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.

Zach Day | Singer/Songwriter

I was born in the backwoods of southeastern Kentucky, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. I grew up on a little farm with a few cows, some chickens, random pets here and there. We could go collect spring water in the woods and live off of that if we needed to… my grandparents fashioned a homemade filtration system to collect the water, it’s amazing. Growing up as a queer person in the “bible belt” was a challenge, however it also made me view everything through a certain lens that others may not have seen it through. I look back on my childhood and realize I was simply an observer. Read more>>

Rhonda Hamilton | Jewelry Metalsmith & Maker, Real Estate Agent, @Living It Up Los Angeles

I am from Brooklyn New York. I grew up in a family where my mom had seven sisters who were all seamstresses. My mom would make her clothing creations for me, and fit me as I slept at night. I wore a uniform to school so I didn’t get to wear regular clothes on a daily basis. However we had something called tag day to raise money for the school every few months where you could purchase a tag for twenty five cents which must be pinned to your clothes, and you could wear whatever you wanted to school that day. The nuns would look forward to seeing what I was going to wear because they all knew my mom made all of my clothes. Read more>>

Jonno Hip Hop Artist | Rapper

I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My sound has been undeniably influenced by those that came before me. Atmosphere, Prof, Brother Ali. Minnesota Hip Hop has always had an eccentricity and uniqueness to it, and I wanted to make sure I went about my craft the same way. The sound isn’t flashy, and Minnesota never has been. It’s real, and the music often carries a certain life wisdom to it. I very much relate to that. Any time I start the creative process, I want to give the listener something they can gravitate to. Something revitalizing. Read more>>

Lina Kraftsoff | Director, DP & Photographer

I was born and raised in Düsseldorf, Germany, but my parents are both immigrants from Ukraine (dad) and Russia (mom), so I never really felt particularly German growing up. The way I was raised and the people I had around me impacted me very heavily, especially because I was always very involved in what was going on around me. Whether that was cooking for my family or helping my friends with whatever they had going on. I was raised to be attentive, hard working and kind. Read more>>

Gabe VanBenschoten | Audio Engineer and Record Producer

I’m from the San Fernando Valley. My father was a professional jazz bass player as well as a Chinese medicine practitioner. He always pushed me to submerse myself in my interests and to try and understand the nuances of my art. As well as coming from a musical family I spent my early years playing in the local hardcore/punk scene. These different influences have helped me stay focused on the quality and integrity of my work while nurturing my personal and professional relationships. Read more>>

Margarita Payne | Balloon Stylist/ Event Coordinator

I was born in Mexico and came here at a very young age. I grew up in Orange County with 8 other siblings. My dad was a single father and raised me my whole life so my upbringing was very different than most. I had so much fun as a kid my dad definitely always made sure we had everything we needed he has so much to do with the person I am today, seeing him work so hard to give us the world gave me the confidence and drive to follow my dreams. I knew if he can do it I could too. Read more>>

Sabrinna Bautista | Animation Artist & Illustrator

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, but my mother and her family hail from rural El Salvador. Though I’ve been abandoned and estranged from my German-American father and grew up an only child to a single mother, I grew up close to my extended family on my mother’s side. I could mention plenty of memories with them, but I would make this interview way too long. Just know, my family understood the motto, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Read more>>

Robertino Altieri | Chief Operating Officer at WatchGuys

My family upbringing has always been something I’ve considered unique when looking at my fellow peers and friends growing up. From a very early age, I saw my Dad run several businesses and manage many employees. If I wasn’t at baseball practice, or hanging out with my younger brother and Mom, I would often take a ride with my Dad to his stores, watch him manage his employees and listen to him speak to customers and people on the phone. Even if I didn’t know what exactly was going on (mainly in my younger years), I know it was these times that deeply engrained my character and natural entrepreneurial spirit. Read more>>

Vula Alfaro | Makeup Artist/ Creative/ Iconic/ Moonchild

So I am originally from Jupiter, (yes outer space near Callisto) :P. But I grew up in Sunny Orange County, California. This is the place where I endured most of my life’s triumphs, traumas, joys and sorrows. My background is Hispanic, like 100% Mexican and I grew up very Mexican. Growing up brown and queer/trans has really showed me what I am made of and I just know there is nothing that I can not conquer. All of it has led me here and it is still proving to take me higher. Read more>>

Rebelle | Vocalist, artist, sogwriter & studio singer

My journey began in a small village Pribislavec in Medimurje, Croatia, where I first discovered my love for music. It all started when I started singing and performing for my parents in our living room. Recognizing my potential, my kindergarten teacher encouraged my participation in children’s festivals, setting the stage for numerous festival wins and competitions that ignited my passion. As I progressed through elementary school, I decided to deepen my musical education by enrolling in the Art School Miroslav Magdalenic. Read more>>

Shan Ogdemli | Fine Artist and Product Designer

I have a somewhat international and unconventional background which I believe contributed to the broad, wholistic worldview I hold today. I was born into a creative family in Berkeley, California at the height of the Beatnik era. My mother, the daughter of Sicilian immigrants, was an artist, actress and musician with a gorgeous singing voice, and my father is an architect and engineer of Siberian Tatar heritage, born in Turkey, who used to play bongos in a local band in Berkeley. Early on my mother became ill and we moved to Bangkok, Thailand for 7 years where she eventually passed away from her illnesses. Read more>>

Griffin Intrieri | Producer, Instrumentalist and Engineer

I am from Burlingame California, a little suburb south of San Francisco. I grew up in a family of 6, myself being the eldest of 4 siblings. I have an incredible relationship with each one of siblings, two younger sisters and a younger brother, and a wonderful relationship with both of my parents. I went to elementary, middle, and High School in Burlingame. Sports consumed a great portion of my life during this time, as I took baseball and football quite seriously, in hopes to play one or the other in college. Read more>>