts where I discovered my artistic gifts and talents. Read more>>

Tonya Camille

Over nine years ago, I lost my grandmother to Metastatic Breast Cancer. It happened so fast. She was diagnosed in July 2014 and passed away on September 9th. I didn’t know quite how to handle my grief. One day, my sister suggested that I should try yoga. She said it might help me mourn her loss a little better. So, I did. Read more>>

Maria Gmitro

My health started to decline after I had breast implants placed in 2014. After many visits with doctors and specialists, numerous tests, medications and protocols, with no real diagnosis or solution, my health continued to decline. It took me a few years to realize that my health issues started after I was implanted. My medical records are evidence of this. Read more>>

Kimberly Jesika

I’m a veteran with diagnosed PTSD just pretty complex. I wanted to create a fabulous, colorful yummy, smelling beauty brand that had cannabis in it that offered the healing affects of the herb. I am a gyne~herbalist, which means that I learned specialty training in Viral herbs, and I sourced viral herbs, and I create tinctures appointments, oils and honeys. Read more>>

Kimberly Beer

The most defining moment on the path to where I am now happened, as many divinely timed things do, at the perfect moment in my life. Read more>>

Althea Rowe

A defining moment in my professional career was the day I decided to go back to school at the age of 51, to leave my career as an attorney and enter the field of mental health. Recently divorced, no money, and running out of time…or so they say around that age. Read more>>

Kimberly Fisher

My story dates back to 2008 when I was working in the wine business and working for a large distributor running their fine wine division, when I started to feel ill. I went to multiple doctors, had many tests run and all of it could not figure out what was wrong. Read more>>

Amanda Bumgarner

As opposed to a “defining” moment, I would call my path an evolution. The only continuous thread was my ability to communicate well with others. Having been more creative than academic in my youth, I found my ‘home’ teaching in the performing arts for an extended period of time. Read more>>

Ashley Maltz

For me, there were many defining moments. But what I recall most occurred as a medical student. Every morning as I was rounding on my assigned patients in the hospital, I would watch as their breakfasts arrived. I would check the meals out and wonder how the food going in to their mouths was affecting their disease states. Read more>>