We asked some of the city’s rising stars to reflect on what made a difference in their journey. We asked them to tell us about what they think the most important factor has been behind their success.

Jenni White | CEO, Founder Polaris Marketing & Consulting

The most important factor behind the success of my brand, my business, my professional identity, and my company culture has been maintaining integrity with client expectations and always stretching as far as necessary to achieve results for my clients. Read more>>

Aspen Henry | Music Producer & DJ

For me I attribute most of my success to the support of friends and family around me. When I first started making music, I was really only making simple songs and showing them to my brother and some close friends. Read more>>

Negar Mohammadi | Founder, 14th Night

14th Night is a clean haircare brand launched from an authentic desire for clean, haircare products that make hair look its absolute best, naturally; As in without reliance on salon treatments. Read more>>

Paul Wong | Former full time physician/part time singer/actor, now retired physician and full time singer/actor, also avid tennis player and world traveler

There’s a slogan I try to follow: “Say yes”. In a creative career, opportunities are frequently non-linear in nature and unexpected. It’s important to stay open to those opportunities and not dismiss them out of hand because they don’t adhere to a preconceived notion about a career path. Read more>>

Pter | Tattoo Artist & Creative

I believe that the most important factor in achieving your own success is to be true to yourself. Both in your style, your way of working, your personality. It’s easy to get carried away by fashions and perhaps modify yourself. But you will only achieve success if you keep your energy in your projects and people vibrate with them. Only your real target will be able to see it. Read more>>

Sofia Gillani | Avant-garde pop and soul singer/songwriter/producer

The most important factor behind my success is being bold, loud and honest. I’m not afraid to express my thoughts and emotions through my music, it’s my creative outlet! Also my heritage is a mixture of east and west so my identity as an artist is unique, and I’m ridiculously experimental and proud of that. Read more>>

Sophie Taylor | Founder & Lead Creative

The success of my business is entirely a gift from God. I surrendered myself and my business to Him long ago, and I only ever go where He leads me. It’s easy to say that now, but it wasn’t always the case. I’m a very driven, determined, goal-oriented person and admit that I used to think more highly of myself than I should have. Read more>>

Pamela Shafer Moser | Artistic Director of Village Arts

I believe the most important factor behind our success is our ability to make families and children feel safe and heard. We work very hard, not only to create quality arts programs for children; but, to create a safe haven for all who participate in our programs – in our community. Read more>>

Byron Chang | Film Editor

For the past years, I had the incredible opportunities to meet and network with many successful filmmakers, people who have sound mixed on Oscar-winning film, people who have colored Marvel movies, and people who have edited big Hollywood blockbuster movies. Read more>>

Sofia Gillani | Avant-garde pop and soul singer/songwriter/producer

The most important factor behind my success is being bold, loud and honest. I’m not afraid to express my thoughts and emotions through my music, it’s my creative outlet! Also my heritage is a mixture of east and west so my identity as an artist is unique, and I’m ridiculously experimental and proud of that. Read more>>

Sophie Taylor | Founder & Lead Creative

The success of my business is entirely a gift from God. I surrendered myself and my business to Him long ago, and I only ever go where He leads me. It’s easy to say that now, but it wasn’t always the case. I’m a very driven, determined, goal-oriented person and admit that I used to think more highly of myself than I should have.  Read more>>

Pamela Shafer Moser | Artistic Director of Village Arts

I believe the most important factor behind our success is our ability to make families and children feel safe and heard. We work very hard, not only to create quality arts programs for children; but, to create a safe haven for all who participate in our programs – in our community. Read more>>

Byron Chang | Film Editor

For the past years, I had the incredible opportunities to meet and network with many successful filmmakers, people who have sound mixed on Oscar-winning film, people who have colored Marvel movies, and people who have edited big Hollywood blockbuster movies.  Read more>>

Keyi Liu | Multimedia Artist & illustrator

For the art industry, perseverance in creation, learning to communicate with others, and keeping an open mind to other people’s comments are the three most important qualities that have influenced me the most and are also the most important factors behind an artist’s success, in my opinion. Read more>>

Troy Richardson | Songwriter, lead singer and bassist of TruckerBomb

It’s probably important to define what success means to everyone in every industry, but it’s particularly important in the music biz. Chasing money, fame, attention and all that will make a person crazy. Also defining where you’re at in your career compared to another artist is going to be an endless road of sadness. Read more>>

Amber Tiara | Actress, Writer, EP

One thing that makes me truly happy is writing. I love putting pen to paper everyday and watching this blank white page fill with my ideas for a story, affirmations, reflections, ideas for my future. Writing allows me to pay homage to the English and Spanish languages.  Read more>>

Kiki Yeung | Comedian, Producer & Actress

Being with my son and family makes me happy. Making people laugh makes me happy. Steamed baths, egg tarts, steamed tilapia, foot reflexology massage, Sephora, facials, movies, music, clubbing, swimming, dancing in the bathroom all make me happy.  Read more>>

Jay Cohen | Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

Life is meant to be lived on our terms. I once had a mentor ask me, “Are you LIVING or merely SURVIVING?” His entire question, has shaped me as an entrepreneur. I sold my first company in 2015, and considered retirement at that time. Read more>>

Alexa Lepisto | Photographer & UX Designer

I’m the happiest when taking photos, spending time with loved ones, being active outside and traveling. As I’ve gotten older and my life has continued to shift and change, I’ve truly learned to value the simple joys such as being in the presence of friends over dinner or watching the sunset by the beach. Read more>>