We’ve been fortunate to connect with so many brilliant, thoughtful entrepreneurs and creatives and we regularly ask them about the most important lessons they’ve learned over the course of their careers. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Reena Kim | Illustrator & visual development artist

I learned how to develop patience and lay the foundation throughout my career. I’m originally a very impatient person, and it showed in the work. When people looked at my middle and high school paintings, they would assume that the brash and rough lines are just a style choice, but I had hoped to be more refined than that. I thought to myself, “What if I could slow down and observe?” Those older artworks looked as though I was creating under pressure, as if I was being chased by something. Which I was. I was being chased by the fear of needing to discover my dreams, and that fear grew as time passed. Though I liked painting, it wasn’t my dream, but it was something to do. Read more>>

Lauren Lassiter | Designer & Proprietor of Hexed

That growing my business would take a lot of really uncomfortable personal growth. I’m still doing the shadow work. Every time I get to a level where I feel like I’ve got the hang of it, I’m faced with new challenges that force me to look inward. It’s frustrating but absolutely worth it. Read more>>

Sarah Parsons | Creative Entrepreneur and Founder of Sarah Parsons Media

That we are far more capable and resilient than we will ever truly know. My journey to founding Sarah Parsons Media wasn’t a smooth or easy one, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Each step of the way, whether it be through facing my fears or self-imposed limitations, finding stability in my mental health journey, having to completely re-build everything from the ground up, or challenges I felt where beyond my skillset or abilities I’ve learned that humans are far more capable and resilient than we realize. Our ability to adapt, learn, and grow from the challenges we face is truly infinite. Read more>>

Valentina Latyna | Colombian-American Award-Winning Actor/VoiceOver

If you want to be in the business, you have to be in the business. Read more>>

Julia Stotz | Food and Still Life Photographer

After years of photographing without a large support system, I found that I have been most successful when I am specific with who I collaborate with. By choosing to surround myself with other talented people, including food stylist, prop stylists, and other crew members who have a similar vision as myself, we have a stronger chance of getting our collective visions across. It takes a lot of people on set to execute an idea, and it’s with the help of others that an idea gets fully thought through. Photography can feel like such a solo and isolating art form, but by bringing in a crew to each of my projects, we can bounce ideas off of each other and come at an idea with each of our expertise. Read more>>