It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around the Valley.
Pia Beramendi
We were the new place in town and also the first and only Peruvian restaurant in Simi Valley. This meant we had to educate the community on what Peruvian food is and what we are trying to represent with our dishes. We were bullied by other Peruvian restaurant owners in the area and received many negative comments claiming that our food was not authentic Peruvian food. All of this made us more resilient and made us want to do better every day. We have not completed our dream, we are still working towards it. Read more>>
Nalubega Aidah Bukenya
My journey in the beauty and entertainment industries has been guided by a simple belief: that transformation both personal and creative is a powerful force. For nearly a decade, I have been building bridges between beauty, business, and storytelling, creating a path that reflects my vision for a more inclusive and expressive world. Read more>>
The Kali Dub Project
THE KALI DUB PROJECT released the album, GURU, in 2024, an industrial psychedelic testament to our spiritual masters. Our work is completed without the lust for outcome, benefit or gain. It is an act of communion and seva. Music as bhakti shifts the mind back to Godhead. Our spiritual masters continually guide us to chant and beautify the Holy names through music. Read more>>
MR DOZ
Throughout school, I’d sing and love hearing my voice in various locations as the color and timbre could sometimes change based on what I felt were my ancestors talking to me. I never pursued a music career seriously as I wanted to retain my love for it without me needing to depend on it for basic necessities. So as I got to Littlerock High School (in Littlerock, CA), I began falling in love with all forms of storytelling, from visual arts, to theatre, improv and comedy sports. Read more>>
Chantal Mariotti
This new platform has given me the opportunity to spend quality time with my grandkids, exercise every day, nurture my passion for painting and walking my dog Theo. My office is now 1/2 office and 1/2 art studio. I blogged about this just recently and you can see it here: https://executivehrconsulting.com/our-blog/from-hr-director-to-grandmother-artist-and-mentor-my-unconventional-career-map. Read more>>
Lindsey Bell
What I love so much about the parks is that they’re all so vastly different, and so many of them are this colossal beauty that just hits you out of nowhere. You’re driving along, and then all of the sudden you exit a tunnel, and bam! You’re in the valley of Yosemite surrounded by sheer rock cliff faces on all sides. Each national park painting is based off of my own photography from that visit, and when people purchase those prints, a portion of those proceeds goes directly to the donation of America’s national parks. Read more>>
Jenny Lopez
Over time, I’ve learned to embrace my bicultural experience while also acknowledging the history of violence tied to the loss of Indigenous language — Mixteco — and the silence and shame that colonization left behind. “De aquí y de allá” is something I’m still discovering for myself, identifying deeply with the Oaxacalifornia experience. I’m a Southern Californian at heart — rooted in curiosity about my culture, grounded in community, and continuously learning what it means to belong to both the Lands that raised me and the ones that continue to hold me. Read more>>
Blair Glenn
Started out as a rock climber. Moved to Yosemite in 1972 and lived in a tent for a year. Knew I needed an outdoor career and tree work was a perfect fit. Working with ropes, climbing, difficult jobs and situations. Started my business in 1973. Met a mentor in 1975 who directed me to proper procedures. Read more>>
Robert Torres
Future Grass all started during college about 11 years ago. I was looking for work and really did not want to work at an hourly job getting paid minimum wage. So, I decided to create my own business installing turf. At first, I found good quality turf and ither installation materials, I then, found some installers at Home Depot and began posting ads on craigslist. Read more>>
Jane Thurmond
I’ve spent decades as a coach and trainer both in real estate and as a fitness professional. As my kids were nesting out I started racing. A CAR! I’d always been active in riding motorcycles, jet-skis, running 10ks and half marathon, but wanted to do something that my kids thought was cool. I wanted to make sure they’d still hang out with me. Read more>>
Leah Devora
I started my business in 2006 doing paintings of silence film stars in old Hollywood called silent spirits. Read more>>
Karol Lara
Fashion has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother and aunts worked in fashion factories back in their home country of Honduras, where they were all very familiar with sewing equipment and garment construction. My mother eventually purchased an industrial sewing machine, and that’s where I first learned to make clothes for my Barbies. Read more>>
Kelly Mattinson
My Papa worked in the Country Club biz for most of his long life and I grew up in that world. He always said, ‘ Kelly, you don’t want to work at a Country Club; you want to be a MEMBER. ‘ Well that didn’t happen, so I tried to make him proud and kept true to my goals. Read more>>
Elizabeth Weiner
Growing up in Los Angeles, it felt almost inevitable that I’d end up in the entertainment industry. As a young woman, I wasn’t necessarily dreaming of stardom—I just wanted a creative job that paid well and didn’t require a college degree. School never quite clicked for me, and I was too impatient to sit still for long. Read more>>
Dr. Myah Gittelson
Myah Gittelson, PsyD a.k.a. “Doctor Myah” Clinical Psychologist MY STORY My story started as I volunteered at the state hospital in Austin, Texas while attending college. From watching the therapist work with a struggling teen and a non-verbal 7-year-old boy, I knew my career path would be in the field of Psychology. Read more>>
Anita Sahakian
Business has been a passion of mine since I was a kid—it’s in my blood. While studying in business school, I worked as a teacher’s assistant and realized something: I loved working with kids! I was able to naturally connect with students and help them understand material in a way that made learning enjoyable. Read more>>
Lisa O’Laughlin
Approximately 14 years ago, I felt a deep desire to become more intuitive. I visited a metaphysical shop that offered classes exclusively on crystal healing. I thought to myself, ‘Why not ….?’ At the time, I had no idea what a crystal even was! Read more>>
Shivani Lakshmi Aysola
I’m totally an 818 girl, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley to immigrant parents from Andhra Pradesh in South India. I’m very proud that my first language is Telugu. We grew up really Telugu but also super multicultural — my high school reunion felt like the UN General Assembly. By 16, I knew how to flirt AND insult in Spanish, Farsi/Dari, and Armenian. Read more>>
Omaro Ayloush
I entered the mortgage world during a turbulent time and saw firsthand how overwhelming the daily headlines could feel for borrowers and real estate agents. I wanted to help make things simpler, so I started sharing short morning notes that explained in plain English what was really affecting interest rates. Read more>>
Mike and Carole Evans
Mike and our son Shawnn wanted to make wine again. We all talked about how nice it would be to have some proper equipment of our own to make our own winemaking easier. Shawnn was working harvest at that time in Paso Robles and said they were selling wine barrels. Read more>>
Antonio Rumie
I started off as the kind of theater kid who would sit anywhere but a chair. A table, the floor, stage corner, you name it. I’d memorize entire movies just to perform them in my living room or dress up as something entirely different every day. Read more>>
Amy Chinian
I’m Amy Chinian, founder of My Hair Helpers, and my journey began with a personal challenge that turned into a mission. In 2000, while pregnant with my fifth child, my family experienced a lice infestation. I was shocked by the lack of safe, effective solutions available, and that moment planted the seed for what would later become my business. Read more>>
Yulia Gonzalez
I started my career in the entertainment industry, producing social media campaigns for studios and networks like HBO, BET, NBCUniversal, STARZ, and the NFL. I fell in love with storytelling, creating content that could inspire emotion, build community, and connect people across cultures. During the pandemic, I began making videos on TikTok as @yuliaxgon, focusing on Chicano history and culture. Read more>>
David L. Reed
Reed’s Active Martial Arts and Wellness Club LLC: Our Story Grandmaster David L. Reed began his martial arts journey in 1970, training in Judo and Jujitsu at the local YMCA—a pursuit initially sparked by being bullied at school. This early experience established a lifelong dedication to the disciplines. Read more>>
Kristina Ruiz
Five Star Falconry was officially launched on Christmas day 2023 when we did our first Private Meet & Greet! But the history goes back all the way to 2004 when Kristina created her first animal business when she was only 8 years old. Read more>>
Hillary Thomas
Hillary and Halley met while teaching music lessons to families in Woodland Hills. They both noticed that there was a need for music education options for children under 5 years old. New parents were reaching out to us, lost about what to do with their toddler who loves music, not sure how to fuel their new young passion. Read more>>
Jennet Zelinsky
In the 2000s I had a clothing store in Calabasas. It was there as a solopreneur I recognized the unrealistic and unspoken expectation that entrepreneurs should be able to do it all. I was able to do a lot, but I was failing at doing it all. Read more>>
Kara Navarro
2023 marked a transformative year for me as I traded the noise of factory machinery for the harmonious sounds of the kitchen. With a degree in fashion design and years of experience in manufacturing, I discovered that my true passions lie not in cloth and thread, but in fresh ingredients and creative concoctions. Read more>>
Ani Samuelian
I’ve been cooking professionally for over 22 years. I’ve done the grind. I’ve worked in hotels in West Hollywood, restaurants in Beverly Hills and Downtown LA. I’ve put in the hours, the 4 a.m. shifts, the 1 a.m. closings, and the double shifts where you barely sit down. I’ve been a line cook, a caterer, and a private chef for A-list clients. Read more>>
Jennifer Detar
I began my professional journey in the United States Navy, where I learned the value of precision, discipline, and accountability. Those years shaped how I approach every challenge—with integrity, structure, and a commitment to excellence. After my service, I transitioned into administration and accounting, supporting large public institutions like LAUSD, where I manage complex payrolls, multi-million-dollar budgets, and detailed reporting for hundreds of employees. Read more>>
Erin La Rosa
I’m a romance author, and co-founder of the Burbank Book Festival. I published my first book almost ten years ago, and since then have published five more. I’ve always loved reading, and worked at Random House when I graduated college. So I think my interests have all led me to the place where I’m able to write books, and also help create a bookish community. Read more>>
Alan Shapiro
I was born and lived in Brooklyn until I moved to Los Angeles in 1980. My passion is music and in the late 1970’s had a band called, ‘Clear Sky.’ We performed often and in 1980 we had the opportunity to go to LA. The band disbanded and I went to LA alone. Read more>>
Dinah Englund
My story begins growing up in Mandeville Canyon with dogs, cats, chaos, and four older brothers who constantly tried to destroy the younger brother until it got to me. I would then get pummeled as well. On the flip side of this was my other life. My mother was the actress, Cloris Leachman. She was my entire existence. After four boys, I was born. Read more>>
Lorena Nunez
San Fernando Coffee Company came about after years of being in the coffee and breakfast space. It was time for a new concept that brought latin-inspired flavors to a part of the greater Los Angeles area that did not have those flavor profiles in any coffee shops nearby. Read more>>
Andrew Ceglio
All throughout my childhood and young adolescence, I felt no self-worth or personal value with who I was. I was polite and well-mannered but I was very goofy, hyperactive, with a stutter and a small speech impediment. This made me very uncomfortable with speaking and so I avoided talking around people as much as possible. Read more>>
Karthik Ganesh Prasad
I think my story’s been more of a gradual unfolding than a single turning point. I didn’t wake up one day knowing I wanted to be a filmmaker — it just started with moments that made me feel something deeply, and wanting to understand why. Over time, that curiosity turned into a need to tell stories of my own. Read more>>
Max Gleason
I’ve been making art since before I can remember. My mom has a better recollection of my earliest art endeavors than I do. Art has always been my means of making sense of self and world. Painting is my meditation, my prayer. My studio is where I go to be with the sacred—it is a temple in this sense. Read more>>
Ardi Entezam
Well that’s a very long story, but I will sum it up in the right amount of words so you can understand a deep impactful journey and all the pieces of the puzzle that lead us upon the path we are meant to be. I started working in the restaurant business at the age of 12, a young boy who came to the U.S. Read more>>
AnaKali Healer
Today, my voice serves two worlds — the stage and the spirit. I’m a professional opera singer with performances at Carnegie Hall in New York and The Broad Stage in Los Angeles, and I’ve had the joy of collaborating with renowned companies such as LA Opera. Read more>>
Paul Wong
My original background is musical. My mother was a voice major/piano minor during her one year of college before getting married and becoming a housewife in the 1950’s (as one did). Read more>>
Diana Smith
After 15 years of marriage and two young daughters, I felt the calling—the urge for expansion—and set off on my own spiritual path, stepping away from traditional norms. I no longer felt content with the cookie-cutter lifestyle: the husband, the home, the cars, and the corporate job. Read more>>
Erika Maish
I grew up in a creative family and pursuing an interest in the arts was always encouraged. I moved to London at 17 to study fashion and textiles at Central Saint Martins. In between degrees I gained experience as an archive photographer at Céline, knitwear at Marc Jacobs, art prep at the Getty. Read more>>
Diba Alemi
I opened my law firm a little over four years ago, but the dream started long before that. During my first few years as an attorney working at other firms, I often caught myself thinking, “One day, I’m going to do this on my own.” By 2021, that “one day” could no longer wait. Read more>>
Sensei David Becker
This is where Ryu-Dojo transitioned into Fox of peace-Dojo and the style Hawaiian Kenpo adopted into Kitsune Kenpo Karate & ju-jutsu. Saddly in December of 2016 Grand Master Bill a Ryusaki passed away at the age of 80. I remained loyal to my other life long sensei & mentor Grand Master Dennis Mortensen. (He took over Hawaiian Kenpo & Ryu-Dojo ) I’m still Grand Master Mortensen’s right hand man he is also Family. Read more>>
Elizabeth Wilson
I’m Elizabeth Wilson, and House N Haven grew out of something simple—I started watching homes on the side while working full time for over 21 years. Now in retirement, I’ve been able to give it my full attention, caring not just for homes but also for the pets inside them—cats, dogs, and all the little routines that make a place feel loved. Read more>>
