“If you stand for nothing, you fall for everything”

We asked the community to tell us about the values and principles that guide their lives and businesses.

Robert Silver | Lifestyle Fashion Photographer & Filmmaker

The older I get integrity matters to me more than most values. When ever I meet someone new that I plan to do business with my goal is to treat them as a direct reflection on how I expect to be treated. Being able to keep my word, the promises I make, means something. Read more>>

Leah Ramillano | CAD Associate at Mattel and Freelance Scenic Designer

Integrity, authenticity, and empathy matters a lot to me. It’s applicable in both personal and professional parts of life, reaching into how I approach creativity and collaboration. In regards to design, I had a mentor in grad school tell me that as a designer/storyteller/theatremaker, I have the sacred responsibility of telling someone else’s story. This really stuck to me and continues to do so because every task, every gig, every story deserves the due diligence of doing the hard work, research, and practice of empathy in order to tell a story in the most honest way I possibly can. Read more>>

Ashling (Yaxin) Tu | Illustrator, Designer & Sculptor

The value or principle that matters most to me is communication and creating a comforting space through my art. Growing up as a kid full of imagination, I never separated the art aspect from everyday life, and I don’t define myself as different from others who don’t consider themselves artists. I tend to utilize my art skills to communicate and link the viewers together. I feel lucky to be a visual artist since it is the most direct and universal way to express thoughts and feelings. If I have to name one unique thing, I often think of myself as a bridge that collects pieces within everyone’s life and connects them back to the viewers. Read more>>