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.

Elizabeth Sosa

A defining moment in my career was when I first stepped inside of a Cyclebar theater room and took an indoor cycling class. At that time (2016), I was teaching Zumba and received a phone call, asking if I would consider teaching indoor cycling. I was extremely skeptical and declined. With some fine schmoozing, I was talked into taking a class. So I gave it a shot, and was sold. Without a doubt in my mind, I removed Zumba and transitioned to indoor cycling. Ironically enough, a Master Instructor flew into Houston to hold auditions not too long after, and I immediately entered my name. Mind you, I had absolutely no training of the sport – NONE. The morning of auditions, my nerves & emotions were everywhere, but I kept myself in check to the best of my ability. Read more>>

Tanisha Ray

A moment that changed the trajectory of your career? If so, please share the backstory so we can fully understand and appreciate the moment and take in any lessons or wisdom that might be learned from your experience and story.

There are quite a few moments that come to mind. However, since Christmas just passed, a moment that continues to warm my heart is when I produced and directed an inmate-run Christmas play in an AZ state prison. It wasn’t planned, and it was a whirlwind experience that I swore I’d never do again! We only had 5 days to make it happen, and anything that could’ve gone wrong – did go wrong! But…it was magical. It was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. A miracle in an unlikely place, and I’ll remember that Christmas for the rest of my life. Read more>>

Kathryn Alderman

Definitely. One of the biggest turning points in my career happened during my second year of dental school. I had the chance to be part of a dental startup, and honestly, I wasn’t fully prepared for what that meant. At the time, I was laser-focused on learning clinical skills and getting through school, but this opportunity gave me a glimpse into the entrepreneurial side of dentistry—a world I hadn’t even thought about before. Read more>>

Gina Vanluven

I was sitting in a staff meeting and the Director of the organization said something to the effect of “We’re going to lose some good people. But that’s just the way it is and we’ll move on.” I realized at that moment that I was just a number that could be replaced by another number. I didn’t want to work for a company who didn’t value their employees. So I left. Read more>>

Kristi Roberts

A defining moment in my life was at my son’s funeral. Many people may not have known how he passed, but when I stood to speak, I knew I had to share the truth—that he lost his battle with depression and he died by suicide. In that moment, I urged anyone who is struggling to reach out for help and reminded others to check on their loved ones. It became clear to me how important it is to break the stigma surrounding mental health. Read more>>

Taylor Dietz

There was a moment early in my journey that completely shifted the trajectory of my career and my purpose as a chiropractor. It was during my first trimester of chiropractic school. My wife and I were expecting our second child, and while we had planned a hospital birth—life had other plans. Our baby decided to arrive quickly, and we unexpectedly ended up having an unplanned home birth. Read more>>

Jerrod Gunter

At a time when riots where breaking out around the conference We were faced with these Challenges in Memphis TN. Being faced with the challenges in
Memphis TN with gangs and crime and gang members getting younger ;
this mission gave us the response specifically in the
aftermath of a young Black student shot by a white police officer on the lawn of our church youth campus, students the city needed answers and guidance. We recognized there needed to be another response rather than destroying our city and riot we believed we needed to start righteous riots and destroy strong holds! (2 Cor 10:4)  Read more>>

Rajeeka Singh Tak

Yes, there was a defining moment that truly changed the trajectory of my career. It happened during the early stages of co-founding GIMSOC. The moment came after several months of rejection and frustration. We were relentlessly pursuing support from universities and hospitals, but all we encountered were closed doors. There was a point where it felt like the dream we were working toward was slipping away, and the idea of giving up was tempting. Read more>>

Jasmin Rituper

I auditioned for a stunt team for a film project. They were looking for an actress: dancer that could learn a fight choreography/ wire work in a harness and be comfortable to be tooled during the whole scene
I had a good intuition and knew thatcher’s exactly the thing for me.
I nailed it and got to know some of my most memorable people from the stunt community. Read more>>

Angie Berrett

During my trauma-informed yoga instructor training, I had a defining moment that changed the course of my career. I learned how powerful play is in activating a part of our nervous system that helps us feel safe, connected, and empowered—a critical state for healing. This discovery struck a chord as I was working through my own childhood trauma. I began using play in my own healing journey, and the results were profound. Play helped me reconnect with my body, release old pain, and rediscover joy in a way I never thought possible. Read more>>

Dr. Erin Foley, Dc, Cfmp, Nbc-hwc

For decades, I poured my heart and soul into my natural healthcare practice, combining chiropractic, acupuncture, and functional medicine to help my patients heal and thrive. I loved working hands-on, but deep down, I felt a tug—a calling to do more. My hands, however, told a different story. Years of manual chiropractic and acupuncture had left them chronically damaged, and I knew something needed to change. I wanted to reach beyond the walls of my office and connect with women all over the country. Yet, making such a monumental shift felt daunting, and I wasn’t sure how to begin. Read more>>

René Connolly

A defining moment in my professional journey came after the birth of my second child when my family moved to Hawaii. At that time, I was already deeply committed to working with men who used power and control in their intimate relationships, but something shifted within me. The intense need for personal healing led me on a transformative quest. I immersed myself in practices like breathwork, cacao ceremonies, somatic movement, and plant medicine. It was during this period of self-discovery and deep healing that I realized the profound potential of these integrative therapies—not just for personal growth, but for the way they could shift the dynamics of mental health support. Read more>>