We asked some very talented folks to tell us about the most innovative thing they’ve done in their career.

Dani (danielle) Locastro

The most innovative thing I have done in my career is connect the dots of all my creative experiences from childhood to the ripe age of 56. I am a professional textile designer, print maker, fine artist, potter, and lover of life . I started my own company in 2019 called Heartful Yoga to integrate yoga & art processes for cultivating creativity, community collaboration and freedom for self- expression from the soul so there is a place to move with the body and a place to make a mark on our own life through creative play. Read more>>

Maria Dominguez C. Geraci

At ACP Billing Services Inc., our mission is to empower healthcare practices through exceptional medical billing, medical coding, business management, and patient services that ensure compliance and financial health. This mission is deeply meaningful to me because it stems from my own journey in healthcare. Having worked in the field since 2013, I witnessed firsthand the challenges that healthcare providers face, from navigating complex regulations to managing billing inefficiencies. Read more>>

Munashe Watungwa

I started learning video editing for over a little more than a month now and looking at other experienced artists like nohluhn, noahsocold, poppy gavin for example, learning the different softwares became overwhelming and felt impossible to reach the level of these people. Comparing myself to these people made me think there was perfection and every value has to be entered to the perfect decimal and that threw me off. What worked for me was asking myself why AI art rarely evokes deep feelings from a viewer? It’s because it’s perfect. Read more>>

Brandy Clay

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was believe in me and tell me they were proud of me. This began when I was just starting out and applied for a simple telemarketing job. Lynette Lingard, the recruiter, saw potential in me and gave me a chance. She didn’t stop there; she continued to periodically check in on me, following my journey, and rooting for me all along the way. Her unwavering belief in me was profound, especially since I didn’t hear that a lot growing up. Read more>>

Elle Benson

When my family relocated to Nashville in 2021 for my husband’s job, it was one of the most challenging times of our lives. We had a newborn baby, no family nearby, and were navigating the isolation of new parenthood, transitioning our kindergarten into a new school, all without the support system we had always relied on. To make matters worse, we were right in the middle of the formula shortage, and my baby boy had a dairy allergy that severely limited what formula he could consume. Grocery stores were rationing, only allowing the purchase of two bottles of formula at a time. Each bottle only lasted a day, and that left me constantly scrambling to make sure my child had what he needed. Read more>>

Mike Hobday

In May 2002, my life took a dramatic turn when I underwent a kidney transplant at the age of 39. The wonder of medicine! However, the transplant came with a price – a lifetime of immune suppression meds to prevent rejection. But a suppressed immune system has its risks. In October 2015, I developed Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), a rare skin cancer affecting only 2,000 people/year in the US. Surgery removed the tumor, but there was a 30% chance of recurrence. Read more>>

Chandra Xu

Kindness isn’t just something we do; it’s how we live and connect with each other and the universe. The kindness I’ve felt most deeply hasn’t come from one single person or moment, but from a steady flow of compassion and care from my family, teachers, friends, mentors, strangers, and even myself. My family’s constant support and the sacrifices they’ve made give me a foundation that helps me handle life’s challenges and reminds me of how powerful love is in shaping our lives. I’ve been lucky to have teachers who see beyond the surface and help me grow in safe spaces. My friends always hold space for me, sharing laughs, deep conversations, and moments that mean so much. I’ve also felt the kindness of strangers in fleeting moments, like when two men in New York City helped me carry heavy congas to a performance venue, a woman on the subway brushed off the biggest cockroach from my leg, and a business owner covered the cost of my violin strings after an expensive repair. Read more>>