Who taught you the most about work?

Society has its myths about where we learn – internships, books, school, etc. However, in our conversations with some of the most interesting and trailblazing entrepreneurs and creatives we noticed the biggest lessons they learned about work often came from unexpected sources. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Mariano De Luca

During my career I had several persons that help me grow and taught me a lot. I think the first one was my Cinematography class Teacher, “Claudio”. He showed me how beautiful this is, and share all his knowledge and enthusiasm about it. Read more>>

Shahla Rahimi Reynolds

As a child, I recall observing my father creating small toys for our family and performing repairs around the house. I admired his strong work ethic, dedication, and commitment to doing his tasks thoroughly. His persistence, drive, and determination in his work have always inspired me and influenced my own approach to my professional responsibilities. Read more>>

Emerald Terrell

My mom taught me what it truly means to have a strong work ethic. She’s the hardest worker I know — someone who gives her all to everything she does and never settles for less than her best. What inspires me most is that she doesn’t just work hard for herself; she pours her heart into caring for everyone around her. Read more>>

Adam Aguirre

This is such a great question, without hesitation the answer is my Dad. My Dad’s entrepreneurial spirit was passed down to me like the green in his eyes, he is a straight up hustler and one of if not thee biggest inspirations I have had in my career. Read more>>

Yuta Matsumoto

The people who have taught me the most are my clients. Every day, they remind me why I chose this profession. My goal is always to help them feel confident, beautiful, and like their true selves — but in doing so, they’ve also taught me about empathy, patience, and connection. Hairstyling is deeply personal. It’s not just about technique — it’s about emotion. Read more>>

Alberto Accettulli

I read a lot about business and the people who managed to turn passion into work. I’m in advertising — pretty far from the titans of finance or tech — but reading about guys like Warren Buffett, Carl Icahn, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk taught me a lot about discipline, vision, and how to stay excited after years in the game. Read more>>

ROSIE OKUMURA

Honestly, I’ve learned the most about work from Jay Rosenzweig, my partner at IRL Investigations. He’s been a licensed private investigator for over three decades, and his discipline, attention to detail, and integrity completely reshaped how I think about work. Read more>>

Andrew Bramasco

My friend Steve Magner has been the biggest influence on my growth as a photographer in the last 10 years. We’ve spent countless hours shooting together, growing together, and giving each other super in depth critique of our work. We share new strategy and technique and it’s been monumental in my professional growth. Read more>>