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.

Blaire Hosfeldt-Ward

Relationships have been my greatest teacher. I experienced what seems like a lifetime’s worth of heartbreak several times at a young age and each time, I was rocked to my core. I was overwhelmed by the pain and how deeply I felt and it eventually impacted my mental and physical health, leading me into a decade long battle with both. Read more>>

Linzie Hermsmeyer

I have always been drawn to serving and encouraging others. From my earliest day, I have been known to lend an ear to friends in need, offering guidance and support through their struggles. As I’ve grown older, this ability to connect with people on a deep level has deepened. Read more>>

Kavita “Vee” Parsan

A defining moment for me was having my son. Before him, I would of never pushed myself to be a business owner. I was comfortable. After having my son, I was stuck in a place where I needed more income. Empress Lashes was perfect because throughout the years my son has went to many events with me. He is my biggest blessing and little business partner! Read more>>

Destiny Van Rooy

Ever since High school I have been in the legal field. I have an older cousin who served as an attorney and Pro Tem judge. She is legally blind so during summer breaks I would drive her to court appearances, act as a filing clerk, and even assist her on the bench, filling out forms during court hearings. Read more>>

Shamarah Hutchins

I always knew I wanted to become a doctor of something. My dream was to go to medical school and become a family practice doctor that specializes in addiction medicine because my goal was to help my parents with their addiction problems. I pursued the career of medicine and was accepted into a medical school. Read more>>

Dr. Christine Adamo

Hello, my name is Dr. Christine Adamo. I’m an integrative medical physician who specializes in the field of oncology and I’m passionate about helping those who are diagnosed with and are affected by cancer. Read more>>

Kori Hintz-Bohn

The first 15 years of my career as a licensed counselor I worked with eating disorders and the treatment modality CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). In 2014 I was introduced to ACT, otherwise known Acceptance Commitment Therapy. The more I learned it, applied it, taught it, the more change I saw in clients, lasting change. Read more>>

Harold Skelton

I am a disabled Iraq veteran who struggled with PTSD, suicidal ideations, and depression as a result of my military experience. In 2010, following my medical retirement from the military, I attempted to take my own life. This decision not only ended a promising career with the DEA but also led me to drop out of my PhD program in Homeland Security functions. Read more>>

Amy Kunstle

Defining moments are the epiphany of the soul when you rise above the noise and ask yourself the deep and meaningful questions without the normal distractions that might keep you from a true and honest answer. My defining moment to move forward with my life, following a very difficult time period caring for and losing both of my parents, came high above the clouds on an airplane flight taking my oldest to college his sophomore year. Read more>>

Dr. Sarah Meyer

I have always been a motivated individual with lofty goals and a high drive to achieve them. I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field and when I found Physical Therapy as a way to help individuals who were injured get back to being physically active, I was hooked. I worked hard to get my doctorate and was determined to eventually open my own practice. Read more>>

Jessica Lohrey

I had been practicing yoga for 6 years when I had a life-changing motorcycle accident. I was thrown from my bike at 65 MPH on I-75 going through downtown Atlanta…at night! It is a miracle that I survived, and even more bizarre that I survived with no broken bones or permanent disfigurement. Read more>>

Stephanie Dalfonzo

My career trajectory shifted dramatically when I was working as a morning radio DJ. Though I loved connecting with listeners, the early wake-up calls and demands of young parenthood led me to develop insomnia. I felt overwhelmed and anxious, lashing out in frustration over small things. I knew something had to change. Read more>>

Alix Kirshner

There were many defining moments that led me to where I am now, but one in particular that profoundly altered the course of my life and work. It’s a moment that underscores the power of vulnerability, resilience, and the human spirit. Read more>>

Nicole Cammack, Ph.D

In 2014 I accepted my first position as a salary employee as a contractor for a federal government agency. I loved this job. I felt competent, my colleagues became my friends, and the work was fulfilling. Many people told me that this contract position could also the first step to getting into the government as a full-time employee. Read more>>

Macarena Corral

The most defining moment in. my career thus far, and also my biggest risk, was the COVID-19 pandemic. Up until 2020, my business partner and I ran a small mental health clinic. Following the first lockdown, we started to see how much people were struggling and from there came the idea of expanding our clinic to include preventative mental health services. Read more>>

Lyssandra Guerra

Yes – in 2022 I hit a wall. I was no longer sustaining my business from a place of love and purpose. Being a solopreneur in the wellness industry had me overwhelmed with the amount of jobs I had in order to maintain my business, retain my clients, and grow. Read more>>

Rachel Dellefield

The snatch test is a rite of passage for a certified kettlebell coach. It’s 100 snatches in under 5 minutes with a kettlebell determined by your height and age. For me, that’s a 16kg. I’ve done two official snatch tests – the first being after a four-month kettlebell coach intensive and my second being at StrongFirst, a globally recognized kettlebell certification. Read more>>

Christina Lumpkin

The defining moment in my professional career was my first pregnancy. In navigating my own pregnancy and postpartum journey as a first time Mom, I quickly learned that there were many gaps in information, myths and quite frankly realities I wish I’d known about as a first time Mom. It was during my first pregnancy that I began shifting in my interests, values and in turn: my career. Read more>>

Tatiana St. Germain

The defining moment in my professional career was when I realized that there is more to life than climbing the ladder, that I was more than the hours I worked trying to prove myself to others, and that I did not have to normalize burnout as a common price for success. When I was experiencing. fatigue, exhaustion, and burnout, I could not show up to to those who count on me the way they needed me to. I knew I needed to do something different. Read more>>

Shawn Moore

After finishing the police academy in 2006, I thought it would remain my profession until I retired. Funny how things shift when you least expect it. The defining moment for me that changed the trajectory of my career was becoming a caregiver for my husband, a 23-year Army Veteran. Read more>>

Kylie Ota

In 2017 I was medically diagnosed with Adrenal Burnout, with a cortisol level near zero. My doctor said that while he could give me a quick fix with supplements if I continued my career at that pace, a year from now, there would be nothing more he could do as I would completely crash my endocrine system. Read more>>

Ken Middleton

My defining moment involved failing at entrepreneurship and realizing I needed to commit to going “all-in” before completely failing and having to go back to corporate America. If I failed, I at least wanted to be able to look myself in the mirror and say I gave it 100% Read more>>

Salma Haji

The saying “You can do anything you set your mind to” never had a deep meaning for me. It was just something I heard but never believed. This all changed when I was faced with teaching a student of mine. I was teaching 6th–8th grade in a middle school. I had a student who was on the autism spectrum and was adopted with a very troubling past. Read more>>

Jennifer Silverstein

There are many defining moments. But this one had the greatest impression and posed the greatest challenge for me. My instructor was training ( more like testing ) me on some defenses. Attacks from begging to be specific. So he had one of his top ranked Black belt instructors grab me from behind for some take downs to the ground. Read more>>