Parents teach us many things including how to be a parent. We can learn from their mistakes, sure, but we can also learn a lot from the things they got right. We asked successful entrepreneurs and creatives to open up to us about their parents and what they felt their parents got right.

Sarah Archer

My parents have been absolutely integral to my career success. They are both incredibly hardworking people that have set a great example of balancing both ambition and a personal life. Read more>>

Hillary Lauer

My parents have had a profound impact on my life and career through their unwavering support and their emphasis on education. When I decided to pursue a career in art, a path that initially worried them, my parents immediately jumped in to help in any way possible. When I became a full time artist in 2020, my dad and I met every Friday to go over budget, deadlines, shipping and marketing objectives. Read more>>

Heather Wolcott

Growing up as an only child, I had a really close relationship with my parents. I had a lot of their attention and time, we did everything as a family, and we traveled a lot which I’m so grateful for. They were attended all of my tennis matches, watched me cheer at basketball games, and always supported me in every endeavor I took on. I can’t remember a time when I went to them with an idea I and they told me that I couldn’t or shouldn’t go for it. Read more>>

Jennifer Ann Galvez

My parents instilled in me a passion for whatever I chose to do. My mother, Nenita was a hard-working nurse and single mom with three children, two boys and a girl. I have an older brother, Eric who has a career as a VP in Finance & Investments, and a younger brother, Arthur who is an MRI director and technician. My mother was harder on me in a disciplinary way than my brothers. She felt it was important to be a strong female in this very ever-challenging world. Read more>>

Aleksandra Milanova

Everything. Their best characteristic is that they practice what they preach and are perfect role models. They have been through the mill countless times, but always endured with faith and came out of any struggle as better people. The growth that they’ve shown me has been an inspiration. They spent a good deal of their lives with limited material goods, but their mindset has always been rich. Read more>>

Jasmine Meadows

Something I will continue to preach and reiterate to anyone who asks is how amazing it was to have parents who instilled in me that I can do anything. It was the most helpful thing to remember especially after entering my 30’s. I found myself questioning what I could do, what I wanted to do and if I could do it. My parents have continued to tell me I could do anything and have supported any endeavor I found myself pursuing. Read more>>

Sydney Waters

My parents are easily the biggest inspiration behind The Waters Edit. Read more>>

Krystal Watson

For the daddy’s girl I am what I cherish most from our relationship is my independent mind frame and resiliency. My dad did construction contract work most of my life. This career choice came with a lot of good highs and bad lows. Through the waves of highs and lows, I saw and was incorporated into our household decision-making at a very young age. Read more>>

Caitie Corella

My parents encouraged me to explore art and creative outlets. My Mom was a high school art teacher, and my Dad was a high school industrial arts teacher. They taught at the same high school I attended. I have always been interested in the arts and sciences. Hence my business name Dyeology. The study of Dye. Read more>>

Greg Smith

My dad was a guitar player/singer who used to perform with his dad in his younger days. I guess he had a great understanding of the desire to play music. I used to sit with him in our kitchen (it had doors you could close) and listen to him play. His dad used to send tapes of him playing music and my dad would send tapes back of him playing. Read more>>

Don Erikson

When I was a kid – I guess around eight years old – they started me with piano lessons. I learned the basics of classical music and, after a few years, was given a Herb Alpert songbook that got me started with pop music. At the time, The Beatles were my main influence, but I didn’t get to explore that avenue. Read more>>

Vinny Montague

I discovered that I have a passion for songwriting, producing, and performing and my parents have jumped right on board with this artistic journey. I have told them that this is what I want to do more than anything. I never hear, “But what will you do for a REAL job?” They know this is the only thing I want to do. Read more>>

D’Maia DeVoe

There is a list of things that my parents have done right. I can definitely say one of the most important things that both of them have ever done for me is give me reassurance. My parents have always been very big on letting us know what is for is is for us, and there is nothing that can form against us to stop that. Self-doubt is not something that lives inside of me. Read more>>

Autumn Tyler

My nomadic childhood has been an integral part of who I am, and who I am still becoming. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, a beach baby through and through, but my parents, and still to this day, have never liked to settle down or commit to any one place for too long. Read more>>

Holly Bellebuono

With a pharmacist father and registered nurse mother, I grew up in a family that valued medicine, strength, chemistry, and working hard. My dad’s love of chemistry and my mom’s fascination with anatomy and physiology informed my work with plants as an herbalist. And my dad was an entrepreneur, owning and selling various pharmacy businesses throughout my childhood, fueling in me the value of self-agency and entrepreneurship as I’ve launched businesses of my own. Read more>> 

Anie Delgado

I am always so grateful for my parents as they were instrumental in my growth into the artist I am today. From a young age, they made sure to introduce me to a bunch of different arts & hobbies. As a young girl, they put me in ballet and my passion for dance took me to dance competitions. Although dance isn’t my primary art form, having that discipline at a young age has been so crucial to my success as an artist. Read more>>

Veronica Parra

My parents always supported me on following the path I had chosen for myself, even though I know my dad would’ve liked me to study biology, he never pushed it on me. He taught me how to draw and always said “you can be whatever you want to be, but make sure you’re the best one at it”. My mom always took me to my drawing classes and would take me to the store for new sketchbooks, crayons and markers. Read more>>

Keili Fernando

Something I think my parents did right when raising me is reminding me to live each day with a thankful heart. When we go through life with an abundance of gratitude, everything is a little brighter, calmer, and more enjoyable. They would tell me stories about the lengths my grandparents and they went through to provide a better life for our family. Read more>>

Nick Bognar

My parents are confident and firm in their beliefs, but they also believe that good rules stand up to scrutiny. As a result, they always made room for me to question their rules- even if there was no chance I was going to prevail on them to change! Read more>>

Demetrius Washington

My parents made a profound impact in my life and career. They excelled in instilling a strong work ethic in me from a very young age. I distinctly recall my mother’s words echoing in my mind: ‘Don’t half do anything!’ Whether it was a task we were assigned or a personal pursuit, they consistently urged us to strive for excellence. Read more>>

Bhawika Gaur

I had a humble upbringing. My mom being a single parent was the sole bread earner. I remember when there was no food on plate for days and at certain times when my mom used to pretend that she was already full and sleep starved as there was just enough food for me and brother. Read more>>

Raul Ramirez

My parents sacrificed much for my siblings and me. They were great providers, but I want to highlight something that my mom instilled in me. She always emphasized the importance of education, she said that no person will ever be able to take away your education. Read more>>

Christopher McCain

It’s true that our parents can be our greatest supporters. In my case, my mom recognized my potential before I even had a chance to showcase my talents to the world. At a young age, she noticed my artistic abilities and instead of brushing it off as a mere hobby, she provided me with the necessary tools such as Xerox paper, pencils, and art supplies. Read more>>

Jovaunee Pierre

My parents are everything I aspire to be as a parent. I was raised by 2 loving parents Michael and Katrina who always encouraged me to follow my dreams. They instilled hard work and integrity into me. My mother is a strong hardworking woman who taught me entrepreneurship at a young age. Read more>>