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.

Ashley Cummings | Yoga Teacher & Documentary Film Maker Cummings

My parents had unconditional love, faith and trust in me- that was everything for the successful trajectory of my self-confidence, and ultimately my life. My father had absolutely no idea what Yoga was in 2007 when I asked him for $30,000.00 to open my first Yoga studio in Miami Beach, it was a huge ask. We were not super wealthy, and this was a huge amount of money. At this time, my father thought “Yogis were all poor hippies”, some version of this, but he believed in me, he believed I could make somethings that I believed in successful, and I did (JUST BREATHE YOGA). It was only in looking back, and through a few conversations I had with my father before he passed (we laughed), that I understood what a chance he took on me. I realized he did that for me, and expected me to fail! Read more>>

Brenden Trojan

My parents taught me a lot of lessons. If we had the time to go through them all I would, but unfortunately we’d be here forever! The main point I want to have you take away is kindness. When we are growing our business and moving up in our career, it is cut throat. To grow more, we have to claw our way to the top. (as the world tells us). But my parents taught me that you can grow and move up with showing kindness. Even if you don’t get the job or if you lose out on an opportunity. You should still support the person who did get it and thank the people for even the chance to apply. If you put a positive mindset on all of your outcomes, you will grow much faster than living with disappointment that you failed. Read more>>

Fernando Oberlin

Growing up, I was incredibly fortunate to have parents who perfectly complemented each other in their shared vision and passion for their work. My dad was the visionary, the brains of the operation, while my mom was the meticulous executioner. Together, they instilled in me the values of hard work, persistence, and a deep love for what one does. This wasn’t something they sat me down to teach me in words; rather, it was demonstrated through their daily actions and sacrifices. Read more>>

Marybeth Shaw

I was raised in the 60s and 70s. My parents were young, having married at age 20, they had me at 22. I imagine today you would call them free-range parents. Although they taught us solid moral values, they left us up to our own devices in many ways. In the summer, I was encouraged to invent things to keep me occupied. Laying around the house and being bored was not an option. I raised money for The Cancer Society by organizing a carnival. Another year I hand-wrote a newsletter for our neighborhood and also found plenty of time to hang out in the creek with my two brothers. We grew vegetables, cared for injured animals, and made arts and crafts. Between my Mom’s creativity and my Dad’s engineering ability, we witnessed firsthand how to live life. Read more>>

Qingjian Ma

I was born in China and moved to the U.S. at the age of 15. Looking back on my upbringing, I realize that “inclusivity” was not a widely embraced concept in Chinese society at the time, at least not in the environment I grew up in. However, I was fortunate to have been raised in a family that valued openness and acceptance. My parents gave me a perspective that transcended societal norms, allowing me to explore diverse ideas and experiences. This open-mindedness helped me integrate into American society, which embraces inclusivity on a broader scale. Read more>>

Ali Hits

My journey began with the love and guidance of my incredible parents, to whom I am eternally grateful. Both of them were trailblazing entrepreneurs who made their mark in the business world.

My father, Tajuddin Ali, embarked on a remarkable journey at the tender age of 17, leaving Pakistan to build a new life in America. With unwavering determination and an indomitable spirit, he began working as an employee at Affordable Furniture. Later, he became the owner of the business, which is now a thriving enterprise and a cornerstone for countless families in the Houston area. Read more>>

Oba Olff

I’d like to share a story about my deceased father, Anthony Johan Olff.

One day, my father asked me if I had fed our dog. I lied and answered yes.
2 days later, my father cooked my favorite dish, Chilli. As he prepared the food to eat and set the table, I noticed that my father didn’t set a place for me.
When I asked him where my plate was, my father responded that my food was in the same place where I fed the dogs the other day.
He then looked at me sternly and stated, “You lied to me…” Read more>>

Christine Ngwazini

Whew, do you have a tissue? The older I get, the more I can’t imagine how my parents survived coming to a new country with two small kids and very little to work with.
Watching them work so hard to build a life here in the US while making sure my brother and I had what we needed taught me that no matter what setbacks you face in life, keep trying, keep working at it, keep going, it WILL pay off. That motto has really carried me through my career. Read more>>

Jess Goodkey

My parents immigrated to Canada with one goal in mind: to build a better life for my brother and me. They sacrificed so much—leaving behind everything familiar, working tirelessly, and making sure we had access to education and opportunities they never did. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

One of the biggest things they instilled in me was the importance of reliability and accountability. Growing up, discipline wasn’t just encouraged—it was expected. If you said you were going to do something, you did it. No excuses. You showed up on time, you planned ahead, and you always considered how your actions impacted others. Looking back, I think that’s why event planning felt so natural to me! Read more>>

Alicia Brule

What did my parents do right? What a loaded question! I have so many answers, but I’ll go with the most important one. They raised me with and around love. Love is not just an emotion, but also an action word. Loving someone or raising someone with love takes action, walking that same walk that you talk. It has impacted my life and career in many ways. It taught me how to share that same love I felt with others including my clients. Grace was not always given to me as I often feel like my parents and I grew up together with them having me young in age, but through their love I have learned to give grace. As a young adult, becoming a mother, I didn’t always make the best decisions. But I knew that no matter what I had family around me who loved me thanks to my parents and the foundation that was built. Read more>>