Progress depends on unreasonable people pushing boundaries, breaking out of boxes, challenging the odds and proving that the impossible is possible. This happens everyday, in big ways and small – from a small town kid ignoring the naysayers and making it in the city of their dreams to the folks with ideas no one will invest in who somehow brought their vision to life. Our community is filled with so many trailblazers, innovators, and rebels and we hope you’ll check out their inspiring stories below.

Alessandra Bosco

I grew up in Northern Italy and later on I had the opportunity to live stateside for a bit over a decade. While stateside, especially during my years in Florida, I worked as a model during my free time and I was able to collaborate with great photographers and travel all over the State. I eventually funded and produced a calendar for the troops , that was sold in 95 stores across US military bases in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq. Education includes tour operator services, international business, web design. Also worked as interpreter at the orange county convention center in Orlando, Florida Read more>>

Michelle Santagate

I was a single mom who struggled financially. Worked two jobs during the week and catered on weekends. It took 10 years to complete my bachelor’s degree. I can’t believe I am where I am. I thought I’d get a corporate job and be settled in normality the rest of my life. That wasn’t the case. I’ve always loved astrology, Tarot, spirituality in general and watched alot of it on YouTube. I thought that I could do it too, so I started doing it on my own channel. That was in May of 2019. In June of 2019 I got laid off from my corporate job but before the severance ran out my channel had started to make me steady money. Now my channel is full time. I have three YouTube channels total and I can work from anywhere. It’s amazing and terrifying all at the same time. Being self employed is difficult. I work more now than ever but it doesn’t feel that way. My life is my own, and I’m grateful Read more>>

Molly Blakeley

My journey began in a small Alaskan town with just 3,000 people, where I was a single mom struggling to make ends meet. But I refused to give up! With only $150 to my name, I had to get creative to feed my son. That’s when I started baking gourmet cookies, and before I knew it, I was selling 20 boxes a week to locals. But then, something amazing happened – demand skyrocketed to 45 boxes a DAY! I started supplying local coffee shops and restaurants, and soon, I had to move my production into a church. As my business grew, I had to adapt, and before long, I was working with clients in Anchorage. I took the leap and moved to the big city, hiring my first bakery to help me keep up with demand. Read more>>

Alexa DAmico

The Days Sustainable Apparel originated from Alexa’s primary career path – apparel design. Alexa studied apparel design and production management at the Fashion Institute of Technology and continued on to work corporately in fashion for large scale womenswear brands such as Club Monaco, Marc Jacobs, Jones New York, DVF, Betsey Johnson among others. Though she loves designing full time, Alexa yearned for something more, something that was truly her own and aligned with her passions, morals and values. Read more>>

Samira Grady

Samira Grady is a Certified Personal Trainer whose journey into the world of fitness and wellness has been shaped by resilience, determination, and a deep passion for helping others achieve their health goals. Despite facing challenges such as a near-fatal car accident and recovering from a broken foot, Samira’s unwavering dedication to personal training, health and wellness has remained steadfast. Read more>>

Evelyn Brito

Where do I even begin?! Growing up, I had the unique experience of being born in the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York, and then being raised in the historic city of Boston, Massachusetts. This dual upbringing gave me the best of both worlds – the vibrancy and energy of the Big Apple, combined with the rich cultural heritage and academic atmosphere of Beantown.  Read more>>

Ashley Franklin

It all started during one of the toughest times in my life. I’m a healthcare worker, and in the early days of COVID, I was on the frontlines, taking care of patients. But then I got hit hard—I contracted COVID myself and was out of work for a while. It was scary, isolating, and honestly, a wake-up call. During my recovery, I needed something to keep my mind busy and my spirits up. That’s when I started experimenting with fabric, making little bows for my daughters, Addi and Amelia. Read more>>

Jacklyn Romano

I started my LLC Jacklyn.fit in 2017 & began to keep my online fitness journey private to viewers on Instagram. After getting my certifications and gaining over thousands of clients online, I decided to graduate early and open my fitness studio. Years later, I successfully open an online clothing brand & continue to run both businesses exclusively. Read more>>

Sophie Furman

Hi there, my name is Sophie (she/her) and I started out drawing up a storm as a child, then decided to try out illustration a few years ago. After much learning, it is now my profession, and I draw and write for newspapers and publications, children’s books, and companies. I love dogs, so draw a lot of them too, as well as diverse characters, fun portraits, and I take up lots of projects that have a mission that I believe in. Read more>>

Anastasia Troianovych

I started my journey as a teacher, but after having my son, Luka, I decided to take a break and focus on being a mom. While at home, I began exploring creative outlets and discovered UGC (User-Generated Content) as a way to combine my love for storytelling with my desire to achieve something personally fulfilling. What began as promoting Luka as a model to save on baby clothes evolved into creating engaging, family-oriented content for brands. Read more>>

Symone Bridges

My name is Symone Bridges. I am 33 years old. I am a Chicago native. I am the eldest of three children. My father is a Pastor, and my mom. I am a proud Black Millennial and a proud Woman of Faith. I can’t do life without God on my side. I would like to call myself a nerd because I am a life learning and everyday is another opportunity to learn something new. Ever since I was a young girl, I knew that I was different. I dreamed different, I moved different, and I was the oddball in most of every environment that I was in. I was bullied growing up because people did take my kindness for weakness. Read more>>

Joyce Moi

My story is deeply intertwined with my younger daughter, the late Janet Lee, and her remarkable journey. Janet was born a healthy child but was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy at just 1.5 years old—a form of epilepsy resistant to medication and without warning signs of onset. As she grew older, learning challenges compounded her struggles, with professionals advising us that there was little hope for her to ever read or write. However, Janet’s resilience and determination inspired me to push beyond these limitations. Read more>>

Wanda Guyton

Entrepreneur Wanda “The CoffeeLady” Guyton, is a native of Maywood, IL. Wanda graduated from Proviso East H.S. (Maywood, IL), and then in 2002 received her B.S. (Magnum Cum Laude) degree in Telecommunications Management from DeVry Institute of Technology in Alpharetta, GA. Professionally, Wanda has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, customer service and application development. As an Information Technology (IT) Consultant, she has helped multiple hospitals across the U.S. implement learning management, time and attendance and electronic medical record systems. Read more>>

Carmen Mejia

I started in this journey of doing calligraphy in 2017 and have not stopped ever since. I’ve always been passionate about letters so it was a no brainer.

Since then, I’ve been able to learn different methods in which I can apply the calligraphy and it’s been quite a fun experience. Read more>>

Eunice Weckesser

I have been working as a nurse for 15 years and after working in the covid icu I decided to pursue my dreams in design. I have always loved being creative and I started my interior design company to reflect my bold style. Read more>>

Sara Bost

I have always been creative and I have always been entrepreneurial. But I didn’t start painting until I was nine months pregnant and it was a really hot Oklahoma summer and I was looking for an indoor activity to keep me busy. Read more>>

Ashley Ulmer

When I was a little girl, all I dreamed about was designing graphics for tee shirts.

I would create dream boards in my bedroom of magazine articles, rhinestones, and pictures of my friends. The style, sounds and feeling of the late 90’s – early 2000’s was everything.

Fast forward to my senior year of high school, when I first met *Photoshop in my yearbook class. And I fell in love. Read more>>

Michele Farrell

M.L. Farrell is a cancer survivor, a faith-driven storyteller, and a firm believer in embracing every moment life has to offer. After facing some of life’s toughest battles, she emerged with a renewed perspective and a passion for finding joy in the small things—whether that’s indulging in tacos on a Tuesday, blasting Taylor Swift while cleaning, or getting lost in a smutty romance or an epic fantasy adventure. Read more>>

Erica Lent

My love for cooking started at a young age, being able to my mom cook every night. I went to culinary school and worked in fine dining restaurants for over 13 years. Now I’m currently owner and chef of Boards by Erica, a Seattle based charcuterie company. Read more>>

Bianca Johnson

My story began with a love for travel and a curiosity about the world. I traveled for work a lot and then my husband and I took a cruise to celebrate our honeymoon. We visited five beautiful islands in the Caribbean. We experienced the cultures, the food, and unforgettable adventures. This lit a fire in me-a desire to not just see the world but to experience it fully. That trip was a wake-up call and an escape from the grief of losing our daughter, Halia. Travel made me smile again and laugh again. I wanted others to feel that same magic, to step outside of their normal routines and embrace the joy of adventure. Read more>>

Leah Corrin

My journey began with a deeply personal struggle that shaped both my career and purpose. As a teenager, I battled persistent acne that left me feeling frustrated and self-conscious. I tried everything—medications, antibiotics, even Accutane—but nothing provided a lasting solution. When I finally cleared my acne, I faced a new challenge: melasma which is a common skin condition that causes discoloration. The professional products I turned to for help often triggered future breakouts, leaving me searching for a solution that didn’t exist. Read more>>

Julia Mullaney

I first started brainstorming the idea behind Five Ingredient Feast back in early 2020. Covid proved to be a time for me to reflect on what I had done up until that point and figure out where I wanted to go. I loved to cook, but it seemed like more and more people were looking toward easy recipes that didn’t take a ton of effort. That’s how I came up with Five Ingredient Feast — a recipe concept featuring original dishes made with just five ingredient or fewer. It started out as a weekly newsletter, but eventually, I moved into the social media space. Thanks to one viral French onion dip recipe that earned millions of views, I was able to take FIF from a passion project to a true business, and I’ve been working to grow it ever since while maintaining the integrity of easy recipes that are accessible to everyone. Read more>>

Maria

I was born and raised in Moscow, and it was there that I grew and developed as a tattoo artist. I have always been drawn to drawing since early childhood, and when it came time to choose a professional education after finishing school, I decided to enroll in an art college and later continued my studies at a university. This allowed me to obtain two specialized degrees: as a teacher of drawing and painting, and as a designer. Read more>>

Judy Pecher

Judy grew up in a small village in Wi loving country life and animals. Her dad always encouraged her to follow every dream she has have ever had. She wanted to be a Cna, Life Enrichment Director, Manager, Pet sitter, and Model. Juju, her nickname has accomplished it all and she can’t wait to see what awaits her next adventures. Read more>>

Monica Markham

I have always been crafty but during the pandemic while under quarantine I got into some new hobbies. Wire wrapping crystal jewelry. I uploaded my new gems to my socials and the reaction from friends’ family and strangers was incredible! I was so supported; everyone was in awe. It gave me such confidence to keep creating and since then I have dipped into creating crystal soaps, crystal candles, and crystal native beaded earrings. I shed so many tears from the positive response that I decided that I needed to create a small business and continue to do what I love! Read more>>

Paula Meridan

I was a former interior designer and stager. Still am. Very good combination with that and real estate. My bio:

Paula, born and bred in Boston and raised in Westwood, joined the Wellesley office of Compass in October 2022. Formerly an interior designer specializing in color, fabric and residential staging, Paula is listed in the Who’s Who of American Women for her creative, timeless interiors. Paula’s portfolio has included properties in the Back Bay, Charlestown, South End, Dedham, Osterville, Wellesley and Westwood, as well as Arizona, Connecticut, and New York states. Read more>>

Shirell & Faith Gallegos

Home Girl’s Hibachi came to life in 2024 after a huge career change. In December 2023, I (Shirell) was excelling in my insurance career, I owned an insurance agency. In January, I had a change of heart about my business and by February my agency was sold and Faith & I were food truck owners. Read more>>

Alicia Anderson Pieri

I’ve always loved to travel. When I was young, my parents took us all over the US. We road-tripped, sometimes camping, sometimes with a major destination in mind, and constantly experiencing something new. When I was in high school, a well-known hospitality school sent out a brochure that had a picture of an airplane, a cruise ship, and a five-star hotel on the cover. I knew immediately that I wanted to study hospitality, a career in travel was the dream! While in college, I had the chance to study abroad in Spain, which further fueled my fire to see the world. Read more>>

Laura Masferrer

I started playing the cello at the age of 8, but before that, I already played the piano. In my house, there was a piano placed between my bedroom and the living room, so every time I passed by, I would sit down and play something. But it wasn’t until I was 8 years old that I decided on the cello. The story of how I chose this instrument is a beautiful one. I remember being at school in my Barcelona, my home town, when the 9/11 attacks happened in New York, and an older student played “El Cant dels Ocells” in memory of the victims. It’s a popular Catalan piece that was performed in exile by cellist Pau Casals, and that’s why it is considered a symbol of world peace. It was through this melody that I fell in love with the cello and decided that I, too, wanted to share this music with the world. Read more>>

Vanessa Ross

One Saturday night I was pathetically wondering around a big box store looking for something to do when I discovered a kit that was titled something like “Learn to Pipe Flowers” which included piping tips, couplers and piping bags. I had always wanted to learn to do this so I purchased the kit and a couple of containers of frosting and headed home to learn a new skill. Read more>>

Amélie Swann

Growing up with a stutter is hard as a kid, but I found solace in music. I began playing guitar at age 6 and absolutely loved strumming away as I learned basic music theory and language. When I was 11, I convinced myself to try out for choir as well as the school musical “Cinderella.” I got the lead role in the musical and landed many solos my first year in choir. I LOVED singing as a kid not only because music is just the best, but also because when I sing, I can’t stutter. My school choir teacher told me to audition for a professional children’s choir called “The Bel Canto Children’s Choir” so I did and got into the prestigious group as a mezzo soprano. We sang mass at the Vatican once and it is a highlight of my life for sure.  Read more>>

Angela DiMarco

I was born and raised in Seattle Washington by my mom who was widowed right before I was born. My whole family, on both sides, helped raise me as my mom worked several jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Then my Momo came into our life, my mom found a life partner and I was blessed with the two best moms ever. Read more>>

Elizabeth Willson

It hung in our foyer. For most of my childhood, it greeted me upon entry and wished me goodbye as I donned my coat at the front door. A photographic image. One that depicted a mushroom from earth level, illuminated in its yellow and orange hue. Rich in texture, layers of leaves and sticks, telling its story of thriving on the forest floor. I came to understand that my father had created this image as part of a photography course he took before I was born. It was matted and framed, displayed as art. It was art. It is art. Read more>>

Cassandra Balbas

I can’t start my story without first acknowledging the immigration stories of my family. Both of my parents and their families immigrated from the Philippines: my mom moved to Hawai’i when she was16, and my dad to California when he was 21. Neither of my parents immigrated with their entire families, and they both went through years of separation due to the logistics and applications that came with petitioning their parents and siblings. It took 10 years for my mom to be reunited with her entire family, and 12 years for my dad. Read more>>

Rachel Lee

I was an “accidental entrepreneur”. Growing up, I never thought that I would run day run a business. I was the art kid who studied design in art school, hoping to be one of those cool designers who worked in a hip creative studio — drinking lattes, pushing pixels on the newest iMac, and building my career as the creative genius behind all the big brands that everyone knows. Read more>>

Diane Carbray

I was one of 13 kids who grew up on a farm in Kansas. We all learned the value of education and work ethics from our parents. As a result we are all college graduates. I got my Masters in Sports Administration from Ohio University and pursued a management position in the field of sports. I worked for a variety of sports teams in the North American Soccer League and landed in Fresno with the intention of bringing Triple-A baseball to California. My husband John, and I put together the Fresno Diamond Group in 1992 to purchase the Fresno Grizzlies and work with the City of Fresno to build a first-class Stadium, now known as Chukchansi Park in downtown. Read more>>

Alexia Hill

The phrase jack of all trades is so cliché. I’m not fond of it but, I admittedly wear maybe too many hats. In short I am a creative originally from Arizona and based in New York City.

My most recent venture, my pride and joy, has been founding Obscura Zine, a digital fashion and culture publication. Obscura sheds light on stories untold, your hub for true fashion news and aberrant views, a step away from the industry norm. Read more>>

Sophie Cheung

At 20, I moved to the U.S. alone with two suitcases, determined to pursue a creative career. My work appeared on a billboard in Los Angeles featuring a prominent K-Pop star, a music video on MTV Asia, and my mental health short film The Dragon Dream was selected for multiple film festivals. Read more>>

Priscila Buiar

Hello there! My name is Priscila Buiar. I’m from Maringá, Paraná and I’m 33 years old. I have a degree in performing arts and have worked as an actress and model for 24 years. My work gained greater recognition through the series “Magenta” (2018) and “Stupid Wife” (2022). Read more>>

Maggie S

Terrible Gerald’s is owned by two former bartenders gone rogue and trying their hand in business ownership. In early 2022, we began Terrible Gerald’s as a pop-up, using folding tables, portable Ooni ovens and friend’s restaurant kitchens. At the end of 2023, we custom built a 12’x6′ pizza trailer featuring twin Gozney dome ovens. Using Gozney’s product has truly been instrumental in the success of our operations, as we are able to cook a pizza at around 830° in 70 seconds flat once it hits the oven. The trailer is lovingly named “The Dough-Jo,” and has become a big hit for catered affairs such as graduations, birthdays & office lunches. Read more>>