We love asking the folks that inspire and excite us about what inspires and excites them. Check out their responses below.

Jennifer Miranda

I love the question, “What inspires you?”—it’s one I receive often. Having worked in the event industry my entire career, I’ll admit there are moments when staying inspired can be a challenge. But what keeps me going is the fact that no two events are ever the same. Each one presents a fresh set of logistics to solve, a new client vision to bring to life, and a unique guest experience to shape. Read More>>

Abbie Oh Arroyo

I’m inspired by the power of film to shape perception — and by the urgent need to challenge who gets to tell which stories, and why. My ultimate goal is to use film as a medium of advocacy to amplify marginalized perspectives and support underrepresented creators, fostering equity. This passion is rooted in my identity as both Korean and Mexican, and in my belief that media representation shapes politics. The ways individuals and communities are portrayed on screen influence public perception, which in turn informs social attitudes, implicit biases, and ultimately the policies and legislation that govern their lives. Read More>>

Megan Dean

Without hesitation: the families. Every family I meet has a unique story. To be invited into such a vulnerable season of life is incredibly humbling. Watching parents gain confidence, seeing babies thrive, and being able to offer the guidance and reassurance they need, that’s my inspiration every single day. Read More>>

Where’s West?

We’re inspired by the raw energy of live music and the spirit of ‘60s and ‘70s rock, soul, and funk artists who made people move and feel something real. We’re inspired to create our own sound and community by blending that vintage feel with our love for modern dance music. Our love for California, the beach, and surfing shapes our sound and lifestyle. To us, it’s about capturing positivity, love, and connection. We feel united with people through our music. Read More>>

Charles Grace

I am inspired by resilient people in any walk of life. It’s a real life super power. It’s something that I admire and aspire to develop, because life is hard, and there are a lot of things competing for our time, energy, and resources. Multiple friends and mentors over the years have modeled this for me. My guitar instructor in college used to say that the most important part about making a mistake is how we recover. I have not perfected anything by a long stretch, but I am still working at it. Read More>>

Nubia Eman

My biggest inspiration with my drag is black women, black&queer culture, with a dash of theatre arts. I’ve always been surrounded by strong beautiful black women like my mother and 3 sisters so I model myself off of their energies. Read More>>

Laurel Valdez

I’m inspired by just about everything around me. I’m constantly on a visual quest—drawn to textures, bold and unexpected color palettes, striking shapes, the way light moves through space, and all the subtle moments in between. Music is another major source of inspiration for me. I tend to gravitate toward composers and synth-heavy sounds—those beats and strings have a way of igniting something electric in my imagination. Read More>>