We asked some brilliant folks from the community to tell us about the most important lesson their business or career has taught them. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Nicole Shan | A new filmmaker

I was born and raised in northern China, but grew up in the south. It has been difficult for me to identify with just one place. People in the north think of me as someone from the south, while in the south, they see me as someone from the north. This background has allowed me to quickly adapt to life in the United States, an immigrant country. Because I have no strong sense of belonging, I feel I can belong anywhere. Read more>>

Kodinedreams | Photographer & Producer /artist

I am from South LA and Long beach California! i Grew up in both city’s and they are my home. In LA, it brought me to a sense of where culture is. Where everyone in LA we know that we aren’t perfect people but we know our loyalty, our heart. We know our support system. And its community. That’s where i get my love and nurturing from. Seeing others on the streets helping others, seeing family friends help and support each other through good times and bad times. Through yin and yang. Read more>>

Casllie(joan) Scott (arccc) | Fashion Model, Army Soldier, Actress & Artist

I’m from Gary, Indiana. I was brought up in fear like most single mother households. My father was murdered when I was a baby and never got to experience that of a full household. I was brought up to have a cautious view of the world. And I wouldn’t change anything about my child hood because it has made me assertive at times and humble. Read more>>

Soraya Bowen | Luxury Realtor

I was born in London and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, when I was 10, which has given me a unique blend of cultural perspectives and professional experiences. My mother had a career in interior design and architecture, and her influence was profound in shaping my approach to work and creativity. Read more>>

Ana Nouel | Founder of Atabey Coffee Roasters

I am proudly Dominican, and my roots are deeply connected with everything I do, especially with Atabey Coffee Roasters. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, I was surrounded by the vibrant culture, rich traditions, and the warmth of my people. Read more>>

Ally-Rose Pennisi

I am from Gold Coast, Australia. Where we live is always hot which impacts my style heavily. People from my town tend to adopt the ideology of less is more due to the climate. I come from an Italian family, so I naturally carried the Italian heritage aesthetic into my sense of style today. Growing up I was obsessed with my mums jewellery and designer hand bags, always trying her things on. By the time I was 3 I was already dressing myself and picking my own outfits. Read more>>

 Yianni AP

I grew up in a big fat greek family, and as a result I’m passionate about good music, laughing with friends, and of course delicious food. I grew up in the Bay Area, which was a great place to live. It’s a very diverse and culturally rich place. It also has a very deep music history, connecting back to Mac Dre all the way to Green Day. I started playing guitar at a pretty young age and quickly started playing in pop/rock bands with my friends. We performed all over the bay area and even went on tours. Having been in a band for many years really informed and allowed me to succeed as a mixer. I think that’s because I been in the clients shoes and I know how important the music is to them, and so I do my best to honor and respect that. Read more>>

Annie O’Donnell

I was born and raised in North County, San Diego in a family of five children: 4 brothers and me, I am the only girl. Being in a male dominated household, life has pretty much revolved around sports as long as I can remember, specifically hockey. I spent more time in rinks watching my brothers play hockey than I did at the beach, and I loved every minute of it. Read more>>

 Jaiden Urbina

I was born on Long Island but split my upbringing between the East and West coasts, thanks to my parents hailing from New York and California. This back-and-forth exposed me to a mix of music, movies, slang, and art, shaping my eclectic tastes. Being surrounded by all this culture and soaking in every detail sparked my passion for photography and videography. I dove headfirst into the vibrant scenes of Los Angeles capturing it’s essence through my lens. Read more>>

Marseilles Monet

Growing up in Philadelphia, PA, I was immersed in an environment where everyone was hustling and grinding to achieve their dreams. This atmosphere instilled in me a profound sense of grit and determination, teaching me to relentlessly pursue my aspirations regardless of the challenges I faced. Read more>>

J. Elijah Cho

I’m a Korean-American writer/actor who was born in Florida, but my family didn’t stay in Florida long because my parents were in the U.S. Air Force. We moved to North Dakota where my brother was born, then we moved to Yongsan Army Base in South Korea, then to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, then BACK to South Korea where I graduated from high school. I then went to the University of South Florida where I studied Theatre and I continued doing theatre in the area until I booked my first television role that filmed in Atlanta. Now, I’m in Los Angeles! I’m grateful to have had such an embarrassment of riches in terms of life experiences (thank you, Mom & Dad!), but I feel the most impactful time in all of that was the stretch where I was working as an Asian-American theatre actor in Florida. Those years were uniquely trying and oddly rewarding and I’ve tried to capture some of those complicated feelings and the lessons I learned while in Florida for my next play, The Jackie Chan Fan Club. Read more>>

Yerang Moon

I was born and raised in Korea. Growing up in an environment that focuses on community, I’ve always asked whether it is possible to keep our identity in a society where we have to share many personal parts of life. I’ve always wanted to break away from the ideal images of human character and behavior that our society expects from its individual. At the same time, I still held a strong desire to belong to my culture. Read more>>