Portraits of the Valley

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.

Marco Romero

I am from the South Bay area in the city of Lawndale, CA. After high school I started working in retail, and started working at Dick’s Sporting Goods in 2015 while I was working towards transferring from community college to a university with a degree in marketing/advertising. Read more>>

Unit21

Unit21 started as a high school club back in 2021. While we primarily performed in school as a unit, we had the idea to start an outside of school unit as well for those who did not attend our school and or wanted to continue but may have already graduated. Since then we have continued both inside and outside of school with two units. Read more>>

Motherfather

I have been singing and performing my whole life. One of my first performances was singing a solo, as a member of the Philadelphia Boys Choir, on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum for around 10,000 people. Since then, my career has taken many shapes, from singing opera in Vienna, to performing at rock festivals with acts like Imagine Dragons and KISS. Read more>>

Reema  Vithlani

After more than 25 years in healthcare, I created Sheesh Aesthetics because I wanted to approach aesthetics differently. The foundation of the practice is what I call the Sheesh Method™: It starts with the person, not the procedure. Read more>>

Debbie Su

I grew up in the Philippines. We didn’t have a lot of money, so a lot of my entertainment was through reading hundreds of books, writing my own stories, and playing in nature. Read more>>

Pedro Gamez

My journey started my junior year of high school when I tried transferring out of my TV production class on the very first day of school. I always felt intimidated and overwhelmed by cameras, editing, and everything that came with production. Luckily, my TV production teacher encouraged me to give it a chance. Read more>>

Victoria Gutierrez

I started as a makeup artist. I went to school doing special effects makeup, graduated and then tried looking for makeup jobs. In that process I bought a camera to show my work, and I started to like taking photos more than doing makeup. And that’s when I made the switch. Read more>>

Denise Hernandez

My journey with herbalism began, in many ways, when I moved to the United States ten years ago. I arrived without speaking English and found myself navigating a completely new culture, landscape, and sense of belonging. What began as curiosity gradually became a deeper study of herbalism, traditional plant knowledge, and folklore. Read more>>

Matheus Loureiro

The Journey of a Martial Artist I did not begin my athletic journey because I wanted to become a professional athlete. When I was 16 years old, I made a decision that would quietly shape the rest of my life. I decided that I wanted to spend my twenties building a body that would allow me to live a long, healthy, and capable life. Read more>>

Frank Abraham

My story has never followed a straight line. I started in music as a DJ and producer and eventually ran my own record label, working in the dance music world during an incredible period of its history. Along the way, my career expanded into technology, where I’ve spent more than 35 years working in IT, implementation, project management and emerging technologies. Read more>>

Tatiana Rulin

Of course! My photography journey began after I had my second child in 2019. My husband gifted me a Canon Rebel T7i, and I started taking photos of my boys simply because I wanted to document their childhood and all the little moments that seemed to be passing so quickly. Read more>>

KELLIE TAYLOR

I’ve always thought that life happens in the details…like, when someone replies to your text instantly or when you finally find the comfortable sleeping position. Read more>>

Myriam Akbar

I have been a writer for most of my life. I began taking it seriously in middle school and decided to join the journalism class in high school, becoming the editor in chief by my sophomore year. I started a blog based on a popular television show as well, earning opportunities like attending screenings in Hollywood. Read more>>

Deijah Smith

I was the young girl with BIG dreams growing up in a small town. Many people didn’t understand the vision I had for my life but I did. I’ve always had a passion for fashion, the arts and entertainment. So, it’s no coincidence that I found myself on movie sets in big cities like Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California. Read more>>

Sylvia Franson

My story has really been defined by taking chances, embracing change, and never being afraid to start a new chapter. I spent more than 35 years in the advertising and media industry, including 30 years with NBCUniversal, where I ultimately served as Vice President of Advertising Sales for the West Coast. Read more>>

Neil Mitchell

I started painting during the pandemic and instantly fell in love with it. I had no intentions of showing anyone my work or thinking of making money off it, it was just for me and my mental health. Read more>>

Patrick Shatter

Growing up I was always questioning things. My favorite questions that used to annoy teachers and elders were “why?” and “what’s the point?” They never really had answers that made sense to me. I went to a private school that tried to mold me into someone I wasn’t, and I was constantly getting into trouble for staying true to myself. Read more>>

David Blake

I’ve always lived right at the intersection of music and writing. For me, getting into the literary arts wasn’t about ambition, it was actually about processing the complex feelings of growing up. After my father passed away when I was a kid, I used poetry to help process that heavy fog of grief. Read more>>

Thomas Hardy

We started as a small family Coffee Shop (Ma, Pa, and kiddo) based around our love for coffee and fast music with a breakfast accompaniment aka Kids on Coffee. This included Hypnotic Vegan Pizza at nights. Little did we know how fast our carry out, 500 square foot adventure would grow. Read more>>

HAIFA MELLITI

My story is, above all, the story of a woman who gradually chose to transform her passions into a true way of living, creating, and sharing. I began my professional journey in education before feeling a deep need to move closer to what truly inspired me: women, well-being, art, and the freedom to be oneself. Read more>>

Nygeria Pannell

My story starts as far back as I can remember. I moved from New Jersey to the Carolinas during primary school, and a lot of who I am today was shaped by what I experienced growing up. Overcoming childhood hardships, poverty, and violence in the home built an undeniable hustle and resilience in me that I still carry today. Read more>>

Tina McClelland

Hydration Room started as a very personal problem. While I was in residency training to become an anesthesiologist, my now-wife was struggling with debilitating migraines. Like most people, she tried to manage them with oral medication, and the relief was slow and inconsistent. Read more>>

Marisa Ritts

After 15+ years working in public relations and branding, both in-house and at leading boutique agencies, I decided to take that experience and build something of my own. I launched Marisa Ritts PR, where I now work directly with brands and clients to develop and execute strategic PR campaigns, secure meaningful media exposure and build lasting brand awareness. Read more>>

Anna P. Sutton

I never set out to become the artist I am today. In fact, I was told early on that art was not a career I could make a living from. Ironically, after spending years as a musician and educator, going through serious injuries and a life changing accident, art is what brought me back to myself. Read more>>

Diana Davis

I grew up on a ranch in a very small town in Colorado, which is definitely where I get a lot of my work ethic. Very cliché small-town-girl story, but after college in Montana, I decided I wanted to move to New York City. I had studied graphic design and photography and had actually been photographing professionally since I was 16. Read more>>

Brandy Timmons

Hand made Con Amor started simply from my love of creating, but it grew from something much deeper. As a mom, and especially being an autism mom, I wanted to create something that allowed me the flexibility to be there for my children while also creating an income and building something that could one day be carried down to them. Read more>>

Brendan Sargent

I first started hosting trivia games in 2014, when I was teaching high school in Chelsea, Massachusetts. I was working for a company called ‘Pop Quiz,’ and I had a couple of weekly games that I ran around Boston. Read more>>

Arkesha Dunning

My journey has really been about bringing together two things I’ve always been passionate about: building brands and wellness. Professionally, I built my career in product marketing, working with major tech companies and learning how to understand consumers, bring products to market, and create experiences that people genuinely connect with. Read more>>

Lati

I started out just having a liking to makeup, not wearing that much just light makeup; fast forward to 5 years later and I’ve grown so much with makeup that I turned it into a career, becoming a Beauty Content Creator/Influencer. Read more>>

Keith Terrell

After graduating from CSUF with a degree in film, I got my start as a production assistant at Viacom, then worked my way up to Assistant Director. I spent several years as a 1st AD before making the jump into directing and producing. My latest film, Melanin Monroe, which I wrote, directed, and acted in, is currently on its festival run. Read more>>

Anthony Garcia

Life is full of surprises and the path I am on now is definitely a surprise to me. I’ve been a content creator and photographer for the past 3 years now. I am currently 25 years old and if someone were to tell my younger self I’d be in the position I am currently in I would have not believed them. Read more>>

Alper Firatli

I didn’t start out as a tattoo artist. Before tattooing, I worked as a computer engineer, and I’ve also been a musician since I was 15, writing, recording, and performing with my band as well as solo. Over time, tattooing became the place where everything came together. Read more>>

Steven  Carranco

My story has had many unexpected turns, but I believe those experiences have helped shape who I am today. I have always been creative and interested in art, design, and visual communication. I studied Medical Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology. Read more>>

Raven Smith

I’m California raised, born in Inglewood. I grew up playing in the streets and finding my own fun like most of us in L.A. But not in a crazy ‘I’m from the streets’ way. From a ‘we played outside like children’ way. We had good weather, so we enjoyed it. Read more>>

Cee Ashley Abram

Let my family tell it, even as a little tot, I was wise beyond my years. Growing up, my childhood was, like most urban city kids in the ’90s, dysfunctional yet fun all in one. I knew God early on. Not because I was forced by my mom or family, but simply because I could always feel His presence in my upbringing. Read more>>

Sarah Kler

Long story short, I grew up with a single mother and my grandma. They both worked multiple jobs to take care of me. I am forever grateful for that. When I was 17 years old I had a beautiful daughter and we are such best friends. She inspires me every single day. She is by far the coolest human I know. Read more>>

Liam Andres  O’Neill Hernandez

My story has always been shaped by family, hard work, public service, and a desire to make a difference in my community. I was born in Pasadena and grew up primarily in Simi Valley in a working family with both Mexican and Irish roots. Read more>>

Elena Fabri / Desert Wild Band Elena Fabri / Desert Wild Band

Desert Wild really began with a love of rock music — especially the iconic songs that shaped generations but were overwhelmingly written and performed by men. Read more>>

De Shawn Fowler

My story really starts in Cleveland, Ohio. I’ve always been connected to music and movement in some way. Before DJing and producing music became the main focus, dance was a huge part of my life. Read more>>

King Patricia Rosa

My entrepreneurial and healing journey started long before I had a business name. I am the oldest daughter of immigrant and refugee parents from El Salvador, and I learned at a very young age what it meant to work hard, be resourceful, and create opportunities for myself and others. Read more>>

Natalie Rand

My path to wellness naturally manifested through creativity, movement, and whole-person care. My journey founding All Things Core, came after fulfilling many roles as a performing artist. I performed on Broadway and The Lion King was one of the milestone experiences that shaped my experienced firsthand on how demanding performance can be on the body, mind, and spirit. Read more>>

Shannon “Shay” Held

I began acting when I was around nine years old. My mother became close friends with another parent whose had a son who went to kindergarten with my younger brother. She loved my brother’s bright red hair and suggested introducing him to her son’s agent. Before long, both my brother and I were auditioning, interviewing, and booking work. Read more>>

Teresa Cao

I fell into occupational therapy (OT) by chance. I worked as a peer counselor at UCLA at the time, and a coworker mentioned how similar occupational therapy felt to the work we already did. The second he explained it, something clicked. It struck me as the perfect mix of art and science. Read more>>

Sandra Anne

I’ve always been the kind of person who needs to understand the ‘why’ before I trust anything. I studied Biomedical Science, and that instinct has shaped my whole career. Early on, I got the chance to build a cosmetic division from the ground up inside a global company, working directly with the C-suite. Read more>>

Katiria Colon

My story really started with a love for media, storytelling, and culture. Growing up, I was fascinated by the people I saw on television and heard on the radio. Read more>>

Pooja Photography

I fell in love with photography on a mountain cliff in a remote part of the Himalayas. I was a middle schooler, standing at a spot where it felt as though the entire world had collapsed into a single frame. Snow-capped peaks filled the horizon. Read more>>

Darren Fishman

I’m originally from Australia and came to the US on a permanent basis around 6 years ago after 10 years of regular visits. In my time here I’ve run my own fashion brand while heading up the Desert Society agency which specializes in brand marketing and interior design. Read more>>

Cynthia Gitonga

I started PUSH Sea Moss during the pandemic. And honestly, it started as something completely different! I originally wanted to put hot Black and dark-skinned Black girls on shirts because I rarely ever saw sexy Black girls on those oversized skater shirts. LOL! I printed a few images of myself, put them on a Squarespace website, and listed them for about $80–$100. Read more>>

John Henson

For most of my professional life, I worked at UCLA presenting concerts and producing large-scale events. Art was always something I appreciated, but I never really imagined that I would become an artist myself. That began to change when my wife and I started spending time in the Hi-Desert. In 2010, I attended the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours for the first time. Read more>>

Natalie  Panchyshyn

I have always been singing. It’s only in recent years that I began writing my own songs. Born & raised in Montreal Quebec I moved to Toronto after my dad died. When writing songs I do tend to write about my dad & that painful loss without even being aware of it. Only when the song is finished I realize that it is about him.. Read more>>

Grace Thorne

My journey actually started with a completely different business. I started an online homeware brand just before the pandemic hit, which obviously did really well during that time. I grew and marketed it primarily using social media. Read more>>

Emanuele Marani

I’m Emanuele Marani, an Italian multidisciplinary designer and motion artist. My work sits somewhere between design, 3D, animation, art direction and visual experimentation. I’ve been working in the creative industry for more than a decade, collaborating with studios and clients such as Buck, Elastic, Psyop, ManvsMachine, Scholar, Google, Microsoft and Meta. Over the years, I’ve moved between different countries, disciplines and ways of working. Read more>>

Gregory Tan

I started my career as a product analyst in a music tech company from 2016-2018. When the in-house audio team learnt of my ability to create music, we started working more closely together! As the company started acquiring more music products, I was tasked with composing the music to the ads they were launching. Read more>>

Kari Kari Petrosyan

I never had a perfect plan for my life. I simply kept following whatever made me curious. My real name is Karine, although most people now know me as Kari. Long before Instagram became my career and before I knew anything about AI, I was traveling the world as a model. Read more>>

Samantha Gomez

I worked in veterinary medicine for about 15 years in total, since I was 18. I had always loved esthetics but didn’t really consider it as a career until much later. After I had my daughter I decided to stay home with her. Read more>>

Mars (Lindalee) Rose

I was born in Burbank, California, in 2008. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by entertainment. My mom is an actress and director who owns a theatrical company for children and teens called Shakespeare Kids. My dad is a creative content producer, storyteller, director, and editor. Read more>>

Preston Helms

At a young age, I was shy, introverted, and had a speech impediment. I liked keeping my safe bubble of my family and selected friends. And then came the teen years where I went to High school camp and a switch activated! And my passion for the performing arts came to fruition. Read more>>

Jack Laflin

My name is Jack Laflin, but professionally I am known as Merman Jax. I have been working as a water performer for over 13 years. My athletic background had an innate focus on competitive swimming (butterfly & backstroke), as both sides of my family had deep nautical roots, from abalone diving in the Philippines, to sailors from Ireland. Read more>>

Dark Joseph Ravine

I originally started with being a social media influencer by adventuring around and going to arcade places like Dave and Busters. I’ve been playing at arcades since 2007 so I decided I wanted to do something relating to that. In 2017 I decided to attempt a Guinness World Record for the longest line of arcade tickets. Read more>>

Yvonne Hendricks

My journey has really been a combination of creativity, mental health, and a desire to support children and families. I started my career in the arts, studying dance, theatre, and Black World Studies, and that creative foundation eventually led me to expressive arts therapy and counseling psychology. Read more>>

Yulia Protasova

I was born in a small town in Ukraine, and from a very young age I dreamed of learning to play the piano, so my parents enrolled me in a music school when I was seven. From there, music and the piano became a huge part of my life. Read more>>

Leonard Steinberg

I started from scratch at The Corcoran Group when Barbara Corcoran was still running the company, almost three decades ago. My first weeks/months were dedicated to visiting at least 5-8 properties per day to learn the inventory. This was before images and floorplans were easily visible online. I dug deep into buildings, blocks, neighborhoods, amenities, etc. Read more>>

Sana Sultan

Sun Suns began with a simple idea: to create eyewear that felt less like an accessory and more like an expression of identity. Born in Bahrain and crafted in Italy, Sun Suns was created to bring a different perspective to eyewear in the region, one that blends Italian craftsmanship with the bold, effortless spirit of Bahrain. Read more>>

Saerom Yoo

After graduating from university, I started my career at the fashion brand ADER Error. I later worked at an advertising agency, where I gained experience in art direction while working with clients such as Samsung, Starbucks and HYBE. I then joined New Balance, further building my foundation in graphic design and art direction. Read more>>

Rasih Öztürk

My musical journey began in Izmir, Turkey, when I was 11 years old. My father bought me my first keyboard, and my mother got me my first guitar later that same year. Read more>>

Kristian  Utley

From Oil Rigs to Luxury Real Estate At 18 years old I left home and went to work drilling for oil in Alberta as a Motorman. It was hard, physical work, but it taught me discipline, resilience, and how to work for what I wanted. At 24, I decided to take a completely different path. Read more>>

Troy  Castro

I started my business during COVID. I’d never touched a camera in my life, but I’d been an artist as long as I can remember, drawing, painting, writing, as well as martial arts. When everything shut down, I was gifted a camera, and everything just clicked. Color, composition, storytelling. I taught myself and built a portfolio from scratch. Word of mouth carried it from there. Read more>>

Jill Stevens

I began creating wood art in my garage about 10 years ago. I had this idea to take beautiful woodgrains and different wood species and mix them together to make art. It was a slow start, experimenting with finishes, dyes and structure. I do not have a formal education in art, however, I come from a family of very creative people. Read more>>

Danielle Winston

Seed Scout really grew out of our own experience building our family. My wife, Paige, and I knew we wanted to use a known sperm donor, but when we started looking into our options, we were surprised by how difficult it was. The traditional sperm bank model did not feel right for us. Read more>>

Savvas Christou

Cult Experiences started very organically. I have always been a filmmaker first. I studied Fine Arts in Greece and later moved to Los Angeles, where I spent around seven years studying and working in filmmaking. During that time, I completed my MFA in Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy and directed several projects, including my first feature films and a number of short films. Read more>>

Lisiane Birks-Hay

My journey began with Bombom do Brasil, where I designed activewear that celebrated the Brazilian spirit—vibrant, high-quality, and empowering. I loved seeing women feel confident in their own skin. However, as a mother, I found myself increasingly caught in the relentless cycle of school runs, work deadlines, and the endless ‘to-do’ lists that dominate a modern mom’s life. Read more>>

Margo  Walker

I changed my profession and became a therapist in 2012 when I heard God’s voice while visiting Los Angeles; He told me to move to the USA and become a therapist. I was an economist and an English tutor and never thought about being a therapist. Since 2012 I’ve got 3 licenses: an esthetician, a massage therapist, and a Craniosacral therapist. Read more>>

Michelle Frei

I’m Michelle Frei, a Swiss actress based in New York City. Growing up in a small mountain town in Switzerland (Lucerne), theatre wasn’t really part of my world. I studied Business Psychology and expected to follow a more conventional career, while performing remained something I did on the side. Read more>>

Harry Kakatsakis

I was raised in New York City by acting-teacher father, Charles Kakatsakis, and Academy Award-nominated actress mother, June Squibb, so show business was in my blood. Monster movies were my escape from the big, scary city as an only child. Read more>>

Brandie Newman

I was born and raised in a small farming town in Arkansas, and I think that upbringing shaped so much of who I am today. I grew up with a strong work ethic and learned early that if you wanted something, you worked for it. At the same time, I always had really big dreams. Read more>>

Aunia Kahn

Becoming a professional artist was an accident. Like most kids, I loved to create. I painted, built things, wrote songs, but I never thought of it as a career. It honestly never occurred to me that creative fields were even an option. When I first thought about what I wanted to do with my life, I wanted to be a surgeon or a therapist. Read more>>

Matthew Tubens

When I graduated high school I decided I wanted to change my life and build something I’d be excited to call my job for the rest of my life. Since I was already skipping class to listen and make music I figured I I’d go after it. I was really inspired by the 80’s and the music it birthed. Read more>>

Annie Firmi

I’ve wanted to be a designer for as long as I can remember. I actually declared at 12 years old that I was going to become a fashion designer, and I never really wavered from that path. I grew up in Encinitas, a small coastal town in Southern California, and my earliest relationship with fashion came through vintage and secondhand clothing. Read more>>

Elena Stonaker

I started making dolls out of textiles when I was a child and now I still do, but they are much bigger and more intricate and we call them soft sculpture. There have been many scrappy adventures and relationships with incredible humans along the way that have shaped my path and led to opportunities a farm kid would never imagine possible. Read more>>

Jenn DeLeo

My story has had a lot of chapters. I started out acting modeling when I was younger, then life took me in a completely different direction. I became a mother of four, went through two marriages, raised a family, and experienced some major life changes that forced me to rediscover who I was outside of being a wife and a mom. Read more>>

Joel Huff

Chef with over 30 years of experience in the culinary industry. Born and raised in California, Joel has traveled the world working in luxury hotels and culinary programs before deciding to return to his hometown of Ventura, where he and his wife opened a casual breakfast and lunch café. Read more>>

Monica Serrano

I’m a first-generation Mexican American, born and raised in West Los Angeles, and the first in my family to earn a college degree. In 2012, I moved across the country to attend Bryant University, where I studied International Business and Finance. Read more>>

Audrey Alison

BIO Audrey Alison Astrology + Tarot 2013 -2026 Hi there, My name is Audrey Alison. I’d like to share with you a little about myself and my passion for astrology, the tarot and the mystical side of this life. I was born a rebel. I didn’t know it, but I understood always that my path was not a typical one. Read more>>

Mara Ladines

ByMara began with a simple design and a story close to my heart. I became Deaf as a baby after an illness, and growing up, I didn’t fully understand my Deaf identity. Read more>>

Mariana Parma

I am first-generation American, and my family is from Uruguay, South America. For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a dancer, performer, and actor. Whenever I heard music, I would get up and dance. I didn’t care where I was. It was the one time I remember not feeling timid or embarrassed. I felt completely free. Read more>>

Vincent JAQUES

My story began with a simple observation: some of the most meaningful moments in our lives are hidden in the most ordinary gestures. The shower was one of them. It made me wonder what would happen if we simply paid more attention to these moments — not by changing them, but by inhabiting them differently. That thought became Maison LuaknyA. Read more>>

Joe Sohm

As a 32 year resident of Ojai and previously Los Angeles, I have devoted more than 4 decades to capturing the imagery that defines America. This is a broad theme that resulted in myself becoming the most published Americana photographer in America, but the world. Read more>>

Brett Wheeless

I’ve always believed fitness should help you live a better life, not just look better in the mirror. That belief has really shaped the path that led me to where I am today. I started my career in fitness in 2017 and eventually launched Wheeless Fitness in 2020. Read more>>

Amy Cruz

I started my journey in cosmetology while I was still in high school, as a junior. At 15½, I was able to enroll in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Cosmetology program at John Ridgel’s Academy of Beauty in Temple City, offered through my high school, Monrovia High School. Read more>>

Shen Tan

Kizuna began with a simple idea: to create a space where people could slow down, connect and feel at home. The name “Kizuna” comes from the Japanese word for bonds or connections, and it reflects something that has always been important to me. Read more>>

Kiana Walcott

It all started when I was 17 years old (1997) and my Uncle Don asked me if I wanted to go to work with him for the summer. I said sure. I had no idea at the time that saying yes to that simple invitation would completely change the direction of my life. Read more>>

Aya Alvarez

Everyone always tries to make this deep connection with art and photos. I think that some people genuinely have that. Others , you can totally tell they are trying to fit in the square. I feel like at this point in time , I don’t have a deep rooted story or connection to cameras or photography like everyone claims to have. Read more>>

Sarah Fenn

I started dancing when I was five years old, and turned professional at 18. My training covers a wide range of dance styles, but over the years I have specialized in dance, aerial, showgirl shows, musical theatre and aquatic shows. Versatility has always been important to me. I played a lot of sports growing up, especially soccer and athletics. Read more>>

Jessica Baderha

My journey in the visual arts began with a deep passion for graphic design, typography, and visual storytelling. Studying visual communication at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa allowed me to sharpen my understanding of how art, design, and identity interact in contemporary culture. Read more>>

Joseph Tongai Dhafana

I am Joseph T. Dhafana, a Zimbabwean sommelier, winemaker, and founder of Mosi Wines & Spirits. I grew up in Chirumhanzu, Zimbabwe, and moved to South Africa in 2009 in search of opportunity. I began my hospitality career in entry-level roles, including gardening, dishwashing, bartending, and waiting tables. After discovering wine in 2010, I committed myself to learning the craft. Read more>>

Abby Trudell

My path to founding Polarity has been anything but linear. I grew up in Wisconsin, but I always felt pulled toward a life that extended beyond one place or one conventional path. I have lived in 35 cities (Wisconsin, Colorado, Hawaii, and the rest around Europe) and traveled to far more, with each place exposing me to different cultures, communities, lifestyles, and approaches to health. Read more>>

Andreas Ramos

I came to Silicon Valley in 1992 and worked in technical writing, marketing, and web sites. I worked at large corporations, many startups, I build two startups, and ten years ago, was asked to teach a university course. I really enjoyed working with students, so now I teach at two universities. Read more>>

Alejandra Cifuentes

Born in Montreal to Chilean parents, Alejandra discovered the piano at the age of six and very early on made it a true language of expression. Since then, she has crafted a musical world where depth, sensitivity, and authenticity come together. Read more>>

Jiyuan Yang

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I started learning the violin in China, and that passion eventually brought me to the United States, where I completed my master’s degree at Temple University and continued my doctoral studies at the University of Kansas. Living and studying in the U.S. opened many doors for me. Read more>>

Max Leonida

I started at the age of 18, while studying Literature and Philosophy at the Catholic University of Milan, I was also working with a local theater company, bringing on the stage unusual and original plays. At 21 I’ve been admitted to the prestigious acting school Accademia de’ Filodrammatici and at 22 I founded my first own theater company Teatro del Sacro. Read more>>

Hemkesh Mittal

Honestly, I was just your standard funny kid in school. The whole stand-up thing didn’t actually start until 2020, and I only did it because my friends practically dragged me to an open mic and forced me to register. They gave me a five-minute slot. I got up there, panicked a little, blew through my material, and bolted after exactly three minutes. Read more>>

Thomas Schultheis

The journey of creating EXTRACURRICULAR started from a lifelong curiosity about how stories are told and where they live. Having spent decades working in the world of musical theatre—performing on Broadway and national tours, directing, and working closely with young artists—I kept noticing how traditional theatre boxes audiences and performers in. I wanted to break those walls down. Read more>>

Jacqueline Collen-Tarrolly

I started as a fantasy artist painting fairies and so forth and selling mostly at Renaissance Faires. The So Cal Faire was my first big show but by the time I stopped doing that I was doing 45 weekends a year all over the country and various faires. There came a time when being on the road that much got exhausting. Read more>>

Annie  Tevelin

I started SkinOwl 13 years ago after a pretty life-changing experience with my own skin. At the time, I was working as a makeup artist in Los Angeles and suddenly developed severe cystic acne. I was surrounded by beauty every day, yet I couldn’t figure out what was happening to my own face. Read more>>

Ryan Griswold

My parents were both photographers and had a dark room in the basement. At the age of 3 they gave me my first camera, which was their old Minolta. So I grew up playing in the dark room and seeing the world through a lens. In a way, I feel most comfortable with a camera in my hands. Read more>>