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.

Amanda Loesser

The most important factor behind the success of my brand is authenticity. I’ve built my business by being confident in who I am, staying true to myself, and showing up with realness and transparency in everything I do. I let my clients see the person behind the process, and I invite them into a planning experience that is not only organized and intentional—but also fun, light-hearted, and creatively free-flowing. Read More>>

Joshua Salgado

The most important factor behind the success of my brand is to be clear and confident on my creative vision.

Based in Los Angeles and inspired by his Latin American roots, Salgado is a producer and DJ that creates and plays drum-heavy dance and electronic music. As a first-generation American born to a Mexican mother and Ecuadorian father, Salgado uses music to connect to his heritage and to create a community that includes a wide spectrum of cultures. His original music and re-mixes are inspired by the music and drumming traditions of the Caribbean, Central America and South America, to create sets that are joyful, social and high energy. Read More>>

Magda Fialek

I think the most important factor behind my success is always trying to give the best experience/service/product to my clients. My clients and customers put a lot of faith in me to create something for them, teach them a skill, bring them joy – I am very grateful for that. I do my best to establish a relationship with my clients to ensure that they always get what they came for and more. My clients are the reason I am in business and so giving them value is the absolute least I can do and at the end of the day it is my great pleasure to be able to serve them! Read More>>

Sasha Genenfeld

The most important factor behind MIRROR’s success is emotional precision — we understood not just what people want, but how they want to feel. We give everyone the experience of a professional shoot — without the pressure, the crew, or the price tag. Iit’s about making people feel like stars in a space that’s theirs. That emotional impact is what built our community — the Mirror Family — and what keeps it growing. Read More>>

Patrick Quezada

The most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand has been my commitment to constantly pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I believe that the moment you feel too comfortable is the moment you stop growing. Whether it’s learning a new skill, saying yes to opportunities that scare me a little, or evolving creatively, that drive to keep challenging myself has kept my work fresh, authentic, and aligned with where I want to go. Growth doesn’t happen in the safe zone—it happens when you take risks and keep evolving. Read More>>

Austin Reed

Up to this point, the most important factor in my success has been building and nurturing strong relationships. It’s about being able to read people, understand their intentions, and respond in ways that create genuine win-win outcomes. In business, we’re often taught that you need to be cutthroat to succeed. And while there are moments when tough decisions are necessary, I’ve found that leading with fairness, consideration, and integrity can open doors to opportunities that money simply can’t buy. Read More>>