Winning comes in so many different forms that it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. The CanvasRebel community is filled with so many incredible folks who have overcome long odds, challenged the status quo and won. Below, you’ll find stories of these winners along with much of the accumulated wisdom on what it takes to succeed.

Angela Peel

As a singer, songwriter and occasional actress, I suppose my story started with Mariah Carey’s first album when I was about 10. Her voice, her lyrics…it all spoke to me and that’s where I picked up the pen and paper and began writing poems that evolved into songs over the course of my life and pursuit of my career in music. I have many inspirations I continued to collect, including Stevie Wonder, Muse, Aerosmith, Alanis Morrisette, Beth Hart, Cat Stevens, Tool… Gospel greats like Daryl Coley…I could go on lol. I’m an artist who loves and indulges and plays with ALL genres of music and in my writing, combining genres has become my “signature ” so to speak. Read more>>

Emily Thornton

Having worked many years as an inhouse art and film director at one of the worlds leading furniture companies, I suddenly felt a strong urge to create something that was not customer orientated, had no deadline to take into account and with only one beneficiary – myself. So after years of neglect I picked up the brushes I hadn’t touched since art school a good 20 years back and started painting again. A bunch of ficitve people appeared on the canvas and the joy I felt at painting has not left me since. As people started appreciating my portraits I spent more and more time on my so called ‘newly found’ passion, I took on commissions, did murals and all of a sudden I was earning my way as a part time artist. Read more>>

Taylor Gould

My journey into equine wellness and holistic healing began with a personal and traumatic experience. After enduring the heart-wrenching pain of multiple pregnancy losses, I felt the gravity of loneliness and grief that was nearly unbearable. Each loss was a traumatic event that left me feeling isolated and longing for a supportive community, a community I couldn’t find. It was during these dark times that I realized how crucial it was to have a safe and understanding space for women facing similar challenges. Drawing from my own experiences, I founded GouldWood Meadows to provide that much-needed sanctuary. I wanted to create a haven where women could find solace, support, and healing amidst the beauty of nature and the therapeutic presence of horses. At GouldWood Meadows, we offer a nurturing environment where women can connect with others who understand their pain and begin their healing journeys together. Read more>>

Timi Orosz of Connect One Marketing

As a young child living in Hungary, I always felt that I didn’t belong there. Not just to the country. To this whole planet. Other kids my age didn’t seem to have the same questions occupying their minds: where does the Universe begin? And what’s outside of that? Where does our soul come from? What is a soul? Luckily, my mother was into positive thinking, and we had a ton of books in the living room about psychology, NLP, rewiring our thinking and things like that. I think having access to such materials at a young age was some kind of cosmic lifeline. Especially since the Internet wasn’t a thing back then. Read more>>

Peter Adelaja

My journey as an artist is as old as I am, meaning I’ve always been an artist since I can remember. But I will say I made up my mind to pursue art as a career when I was 13 or 14 years old at a phase when I began critical examination of my life due observation of how my lifes journey has no resemblance to that of my peers in every ramifications. This made against all odds choose to study fine and applied arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University ile-ife oshun State Nigeria where which I come to realize that the best of artist are self thought because the formal education only boxes you with too much principals and rules. This discovery made me sick out mentors who where thriving in the field this part lead me to meeting the renowned up cycle sculpture Dotun Popoola and the versatile Patrick Akpojotor, who respectively guided me in unleashing my creative process beyond the limits place by the four walls of formal schooling. Also I’ve been involved in the Harmmatan workshop organizing by the legendary prof Bruce Onabrakpeya which introduced me to the medium which I now thrive in (stone carving) along side meeting with many renowned artist over different specialisations. This workshop has been pivotal to the relationships and exhibitions I’ve had over the years. Read more>>

Diego Hinojosa

I first fell in love with music by accident. I had just moved to a new city and to make friends I volunteered to be the bass player in a rock band, even though I had never played bass in my life. In fact, it was all very new to me because during my childhood I used to listen to what my parents loved. My dad is a melomaniac and his favourite thing in life is classical music, and my mom used to listen to her favourite latin pop albums, or local radio stations while we were in the car; so I had never really listened to rock music. I remember feeling very curious and excited about exploring these new sounds that arrived to my life. I have a very obsessive personality in general, so I just dove deep into the music of a few rock bands, and the rest is history as they say. I just kept stumbling upon new sounds that interested me: I found prog rock and metal, so I formed a metal band with friends; and then I found jazz, so I decided and had the huge privilege to study jazz abroad in university; and then I found latin american folk and classical music, so I decided to move to Mexico City and write and produce latin american pop, and so on. Read more>>

Fergie Nea

I am a singer-songwriter and producer from Mexico. From a young age, music has been my therapy and a constant companion in my life. My inspiration comes from personal experiences, nature, meditation, and love. As an independent artist, I embrace diverse forms of expression that converge in my work. I produce every sound, instrument, and visual element for my project “Fergie Nea,” a unique blend of modern R&B, sophisticated pop, and jazz-hop. Music, to me, is one of the most powerful tools for healing, and that belief fuels my creativity and passion. Read more>>

Lacie Aldridge

I have always been very creative and colorful but lacked a sense of direction and stability. Growing up is a state of confusion anyways so it is hard to figure out who you are and fight the confusion of life itself. I went through a lot of trial and error realizing that I did not want to spend my time doing things that didn’t bring me joy and that definitely started narrowing things down. I realized I wanted to go to art school and dig deeper into my creative side. I graduated from SCAD with a degree in Graphic Design but was very passionate about helping people see their true creative potential. I went through a lot to figure out who I am and that I am valuable and worth the effort. And I realized how many people needed to hear that about themselves as well. So many people would look at me and say “I could never wear what you wear or do my hair like that but you look amazing.” They were admiring me but with a side of loss or regret. It drove me to figure how I could help people in a creative way see that no matter what stage of life you’re in it’s never too late to figure who you are, what makes you tick and what brings a smile to your face. Honor those things and show yourself love. That’s what I help people see and do. It’s amazing and brings me so much fulfillment. Read more>>

Brian Steenhoek

I have always had a passion for sales and marketing. From knocking on doors selling raffle tickets to now being a Director of Sales in a leading software company partnered with Microsoft. It was five years ago when I started my own company that developed from the hobby of flying drones. I discovered the commercialism of drones and that led to professional photography and videography. Doors kept opening and branching into new learning curves to expand what I can offer clients. Read more>>

Taiga Gamell of Gildre

My story takes an unconventional path. Born in Yamagata, Japan and raised in the picturesque city of Missoula, Montana, I experienced a unique blend of cultures. Japan offered me a glimpse into a high-tech, densely populated society that harmoniously preserves its natural beauty. In contrast, Missoula, nestled at the convergence of three rivers and surrounded by five mountain ranges, provided a laid-back, small-city community vibe. Known for its vibrant outdoor scene, Missoula allowed me to appreciate the stark differences and unique charms of both worlds. From a young age, the entrepreneurial spirit coursed through my veins. At 15, I launched my first venture: a poop-scooping business that thrived in the aftermath of Montana’s harsh winters. Earning $50-$70 per hour, I quickly learned the fulfilling nature of self-employment. This early success fueled my passion, leading me to compete in two startup weekends during high school, securing third place in one. Read more>>

Sustainable Harvest International

In the early 1990’s, Florence Reed served as an agroforestry Peace Corps volunteer in Panama. During her service, she witnessed desperate farmers burning forests for farmland. The new land produced food for only a few years, leading to an ongoing cycle of deforestation. Reed knew that the farmers recognized the catastrophic impacts of burning forests, but they didn’t see any other way to grow food and provide for their families.  Reed realized that practical training in more sustainable agricultural methods could provide farmers with a way to better provide for their families while protecting and restoring their precious ecosystems. This realization moved her to do extensive research on sustainable alternatives. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, however, the time Reed had to train farmers on sustainable agriculture and agroforestry was limited. It was through this experience that Reed saw the need to create a multi-year program that would give farmers plenty of time to learn, experiment, adjust, and adopt new, sustainable practices. Read more>>

Jessica Lewis of Back to Roots Farm

I was a born and raised city girl who ran to the farm as fast as possible. The hustle and noises of the city always weighed heavy on my heart. My soul could find no rest in it. There was no air for my lungs to take in among the constant pollution that could only be found there. To stumble about with a yearning in my core for something different than how I was raised set me up to be an outcast for most of my young life. After all this beast we call progress is all that anyone could want, right? Fernweh. A German word that describes the feeling of longing for a place you have never been. A word from a language that I have never spoken but speaks to the very essence of me during those years. I had a longing for something I had never known, for a life that was unattainable in the place which I was raised. I longed for open spaces, fresh air that could fill my lungs, a quiet home that was filled with the noises of children laughing, dinner cooking and maybe the occasional animal that had found its way in. I wanted a slower pace, slower nourishing food, a life that was free from the hustle and chaos that I had been raised in. Read more>>

Katrina Martinez

After receiving a life saving operation from a near death experience involving a vascular malformation in my brain, I turned to holistic medicine for the answers that western medicine could not provide for me. This was when I was first introduced to flower essences. Working with flower essences allowed me to notice what my emotional landscape looked like, and how I wanted to shift it. I started to notice how much of what was normalized in our modern society was actually detrimental to our health- from the medical industry, to the beauty industry, food industry, job industry, and so much more. I began using essential oils instead of pharmaceuticals, which was really pivotal for me in understanding the power of plant medicine. Read more>>

Daniele Clarke

As a registered psychologist, the founder of Superpower Kids, and the author of the multi-award-winning book Unleash, I’ve dedicated my career to making a positive impact on children’s emotional development. My passion is to equip parents, educators, and mental health professionals with the tools they need to guide children towards a brighter future. My professional journey began in private practice in Brazil, where I focused on family dynamics and children’s mental health. However, a significant move to Australia in 2005 marked a pivotal point in my career. Working with families in need, I broadened my impact and deepened my understanding of the diverse emotional challenges children face across different cultures. Read more>>

Brittany Rios

I am very honored to be able to give voice to my story and my journey following my last interview with the Bold Journey. My story was about my mental and emotional health journey, my battles with depression and anxiety and what has helped me heal, move on, manage and understand myself better….aw what it takes to be a better functioning human. How did this journey start? I don’t really know how far back to go to be honest, as this has been a life long learning and unlearning process, but I think the most profound and most transformational part of this journey happened post pandemic. It is safe to say that that was an intense period of time for all of humanity and we all suffered on one level or another, but I was faced with myself and all the things I still didn’t want to confront on a very hardcore level during that time. I was laid off from my job three days into lockdown, lived with two roommates who were challenging to deal with, separated from my then partner, trapped in the middle of Madrid, estranged from pretty much my whole family and, well, we all know what else was happening on a global level at that time. I threw myself into doing, even though there was nothing to do, no schedule, no place I needed to be, but I was not going to let that stop me, I was going to be “productive,” as was my MO when I was faced with a difficult situation. Read more>>

Leanne Ross of Happylieuya Coaching & Mentoring

Being overly familiar with the feelings of burn out, stress and numbness, for the past decade of my career, I had filled my life with my obsession to work hard at everything that was required of me. Giving my life and soul to the workplace was just what I did. With this in mind, I reflect on a situation in 2020 that, literally, almost killed me. I had been working 3 jobs at the time and, having had a couple of days off, I decided to push through the fatigue and go out socialising, not getting to bed until late. I did not feel myself the following day but decided to ‘power through’ and work an additional shift that I had previously agreed to work. By Monday I felt worse, my stomach was in agony and I couldn’t shift the feelings of nausea. So I left for work early to ensure I had plenty time to fuel myself with coffee before my 9 o’clock start. I worked late that night to take my mind off the pain.  Read more>>

Kelly Soule of Kelly Elizabeth Events and 8 Stratton Events

My initial pursuit at Northeastern University was in public relations. However, through various internships, I discovered that my true passion lay in planning and executing events. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process—from logistical coordination and design to crafting memorable guest experiences. While I had always relished planning family vacations and parties, I had not envisioned it as a viable career path. Upon graduation, I immersed myself in the events industry by joining a prominent financial firm, where I managed large-scale conferences and client hospitality programs. This role afforded me extensive experience and the opportunity to travel globally, including attending the 2012 London Olympics. After two years, I took a role with the Sundance Film Festival, where I worked on the events team for the 2014 and 2015 Festivals. Our team successfully executed 110 events over ten days, with my direct management of 18. This high-intensity environment further honed my skills and stamina for large-scale events, which I later applied to roles with the U.S. Open (tennis) and the NFL. Read more>>

Kate Gregory Richey

I was a big fan of trying things as a child. I tried gymnastics, soft ball, Spanish class, crocheting, horse back riding. You name it I gave it a go. I gave it a go for a month, perhaps two, if we were really lucky an entire summer. I didn’t have a lot of follow through as a kid or teenager or young adult for that matter. I just sort of floated around, not really making any choices for myself. I went to college in Oregon because we used to live there. I majored in Psychology because my parents were going through a divorce, I moved to LA because all my girlfriends were moving to NY and didn’t invite me. I did extra work because that’s what my boyfriend did. It truly is embarrassing to look back and see how passive I was in my own life. Read more>>

Shari Biery

My journey began in a small town in Northwest Ohio, where I met my husband, John, while working together in high school at McDonald’s. We both grew up in a community where serving and helping others was a way of life, a value that has deeply influenced our paths. After high school, I pursued a career as a respiratory therapist while John finished pharmacy school. We got married and, seeking ways to fund his medical education, John joined the Navy through the Health and Promotions Scholarship program. This decision marked the beginning of our adventurous life as a military family, moving to various locations around the world. Read more>>

Belal Kamara of Let’s Gym

My name is Belal Kamara. I was born in Kuwait, and my family moved to Memphis, TN, when I was about six years old. Growing up in Memphis, I was constantly surrounded by the idea that building skills is crucial so that when an opportunity arises, you can seize it. Inspired by this mindset, I pursued my education at the University of Memphis. After graduating, I dedicated myself to learning how to code. My goal was to launch my own startup without needing to rely on a partner when inspiration struck. I wanted the freedom to bring my ideas to life independently. After moving away from Memphis, I realized that working out wasn’t as enjoyable as it had been when I was exercising with friends. This led me to think that others in new cities might be facing the same issue. I decided to test this theory by running a small ad campaign asking who was looking for a workout partner. By the end of the week, 200 people had signed up. This response confirmed that I wasn’t alone in facing this challenge. Read more>>

Susan Allen

I have always been drawn to the spiritual life. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, my Italian grandfather would tell me stories about the Saints when I was just five or six years old. These mystical stories resonated deeply with me, and I couldn’t get enough of them. By age eleven, I could easily get through a spiritual book, even though my reading comprehension for other school subjects was poor. I believe I had undiagnosed ADD, but if you handed me a spiritual book, I could probably read it twice if I really loved it. From a young age, I also had a deep connection with animals. I felt an immense love for them and wanted to help those that couldn’t speak for themselves. This love for animals set me on my current path. Over the years, I’ve saved baby hummingbirds, young crows, and even a possum I coaxed into my gym bag about 15 years ago. I just had a conversation with him, and he jumped into my bag. He stayed with me in the car for 45 minutes on the way home, and eventually, he had a wonderful life on a farm. I’m still friends with the lady who took him in. Read more>>

Dulce Orozco of Latina Immigrant Therapist LLC

I am from Venezuela but have spent most of my life in Massachusetts, United States. When I moved here after getting a college scholarship as a seventeen-year-old international student, I was extremely naïve. I worshipped the United States and thought that everything here was perfect. Little by little, I became a follower and stopped following my intuition. Adding my immigration status complicated the situation since that reduced my working options, and I truly believed that I needed to stay where I was even though it was not a good place. I can now see things differently after giving myself permission to ask for help and support along the way and to welcome uncertainty. Becoming a mom made me want to show my daughters what is possible as a Latina immigrant. I am trying to create a business that provides my family and me with what we need, and even though it’s been a whole adventure, I am proud of what I have done.  Read more>>

Buddy Sea

I grew up in a small town called Oswego in Upstate NY, it was a fairly normal up brining. Around 12 years old I started playing with an old guitar my Dad had in his closet. It really got me through my high school years and gave me an outlet for all the young adult crazy life stuff we all go through. Around 2006 I started work on my first real studio album “Live & Learn” with my producer Adam and we recorded it at SUNY Oswego. The Album was released in 2008 and somehow it ended up on Spotify through some distribution deal I had so it still is out there hiding!  2008 was a crazy time for me, I decided to just up and leave NY for good and drove straight south until I hit water, I ended up in Pensacola FL. I quickly started forming my new friend group and playing gigs around Pensacola and the Beach. Read more>>

Kwan Segal of ICAway

I am the founder of ICAway, a career coaching organization dedicated to supporting international students. We also extend our expertise to international educators and higher education professionals, providing comprehensive training to enhance their ability to support international students within their institutions. My journey to this career follows the happenstance theory, filled with pivotal moments. Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, by a single mother, I initially had no clear career path but knew I wanted professional success. I began my career as a personal assistant at BMW Group Financial Services and later pivoted to a management consultant role at Accenture after earning my MBA. A significant turning point occurred when Accenture sent me to Chicago for consultant training, where I met my significant other. Two years later, I moved to the USA to start anew. Read more>>

Super Dave Quinn, Cecd of Day One Experts

I began my career following my graduation from Texas A&M, working in the oil fields of West Texas for a trucking company that specialized in moving drilling rigs and providing steel pipes for well workovers. After paying off my college debt and starting a family, I transitioned into public service as the Assistant City Manager in Levelland, Texas. It was there that I discovered my passion for economic development. Pursuing my newfound interest, I earned an International Economic Development Council certification. Over the past two decades, I have dedicated myself to the field, working across Texas as a professional economic developer. 2018, I co-founded Day One Experts, an on-demand economic development and small business consulting firm. Our team is proud to serve North Texas communities like Fairview and Melissa, as well as private real estate developers and small businesses nationwide. Read more>>

Harley Hendrixx

I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. After six years of being a special education teacher and pole dance instructor, I decided to retire and chase my calling. During the pandemic, an app called Hapi listener introduced me to the idea of being a space holder for people in need. Along with being certified as an empathetic listener by way of the Atlantic Listening Academy, I have been actively using my platforms to help motivate others in need.. I am committed to shifting the perspective of as many people in this world as possible. While I am open to all people, my target audience is the black woman and queer folks of all kinds. Many black women have forgotten how amazing they are. I find peaceand absolute joy in being able to remind them daily. Read more>>

Terri Hitt of Terri Hitt Co., LLC

I think one of the most interesting aspects about me, and what has brought me to what I do now – is the fact that I’ve raised two families over two generations. My husband and I married right out of high school and had two children within three years. Our son and first daughter were raised and graduated from high school when we were only 39 years old. Fast forward a few years and my husband and I celebrated his 45th birthday while in China adopting a baby girl. That precious daughter began a faith journey and new generation of parenting. Ten years later we adopted our youngest daughter from China. She was 9 years old at the time and had suffered isolation and neglect for most of her life. Being blessed to love and experience bio and adoptive parenting has been a gift, Also, working full time outside the home with my first set of children, then experiencing being a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom with the second set of children has taught me so much and given me quite a bit of experience and empathy. I’m also an experienced advocate for special medical and academic needs for my youngest daughter. Read more>>

Mary Kate Benitez of MK Mindful Media

I started my photography business 3 years ago. I had been in the media field for more than 10 years, but I knew in my heart it was time to branch out on my own. My first job was as a television producer in Voice of America’s Latin American Division. I loved it there; however, it was very demanding, which is understandable…I mean, it’s news. I learned a lot of valuable lessons there, like how to work under pressure, how to work as a team member, and how to persevere in difficulty. It also taught me the basics we all learn at our first job, like how to stick to a schedule, what it takes to complete hard tasks, etc. These lessons gave me the discipline I need to becoming a business owner. My mother is a small business owner, and I grew up with the idea that I also would one day own my own business. And here I am, 3 years later with my own business.  Read more>>

Tory Scroggins

I became a makeup artist in my teens stemming from an interest in beauty and fashion photography. I did makeup for Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child Usher and others before I started studying acting and doing theatre. For the most part after that my focus has been on acting but about 5 years ago I started wearing nail polish and began getting offers to do social media PR for several nail polish brands. I always thought it would be cool to be able to make my own colors and so I learned how through YouTube and finally started my own brand. Read more>>

Calissa Ngozi

My name is Calissa Ngozi, and my story is one of resilience, determination and grit. I knew as a little girl, that my passion was to work in mental health in some capacity. I knew it was impactful work, and it was my desire to be a part of intentional change. The landscape of mental health has changed in the 21 years that I have been a part of the professional community. There are less barriers in some instances-yet, so much work is still to be done to shatter the stigma, allow more access to mental health supports, and have open conversations with the next generation about the importance of discussing, labelling and understanding their own mental health. Read more>>

Hanneke Antonelli of Hanneke Antone

I delivered my first inspirational speech to our high school when I was 18, so I’ve always been interested in self-development. It wasn’t until my early twenties, after suffering from depression and being in a very low place, that I decided that no matter what, I was going to overcome life’s hurdles and create a meaningful and fulfilled life and career for myself. A few years later, after completing my business degree, moving from South Africa to the UK and then the US, and hiring my first life coach while working on Wall Street, I decided to quit and start my own Pilates business. It quickly grew into an award-winning brand. A few years later, I decided to get my life coaching certification. I then combined my business degree, Wall Street experience, entrepreneurial and coaching skills to niche into helping service businesses scale up while creating more freedom and satisfaction. Read more>>

Emily Cox

Coming from a very small, rural community in Southern Indiana, I had no intention of being a music producer in a major US city! I started in the entertainment industry as a singer. I attended the University of Evansville and got a Bachelor’s of Music Performance in Vocal Performance, then continued my studies and got my Masters in Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado. I eventually launched Cox Productions in 2015 out of necessity when I moved to Chicago, IL. Growing up, my mother was an actress and director in our region, and my aunt was a well-known actress and director in Indianapolis. I had the benefit of experiencing productions on various scales and professional levels throughout my childhood, and watching how the process worked from start to finish. It wasn’t long before I was dreaming about creating my own productions, and helping my friends who were playwrights and composers launch their own projects into existence. Read more>>

Kristin Overly of Kristin Overly LLC

I’ve always had a love for writing, backed by a degree in psychology and a minor in English. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I saw an opportunity to combine my passion for writing with my desire to help others. I immersed myself in the world of SEO copywriting, initially to support friends and family in growing their businesses during those challenging times. One memorable instance was helping a close friend, who ran a macrame shop, revamp her website copy and implement a solid SEO strategy. Within months, she saw a significant uptick in online traffic and sales, which sparked something in me. I realized that this pastime side gig could be more than just a temporary solution—it had the potential to become a full-time venture. Read more>>

Naheem Garcia

I was born Alexis Rene Garcia. My professional name is Naheem Garcia, I’ve been an actor and theatre educator for over thirty years. I grew up in Boston, MA, arriving here from Cuba with my mother, grandmother and my aunt in the month of August in 1968. I was first introduced to acting by my grandmother and I later developed my acting skills when I was casted in a play with Boston Youth Theater. I received my further training in theatre working with New African Company, one of Boston’s oldest Black theatre companies. As soon as I realized that Acting was my thing, I wanted to evolve as an individual and Artist. Later in my career, I Founded, NG edutainment, an Arts Education program. I was also hired later in my career as “Residence Teaching Artist” in the Education Department at the Huntington Theatre Company and have been a part of the Ed department for close to 30 plus years. With the fruition of teaching I have cultivated a community Intertwining the development of Acting with everyday life and empowering the Community around me. Because of that, I’ve had the honor of rolls in feature films, such as the recent, The Holdovers, Challengers, and soon to come, At The Sea, starring Amy Adams. After all these years I’m grateful to be in a position to do what I love, Read more>>

Megan Rutledge

When I was still in high school, I knew that I wanted to help others with their fitness goals. And after I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 18, I definitely knew I wanted to help others with arthritis. I just wasn’t sure how I was going to fit the two together. I started going to college for Exercise Science, and actually dropped out after 3 semesters (against my parents wishes) to pursue a full time fitness training job at a local gym. I took a chance and decided to go right into getting my personal training certification to start gaining as much hands-on experience as possible. Read more>>

Laura Somma of LS Events

I grew up in Italy between Pompeii and Sorrento, surrounded by art, the beauty of nature and the warmth of a close-knit family. From a young age, I was always curious and eager to learn, spending countless hours reading books and exploring the world around me. My journey began with a deep passion for language which could connect me with the rest of the world and then events, the passion I discovered during [a significant moment or time in my life when I was at the university in Germany. Read more>>

Laura Lange of Manipura by Laura

Over the past 10 years, I’ve worked incredibly hard to become a lawyer and land high-powered legal positions for big companies. I thought that this was THE way if you wanted to make it in your career.  At least that’s the only scenario I was presented during law school.  But my work-life balance was a hot mess. I was working 12+ hour days. I was paying over half of my salary in rent.  I was working on the weekends.  And all I really wanted was to be able to: Buy healthy foods Live somewhere sunny  And get a take out coffee whenever I wanted.  That’s when I realized I was done burrying myself and watch the years disappear right in front of my eyes.  And so today my mission is to work as little as possible while making as much as possible. Read more>>

Misa Pignataro

My youngest was diagnosed with failure to thrive at 1 years old, due to what we found out later, was a slew of food sensitivities. 10 years ago there weren’t as many allergy friendly options at the store, as there are today so I taught myself how to cook without all the top allergens. I learned that food can still taste delicious, be good for us, and help us to heal. I was also navigating picky eating with my daughter and did as much reading, listening, learning, and experimenting as I could. It took some time but, I’m thankful both my girls are thriving and adventurous eaters. Feeding our kids well, in this fast food, highly processed world is hard! I love helping to support moms during this challenging time and help them to create healthy habits and a healthy foundation, setting their kids up for a life of health and happiness. I am passionate about empowering families to pass along the gift of health to future generations, as my parents did for me. Read more>>

Tony Korosak

When I was first introduced to your readers I was just beginning my journey as an amputee. August 2023 I was diagnosed with an infection which quickly turned gangrene; amputation of my left foot was my only source of survival and was urgently required to save my life. After three life saving operations, multiple antibiotics and six weeks of rehab my new chapter began. Read more>>

Brandon Washington And William Bessette of The Brilliam Group and Floppy Hat Adventures

WILLIAM: We’re gonna’ alternate on these. I’ll start with this one. “How I started…” wow, even that is a lot to unpack. I was born and raised in Las Vegas. Imagine 30 years in Las Vegas, most people can barely handle 3 days. I grew up fast, we’ll just put it that way. After escaping a life of addiction, rehab, buying my first home, then losing it in the Great Recession, I moved to the Portland, Oregon-area, where I met Brandon Washington, my husband and partner of 11 years. After the crash-and-burn in Las Vegas, I started completely over in the Pacific Northwest. Within 7 years of arriving, Brandon and I got engaged, quit our 9-to-5 jobs, and sold everything down to two backpacks. We started two independent companies we would run ourselves remotely and use that income to drive our nomadic lives. We’ve now lived abroad for 7 years, have four companies instead of two, built a beautiful vacation home in Costa Rica, and curated the life of our dreams. I couldn’t be a happier man. Read more>>

Tooba Dawood

My journey in the social impact space began from a deeply personal place. Growing up, I faced significant challenges, including transitioning out of an abusive environment into a period where I was without stable housing. During this transitional phase, I embarked on a period at a women’s temporary housing facility in Aurora, Ontario, where I encountered individuals experiencing homelessness and heard their stories. Some were escaping forced marriages, others had fled their homelands to pursue an education in Canada, and many were on a journey to reclaim their self-worth after enduring prolonged abuse and trauma. These stories deeply resonated with me and highlighted the pervasive lack of support systems for youth facing similar challenges. While this was an immensely difficult period in my life, it also became a time of profound reflection and growth. I realized that if I could navigate and overcome these obstacles, I could use my experiences to support others in similar situations. This realization ignited my passion for social impact and inspired me to take meaningful action. Read more>>

Jenny Jolley of Jenny Jolley Photography

While I’ve loved photography since middle school, I never used professional-level gear until I started photographing weddings in 2018 and instantly fell in love! I’ve been focusing weddings ever since. I began as a second photographer for other photographers, then jumped in photographing my own weddings in 2019. I think being a second photographer really helped me observe and notice the fine details of weddings and learn how to make a wedding flow smoothly as a photographer. I wouldn’t be noticing the details and candids I capture today or prepping my couples for their wedding days without the experience I have from working with other photographers! Read more>>

Shenora Lechleidner of Shemama: The Underwire Slayer

Faith, grounded in Hebrews 11:1, has always been the foundation of my life. This verse—“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”—is deeply intertwined with my family’s story, particularly that of my great-grandfather. Born in 1908, he grew up in a time when African American men were viewed as less than human. He was born a slave and later achieved freedom thanks to his parents purchasing it for him. He left the south with an 8th grade education and managed the remarkable feat of becoming one of the first African Americans to own a grocery store in Detroit. He also owned multiple estates, including real estate and junkyards, providing shelter and employment for his family. Read more>>

Jean Prominski of Sparkle Home Organizing and Seattle Sparkle

I have been a Professional Home Organizer since 2015, but I started my career off as a Professional Glassblower. I had initially started off college in architecture, because I wanted to build healing homes for people. I ended up switching my major to art (specifically “Crafts”) after I found glass. After living in Seattle for 7 years, I went back to school to get my master’s degree in Glass. I knew I wanted the work I did to impact the homes of people. I had no idea I would end up being a home organizer! Once I finally figured it out, it felt really right. I get to be creative while also directly impacting the lives of my clients. Read more>>

Carrita Flie

Wow! Where do I start? I feel like there are so many parts of my story that are significant to where I currently am. I am a woman who has endured recurrent pregnancy loss, infertility, adenomyosis, preterm labor, life in the NICU, a total hysterectomy and so much more. While the road traveled has been extremely difficult, I know that I was called to travel this road so that I could reach back and be a hand to other women who are facing the same challenges. I live by the saying “what I’ve gone through is not just for me”. I don’t mind displaying my journey to provide inspiration and light for those who may be stuck in darkness. Read more>>

Marije

For me, music is life. It is my closest companion and confidante. Music was there for me throughout a difficult childhood as I struggled through bullying, depression, and anxiety. It was there for the good times as well and ultimately became my salvation. “Music always understands me and helps me understand myself. I am full of thoughts. Without writing them down and making songs out of them, I would be a mess. I just love singing and being on stage, rocking with my band!” Originally from the Netherlands, I moved with my family to Switzerland when I was 10. Coming from a musical clan, I spent my childhood singing. I first performed on stage at the age of 6 and composed my first original song when I was just 8 years old. Over the years, I have appeared on a number of international reality television shows, including *Kay One – Sängerin Gesucht* (RTL) and *Limits* (SRF). I made my professional solo recording debut in 2016. Read more>>

Shawn Huckins

My grandmother passed away in 1993 when I was nine years old. Unknowingly to most of the family, she had a slightly used oil paint set that the family gave to me since I was interested in that sort of thing. Up until that point, I was drawing in my sketch books, so this would be my first time painting. I remember the sweet, chemical smell of the paint, which I enjoyed. But that was the only thing I enjoyed because I had the hardest time working with this new medium. I got extremely frustrated and didn’t paint seriously again until college. There, I was taught the proper way to use and manipulate paint and I fell in love with painting then. Read more>>

N’gozi Mckee-mathis

N’Gozi is a dynamic and inspiring entrepreneur, devoted mother, and loving wife, who wears many hats with grace and determination. As the visionary founder and owner of Kulture Kinnect 360, N’Gozi has built a thriving business dedicated to fostering cultural connection and community empowerment. These connections were fostered at a young age being a military dependent. With a Bachelor’s in Psychology as well as a Bachelor’s and Masters of Metaphysical Science, N’Gozi blends academic rigor with a deep understanding of the human spirit in all her endeavors. Her expertise as a Certified Doula allows her to support and advocate for women during one of the most profound times of their lives, bringing her passion for nurturing and empowerment into sharp focus.  Read more>>

Leigh Matthews of Therapy in Barcelona

Of course! I’m Leigh Matthews, the founder and owner of Therapy in Barcelona. I’m an Australian-trained and registered psychologist. My journey into psychology began at the age of 13, driven by a natural empathy and interest in understanding the human mind. My interest was initially sparked by all things vision sciences including optical illusions, the visual pathways, somatosensory cortex and homunculus because the brain is fascinating. I eventually turned from an academic and research based pathway to counselling psychology. Prior to moving to Barcelona, I honed my professional skills in roles as a Counselling Psychologist in hospital, non-government, and government settings in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia. I also served as a Supervisor to Masters in Counselling Psychology students at the University of Queensland and Psychologists-in-Training at the Australian College of Applied Psychology. I completed brief studies in business management and established a successful private practice in Brisbane, Australia at age 29. I continued taking contract work in various settings to ensure I was gaining ongoing training and breadth of experience. Read more>>

Jessica Bosman

From a very young age I have always been creative. From painting to sculpting and even trying to come up with my own recipes for cooking. It has always brought me joy in creating works of art, even the scientific aspect behind some creations. Knowing that others enjoy my work just as much as I do, lights a fire inside me to continue to create. I started with essential oils, trying to use more natural eco safe products in my home. Whether it was the cleaning products, food, or even the self care items, we wanted a more natural approach without any endocrine disruptors. I stumbled across making soap one day and decided to try it for myself. It was fun and exciting to learn and watch the transition on oils and fats to a bar of soap. Then I started looking into making other selfcare products for the body such as lotions, scrubs, and hair oils. I learned a lot of many oils and why they are good for you and which ones are the best. At some point I read about massage candles, and I wanted to give them a try. I came up with a recipe that turned out to be so amazing I used that same recipe in my lotion bars. Read more>>

Michelle Glassman

My name is Michelle and I run a full service floral design business based out of South Portland, ME. I started my business in my home garage when we moved to Maine from Boston back in 2018. I left my corporate career in commercial property management to pursue a vision that I couldn’t quite see clearly yet. I had no previous floral design experience, and I started everything from the ground up being self-taught. I now have a brick & mortar that is located at 72 Ocean Street in South Portland, ME. We are a year-round floral design studio/shop specializing in retail, weddings & intimate events, and workshops. We believe in retaining the charm & artistry that was originally founded in my garage studio. We welcome all and simply hope to provide warmth & inspiration to those who walk through our doors. Our ethos is founded on authenticity, approachability, & whimsy while supporting our local flower farms as much as possible. Read more>>

Michelle Valiukenas

My story is one of turning personal heartbreak into a mission to help others. After my daughter Colette died at nine days old, I was inspired to take action to support families facing similar challenges. In 2018, I founded The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation with my husband Mark. Our mission is to improve outcomes in pregnancy, childbirth, prematurity, and infancy, and to aid in the grieving process through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. Since launching, we have helped more than 2,600 families in 50 states, providing over $1.6 million in grants to families going through high-risk and complicated pregnancies, nicu stays, and loss. Personally, I am the proud mom of three children—two angel babies, Sweet Pea and Colette Louise, and my living son Elliott Miguel. My husband, Mark, and I live in Glenview, Illinois, where I serve as the executive director of our foundation, participate in advocacy work, and dedicate myself to helping families in crisis. Read more>>

Namisa Mdlalose Bizana

I grew up in post apartheid Cape Town, South Africa. My family moved to an area that was previously a “whites only” area. So we were one of the few families of color who lived there. I never saw a lot of kids who looked like me or spoke my home language. I always felt out place but I found a place in storytelling. I loved watching movies- obsessed! my favourite movies where Liar Liar starring Jim Carrey and Hook starring Robin Williams. I would watch these movies every weekend. It got so bad my parents eventually started hiding the tapes! anyway, on this one particular Saturday, I woke up before my family, made myself breakfast and put on Hook, like every other Saturday. But this one was a little different. I was around 6/7 years old at the time and so the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” must have been swirling in the recesses of my mind. I had this epiphany, I realised that the people in the television were telling a story. I saw adults and children. It occurred to me that this could be a persons occupation. I just knew that thats what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It sparked something in me that I’ve held onto for 23years now. Read more>>

Dheeraj Varandani

I am an artist and a programmer, born and raised in India. My zeal to create something new and tell stories brought me into the field of Digital Arts. After working on the Elf on the Shelf Netflix special for a year, I set out to do something more meaningful with the creative skillset I had. Since then, I focus on contributing in meaningful ways to society by designing engaging educational modules for medical students and professionals, and deploying them on immersive technologies like VR/AR head-mounted displays and holographic theatre. Read more>>

Elina Lukas

I have always been drawn to art, practicing traditional watercolour, drawing and other common techniques. Years of experimenting and progress has led me to where I am today, creating dream-like abstract artwork. Read more>>

Eddie Brophy

I got started, honestly? I’ve always been a misfit. I never fit in anywhere. The happiest I’ve ever been, is usually when I’m writing and even then, there’s the burden of…will this ever see the light of day? Will it get published? And if it is? Will anyone care? I kind of have this double life where I’m a daddy, but I’m also this painfully single dude who still wants to be Prince, Kurt Cobain, or someone who is worth paying attention to but also has this enormous hole in their soul where they love being with their children but also pick their children up from school and feel like…oh yeah, I’m not welcome here, I don’t fit in, these people are probably judging me. When I write? I feel safe. I feel accepted. It’s one of the few habitues so to speak where…. alright, who I am is literally what keeps the train on the tracks. Read more>>

Jeanette Marcelle

Sure! Lol! I will skip through all the not-so-glamorous stuff and jump straight into my journey as a traveling chef, exploring various cuisines and cultures worldwide. Along the way, I developed a deep passion for not just cooking, but also for creating unique dining experiences as well as products. As I gained more experience and honed my skills, I realized I wanted to settle down and share my culinary creations with my local community. However, it was not until the global pandemic collectively sent me to my room that I had to sit with my dreams and plans that I had been ignoring for the past 2-decades while I was building my travel chef portfolio. Read more>>

Sandy Ghelfi of Douce Broderie

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved creating lots of things. At the age of 7, my mom taught me to embroider and crochet. And since then, I’ve never stopped learning new things to improve. I first worked as a photographer in the fashion and cosmetics industry. And a few years later, I opened my own business in handmade embroidery and crochet creations.  Read more>>

Adeline-julie Bee

Coming from a family of artists, I have been surrounded since my earliest childhood by the canvases of my great-grandfather, the sculptures of a great-uncle, and the surrealist paintings of my great-aunt. This closeness to art objects foretold my passion and the path to take in the world. When I was little, I loved painting and drawing. Understanding what a line, light, depth, perspective, mass, empty and full space, layout, concept, or the process of an artistic approach was gradually revealed to me during my various art training courses. So, through constant confrontation with it, I considered the frame, the panel, the subject, the cut or amputated image, the visible and the invisible, the material and textures, the colours and techniques. I reproduced, represented, copied, created. Throughout this journey, I heard people say that I was or was not creative, and the impression of never being creative enough in my field overwhelmed me, pointing to the mystery that would occupy me again and again. Read more>>

Alex Mufson of Rêv

I’m a feminist, a CEO, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and I started my first business at three years old. It was imaginary, but she had the last remaining Wooly Mammoth, so it was also cool as hell. My latest project scaled zero to seven figures in under three years. I’ve taken all the risks and built businesses that were truly aligned for me AND businesses that made money while also keeping me sick. My personal story has been pretty dramatic, from unexplained brain hemmorhages, advanced staged endometriosis and a wildly dramatic divorce. All of that serves me in supporting others because I know that life is not a straight line and though we can’t control everything that happens to us, we are absolutely in control of the meaning we choose to attach to it. Read more>>

David Johnson of VoidRabbit Apparel

Although I’ve worn many titles throughout my career, at the end of the day I’ve always been a problem solver. When I found out that there was a career that specialized in developing solutions to problems, Industrial Design, I sought out one of the best schools with that degree, Savannah College of Art and Design and spent the next 3 years mastering my craft. Fast forward 13 years and while some things are the same, a lot has changed. To give you an idea of just how all over the map my career has been, I’ve worked on consumer electronics, bathtubs, automotive accessories, tactical gear, stage sets, kids toys, pool tables, athletic equipment, windows and clothing, not to mention patent-approved last mile delivery software for the pharmaceutical industry. And most of that is not including the freelancing I was doing in-between. The journey has taken me from coast to coast, through amazing moments and heavy loss, but each venture has made me formidable in the world of design and I can tell you that I am extremely excited about things on the horizon.  Read more>>

Il‘il Sat Prem

Becoming a healer was a plot twist I didn’t see coming—yet, in hindsight, it was totally predictable. Unexpected because in my world growing up, spirituality was as foreign as unicorns, and “healer” would have been the punchline of a joke. Predictable because, well, I’ve always been the go-to therapist and teacher for everyone I knew. I started out as a musician. In my teens and twenties, I was a professional drummer. Those years were tough, filled with one crisis after another and emotional drama that could have made for an epic tale.But the biggest crisis hit around age 27—right on cue for a classic rebirth moment! A great love and its loss drove me to change my life completely. I dropped everything and moved to NYC with no plan at all. Read more>>

Rob Isquierdo Jr.

My journey into the world of nonprofit work began as a spiritual journey. As I started reconnecting to God I started praying about what direction he wanted my life to go. When I prayed about this the only word that came to mind was serve. So I began to explore different ways to serve my community consciously. I was raised in a small rural, unincorporated community called London, California, located in the California Central Valley. This eventually LED to me moving back home from Santa Clarita California to the Central Valley so that I could start working on serving my hometown community. as an educator I recognize the value of literacy and decided the best way I could serve my community was by bringing a library to my hometown. Read more>>

Maryanne Long

I’ve MORPHED – It seems that over the past few decades, I have embraced challenges, learned new skills, and created new versions of myself along the way. I began as an educator and taught at every grade level at some point in my 23-year career, whether it was library skills to elementary students or business writing to college freshman. But, for the most part, it was teaching middle-grade students learning skills. I referred to it as “how to learn despite the teacher.” After an early retirement at 45 years of age, I moved to Hawaii and turned my life in a whole different direction. I was hired as an aide to the Honolulu City Council, basically resolving constituent concerns on almost every level, from potholes, to traffic safety, to environmental issues, etc. at this stage, I really learned the importance of building a network, people on the local, state, and federal level to whom I could turn to when we needed help in our communities. Read more>>

Golden Collective of Golden Collective

We launched Golden Collective at the Quincy Makers Market in June of 2023 and started with five flagship designs for tees, prints, stickers, mugs, and other products. We’ve continued to expand our offerings and highlight hidden gems in the Gem City. We really love interacting with our community, meeting new people, and working together. We were inspired by a small business (Series Six) in Patrick’s hometown that highlights the unique things about St. Louis. When we initially began thinking about a joint venture, we knew we wanted to combine our unique talents and fill a void in our community. We decided to create a line of lifestyle products that inspire a sense of pride in Emily’s hometown of Quincy, Illinois. Read more>>

Bethany Perkins

I am a daughter of musicians and music educators. I went to school for classical vocal performance and studied piano my whole life as well. I intended to become an opera star, but suffered a health setback from a benign brain tumor that put me out of commission for larger performances throughout my twenties. Instead, I performed on a smaller scale and taught piano and voice lessons, as well as directed choirs and musical theater. I really developed a love for teaching and bringing out the best in my students. Read more>>

Benn Wiebe

I have always been a sensitive human. In tune to what others are feeling. I like being a gentle person. That’s when I’m at my best is when I feel that, and embrace that. Doesn’t always make me good at being empathetic though. I have failed at that many times. But it does shape my worldview and the core of who I am. I started as a soft spoken person, who felt largely inept and inadequate to identify anything I would be or was particularly good at. And in a culture like the US, we are taught to identify ourselves as much by what we do for a job than who we are as people. So I searched far and wide to figure out what I might be good at. And it didn’t hit me until well into adulthood that what we can be good at doesn’t have to equate to a job. Not so linearly anyway. I wanted to tell stories, share stories, make stories. We all have a tale to tell, but without context, the rest of us won’t get the full story. And without a good story, we’re never going to persuade anyone on much of anything. Feeling so inept however, made me focus more on where I could amplify other people’s stories, rather than my own. But I didn’t know how to accomplish that. So I realized I would have to become a more nomadic human in order to embrace the power of stories. So I did. Read more>>

Dawn Lafontaine of Cat in the Box

I’m not your typical entrepreneur. I’m a middle-aged, former stay-at-home mom who hadn’t held a traditional job in 23 years when I took this leap. I like to think my unusual background has actually helped me in my journey. I have experience problem-solving in a non-digital age. I have a perspective that helps me persevere in a way my younger self might not have done. I started this business when my husband was laid off from job he’d held for 15 years. In a corporation with more 25,000 employees, he’d received the CEO Award, the highest possible honor for performance, just 9 months earlier.  To help our family make ends meet, I applied for several positions that I knew I was overqualified for. I didn’t get any of them. His experience in the traditional working world, and mine, made me realize that I needed to take control over my own working future if I was to have one. Read more>>

Aphrosoul Lukumipeople

I am APHROSOUL LUKUMIPEOPLE, most know me as LUKUMIPEOPLE. I am a DJ, Producer, Community Radio Broadcaster, Sacred Space Curator. I began my journey in 1998, actually long before that in the mid 1980’s doing pause tape re edits. Then fast forward to 1998, I got started in community radio while living in Houston, TX. Then that led to a chance meeting with the legendary DJ Rocky B who was instrumental in my learning the ways of the club DJ. I learned to mix and blend records in a dance club where she was the Resident DJ. Before long I had various DJ Residencies of my own and opening for various artists from the sister duo Les Nubians, soul singer Donnie, international artist Wunmi, soul artist Rahsaan Paterson, soul songstress Amel Larrieux, and a long list of international DJ/Producers. Read more>>

Wendy Hee

My journey began in the IT sector, where I was fortunate to have had a successful career after my graduation from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. However, a series of unforeseen events, including the closure of the company I worked for, prompted me to reevaluate my path. I realized that while I had spent years creating in the virtual world, I longed to create something tangible with my own hands. Inspired by the eco-movement and driven by my fascination for vintage textiles and leather-working, I decided to pursue my passion for bag making. Today, my business, Made in Manoa, specializes in creating unique bags from vintage, reclaimed, and scrap materials. Read more>>

Moses Ndubuzo

My Artist Journey. I’ll break it down. Early Beginnings: I didn’t start creating art as a child, but my passion was ignited when I stumbled upon a beautiful art on the wall at an Access Bank in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The colors and beauty of the paintings captivated me, and I knew in that moment that I wanted to become an artist. Although I had started drawing in secondary school, this experience solidified my resolve to pursue art seriously. Formative Experiences: The ‘Life in My City Art Festival’ in Enugu, Nigeria, was a turning point in my artistic journey. In 2018, I sold a painting at the highest price I had ever achieved at that time, which boosted my confidence and reinforced my beliefs. Read more>>

Brittany Ciboski

I crash landed on earth in the autumn of 1992, disgruntled, hungry, and coming out the wrong way. I, of course, chose to be the eldest daughter of two oldest children which means that I committed to a life of being perpetually stressed out on others’ behalf. Fortunately, my parents enrolled me in school where I harnessed my eldest daughter superpowers of determination, bossiness/leadership capabilities (ahem), and extreme detail orientation to earn straight A’s, barring my unfortunate B in gym. I got involved in Girl Scouts (which I looked forward to every week) and took piano lessons from a mean Ukrainian lady named Tatiana (I did not look forward to them). I voraciously inhaled a book or more a week- usually Harry Potter or historical fiction- made mud potions with sticks and leaves in my backyard apothecary, served as the lead architect of numerous Barbie house buildouts, and religiously recorded my observations about the world in my teddy bear journal. Read more>>

Chloe Samaha of BOND App

During my freshman year, I was obsessed with optimizing learning—finding ways to absorb the most information in the shortest amount of time. This drive led me to secure an internship at a women-led private equity firm. It was incredible: I learned a ton and was truly challenged. But most importantly, it unlocked a new fascination for me: understanding what processes a company can implement to unlock every individual’s full potential. And that’s what got me to start BOND. Read more>>

Gregory Garibay

My creative journey started when I was about 12 years old. Besides using my dad’s old Sony VHS to film skate videos with my friends, [got in trouble for that when he saw the footage of us wrecking a neighbors stairs] my dad bought our first MacBook pro as the house computer. I just started opening all the apps to see what they do and then I opened imovie. I barely knew what editing software was at the time yet alone a MacBook seemed like only something you see on TV or movies. Then Santa [my mom] gifted me a Flip HD camera for Christmas and I started recording dumb action comedies with my friends in middle school that I edited together. That eventually lead to the idea to create a video for a class project then before I knew it, I was in high school known as the video guy; continuing my video project ritual [easy A] while also shooting and editing things for the school. Read more>>

Molly/margarett Kennedy/ Gabrielson

From Molly – Margarett and I both used to instruct at another studio, but we felt something was missing. We made the decision to leave and create our own welcoming, community-focused space. We started out as an online platform during COVID; literally teaching classes from an iPad in my living room. With really loyal followers from our previous studio who followed us online and got their friends involved – we slowly started to grow. And then, as we were coming out of the pandemic, a member of our community told us about a space that was available to rent. 5 weeks later, we opened Fuel Cycling in Monterey, California, on 12 August 2021. At the time we had 20 bikes in our studio – what we affectionately call The Tank – think warehouse-meets-speakeasy vibe where we have everything you need, without the frills you don’t. When our garage door rolls up, we are open for good vibes, good music, and even better people. Read more>>

Leslie April Petasek of Living Gaia Connection

My journey started when I went to massage school in 2010. What started off as a sidestep from the four year university path has turned into a 14 plus year career that I have completely fallen in love with. I never knew I would have such a passion and a talent for the world of massage. I am still grateful to this day that I got into the health and wellness industry at such a young age. It has changed my life over and over again. I am lucky that I followed my heart into the path of healing. I have been trained in many massage modalities over the years to add to my career. Some techniques include NMT (neuromuscular therapy), deep tissue, cupping, reiki, Lomi lomi, reflexology, cranial sacral, hot stones, cold stones, scrubs, wraps and so much more. Read more>>

Tena Fernandez

As the youngest of six children, I often found myself in the shadows of my older siblings, inheriting their outgrown belongings and constantly being compared to them. My voice was frequently dismissed, and in time, I chose silence as a means of self-preservation, speaking only when absolutely necessary. My silence, however, was not just a response to being overshadowed—it was a shield against the pain I endured from the age of 7 to 13. Molested by those entrusted with my care, I developed a deep mistrust of authority figures, save for my parents. This mistrust was my way of protecting myself from further harm. The abuse only ended when I reached a point where I contemplated ending either my life or that of my abusers. That day marked a turning point in my life, driving me toward a career in social work—a field where I could advocate for and protect those who, like me, had been voiceless. Read more>>

Roger Phillips

First may I say thank you for another opportunity to share my story again with your readers. I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, a gospel artist, a music producer, a singer/songwriter, a voiceover artist, a former radio air personality and a two time cancer survivor. I am known as GWP (God’s Warrior Prazin’) Read more>>

Audrey Hutnick of Smallwave Consulting

After spending a transformative year working and traveling through Australia, I joined the marketing department of a non-profit dedicated to promoting cultural exchange programs. When COVID-19 brought travel to a halt, I utilized my marketing skills to enter the small business world and co-found Smallwave Marketing. Our agency focused on serving mission-driven small businesses. We then organically found ourselves working with women business owners, often in their 20s to 40s. During this time, we recognized a significant gap: there were no resources or support to help small business owners navigate maternity leave. In response, Smallwave Marketing evolved into Smallwave Consulting, where we now specialize in parental leave consulting for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Read more>>

Adrianna Macgregor

I have always loved travel and organizing itineraries. My mom traveled for work when I was little and I loved having her itinerary to follow along with so I would always know where she was in the world. As I got older, I traveled with her and the itineraries came to life. She traveled with a TON of luggage so I learned to pack from her…and as I continued to travel on my own I realized that bringing so much with me made travel on trains a pain in the neck (and I also didn’t leave room for souvenirs!) I downsized and started using packing cubes and my travel became even easier. But I was organizing well before packing cubes! Read more>>

Anita Trent of Be Moved Power Yoga

I loved yoga as a child. One of my favorite things to do after a sports workout in high school was to go home and stretch or I would take the lead on stretching on the field. In college I would drop into a yoga class at our Parks & Rec department. They are still teaching and practicing yoga in the same space today and our community is so fortunate. After my fourth child turned 4 and was in all day Montessori, I went to a new yoga studio in town and after class I remember thinking I have to have yoga in my life. Went to a few studios at that time until a Baptiste style studio opened literally down the street in 2012 and that was it! It was a style I loved and it was a message I resonated with and when she closed (its really challenging to own a yoga studio) after 4 years I knew I had to open a studio and I needed to do it quickly to try an capture the excitement this studio had for this particular practice. I opened, along with my c0-founder and former business partner, Susie Schul. I have since bought Suise out and I and the soul owner of BMPY and am currently in the middle of moving locations. Read more>>

Katrina Owens of Knockout Directive

I never dreamed of being an entrepreneur or business owner, but throughout my corporate career, I often found myself wanting more – I just wasn’t sure what that “more” was. I was working for a corporate employer when a series of events led me to realize that if I wanted to have the life and career I’ve always dreamed of, I was going to have to trust myself and take a leap I had never imagined. Once I started my business, I thought I would operate as a ‘standard’ freelance consultant or grow an agency. That was until I realized that it wasn’t too late for me to build my own personal brand and start having a really FUN business by using public relations. Now, I empower personal brands with the real-life public relations tactics that they too, can use to build their dream business. Oh, and that “something more” I was looking for? It was endless opportunity and a relentless belief in myself to achieve everything I’ve ever wanted. Read more>>

Crystal Buckley

I got married at the age of 21, thinking I could start life with the person that said he loved me, unfortunately that resulted in abuse and I had to walk away. But later, after moving pass and accepting what had happened, I wrote a book, encouraging young woman that there is hope after any situation, they can still come out victorious. I even recognized that this was now my God given purpose, to help, motivate and encourage broken/ abused women. I have been on serveral platforms, telling my story, encouraging women, that because this thing did not Kill you, take the second chance that you were given and make someting of it. I find pleasure in knowing that God allowed me to go through this part of my Life, came out, and now he is getting the glory for it. Read more>>

Magdalena Hess

I’ve always loved creative designs that tell a story and ones we can connect with. My career began in the jewelry industry; I am a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America, an award-winning jewelry designer, a philanthropist, and the author of my book “The Beauty in All” I spent most of my career as a creative partner at Jose Hess Design, working alongside my late husband, Jose Hess, a multi-award-winning designer. My journey has taken me around the world, allowing me to gain extensive knowledge about the jewelry industry. As I move forward with my brands, I’ve also decided to continue the Awards program that was first presented by the American Jewelry Design Council in 2023, by carrying on Jose Hess’s legacy through a non-profit organization I’ve established called the Jose Hess Design Awards. Read more>>

Shannon Anderson

I grew up in a small town in Indiana.My favorite role is being a mom. My oldest daughter is a first-grade teacher. My youngest is a zoology major in college. After college, I became an elementary teacher and currently teach at the college level. While I was teaching, I began learning about how to write books for kids. I have now written over 20 books and travel the country, presenting at author visits, conferences, and events. Read more>>

Nikki Contini

Growing up, I was always drawn to crafts and art, but I truly discovered my passion with glass fusing. After taking a workshop in 1994, I’ve been hooked ever since. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of opening the kiln and seeing how a piece has transformed after firing. I love how glass comes alive with light and bursts with vibrant color. Fusing glass brings me immense joy, and that enjoyment is naturally reflected in my work. Being a creator has been a healing balm throughout my life. I believe that all acts of creative expression hold the power to heal and reconnect us with ourselves and our communities. Whether we dive deeply into creative endeavors to address personal healing or simply play with imagination and flow, it’s essential to honor our human need for creative expression and keep that channel open. Read more>>

Chauncey Graham Graham

Originating from the Circle City of Indiana, I was born and raised primarily on the eastside of Indianapolis. I have been producing music under the stage name “4200Kory” since February of 2021 & I really got started in music when I realized I could leverage my gift for writing into something much bigger than myself. After graduating high school in 2020 I was pretty inspired to take a “leap of faith” with the music and go all in. Coming from pretty rough environments and being the oldest of 7 are two things I attribute my success to heavily. The process has always been rooted in being grounded, intentional and creating a community enveloped in love despite any hardships I’ve been through. Read more>>

Jessica Morissette

My entrepreneurial journey began at the start of the pandemic. After nearly seven years working in hospitality as a Front Office Manager and Sales Coordinator, I was laid off due to the unforeseen challenges of COVID-19. In that moment, I knew I had to adapt quickly. A pivotal conversation with my oldest sister, who had recently become a Virtual Assistant, planted the idea of running my own business. Initially, I doubted my ability to pursue this path, but curiosity got the better of me. I began researching and eventually enrolled in a Virtual Assistant (VA) course. By the end of 2020, I founded JM Virtual Solutions, LLC, now known as Smart Social Society™. Read more>>