Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.
Brittney (Pnk) Hawkins
I was loud, emotional, endlessly curious, and always creating something. Music, art, chaos, you name it. I felt everything big. I asked too many questions, made too many jokes at the wrong time, and always had my hands in something creative. Read more>>
Jessica Fagin
I can be found literally dancing at work, just ask any of my team members or customers. I’ve been blessed to never need a job I hated just to have an income, and Gymboree Play & Music is truly my happy place. Read more>>
Lolecia Day
When I made the decision to open Day Drink Lounge, I didn’t tell anyone for a long time. When I was working on it, my friends and coworkers said I was glowing and to keep doing whatever I was doing. I was teaching full time and, for 6 months, I worked two jobs, holidays and weekends to make my dream come to life. Read more>>
Marguerite Knowles
I think I could, but perhaps that’s optimistic! Even if nobody purchased my greeting cards, I think I’d still want to do everything in my power to create products that I was passionate about. Read more>>
Ileana Solis
Yes, I could and I have. There have been many times I gave my all late nights, early mornings, pouring my energy into clients, classes, and content with no praise, no recognition, no applause. But I kept going. Why? Because I’m not doing this for claps I’m doing it for impact. I believe in excellence even when no one is watching. Read more>>
Mina Greas
Yeah, I could, because I’ve never really done it for the praise. I do it because I care. I take a lot of pride in my work and in how it makes people feel, especially my clients. It’s never been about the public knowing it’s my project. Read more>>
AL D
Yes, I remember—and it was Casey Kelley of the Casey Kelley Agency. She didn’t just hear my words; she listened to the heart behind them. When I said I wanted to give a voice to Black Urban Fiction and Romance, she didn’t question it or try to reshape the vision—she believed in it, and in me. Read more>>
Evin DeShawn
Yes absolutely, I’m currently in a place in life where I’m grateful that I took my time to really walk the journey. I feel much of my earlier parts of life I was always running trying to make my own path. But it wasn’t until I was sat down and shown how this process is supposed to work with letting faith guide you. Read more>>
Stevan Hass
There will always be moments or opportunites where jumping right in seems like the move, but I always try to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation just a little longer, if possible. Read more>>
Lauren Durie
I climbed the corporate ladder faster than I even thought possible — all the way up to becoming Director of Communications for a city. I wanted a seat at the table and I got it. Then I watched as that job quietly consumed me. At first, it felt powerful. Thrilling. But the thing I thought would fulfill me just… didn’t. Read more>>
Jay Reiter
Well, this is a difficult topic to discuss as it’s very personal and somewhat tragic. I was dating a lady named Pam. I let her move into my home in an attempt to both help her out, and cut a few bills down on my end. Things went rocky quickly as she started bringing drugs into my home and started acting erratically towards me. Read more>>
Kristi McDonald
Steven Bartlett, from The Diary of a CEO podcast, taught me one of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned: imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place—it means you’re in exactly the right place. I now understand that feeling a bit of fear is a good thing; it keeps me motivated. Read more>>
Claire Crowe
If I had just ten years left, I’d let go of almost everything—except time with the people I love, quiet walks in nature, deepening my spiritual life, and creating, purely for the joy of it. No deadlines, no pressure—just making things that feel meaningful, beautiful, and alive. Read more>>
Steven Foster
For me, the answer is simple. An amazing wife, Wendy—who was, is, and will always be better and smarter than me. She has been my partner in every sense of the word: grounding me when I drift, lifting me when I stumble, and teaching me daily what love truly means. Two beautiful children, Aubrey and Conor, who fill my life with pride and purpose. Read more>>
Delia Jo Bracken Richmond
I sort of already have. Both of my parents are gone. I sold my house and my car this year — not because I had to, but because I wanted to choose freedom over fear. I’ve let go of a lot that once defined me: titles, roles, even belongings I thought I’d never part with. And what’s left? Faith. My voice. Read more>>
Patricia McCoy
You are doing your best, growing every day, and creating a life and business that reflects your strength, skill, and heart. It’s okay to evolve, and it’s okay to honor yourself along the way. Read more>>
Asa Smith
I think my customers would miss my availability and my ability to “understand the assignment.” I have those customers that are always operating in crunch time and they know that I will get them taken care of. I have customers that trust me to bring their visions to life from just a drawing on a piece of paper. Read more>>
Christian Ross-Francis
If you asked my clients what they’ll miss most about working with me, I believe the answer would be simple: my authenticity, my relentless work ethic, and my ability to get things done—no excuses, no delays. Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships by showing up as my true self. I don’t believe in putting on a persona or offering empty promises. Read more>>
Karolina Aguilar
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would really miss the way I make them feel during the whole process. They would probably miss how I treat every setup with love and detail, like it was for someone in my own family. I think they’d also miss my honesty, my energy, and maybe even my charisma. Read more>>
Greg Shepard
I don’t really have a “normal” day. And especially not right now as I’m in the middle of launching my fifth (and final!) house cleaning service. With startups, every day feels like a rapid-fire mix of different, often unrelated but always interesting tasks, all aimed at taking a fledgling idea and pushing it into success. Read more>>
Anthony Dempsey
I typically wake up, check my email and mentally line out my day as I eagerly wait for my 4 year old daughter to wake up. We’ll either start our day by practicing a little Japanese, or I’ll just play toys with her until breakfast, before I get started on work stuff. Read more>>
Melannie Owade”
One foundational truth for me is that everything is connected..energy, intention, and purpose. I move through life believing that what you pour into the world comes back to you and things are always working in divine harmony, even if it doesn’t look like it or even if I don’t like it…I just have to trust that things will fall into place with intention. Read more>>
Karalyne Grammer
A lot of people underestimate the amount of work that goes into curating vintage for sale, thinking that vintage resellers just go to the thrift store, easily find cheap items, and merely mark up the prices before selling them. Many people have the attitude of “I could just find that myself at the thrift store” and scoff when the price isn’t near thrift store pricing. Read more>>
Valleen Vallere
Good morning, and thank you for having me! I really can’t place a time limit but this scripture sets the tone for my day “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV. Read more>>
Jaime Dee
What am I chasing? I’m chasing impact—the kind that echoes through speakers, fills dance floors, and lingers in the air long after the beat drops. I want people to hear a track and instantly say, “Oh, this that Jaime Dee,” because they know it means fun, freedom, and a moment worth living in. Read more>>
Favian Herrera Jr.
I am chasing a world where we address social injustice and not look through them. Utilizing my creative perspective to shed light on, create conversations and cultivate a community that is able to create changes that benefit the future of our community. Read more>>
Allen Bonilla
I’m chasing purpose through storytelling — not fame, not applause, but that sacred space where real emotion connects with a stranger and makes them feel something they didn’t know they needed. I chase those moments that remind people they’re not alone. Read more>>
Brenna Rusk
Since entering college, I’ve found myself chasing after my younger self’s youthful viewpoint on art. Looking back, I found myself being led into the arts by pure curiosity and an aspiration to create. Picking up a crayon or color pencil never felt like a chore; it felt like a portal into a whole new world. Read more>>
Dara Ashley
I am chasing impact and generational change, not just temporary wins or surface-level success, but deep, transformative outcomes that outlast me. My pursuit is rooted in the belief that access, equity, and opportunity can shift entire lineages. I’m driven by the possibility that one scholarship, mentorship connection, or leadership opportunity could alter a student’s life trajectory and, by extension, their family and community. Read more>>
Norah Shazad
What I’m doing today that probably won’t fully pay off for 7 to 10 years is taking care of me, my health, my body, and my mind. I go to the gym five times a week, stay active on rest days, and go to therapy to heal and regulate myself. Read more>>
Emily Dewberry
The battle I’m avoiding is burnout. I’m deeply passionate about what I do – everything from breathwork and meditation to Pilates and leading The Embody Edit. My business is a direct reflection of my personal growth, and because of that, I’m constantly in the flow of creation and expansion. But the truth is, I can’t just keep pushing all the time. Read more>>
Sona Pokharel
Bonds between people can break for so many reasons, miscommunication, misunderstandings, a lack of accountability, or only seeing things from your own perspective without considering how your actions impacted the other person. When someone isn’t truly sorry or doesn’t try to understand and validate the hurt they’ve caused, trust starts to fade, and distance grows. Read more>>
Yemi Ogunoye
What breaks bonds: Trust violations are often the most damaging – betrayals, lies, broken promises, or infidelity can shatter the foundation of relationships. When someone feels they can’t rely on another person’s word or integrity, the bond becomes fragile. Read more>>
Dru Davis
I believe that bonds are about choosing each other on purpose every day. Choosing to love, choosing to accept, and choosing to love unconditionally. What breaks them is lack of accountability, pride, unspoken expectations, and lack of communication. When we place our pride aside, we allow vulnerability to set in to welcome mending and restoration. Read more>>
Adriana Trejo
Life hasn’t been easy for me. I’ve had my share of pain, heartbreak, and disappointment. I’ve been deeply hurt by people I loved—and I’ve also been on the other side, where I was the one who caused hurt or broke a beautiful bond. Both experiences were painful, but they’ve shaped me in powerful ways. Read more>>
Jessica Hammock
I believe that what breaks bonds are unmet expectations. We all have expectations of love and belonging, fun, freedom and power. When our love and belonging need goes unmet in the way we expected and reality shows up differently, what happens next is intense emotions. Read more>>
Aisha R. H-Jones
I believe that every version of us already exists, even if we can’t see it yet. The healed version, the wealthy version, the confident version, it’s all within us, waiting for us to align with it. Read more>>
Trang Nguyen
When people first hear “handmade skincare,” they sometimes imagine something decorative — soaps wrapped in pretty paper, a hobby craft project, or a gift shop extra. But at CVA Products, handmade means something very different: it means carefully formulated, science-backed, natural skincare that puts family health and wellness first. Read more>>
Sudha Srinivasamoorthy
The most common misconception about my business is people think it is just baking cakes for fun and it is a pretty chilled out job that anyone can do. There is more to running a cake business than just baking, a lot happens behind the scenes which no one knows. Read more>>
Elizabeth Alegre
One of the biggest misunderstandings about TruForm Physical Therapy and Wellness is that physical therapy is only for people recovering from surgery or a major injury. In reality, I work with active adults who have nagging aches and pains that are keeping them from exercising, working, or enjoying their lifestyle—long before they ever get to the point of needing surgery. Read more>>
Beth Beck
At MillHouse, we’re in the business of micro-economic development. We exist to enhance the earning potential of creative micro business owners – specifically women – though everyone can participate in our programming and events. I often get perplexed looks from those who don’t get the concept. From the macro level viewpoint, they can’t conceive a world where this matters. Read more>>
Yvette Campbell
As a third- party planner, one of the most common misunderstandings is that I plan events – or that my services come at a cost to the client. In reality, I do not handle event planning or logistics. My role is specifically focused on sourcing and contracting hotels and sleeping rooms for corporate, meetings, Incentive Trips, Retreats, and association events. Read more>>
Chef Petrina & Roger Tate & Mitchell of Plano
Our business is the time and effort that Chef Petrina put into smoking the meat woodfired. She put together her own seasonings,sauces, and everything from scratch which is much needed for customers at all events. A slight couple of customers sometimes don’t figure all of the that into the price that we put down. Read more>>
Shay Gipson
One of the biggest misconceptions about Goodwill is that we’re just a thrift store. While our stores are the most visible part of our organization, they’re really just the engine that powers our larger mission: helping people in our community overcome barriers to employment. Read more>>
Nicholas Ditto
Founding Fort Worth STEAM Academy is absolutely a long-term investment. By the time we open in 2026, it will have been a three-year journey of planning and preparation. But the real impact? That’s measured over decades. I often imagine one of our first students walking across the stage at their high school graduation—confident, capable, and excited for what’s next. Read more>>
