We asked some of the brightest folks in the community to open up to us about the most important lesson their business or career has taught them. We’ve highlighted some of those responses below.

Cheyenne Pettiford | Accessory Maker & HR Professional

Starting a small business has taught me to trust my vision and instincts, and to remember to keep things fun! It’s easy to become discouraged while sharing your work on social media – constantly trying new things to ensure you are visible to your audience and navigating the ever-changing landscape. Read more>>

Emily Patel | Founder + President Hopeful Mama Foundation

The Hopeful Mama Foundation has been an incredible journey of hope and empathy, and one of the most important lessons I have learned is the multifaceted nature of empathy. Through my experiences with Hopeful Mama, I’ve come to understand that empathy isn’t just about understanding someone else’s pain or situation—it’s about truly connecting with them on an emotional level and offering support in whatever form they need. Read more>>  

Sean Cooper | Sports Performance Coach & Personal Trainer

A very important lesson I have learned throughout my career is the value of context. While there are some clear things we can label as “good” or “bad” in any aspect of life, much of our world takes place in a gray area where we must use take into account multiple factors in order to come to a conclusion. Read more>>

Xizhou Xie | Abstract Artist

In my experience navigating the art business in the past 6 years, I’ve come to realize that the illusion of overnight success perpetuated by digital platforms and social media gurus can be misleading and discouraging. Read more>>

Michelle Drennan | Character Designer

I would say it has taught me how crucial perseverance and having faith in your abilities is to achieving success in animation. There hasn’t been anyone I’ve talked to that hasn’t told me about a lull in their career, even the people you would expect to be working non-stop or award-winning creators in this field. Read more>>