Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

Leslie Rodriguez | Food Photographer

I grew up in Pasadena, CA. and am the daughter of immigrant parents, nothing new as most people in CA have immigrant parents now. However, having one foot in Latin culture and one foot in the American culture was always a dance that had to be balanced out. Speaking Spanish at home to not loose our culture and having pb and j for lunch like the rest of the kids at school. Read more>>

Mason Davis | Photographer/Videographer

I am from Los Angeles, California. I grew up in the Gardena, Hawthorne Area. My family is very important to me, they’re very important to me. My company is named after my grandfather; Ricardo Allen Wright. He passed away in 2019 but he was so LA to his core. He knew LA like the back of his hand, he worked for the City of Los Angeles for over 30 years. Los Angeles is home. Read more>>

Gloria Zhixin Yang | Visual Artist

I come from China, I started to learn art when I was a child, and since then I have always stuck to it. At that time, I was very fond of reading illustrated books, especially the adult picture books written by Jimmy Liao. He made me think that picture books can also be very philosophical, so I always think the people who draw picture books are very talented. Read more>>

Anders Carlson-Wee | Poet

I’m from Moorhead, Minnesota, which is basically an appendage of Fargo, North Dakota, and my parents are both Lutheran pastors. My childhood was dominated by attending both their congregations. I have two brothers, and as pastors’ kids, we felt we had a choice to be either good kids or bad kids, and without ever explicitly saying it, we chose to be bad kids. Read more>>

PapaJohn Pomar | Artist & songwriter

I’m from Laredo a border town in Texas. My upbringing impacted me a lot with how I am today. I have cowboys who work hard everyday very respectful on both sides of my family. I’ve been taught to be respectful chivalrous and treat everyone how I want to be treated. All the lessons I was taught I still believe in and uphold myself to those standards set forth by my parents. Being from a border town I was heavily influenced by my culture. Family has always been a big part of it. As a chicano I have always been taught to work hard and believe in myself. Read more>>

Morgan Scott | Strategic Human Resource Partner and CEO of Polished Interactions

I am originally from Atlanta, GA but I moved to Baton Rouge at age 10. I’ve lived here since, I even moved back to Atlanta for some time but found my way to what I call home, Baton Rouge again. I was raised by entrepreneurs both my mom, stepdad, and father were business owners. My father is an attorney and my mom owned childcare centers for most of my life. I like to say I was blessed with two dads. Read more>>

Julie Greene | Gallery Director

I’m from the suburbs of Detroit. As with everyone, my background has had a huge impact on my career and who I am as a person. I think the principle that was ingrained in me that has helped me the most along my path has been integrity. Most people think integrity is doing things like honoring your word, showing up when you say you’re going to, and things of that nature. Read more>>

Leonardo Cecchi | Actor

My dad grew up swimming and he managed to go to the Barcelona Olympics of 1992. This is just to give you an idea of the kind of “work towards your goals” mentality that he passed on to me. He never pressured me into a specific career, but always told me that “no matter what you decide to do, give it your all without making comparisons”. This is the same approach I have with acting and my career. Secondly, growing up in Italy allowed me to have a wider cultural view than if I had grown up solely in Minnesota, so I am very thankful for that. Read more>>

Nikki Rich | Award Winning Television & Radio Personality

Nicole Richardson known as “ Nikki Rich” is originally from a small town of Seneca, South Carolina and currently living in LosAngeles. She is a Television & Radio Personality Of The Nikki Rich Show, Media Influencer, Oprah Winfrey Network Ambassador, media & press. #1 Amazon Best Selling published Author and speaker. Nicole’s accomplishments and hard work has led her where she is today, broadcasting since the age of 9! Read more>>

Michelle Chua | Registered Yoga Teacher & Wellness Retreats Facilitator

I was born in Manila, Philippines, and my family immigrated to California when I was five. During my first few years in school, I struggled to fit in as a very petite Asian girl, often stereotyped and bullied because of my size, non-American accent and perceived physical weakness and foreignness. This experience impacts my deep value for inclusivity in cultivating a Yoga community through my business, Root 2 Rise Yoga, that appreciates diversity and empowers people of all body types and backgrounds to feel lovingly connected with their bodies and inner power. Read more>>

Brady Adam | Barber

I was born and raised in a small town of around 1,000 people called Webster, New Hampshire. Growing up in a very blue collar, small town really taught me what true hard work was like and the importance of the quality of work that you put out. Everything always needs to be done to the best of your ability no matter the situation and that mindset has really stuck with me and helped me progress in my career since moving to Los Angeles in late 2021 Read more>>