A big part of making decisions is determining what our actions and choices have been inspired by. So we asked decision makers from the community to tell us about what they are inspired by.

JOLO

The sense of nostalgia that isn’t actually familiar. Things that make you feel awkward because you’re unsure why you feel anything from it. Most of my art comes from an abstract place as a starting point, but eventually I add something to it that yearn for your connection. Read More>>

Dr. Pilar Nova

You know, I’ve always been inspired by the idea that there’s so much untapped potential inside every person. I see it like this: we’re all like seeds—with the right environment, a little encouragement, and genuine care, we can grow into something truly remarkable. Read More>>

Harsimran ‘Simba’ Ghotra

I’m inspired by the pursuit of authenticity, the resilience of underdogs, and the power of storytelling to challenge perceptions. I’m drawn to characters and real-life figures who defy expectations, push through rejection, and carve their own paths despite the odds. Read More>>

David Avallone

First and foremost, I have been inspired by my parents. They’re both gone now, but they were heroes, they walked their own path and made lives on their own terms. Michael Avallone was an author who wrote about 200 published novels. Read More>>

Sam Aotaki

I find us as people so fascinating. I think all of us have a story, so it may sound cliche, but people in general inspire me. I love to hear people’s stories of their struggles, successes, inner thoughts, wants, dislikes, aversions, desires. Read More>>

Uhoman April Moltok

African creatives who have gone ahead of me. One of which is my mom who is a writer. She made sure I grew up around a lot of books and art. These are the things that fueled my love for storytelling and film. Read More>>

Lily McGraw

Throughout the challenging process of getting into the film industry, I would say my Aunt Jill is one of my biggest inspirations. She’s been in the industry for over twenty years, having worked on projects such as Seal Team, Pretty Little Liars, and the Kevin Costner film, Horizon. Aunt Jill has always been the “cool movie Aunt”, ever since I was a kid. Read More>>