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.

Claire Cetti

Assuming my becoming a step-parent in 1996 and having my firstborn in 1997 followed by becoming a parent twice more in the next five years is considered a career, my career as a young new mom was off to a busy start. It was something I had always wanted—to be a mom—and I was thrilled. At least on the outside, it seemed that way. But internally, I was struggling. Hard. Fast forward to July 2003. It was early morning; the sun shone through the dining room windows as the sheer curtains lightly blew in the soft wind. It wasn’t hot yet, but you could feel it would be as I stood in the archway between the living room and the dining room, watching the phone I just threw fly across the room in what appeared to be slow motion. Read more>>

Johnny Flores

A defining moment in my professional career came when I started offering internships to cosmetology students who were eager to get into the spa industry. Up until that point, I had built a successful career in skincare, working in private spas, hotel spas, franchise locations, and even corporate settings before launching my own business. I was thriving as an entrepreneur with Del Carmen Skin, and I thought that was my ultimate path. But everything shifted when I began to see firsthand the gaps in these students’ education. They were enthusiastic, but many lacked the real-world skills needed to succeed. Read more>>

Shine Johnson

My defining moment was in high school during my junior year. I had what I thought was a shin splint, but turned out it was a stress fracture. My coach told me before he knew the nature of my injury that I was replaceable. When I heard this something changed for me. I decided in that moment that I would go forward in life a be the master of my fate. This lead me to always take responsibility for my actions and the consequences that resulted. I am my own boss, I serve the people who I work with, I serve the people who work for me, and I cannot be replaced within my organization. Read more>>

Miriam Beato

In the realm of mental health, a defining moment can often arise from a personal struggle that transforms one’s perspective and purpose. This moment of crisis prompted a deep reflection on their values and priorities, leading them to seek therapy and prioritize mental wellness practices. Through this journey, i have not only learned the importance of setting boundaries but also discovered the profound impact of vulnerability and empathy in my work. This experience ultimately reshaped my career trajectory, motivating myself to advocate for mental health awareness and self-care among professionals in the field, as well as those closest to me, reminding others that embracing one’s own mental health is essential for helping others effectively. Read more>>

Jeffrey Dehaven

I was invited to a funeral in South East LA by the General Secretary of the National Baptist Convention, USA Dr. Calvin McKinney. He knew that I had helped stabilize a burial insurance program that was originated many years before. The funeral was for the parents of a young girl’s parents that had been killed in a car accident. They were a struggling family financially and it took almost 90 days to raise the money just to bury her parents. What most don’t realize is when a person passes in a community of color there is a celebration of transition. These families don’t have much but what they are rich in is respected and tradition. Read more>>

Ella Hicks

I was a girl who always knew what she wanted to do when she grew up. I followed that dream to the big city, completed my education, and began a career that blossomed into more than I could have ever imagined. I met a man, got married, and had two children, all while my career continued to thrive. Unfortunately, my marriage became entangled with domestic violence. Despite this, I maintained my career, even starting my own design consulting business, working with top-notch brands. However, there came a time when I could no longer sustain my life with my husband. One frigid winter night, we escaped with nothing but the clothes on our backs, one child on each hip. I had to walk away from my beloved career, home, friends, colleagues, and the city that I loved. Read more>>

Tamika Thomas

Sometimes the moment that changes your life isn’t wrapped in warm fuzzies. It feels like a gut punch that knocks the wind out of you. I still remember that day. My boss said something that hit me harder than I expected. It wasn’t even what was said—it was the realization behind it. I walked away feeling undervalued, underappreciated, and honestly…unseen. But in that very moment, something in me shifted. I realized no one was going to give me the worth I deserved unless I owned it myself. That moment—though painful—lit a fire in me. It was the spark that made me say, “No more.” From that day on, I made a vow to myself. I enrolled in school, started a self-love journey, and made a promise that I would be, do, and have everything I knew I deserved. I wasn’t waiting for someone else to recognize my value anymore—I was going to show up for myself. Read more>>

Anita Chandra

I followed a steady path from college, to medical school, to residency and fellowship in geriatric medicine followed by three years of working as an attending physician and assistant professor of medicine in my dream field. I had been drawn to caring for older adults particularly as I was inspired by my 96-year-old grandfather who spent his last years caring for “old people” who were at least 20 years his junior. He managed a senior activities center and took weekly trips to buy medications for low income seniors in Bangalore, India. As the daughter of two physicians, my career path made sense. It was my definition of success. Read more>>

Emily O’hara

Walking in the woods has precipitated singular life-shaping moments that influenced my life as an artist- a metalsmith, weaver, and installation artist, and as a holistic nurse entrepreneur teaching Energetic Intelligence. After an early spring walk in the Bird Sanctuary amidst the vivid green moss, and rich browns of damp earth I spread my arms wide and announced to the trees and my dog, Blaze, “I am an artist!” As a lifelong creative/maker, seeing myself as an artist allowed me to feel a sense of belonging in a wider artist community. Joining the Andover Arts and Cultural Alliance, I met two innovative, creative women, and we founded Cazimi-a Creative Collaborative. Together, we began making temporary, interactive public art installations in our community. We continue to work with our town to promote community art because beauty affirms humanity. Read more>>