It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day, but it’s important to stop and ask: what’s the end goal? Knowing where you are trying to go is step one in getting there and so we’ve asked some folks we admire to tell us their end goal and where they want to be by the end of their careers.

Anja Nissen | Singer – Songwriter

When it comes time to reflect back on my career and life’s work, I would love to be a household name. It’s not about fame as a measure of success but having my music reach many people. My goals for the future and my dream is to be performing and singing internationally. To have released many albums and to also write for other artists. I think my calling is to bring dynamic and powerful music back to the forefront using my vocal and artistic style which has been influenced by artists like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey to name a few. Read more>>

Jourdan Blue | Professional Singer & Creative

Overall, my goal in life is to positively impact this generation and future generations to come through my music and social media platform. This is something I try to do every single day through uplifting messages on my socials, through the songs I write, through face to face interactions with the people I meet, etc. However, a long-term goal of mine is to be an EGOT (the achievement of having won all four of the major American entertainment awards (i.e. an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony) Read more>>

AJ | Color Footwear Designer & Journalist

The ultimate end goal is to work for a brand like a Nike, Adidas, Puma, or Under Armour making new color schemes for basketball sneakers and working with some of the best athletes and designers in the world on making a basketball shoe. I’d like to work for a brand for a couple years making colorways/color scheme and make connections. I eventually want to open up my own store where it’s all hands on from getting to make your own shirt and customize your own sneaker as well as selling sneakers for retail and not resell. I would also like to release a sneaker under my brand my very own signature sneaker for people to buy. Read more>>

Lauren Caster | Filmaker & actor

I’m a born and raised Southern Californian, and I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to my incredible single mom. She’s been my rock from day one. My story is a bit unique because I was conceived through an anonymous sperm donor, so it was just my mom and me from the very beginning. Growing up in a conservative community and not knowing half of my genetic background was an eye-opening experience. Being raised by a lesbian mother in that environment had a profound impact on me. I couldn’t understand why people judged us. The bigotry and prejudice I encountered as an innocent little girl were astonishing. It’s these experiences that have shaped a lot of the stories I tell through my work. Read more>>

Jayna Elizabeth | Entrepreneur & Dancer

I am from Palmdale California (The High Desert). I was raised in a performing and visual arts family, so I was constantly around music, art, dancing and anything artistically expressive. Everyone in my family has an incredible artistic gift and my parents have had a non profit arts organization around the Antelope Valley to bring visual and performing arts to the community. No matter what it’s engraved in my being, I can’t go a day without singing, dancing or creating something. Definitely shaped and inspired me to build my own business in Events and Creative Enterprises. Read more>>

Youran Lee | Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer

I was born in Suwon, South Korea, and moved to the States when I was 5. I grew up in San Diego, California for most of my life, surrounded by lots of other 2nd and “1.5th” generation Asian American kids. It’s pretty common amongst AAPI kids to feel pressure to succeed, to be “perfect,” and to do as they’re told so as not to disappoint their immigrant parents that sacrificed so much for them. I definitely fell into that category growing up– I rarely spoke unless spoken to, I got good grades, and I pretty much never took risks. At the age of 9, I saw a dance studio in passing, and asked my parents to take me there. It was the first time in my life that I asked for something like that from my parents; one of the only times in my childhood when I wanted to take a risk and learn something new. Read more>>

Ray Dobson | Film Photographer & Consultant

I hail from Los Angeles, California. While being from LA certainly had a lasting impact on the person, and creative, that I am today, I was equally as influenced by my family and community that raised me. With both parents teaching art and design in higher education, I was always encouraged to find mediums that worked well for how I saw the world. This appreciation paired with a hard working mindset from immigrant parents cultivated a strong theme of uniqueness and individuality that I still work to uphold today. Read more>>

Claire Dewar | Actress

I’m originally from Brisbane, Australia and moved to LA in 2021 during the pandemic. I first started on the stage dancing when I was 3 years old and danced competitively for 16 years doing ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical and musical theater. While dancing 6 days a week I also picked up acting lessons when I was 8 years old and started competing in Speech and Drama competitions as well as performing in plays with school, Brisbane Acting and Drama and Queensland Theater. During my senior year of High School I received my Diploma in Performance from Trinity College London. Attending an Academic school, my arts dream was not supported by some of my teachers and looked down upon. Read more>>

Jordan Owashi | Pressed Flower Artist, Marketer & Visual Designer.

I was born and raised in San Diego, but I have strong Japanese roots and was fortunate to be surrounded by my immediate and extended family growing up, who all influenced me in one way or another. My mom was always helping me explore my creativity through arts and crafts growing up in any way possible. I remember when I was in fourth grade doing my mission project, most kids create a replica of their mission, but instead I wanted to sew a quilt with pictures of my mission printed on fabric. True to form, my mom helped me figure out how to make it work, and I got my A 🙂 My grandma on my dad’s side was also a huge influence. Read more>>

Jeff Tedmori | CEO & Founder, E-Fish

I grew up in Southern California. I used to go fishing as a young teenager constantly. It was my absolute favorite thing to do. The thing was, I hated eating fish. So I would go fishing in the summer, only to come back with fresh tuna and dorado to give away to friends and family. My parents sat me down and explained that if I were going to kill these fish, I had to respect them and actually eat them too. When I tried the fish, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t “fishy” at all! I had an epiphany – I didn’t hate fish, I just had never tried fish that was actually fresh! This moment as a young teenager was transformative. Not only did I gain a greater respect for living animals and everything I decide to hunt/catch, but it planted a seed in my head to figure out why all the fish I had eaten up until this point had tasted so terrible. Read more>>