We asked some of the city’s rising stars about why they think they have been so successful and we’ve shared their responses below.

Marie Fiorin | Author, Manifesting Expert, Jewelry Designer

One of the most impactful habits that has been contributing and impacted my personal growth and career development is hands down journaling. I can get in my head pretty easily and it’s all spiraling down from there – regularly putting pen to paper is a practice that allows me to re-focus and re-center. Journaling is such a powerful tool for self-awareness, and for manifesting too. It has kept me grounded and focused on what truly matters, I highly recommend! Read more>>

Qing Lan | Story Artist & BG Painter

Reflecting on my path so far, I wouldn’t exactly frame it within the traditional narrative of ‘success.’ Instead, I see myself very much in a phase of continuous learning and growth. It’s been a journey of embracing and valuing my unique traits, even those often viewed negatively. This mindset has been crucial to me, both in my studies and career. One key realization? The importance of respecting my own attributes, like being emotionally sensitive and prone to daydreaming. Initially, I viewed these as obstacles. But over time, I’ve learned to see these ‘flaws’ as my greatest strengths. For instance, my sensitivity has allowed me to connect with characters on a deeper level, bringing a richness to my work as a storyboard artist that’s been recognized both by colleagues and audiences. Read more>>

Patrick Huey | Global Wellness Leader, Writer & Restless Wanderer

I created a podcast called “At the Podium with Patrick Huey” in the middle of the Pandemic. I shot the first episodes right after January 6, 2021. The world at that time felt dark and bleak. As a nation we were so divided, and the certainties that I had taken for granted for most of my life, suddenly felt very uncertain. I envisioned using “At the Podium” to bring human-to-human compassion back into our conversation. I wanted to design a space where I could highlight the stories of people in my life who were doing the extraordinary work of transformation not just of themselves, but of their neighborhoods, their families, their careers, their souls. We have tackled subjects such as drug and alcohol addiction, how to still live when your soulmate dies in your arms, and how to forgive your father who is sitting in a prison cell because he killed your mother. How to take control of your creative destiny as an artist. How as a gay, black man to navigate the tangled journeys of surrogacy to reach fatherhood. How to give voice to the voiceless and give life to the dreams of the forgotten children in our midst. I knew that if we could hear these stories, we could reconnect to the common bonds of humanity that knit us together. Every person who has since come on the show, has inspired me in some way (even if I didn’t always agree with their positions), because they have made me think differently about who I am in the world, and many have challenged the assumptions I have held as bedrock. Their stories invited me to engage in the active work of empathy and listening without judgment. Mostly, I have been inspired by each guest’s generosity to sit with me week after week and plumb the depths of their own life’s struggles, their leaps of faith and their victories to shine a light for us all to follow. Read more>>