Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Len Shirase | Multi-Disciplinary Designer and Developer

I am from Venice, California and both of my parent’s came from Japan (separately) at a young age. I think my upbringing is forever a part of me for better or for worse. I think about that scene in Curb Your Enthusiasm where Cheryl tells Larry about how he shouldn’t expect people to know all of these arbitrary rules that are in his head. I feel like that a lot and I think about why I am the way I am. Read more>>

Adrienne Cassie Colna & Christine Block | Co-Founders Cass & Block

(Adrienne) I’m from a small town in Virginia. My upbringing was simple, inspiring an excitement for the unlimited possibilities of the design world. I was always very innovative and began sketching up ideas at a very young age, including a version of what we now call FaceTime, leaving me wishing I’d taken my inventive mind more seriously! At age 9, my dream of designing costumes for pop stars started growing, and by 12, I’d mastered the sewing machine with an awe for being able to create something from start to finish with close to nothing. Read more>>

Wuliang Zhang | Film and Television Producer

Hello, my name is Wuliang Zhang, a Los Angeles/Beijing based on film and television producer, a Producing Alumni in American Film Institute Conservatory. “Master Wuliang” is what my college mates call me. One reason is that my name, Wuliang, is one of a Chinese Buddha master. Another is that I am known for being a perfectionist in my schoolwork and film production. I instantly felt an aura of honor being called that way and started acting like a master: serious, theoretic, and prudent. Read more>>

Renan Santiago | Film Director / Videographer

I’m from Brazil, born in the city of São Paulo. Throughout my life I have always been very interested in art. My family has always encouraged me to try different types of art since I was a child. Music, theater and cinema have always been part of my life. When I was 12 years old I started studying theater, and soon after that I had a band with friends at school. As soon as I graduated from high school I went to study to get a degree in cinema and theater, it was a great 4 years in my life, where I had the opportunity to meet a lot of intelligent people and start working with it. Read more>>

Tashiyanna Noel | Business Consultant, Best-Selling Author & Founder of Mindwell Body + Soul

I was born in the inner city neighborhoods of Milwaukee, WI, and relocated to Highlands Ranch, an affluent suburb of Denver, during middle school. It was literally a 180 overnight because we went from one of the most dangerous cities in America, to, according to Forbes, Business Week and Money Magazine, one of the best places to live. It showed me what it really meant to have the cards stacked against you. And if my mother would have never relocated us I don’t think I would be the independent, self-reliant, ambitious woman I am today. Read more>>

Angela Niblett | DJ & Creative

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, my background and upbringing was heavily influenced by family and my environment. My mom immigrated from Mexico as a child with my grandparents and her siblings, family and preserving culture was something that was emphasized. My grandfather was a Mariachi who played multiple instruments, so I grew up listening to live music at family gatherings my entire childhood, well into adulthood. We laughed, danced and sang and I carry the joy of those moments into every DJ set that I perform. Read more>>

Isadora Martins Alves da Nobrega | Filmaker Director Writer

I am from São Paulo, Brazil, a vibrant and sprawling city in Latin America. My formative years were spent in an international, English-speaking school, where I had the privilege of interacting with individuals from diverse cultures and nationalities. This early exposure instilled in me a global perspective, revealing the richness and complexity of the world beyond my homeland. It also underscored the importance of engaging and collaborating with people from different backgrounds, shaping my understanding of the necessity of becoming a global citizen. Read more>>

Tianyun Jiang | Ggraphic Designer&Illustrator

Hailing from China, my graphic designer and illustrator journey has been shaped by a fusion of diverse cultural influences. With many different design skill sets from 2 dimensional to 3 dimensional, I am now firmly rooted in the vibrant creative landscape of New York City; I carry with me the essence of my upbringing. My design philosophy is cultivated in a deep-seated fascination with the intricacies of everyday human experiences in this modern era. Read more>>

Egor Vasilyev | commercial & editorial photographer

I was born in Moscow to a Ukrainian mother and a Russian father. I spent 35 years in Russia, where I graduated from school and university, married my beautiful wife Natalie, and we had two wonderful children and a lot of happiness. My childhood was in the ’90s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country was undergoing a tremendous transformation that altered all spheres of our lives. Meanwhile, my father was a military man and was on the committee to approve space rocket launches. Read more>>

RAUL AYALA | Nightlife Entrepreneur, Booking Agent & DJ Manager

I am born and raised in Los Angeles CA. My background and upbringing was decent, I had both my parents, grew up in the MTV era during the 80s. I grew up with rock, hip hop and punk music. Growing up I saw and experienced the LA Nightlife scene from a young age. I would go to parties with my cousins and be amazed at the event productions. My family has always been into hosting events, that’s why I guess Im into organizing events as an adult for various industries and communities. Read more>>

Katusha Jin | Director, Producer, and Writer

I work as a director, producer, and writer for creative and commercial projects. This is a far cry from what I had assumed I would be doing 20 years ago. During my secondary education, I was convinced I was going to end up in the hard sciences. I took part in my school’s advanced maths program while juggling piano competitions and badminton practices on the weekend, and painting in my school’s art studio whenever I could. I rarely had free time and was constantly focused on performing well. I was that kid. Read more>>

Preston Dillingham | CEO of Dream Academy LA

Being born in south LA and raised in Lancaster CA , I grew up as a skinny kid with a speech impediment. Being bullied all my life because of it really took a toll on my mental health. Playing sports and dancing for my church were the outlets that helped me gain confidence. Attending UCLA really helped me find my passion and purpose in life. At UCLA, I was serving in various positions for the UCLA Women’s Basketball team such as Scout Player, Basketball Camp Coach, Video Coordinator Intern, etc. Additionally, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, I completed a year-long internship with the L.A. Sparks’ Youth Basketball Operations department. Read more>>

Evita Chu | CEO of PDR Knitting/Entrepreneur/Educator

I was born in Indonesia, into a very strict, disciplinarian family. Like most Asians, my family included, they emphasized family values, fear of God, high education, discipline, obedience, zero complaining, hard work, and perseverance. I remember, my childhood after school was full of tutoring classes, music classes, language classes, and sports. I don’t even know how I could do all those as a little child, but I did without complaining. Mind you, in Indonesia (back then), school is Monday – Saturday! Read more>>

Jorge Duarte | Music Producer, DJ & Record Label Owner

I’m originally from Barranquilla, Colombia and grew up in a hard working family of entrepreneurs. My family always emphasized the importance of travel and living different experiences in order to “expand my horizons” which has definitely influenced my decision making and my career. After graduating high school I went to Northeastern University in Boston where I explored the world of banking and technology that ultimately lead me to Reykjavik, Iceland where I worked for a few years before moving to LA. Read more>>

Kaan Berkant | Producer

I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey. Despite the domestic television market’s great success, Turkey is a country that does not shy away from importing content from all over the world. Growing up with this multi cultural understanding of media, I always wanted to take part in globalizing content and enhancing the voices of non mainstream creators. I am way too early in my career to say if that’s something I can ever achieve but I can confidently say that I aim to deliver on that promise in the upcoming decades. Read more>>

Teresa Padilla | Real Estate Virtual Assistant

I was born in Tijuana, Baja California Mexico, and I was brought to the United States at just 9 months of age. My father had the privilege to have found a Tile company that offered a Status Sponsorship, and my mother was a stay at home wife. I have two older siblings and two younger siblings, putting me as the middle child. Looking back at my childhood I can say financially I had a decent upbringing, considering both my parents were immigrants, but both my parents being immigrants also took a roll on how I grew up emotionally. Read more>>

Mara Marini | Actress and writer

Growing up in the heart of Winnipeg, amidst its friendly and vibrant community, I was fortunate to have parents who not only embraced humor but also wholeheartedly believed in my dreams. Their unwavering support and encouragement provided the solid foundation upon which I built my aspirations. From the days of storytelling around the kitchen table to family gatherings filled with laughter, my upbringing instilled in me a deep appreciation for the power of narrative and the joy of making people smile. Read more>>

Diana Dorempz | Actress & Producer

I am originally from Venezuela, a beautiful country known for the warmth of its people but also marked by socio-economic and political challenges. Growing up in this environment has had a profound impact on my identity and the path I’ve chosen. Venezuela’s vibrant culture infused my early experiences with a love for music and performance. These artistic exposures instilled in me a deep passion for self-expression and creativity. Read more>>

Xianlong Deng | Architectural Designer & Artist

I am originally from Hainan, which is an island in southern China. Growing up as an islander gives me a unique cultural background and perception of the world. On one hand, being a native of Hainan has deeply rooted me in the significance of local traditions, particularly in the realms of family, ritual, and housing. In Hainan, where community values run strong, many people hold dear the traditional belief that, regardless of their urban pursuits, they should channel their resources into constructing homes in their ancestral villages. Read more>>

Vipul Amar | Creative Entrepreneur

Vipul Amar (Creative Entrepreneur) I come from a lineage of aristocratic landowners from Haryana, India. Born in Delhi to a business-political family, where my grandfather was the Deputy Mayor of Delhi and my father ran the family business of natural agricultural and forest products, the gamut of people walking in and out my house was huge as was my exposure to them. It was a curious mix of a legacy of aristocracy with the upper middle class. Having started working with my father at just 14, by 17, I had already started my own business of exporting a specialty gum (natural emulsifier) produced only in India. Read more>>

Weixiang Huang | Film Editor

This is Weixiang, but you can call me ‘Carter.’ I was born into an open-minded family with parents who encouraged my exploration of new and exciting things. I’ve always had a deep passion for discovering and delving deeper into various interests. Throughout my childhood and for over a decade, hobbies like calligraphy, playing the drum set, and basketball have been my constant companions. During high school, I aspired to become a professional basketball player. Countless hours on the court honed my skills, but I soon realized that my talents might not be enough to fulfill my dream. Read more>>

Xiaofan Jiang | Multi-media Designer, Narrative Spinner, & Founder of UAAD

I was born in Shanghai, China. When I was little, without even knowing the word “designer” or “artist” and the differentiation between them, I liked to draw sketches of all sorts of imaginary objects and fictional narratives. But the environment I grew up in, favors designers over artists- it heroizes designers that provide their communities with solutions and joy and disdain the artists who post provocative questions and criticism. Read more>>

Oscar Jesus Bugarin | Artist

I was born at the Kaiser on Sunset Blvd. so I’m an Los Angelino, born from California Natives and Mexican immigrants. Both sides of my family are musically and artistically inclined. My father, the Bugarin side (Boo-gah-deen), has self taught musicians and my mothers side, Sanchez, is rich with creatives and musicians. I had my first guitar around 6 or 7 years old, and started playing in church around 11. All my life I’ve been focused on music and trying to be like my heroes in the music scene, but I didn’t know where I’d fit in as a Mexican kid who loved the blues. Read more>>