We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.
Eliza Coyne
I always say I’m part Realtor, part therapist, part CEO. People see the showings and the keys….. but behind the scenes I’m negotiating contracts, coordinating timelines, managing personalities, and protecting my clients’ money. My goal is for it to feel seamless on their end. Read more>>
Clarissa Butler
What I find interesting is how people underestimate the amount of logistics that go into a large scale art or design project. Read more>>
Katherine Amaya
What’s most misunderstood about our business is that permit expediting is “just paperwork.” In reality, we manage a highly strategic and technical process that sits at the intersection of planning, zoning, building codes, and multiple government agencies. Every project requires interpretation, coordination, and problem-solving — not just form submission. Read more>>
Pilar Josephine Lu
In the world of real estate, what you see on TV is just the tip of the iceberg. As a dedicated Realtor at Coldwell Banker Hallmark Realty, my days are filled with much more than glamorous showings. They start early when the market opens and often stretch into late nights, all to ensure my clients’ happiness. Read more>>
Ashley Aleman
I think people secretly struggle with being open about their mental health because it can be hard to trust someone with what goes on inside your mind and what emotions you secretly feel. It’s easier to keep that to your self than being able to open up to someone about your thoughts and emotions. Read more>>
Kaylyn Noonan
For me, it comes down to quiet comparison and feeling alone. I think a lot of people are silently struggling with the pressure to look fulfilled while still feeling unsure inside. Social media makes it easy to present a life that appears confident, successful, and put together. Read more>>
Tracy Schroeder
How hard it was to get there. There were big battles, medium battles, and small battles, and we shouldered the riffle for all of them. There is no shan-gri-la and no fairy tales, just a lot of hard work. Nothing is given and take nothing for granted. Legacy’s are built by a team, not one person. Read more>>
Yuto Shimizu
If you only look at the stories I write, they can seem very extreme and brutal. But what I want to convey isn’t the brutality itself. I have a feeling that people who are in darkness often seek out horror films with cruel endings. I also used to have moments like that. Read more>>
Julia de’Caneva
Mortality is the foundation of wellness. The opposite of wellness is not death, it’s disease, but people often conflate the two. You cannot claim to think about health holistically if you don’t also include death. The fact that we die is quite literally what makes health so important, every other reason is secondary. Read more>>
James DeLorean
People are more alike than they are different. Read more>>
Adrian Aviles
A normal day starts early. First thing is checking what came in overnight and what needs to go out same day, especially being in Downtown Los Angeles where timing really matters. Then it’s getting flowers in, processing them, and figuring out what we actually have to work with. Every day depends on what came in from the market. Read more>>
Maria Erixson
A typical day for me is never really the same, which is exactly what I love about being an entrepreneur in this industry. The freedom of not having a traditional 9–5 allows me to structure my days in a way that supports both my work and my life as a mom. My mornings usually start with taking my kids to school. Read more>>
Vaishali Bellad
Every day begins with gratitude. I wake up to the California sunshine filtering through my windows, and that quiet moment reminds me how fortunate I am. I take a short walk, then start my morning with chai: a blend of masalas, spices, and tea that instantly transports me back to where my journey began in Maharashtra, India. Read more>>
Andre F.
Honestly, my priorities are excelling at work, maintaining discipline through fitness, building a strong foundation for my family and future, and continuously improving my photography skills. Read more>>
DJ Hustle®
A normal day for me starts early—around 4:00 AM. I begin with coffee, then I read ten pages from a book, pray, and give the glory to God. That quiet time sets the tone for my entire day and keeps me grounded. After that, I head out for my workout. I run about three miles and follow it with roughly 40 minutes of intense weightlifting. Read more>>
Andrew Koussevitzky
A normal day usually starts early. I wake up (or my kids wake me up) and drive my kids to school, which is honestly one of my favorite parts of the day. On the way back, I usually stop at my local coffee shop and then head straight to my desk to start working. Read more>>
Mrs. Christina Lomonaco
For a long time, the light I dimmed the most was my willingness to fully step into my voice and my visibility. I’ve always been someone with big ideas, strong intuition, and a deep belief that life can be created intentionally. Read more>>
Mike Peele
I think the relationship that I have with my mom as a kid, teen and adult really shaped a lot for me. My mom raised me by herself (single parent) and she always had a strong work ethic, self confidence and she taught me and showcased that whatever I wanted to do or be I would have to put in the work. Read more>>
Ana Vázquez-Landeros
I am a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, my parent’s relationship taught me to pursue goals and stand true to values in the face of fear and discrimination. With love and passion deeply integrated in my culture, I see myself as a continuation of their hard work and sacrifices in pursuing the American dream. Read more>>
Jessica To
I believe the kind of relationship that shaped how I see myself, always starts with the relationship I have with myself, first and foremost. So it is one I built with myself–learning to trust my own clarity, discernment and intuition, because I make most of life most important decisions through this thought process. Read more>>
Jeremy Rodriguez
I believe strongly that having a positive mindset is a powerful survival tool. I’ve learned that choosing optimism, especially in hard moments. can make people uncomfortable. When I didn’t agree with the doom and gloom mentality, or see challenges as unsolvable, I would be met with judgment or subtle isolation. Read more>>
Kara Sperling
At the core of everything I do lies a truth so fundamental that I rarely feel the need to say it out loud: photography is simply the medium, but human connection is the message. Read more>>
David Russell
One truth that has become a foundation in my life is the fact that nothing ever stays the same. Everything changes. Through that realization, I try to be present in a particular moment without developing an attachment to the pleasant times and not developing aversion to the difficult times. Read more>>
Tasha Funes
One of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was realizing that I didn’t have to wait for permission to create my own path. Growing up, I was always drawn to travel, people, and new experiences, but I didn’t always see a clear roadmap for how to turn that into a career. Read more>>
David Bianchi
I first knew I wanted to be an actor when I stepped onstage in third grade in front of a room of over a hundred people. Even then, I felt that sense of certainty. Read more>>
Nicole Spring
Filling space with jumps as a dancer made me feel really powerful. I wish that I hadn’t taken that ability for granted! Read more>>
Matt J. Bond
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I picked up my parents Canon camcorder as a kid. I had always loved telling stories since I was very young, but I was probably around 8 or 10 when I started using my parents camera to film very crude films with my Legos and action figures… Read more>>
Michelle Marie
I will never regret doing what I love every day! I am so blessed to do Photography, Yoga and Professional Massage Therapy. My clients are EVERYTHING, and this is a giant THANK YOU to ALL of you. You know who you are! Read more>>
Hattie Mitchell
When Crete closed and I went through a divorce, I felt like I had two very public, simultaneous failures. By the public’s standards I had failed in my marriage (personal life) and professionally. However, after working through various emotions, owning my story and really embracing the difficult parts of life, I learned how powerful vulnerability is. Read more>>
Selena O’Sullivan
Hey great question! One thing I’ve learned about fans of wrestling in particular, is that if they like you, they are the most LOYAL and supporting fan base ever. They are truly ride-or-die for the art! Read more>>
GALABINA KAMENOVA
I come from a background in professional sports and high-level stage performance, where success was measured by skill and by being better than other athletes. When I began working with clients, I had to make a complete shift in perspective. Read more>>
Perry Aston
I’ve always approached my work with an open mind and a willingness to challenge the status quo. I believe staying flexible is essential, but when I make decisions, I stand by them and move forward decisively. Changing my mind isn’t a weakness; it’s part of learning and growing. Read more>>
Mico Montes
Every time. As Christopher Nolan says in The Dark Knight Rises ‘Make the climb without the rope.’ If you want to accomplish significant art you have to be afraid of failure by risking it all. That fear gives the determination you always need, because failure isn’t an option. Read more>>
Anne Marie Dubois
The day I interviewed my biggest Idol, the actor Brad Pitt for the premiere of “Once Upon a time in Hollywood “ Read more>>
antonella mundo
Honestly, no one. I had a complex childhood, marked by absence, loneliness, and difficult experiences. I grew up without a real support system, and very early on I understood that I couldn’t rely on anyone else to carry me through. Over time, that became one of the most important lessons of my life: no one is coming to save you. Read more>>
The Vanderveers
We’d definitely hire us. One of the things we often hear from the artists we work with is that they know we care about them as people. We’re not here just to make a quick check. Read more>>
Sarah Saxty
YES, I often say to people, I just wish I had a me for me. There are a few reasons for that: 1. Dedicated strategic thought partnership and proactive contribution, with my clients, and brands inside my Incubator program, I’m in it with them. I observe for them while I’m operating out there in the world and help them see what they often don’t see. Read more>>
