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.
Marney Henze
I was 26 years old moved back to Arizona to be close to my parents and family because my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and knew it was important to have this intentional time with her and also my niece that was going to be two. It was a whirlwind to witness my mother losing herself right before my eyes- I buried myself in all of the things I thought could just numb the pain- Read More>>
Maria Okafor
As a graduate with a degree in English Language, I was driven by a deep enthusiasm to make a meaningful impact in my professional career. A pivotal moment that redefined the trajectory of my career occurred when I moved to the United States to pursue my master’s degree. During this time, I took on a role as a caregiver for a family with a child on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This experience became a defining moment that not only shaped my professional path but also ignited a passion for advocacy and education in public health, particularly concerning autism. Read More>>
LeeAna Theberg
My worlds collided as I brought my 17+ years of marketing experience with my lifelong spiritual path. I realized that every potential was in the quantum and that I just needed to help my clients clear the obstacles to bring their idea/vision to life. Traditional marketing was framed around the target audiences pain points, instead of connecting it to a higher vision. This alongside my journey through healing cancer naturally, brought me to my current role as a Detox Guide – as clearing our bodies allows for the channel to open up much wider than ever before. Read More>>
Jen Heller
Yes, the defining moment my career went from a comfortable corporate HR job to diving into the exciting unknown of entrepreneurship was when my health took a significant negative turn and I quicky needed to prioritize my stress and overall well-being. Read More>>
Kristyn Brielle Cordova
In life, I’ve had many moments feeling comfortable. However, life is not about comfort. I realized early in my career that there was something missing and by midway through knew there needed to be change. Although on the outside my life felt and was seen as stable, on the inside I knew I was meant to do more. I remember one day walking into a room filled with physicians (brilliant minds) typing away at their computers with an overwhelming feeling of melancholy. Read More>>
Hannah Dudley
Ten years into my career as a mental health practitioner and 6 years into a person journey of infertility, I suffered a great loss – I was 5 months pregnant and the week before had just been told “everything is looking good, relax – you’re going to have this baby” – but I woke up really swollen and sought guidance from my medical team. Turns out I was in hypertension crisis, my kidneys were dumping protein, and I was at significant risk of losing my own life. Read More>>
Joan Judson
For years, I built my career in traditional professional roles — first as an elementary school teacher, then an art teacher, and later, a mediator. These roles were deeply meaningful, rooted in structure and service, and I learned so much about communication, patience, and the human spirit. But while I was immersed in these conventional paths, something in me was quietly reaching for more. Read More>>
Megan McDevitt
I was sitting in the cafeteria of where I was working at the time, happy in life. I had just been approved for a mortgage loan and a man who is highly respected had asked me what my dreams were. Without thinking, I had said my dream as a kid was to move to Los Angeles, but I could never. He asked “did you change your life to just stay comfortable?” It really threw me, as I was 22 years old at the time and proud of how far I had gotten. That question really had me thinking. Read More>>
Caitlin Johnson
Yes, there was a defining moment in my career—and it started in a doctor’s office, not as a practitioner, but as a patient.
I was in my early 20s, newly diagnosed with PCOS, and sitting across from an OB/GYN who looked me in the eye and told me I may never have children. It was a moment that shattered me—but also one that lit a fire. Read More>>
Tamara Falvai
A defining moment for me in my career was when I realized that the support I was looking for in my health journey wasn’t there. I wanted a specific and in-depth knowledge of a way to treat pain and injury. More recently, this has also evolved to include treating perimenopause and menopausal woman. So by tuning into what it was I needed and couldn’t find it changed the trajectory of my career by leading me to specialize. Read More>>
Cedric Freeman
I’ve had the unique fortune of experiencing multiple defining moments throughout my career—each one redirecting my path in unexpected, yet meaningful ways. One of the first occurred during undergrad. I had entered college as a declared nursing major, driven by a desire to help others. But it quickly became clear—science wasn’t for me. Rather than abandon the call to serve, I searched for another way to make an impact. Read More>>