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.

Ally Kroeckel

I grew up in the suburbs of the Bay Area. My mom is a photographer, she used to shoot for the NFL and MLB, so I always had access to cameras growing up. My dad was a software engineer so he introduced me to the world of editing. In middle school my friends and I would make videos and post them Youtube. Some would be music videos of ourselves lip syncing to Ke$ha songs in my backyard, others would be complications of scenes from Twilight with a Taylor Swift (team Edward forever). I loved editing and creating but back then never saw it as something that could be a career. Read More>>

Aaron Tepperman

I was born in Mexico City and moved to San Diego when I was a year old. From the very beggining of my life, music has been an integral part of my family and my upbringing having classical music, jazz, world music and music from the 60s, 70s and 80s playing in the house all the time was a critical step in my journey, especially that my grandmother’s family comes from Spain with Flamenco being very present as well. Read More>>

Amor ‘Amorcito” Roldan

I was born and raised in Long Beach, CA—more specifically, on the Northside. I grew up in a neighborhood where everyone looked out for each other and stepped in to help when needed. I was always surrounded by a mix of vibrant cultures and learned so much just from being part of my community.

The Northside is a low-income area but my family always found a way to make things work. Growing up in that environment really shaped how I see the world and how I handle life’s challenges. Read More>>

Xitlali Lo Basso Flores

Hi I am Xitlali and I am from Bakersfield, CA. My family has been a huge influence on me—always encouraging me to pursue my passion and stay true to myself. That support helped build my confidence and taught me the value of perseverance, which has been essential in an industry that’s both exciting and challenging. I carry those lessons with me every day, whether I’m acting, creating, or connecting with others. My background reminds me that where I come from is a strength, and it’s something I’m proud to reflect in everything I do.  Read More>>