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.
Tammy Lynn-King
I believe quite possibly I am doing what I was born to do. I always enjoyed cooking with my Grandma when I was little but then she passed, I grew up, went off to school and have gone through so many different jobs in so many different industries but somehow always gravitating back to something in food and hospitality. Read more>>
Samuel Mason
I believe I’m doing what I was born to do. I’ve always followed my dreams, and have pivoted many times. That’s led to my growth and who I’m proud to be today. This career has become a space I’m able to help others accomplish feats they hadn’t thought they could do before, and teach them how to go about their life with that same confidence. Read more>>
Jonté Mayon
Whew, well… Dear Young Jonté, There are many things I’d like to say. But I was asked to say one kind thing to you. So, little 5 year old Jonté, your dark skin is BEAUTIFUL. Wipe your tears, you grow up to be a FOX! Sincerely, Foxy Mama aka Grown Jonté P.S. To 14 year old Jonté, the boobs come in a year or so. Read more>>
Ash Taylor
Absolutely. Quitting isn’t something that comes naturally to me — it’s just not in my DNA — but I came very close in 2020 when the pandemic hit. My husband and I both lost our jobs, we lost our home, and everything we had worked so hard to build in music seemed to disappear overnight. It felt like our entire world had just crumbled. Read more>>
Don Cody
I feel like giving up all the time. I’m definitely my own worst enemy. I get in my head constantly and ask myself ‘why are we still doing this?’ or ‘is it time to wrap this up?’ But this journey is far bigger than a selfish decision to just stop because things get too hard. Read more>>
Kade Simar
I think the industry lies to itself by pretending that you need to fit a certain mold to ‘make it’ — that there’s one genre, one image, one algorithm that works. The truth is, the stuff that really connects people comes from honesty and imperfection. Audiences can tell when something’s fake. Read more>>
Tahnesia Richmond
The landscape of this level of football has changed so significantly over the past decade that it has forced me to be more flexible, grow, and to look at football from multiple angles and perspectives. It has made us tap into areas we never could have dreamed of before. Read more>>
Jennifer Briskin
I’m being called to fully integrate the two worlds that have shaped me — my thirty years in business, leadership, and consulting, and my lifelong passion for energy healing and intuitive work through Listening Tree Healing Studio. Read more>>
Britt Mediana
To be honest, I am extremely proud of the brand that The Darling Drip has become. What no one sees is that I am doing it all alone. I personally sew every apron, and hand blend every tea. But my work doesn’t stop there, I create every label design from start to finish. Read more>>
Johnny Pagano
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the decks and fences we build — it’s the systems and standards behind the scenes that ensure every job is done right. Most homeowners don’t see the planning, quality checks, and attention to detail that go into every project, but that’s what sets JP Builders apart. Read more>>
Jessee Lee
I think suffering is one of the most important parts of life. I often think of the artists who blow up on social media and never have to go through the road dog struggle – I used to be envious of that, but as I get older, I realize I wouldn’t be the artist I am without the hard times. Read more>>
Kalli Fedusenko
When things get tough, one thing rings out above it all: we need each other. Without failure, I don’t think I would have realized just how much of my success isn’t mine at all. Read more>>
Morgan Maassel
I think a lot of people may disagree with me on this, but as a Christian, I understand that God provides. Yes, I can put in all this effort myself, but ultimately, God knows what I need and He provides the work. He also knows when I need rest more than work and He will take work from me. Read more>>
Christie Perez
I think the biggest thing that’s held me back the most in my life has been fear. The fear of failing and what other people will think of me. It’s been a HUGE obstacle to overcome, but it’s something that’s become easier and easier with age. Read more>>
Yesenia Sevilla
A belief that I am committed to for life is that all human life matters, and that through education, we can all share this value. Read more>>
Corben Champoux
My high motivation for success comes from my mother, who was paralyzed early on in life from an impaired driver and relies on a wheelchair for mobility. She has taught me to never give up under any circumstances. My family is my support system and the people I rely on most. They have instilled in me the importance of hard work, dedication, and kindness. Read more>>
Jackee Shu
It wasn’t one big ‘aha!’ moment — it was a trail of tiny sparks, each one nudging me toward a new way of seeing the world. I learned to move through life with curiosity instead of rushing to conclusions. It mainly started with the health challenges, diagnoses I just couldn’t accept. Read more>>
Heather Van Laanen
Integrity is by far the most important thing a person can harness. Without integrity, you have no trust. Without trust, you have nothing. Read more>>
Jawanza Wetzel
When I spend time in Silence. When I am creating and using my imagination to design for my brand or write poetry. And anytime I get to spend quality time with my family and friends. Read more>>
Thom Chapman
I feel most at peace in that brief moment right after I finish creating something — when the idea finally takes shape and exists outside of me. It’s a fleeting calm, like standing in the eye of a storm. That feeling never lasts long, though. Read more>>
Robin Seay
My mentor, Bobby Smith, saw potential in me long before I fully saw it in myself. He never just handed me the answers to my questions, instead, he guided me to discover them on my own because he had the confidence that I could figure it out. Read more>>
Troy Holden
My father was one of the smartest people I ever knew. He passed in 2016 and I lost my best friend. He worked hard his whole life for us to have everything he could not have. His dad passed when he was 2. Read more>>
Sherry Dial
Before the world told me how I was supposed to be, I was a talkative, curious little kid. I remember getting remarks on my report cards for talking too much, and I’d cry so loudly that my mom would try to shush me so I wouldn’t wake my baby sister. Read more>>
Caleigh Giarra
Funny, this question feels so closely tied to what it feels like to be a salon owner. I don’t say this from a place of resentment at all — I truly have an amazing team, and I know they appreciate me — but owning a salon is often a role that goes largely unseen. Read more>>
Mac Huffington
yes! I never expected any of the praise or awards I have received. I help and do because I want to and like it. I always want to do my best and feel bad if someone thinks I haven’t Read more>>
Kate Ming
How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts? In photography, there are always new trends — editing styles, poses, colors, you name it. I’ve learned to step back and ask myself if something actually feels true to the story I’m trying to tell or if it’s just what’s popular right now. Read more>>
Lauren Cunningham
This is such a good and powerful question, especially considering we just lost someone in our community this week who was only 43 years old. It was a terribly sad reminder that you never know how much time you have. If I had 10 years left, I would stop worrying about the outcome and try to enjoy each day. Read more>>
Tina Parol
My faith and my family. Read more>>
Morgan Mizell
I hope my customers would miss the joy and laughter that fill each lesson. We all have so much fun and become family! Curtsy Ballroom quickly turns something intimidating and daunting into a lighthearted and fun experience. I think they’d miss that sense of ease. My clients sometimes come in extremely nervous and leave with laughter and stories that they’ll remember forever. Read more>>
Katie Talbot
Vocal coaching is really more than just funny sounds. It’s emotional, mental, spiritual and physiological.. so in that case, many sessions can become like a therapy session. Working through a song is like working through an emotion and mental block for the singer. Many vocal breakthroughs take place but also many mental and emotional ones do to! And I think that would be missed. Read more>>
Kazmyn Zercher
I honestly think that the only thing breaking bonds between people is this lack of honesty and intention that has become painfully normalized. The world is scary, and being yourself Is often conveyed as being and saying what you THINK people will respond well to, rather than what you want to be. I wish more people were honest. Read more>>
Shanderia Montgomery
What I think is misunderstood about my business is that I know about investing, tax strategies and planning. There are several faucets to accounting and people tend to automatically connect finance to it. To be clear, accounting focuses on recording and analyzing past and present financial date. Finance focuses on planning and strategizing for the future, managing assets and liabilities. Read more>>
Ender Bowen
This is something that’s very important to me. My whole platform – everything I do – revolves around this idea of Compassion. I always say it’s impossible to have absolutely nothing in common with another human being. Read more>>
Lucy Claire
What I fear people misunderstand about me the most is my relationship to love and romance. The subject is at the center of most of my art. I know how this world talks about women who do that. Take Taylor Swift for example. Her dating history became a punchline. Read more>>
Daylan Langford
They will most likely believe I had a Company to make money. I have this business to live out my dreams of building and making things that are useful and used every single day for decade upon decade. Read more>>
Alex Bovee
During the week it’s mostly answering emails and doing computer work such as budgets, vendor recommendations and keeping up with client checklists. There are meetings sprinkled in, depending on where we are at in each weddings planning process. Read more>>
Alexa Goldie
We just finished a long run of shows and my first tour, so my days look a little bit different right now than they have for the past few months. I am usually rehearsing, writing, recording or prepping for weekend shows, however, now that we have a but of a break, i’ve been lucky to be home with family in Canada and relaxing. Read more>>
Kaylea Crabbe
My relationship with my Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ of Nazareth has shaped my identity more than anything or anyone else. I do not care for the opinions of others or the world. I stand on truth and over God alone. Read more>>
Brooklyn McHugh
The relationship that’s had the greatest influence on how I see myself is the bond I share with my Gigi—my grandma. Growing up, I always found spending time with her far more appealing than sitting in front of the TV with my siblings and cousins. I loved helping her around the house: planting flowers, tidying up, and most of all, creating dinners for everyone together. Read more>>
Spencer Ratliff
Community-mindedness is probably the best way to sum up what really drives me. For the past nine years, my wife and I have shared a weekly dinner group with our neighbors and closest friends. We cook for each other, share meals and yard tools, take trips together, and now we’re raising our kids side by side. Read more>>
Cale Maloney
God loves you. A person’s a person, no matter how small (in and outside of the womb). Grief can be a good thing. Anything can be fixed with a little Taylor Swift jam session and Dr. Pepper. Read more>>
Hailey Verhaalen
I won’t regret giving my musical dreams a true chance by moving to Nashville. It has led to some of the most exciting adventures I could’ve ever dreamed of! Looking back on my 9 years in Nashville, I’ve gotten to check so many things off my bucket list I wouldn’t have if I never moved. Read more>>
Jasmin Whitson
One of the most surprising — and rewarding — things I’ve learned about my customers is just how deeply they care about the success of my business. They don’t just enjoy my donuts and lemonade — they rave about them, proudly sharing them with friends and family and helping spread the word. Read more>>
Susanna Poeysti
The heart of our business is the clients and vendors we have the opportunity to work with. Something that I have learned (and maybe been a little bit surprised by) is the kindness and relationships we have built with our clients. Read more>>
Laura Saadati Kepper
My customers surprise me every day, I get to sit with people of all different perspectives and view points and speak to them candidly for sometimes quite a long period of time. Read more>>
Taylor Hughes
The biggest thing that comes to mind is deciding to have a kid. I’ve been in the music industry for 12ish years now and a pretty common thing women are told is that having kids will end your career… kind of wild right? Read more>>
Daniel Knudsen
A friend of mine named Dallas was a fellow filmmaker from the midwest. He and I made similar movies and even shared crew members from time to time. I had observed Dallas to be a faithful person for many years. Even though he was a hard worker and a dedicated filmmaker, success hadn’t come easy for him. Read more>>
Paola Proctor
I’m a HUGE fan of Ronda Rousey. Forget about the fact that she is the reason women are now in the UFC and was the first American to win a medal in Judo in the Olympics. In addition to all of her accomplishments, what I really admire is her unapologetic personality. She showed people that you can be an absolute bada** and still be beautiful. Read more>>
