Inspiring Stories from West LA

The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In recent weeks we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of West LA’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble-rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool.  Check out West LA’s rising stars below.

Kasey Blaustein

In the beginning, I was juggling everything—designing, illustrating, managing clients, handling logistics. It was exciting and chaotic, and there were plenty of late nights, curveballs, and growing pains. I’ve dealt with everything from fabricators ghosting me mid-project to last-minute shipping scrambles. And like most creatives, I’ve had to learn how to protect my energy and advocate for the value of the work I do. Read more>>

Giorgio Merlino

I was born and raised in Milan, Italy—a place known for fashion and elegance, but my childhood looked very different. Sports didn’t interest me; I preferred romantic movies and mythological books like The Odyssey. At 12, I was diagnosed with obesity. I had no close friends, and random bullying became my normal. Read more>>

Melany Toujas

I have a unique approach to music, blending pop with eco-friendly themes, a style I term “Eco Pop.” I utilize natural elements like trees and plants in my music. For example, in my single “Starlight,” I used a lemon tree as a lead instrument, converting its electrical variations into MIDI tracks. Read more>>

Carmen Thomas-Paris

My origin story of Doula-ing for Fertility, Birth, Postpartum and Death and everything in between, begins in an unlikely way: as a teenage Soap Star on All My Children. That job is ultimately what brought me from Georgia to New York City. From the Big Apple, I proceeded to Los Angeles to continue my acting career. When in LA, I found myself pregnant with my newly-acquainted French lover’s baby (who lived in Paris and was told he could not have children). He was unwilling to move to America and there was no invitation for me to move there… Read more>>

Andrea Morgan

I got married had a baby and started to work out of my home office pregnant and trying to nurse. Thankfully, our preschool supported families with parents who had two jobs and I was able to claw my way back to work with the late hours they allowed us to work. I slowly had my 4 jobs on one street in Santa Monica, all by word of mouth and have quite recently gone back for second rounds with a couple of them. The jobs have become larger with bigger budgets after years and years of baby steps. Read more>>

Patrick Yeromian

Our biggest challenge like many was navigating through the pandemic where we saw a near 100% decline in business. Through various government aid programs and assistance we ultimately hunkered down and waited patiently for the opportunity to serve our clientele again. Many clients have asked me since the pandemic how business is doing and my response has changed from “we are surviving” to “I am grateful for everything we have”. As I mention to our chauffeurs and dispatch every chance I get…if we could survive the pandemic, we can survive anything. Read more>>

Corina Brown

I opened the shop on a whim, and within four days, I had my first sale. That moment of packaging up my design and sending it out into the world was so exciting and motivating for me. From that point on, I couldn’t stop. I continued running the shop throughout college, and after graduating, I decided to pursue it full-time. It’s been my career ever since, and I feel incredibly fortunate that it’s been able to support me. I still love every part of the process, from creating to sharing my work online, and I’m grateful that what started as a happy accident turned into something truly amazing. Read more>>

Sahba Shayani

In 2015, I applied for and was offered the position of Lecturer in Persian at the University of Oxford. I accepted this offer and embarked on what came to be a beautiful, seven-year long journey of living in the UK and working with brilliant students and colleagues at Oxford. It was truly a life-changing experience for which I am very grateful, with its own victories and challenges. I was teaching full-time there, while also working on finishing my PhD remotely at UCLA and in 2020 I finally submitted my dissertation and successfully completed my doctoral degree. My research was on the role of women in classical Persian epic and romantic literature, focused particularly on the 10th to 13th centuries CE. Read more>>

Sara Roller

In college I was reminded by my mom that I had always wanted to blow glass as a kid. She found a class for me to take at one of the only hot shops around. A studio largely focused on stained glass, they had a very small space for a hot shop. When I saw and touched glass for the first time, I knew that the whole trajectory of my life was about to change. It felt like I had finally come into an ‘aha’ moment about what medium I was meant to be using. The extremely sensory quality that glass has felt like it electrified all my cells and was beaming for me to follow it. Read more>>

Jamila Aminat Jadesola Salih

After graduating from Santa Monica High School, I attended Cal Poly Humboldt, where I fell in love with international entrepreneurship. That passion eventually led me to start traveling at 20 and, by 25, I launched my first business: Nauti Bruja International Wellness, a women’s reproductive health center focused on womb healing, vaginal care, and education. I hosted pop-up wellness experiences all over Los Angeles—from Leimert Park to Inglewood to Venice Beach—and also brought that energy to Houston and St. Louis before opening a brick-and-mortar location in Accra, Ghana. Even while moving across cities and countries, I always circled back to L.A.—it was the anchor in every phase of my growth. Read more>>

Mara And Sara Rothbart And Smith

We met in our freshman year of college at USC and instantly became best friends. We loved fashion, exploring new places, and eating amazing food. Years later, after we graduated college, we both found ourselves in the corporate world. Sara was working in the textile industry in LA, and Mara was in finance in New York and recently transferred back to LA. We were both unsettled in what we were doing and decided to start a passion project… Smith and Mara. Read more>>

Brian Dubow

One of the most memorable conversations was with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, a Harvard professor who taught the university’s most popular class at the time and is one of the world’s leading thinkers on the science of happiness. After a two-hour conversation with him, I took a leap of faith and spent the next year studying happiness under his guidance, becoming a certified happiness trainer and coach. That year changed everything. I realized happiness isn’t something you earn — it’s a skill you practice. It’s a choice you make every day. That insight sparked the next chapter of my life. Read more>>

Luigi Fineo

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in some of California’s most respected kitchens, earned a Michelin star during the guide’s first appearance in Los Angeles, and worn many hats: line cook, executive chef, corporate chef, private chef, and now business owner. I specialize in authentic Italian cuisine with a focus on handmade pasta, using seasonal ingredients and techniques that stay true to my heritage. Read more>>

Tara Devi Ma

At the end of my one-year fellowship, I was reassigned to the Pentagon. I returned to the Washington D.C. area with a new outlook on life and an understanding of my purpose which is to educate, inspire and entertain others. I easily found myself sharing the numerous alternative healing practices with my co-workers and soon began incorporating mindfulness practices into my staff meetings and other meetings. I noticed how the energy shifted to calm and relaxed and allowed for the meetings to be more cordial and productive. This was especially needed and welcomed during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more>>

Brandon Fox

To start, I began getting involved in my community via volunteering at events by offering to photograph them. As well as offering to do family shoots for friends. While often at a discount (or even as a sponsor), I got hired for races, parades, fundraisers, and so on. Little by little through word-of-mouth, reviews, and repeat business, my clientele gradually expanded. Today, I’m one of the fastest event photographers in Ventura County, often offering 24-hour (or even same day) turnarounds. On the side, I love to travel and photograph landscapes as well, or anything else that catches my eye. The funnest part of photography, in my opinion, is actively looking for shot opportunities in every wherever you are, leaving no stone unturned. Some call it “having then eye.” Read more>>

Jade Elora

A big part of what I do is accommodating people who are otherwise outside of the typical industry norm. There’s a lot of baggage that comes with photography for people. So much of what people see in media is white, straight, thin, young, able-bodied people, and a lot of photographers only know how to work with those people. It’s no wonder so many people have bad experiences and feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. They think, “This isn’t for me. I’m the problem here.” But it’s just bad messaging from an industry that is stuck inside this very narrow box. Read more>>

Shant Berberian

Now, as Senior Vice President, I lead our growing team, which has already expanded with two new hires in our first three months. We leverage our combined 40+ years of experience to serve a diverse clientele—from first-time homebuyers to high-profile individuals—with a wide array of loan options, including conventional, government (FHA and VA), non-QM, HELOCs, construction loans, and commercial loans. This path, though different from my initial aspirations, allows me to make a meaningful difference by helping people navigate their home financing needs and helping them build wealth. Read more>>

Elio Wallace

I now know I have a purpose to share my story on how my identity has been restored through community, relationships, and self reflection in hopes to give others a similar revelation or different perspective. My brand “Elio’s Room” showcases all of these things. It’s fun, it’s bright, it’s fashionable, and cinematic. All reflecting back to my childlike state. Today I am fully confident in my identity and my creative abilities, and I want to make art to give others the chance to do the same. To see themselves and know they are able to be completely themselves and really go after what they truly desire from this life Read more>>

Theo Schmitt

This was the same moment I was struck with the idea of creating a composer collective that promotes positive and optimistic projects, accessibility to the medium of orchestral music, and the “social” experience of performances. Especially now that music is being so “digitalized”. That is why I created THE UNPRECEDENTED MUSIC ASSOCIATION (UMA) with 6 others young and talented composers. Together, we see an unfilled space for music in LA that blends the lines between genres and creates music for all listeners, while creating a supportive community in a very competitive industry. Therefore, UMA seeks to create that space for the up-and-coming generation of composers, musicians, and music-loving audiences of all kinds. Read more>>

Beri Halouska

At just 22 years old, I opened my first hair extension salon—right out of my apartment kitchen. What started humbly grew quickly through word-of-mouth, and soon I was working with an incredible roster of clients. I opened my first studio space, then went back to school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) to study Beauty Merchandise Marketing. There, I developed and launched a premium hair extension wet line that sold out within six months. Read more>>

Luis Uribe

By my early 20s, I began by building a landscape maintenance company with my dad. Followed by marriage at age 21. By age 25 I had 3 children and bigger dreams that I wanted to become a reality alongside my beautiful and talented wife. Eventually, in 2006 became a licensed landscape contractor, founding what would become a beloved and respected family business: A Greener Tomorrow Landscaping Inc. Read more>>

Salma Zepeda

That was when I began my idea for my skincare company. I wanted it to be centered upon holistic remedies and ingredients — my mother immigrated from Nicaragua and my father from Jordan. Often times I realized when talking about beauty tricks and tips with my friends they didn’t know what I was referring to in terms of herbs, benefits, and practices. I came to realize this is because they were often culturally specific and not widely used. I named my company Najma, which means “star” in Arabic. Yes, we all want our skin to shine like the stars we are but I also thought it was symbolic of my journey. From being someone who was afraid to take up space in a room into someone who is a creative powerhouse aiming to reimagine beauty, elegance, and divine femininity for everyone. Read more>>

Abhilash

My story began in a small town in India, where the magic of cinema captivated me from a young age. Back then, accessing movies wasn’t as simple as streaming today, so weekends glued to the national television became cherished rituals. It was during this time that an article in a local animation magazine illuminated the world of visual effects. The idea of contributing to the very films I loved so much sparked an immediate passion. Read more>>

Tom Muyters

But I’ve always believed that if you move with intention and stay close to your passion, you find your way. I was also incredibly lucky to fall in love with Una Malan, who is not only my life partner but someone deeply rooted in the same world of design and architecture. She’s been a huge inspiration and support, helping me understand the industry from a different perspective and pushing me to create with more clarity and purpose. Read more>>

Boaz Hepner

I’m an RN with 2 kids, and I lived through COVID where I observed the world turn science, medicine and vaccines into a dirty game of politics and mistrust. I saw just as much ignorance in my coworkers as I did the general public, because everyone goes to the University of TikTok these days. Yet our patients expected us to have the answers. Having access to publish whatever I’d like for The Jewish Journal (the largest Jewish publication in America) I was motivated to help educate myself and the community at large. Read more>>

Mark Ghalili

In late 2016, I suffered a devastating adverse reaction to a commonly prescribed antibiotic, Cipro. Just two days into treatment, I found myself in unimaginable pain, barely able to function. That moment marked the beginning of a cascade of debilitating symptoms: muscle wasting, burning neuropathy, seizures, brain fog, vertigo, vision problems, and torn tendons. I lost the ability to walk and became confined to a wheelchair. Traditional medicine had no answers for me—and worse, many doctors didn’t even believe me. Read more>>

Kyle Muladore

Our goal is to tell stories from the trails. That includes videos about the races we run, unique beer miles that we come up with, and runs to breweries where we highlight the local region. As well as self-imposed challenges, like the time I ran with a backpack on, dropping off 22 books at different Little Free Libraries in my neighborhood. That’s something I am very proud of. Read more>>

Carmelle Banks

Hi, I’m Coach Carmelle. Almost a decade ago, I started my company, it was originally named Swim By Carmelle, but now is SwimsCool- which provides at -home private swim lessons to kids of all ages on the Westside. This after many months of working as a nanny and doing various admin jobs. I was at the turning point in my life where I had decided to no longer pursue my childhood dream of being a doctor, –also this was after caregiving for my Mom, who later passed away of pancreatic cancer when I was 26. I was exploring different career paths, what activities I enjoy, and what I was naturally good at.  Read more>>

Jonathan Sherman

In 2021 I wrote a tv show that was noticed by some producers. It began to be shopped in 2022 and then the writers strike happened. In addition to that trying to find venues to produce a stage play has been very difficult. There are a lot of people who don’t mean well in the business. The struggle is navigating those people but still keeping your fire for your art and not allowing circumstances to quench your blaze. Read more>>

Nina

My relationship with my husband has also been deeply healing, since I realized that perfection is not the point, especially in love. He has really helped teach me to love myself more. I also went through a few job situations which were good lessons in surrender, and helped redirect me towards the path I’m currently on. I now have really learned to trust when things shift in life, instead of trying to control the outcome so much. I hope to work with women in a way that will guide them to trusting themselves more. Read more>>

Erin Farnsworth

Wes Farnsworth, the CEO of the company (and my brother), began his journey on the Westside of Los Angeles in 2011. His passion for building was inspired by a unique blend of influences—his father, a custom redwood burl furniture maker, and his grandfather, an engineer. This combination sparked a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and a respect for superior infrastructure, ultimately shaping his vision for custom homebuilding. Read more>>

DJ Moua James Edmunds

Definitely not smooth. It was incredibly challenging to find someone willing to work with us. Our patent-pending status made things even more complicated. Figuring out a construction that worked beautifully was another hurdle. We went through a couple of manufacturers before finding the right one—someone who understood our commitment to creating something high-quality and eco-conscious. And now, we’re navigating the world of social media, learning how to show up and connect—all as a second act in life. Read more>>

Oksana Gritcai

The uncertainty of COVID and the ongoing challenges of immigration added another layer of pressure. In the silent gaze of immigration and the rhythm of American life, the unspoken question lingers—Do you deserve to be here? And the only way to answer is through excellence, day after day. There’s no room for error, and the stakes are high. You have to show up at your best every single time. But in a way, that pressure became a gift. It demanded excellence and pushed me to grow faster, work smarter, and stay resilient. Read more>>

Regan Williams

Some weeks, we realized it was more important to just be present and available to listen and provide comfort and encouragement for our students. The hidden blessing this struggle held was a removal of the obstacle youth in care already face: Transportation. We realized by holding some of our classes online, we were able to reach a broader audience and serve youth in remote areas of LA. This lesson taught me that there is almost always a benefit to the struggles organizations face, and to keep hope alive in the midst of setbacks. Read more>>

Gaby Aziz

The idea for what is now Heart Core Hotels came amidst the George Floyd protests. My co-founder Tony and I started brainstorming how we can promote the message of kindness and tolerance, and naturally settled on what we knew best: travel. We created a planet-friendly mission-driven hotel company and a sister nonprofit – Heart Core Fund – aka travel scholarships for kids who never traveled before. Read more>>

Saint Simmons

As I mentioned before, LA wasn’t kind to me in the beginning. I faced my share of setbacks—some that nearly made me pack it all up. At one point, I didn’t have a place to stay. I had to quit a job because my employer stopped paying me. I went through a painful breakup with someone I’d been with for six years. Read more>>

Taylor Andrews

As a Black woman in this space, I knew I was stepping into an industry where representation is still lacking—but that just made me push harder. I’ve dealt with financial stress and moments where I questioned if I could really make this happen. But giving up was never an option. I started Wild+Nite with purpose, and that purpose is what keeps me going. I want anyone reading this to know: you don’t have to follow the traditional path. You can create your own lane—and no matter how hard it gets, keep going. You’re closer than you think. Read more>>

Shell Enns

Along the way, I had the opportunity to work with artists like J. Cole, Rick Ross, and Keith Sweat, which gave me early insight into the level of excellence the industry demands. Eventually, I brought that passion into the studio and built Crown Studios in Jackson, Mississippi from the ground up. It became a space where artists could feel safe to create without limits, and over time, it grew into a positive force for our artistic community—bringing people together, fostering collaboration, and helping talent from all backgrounds be heard. Read more>>

Ryan Sokolowski

His expertise in the West Los Angeles area especially in the Marina del Rey real estate market will help ensure that you get the best price for your property. His proven marketing program will ensure the right buyers see your home. Diligence, enthusiasm and a relaxed demeanor enable Ryan to find opportunity for his clients in any market conditions. His communication skills, professionalism and technical expertise set him apart from the casual Realtor, making him a valuable asset to his professional client base. Read more>>

Gabriella Shamooelian

I started slow—green smoothies and daily walks were my entry point. From there, I began diving deep into holistic health in my spare time, reading everything I could about gut health, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine. Eventually, I made the leap, left the corporate world, and committed fully to this path. Since graduating with my BS in Biopsychology, I’ve gone back to school and earned three certifications in Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching, Advanced Hormone Health, and Advanced Gut Health. It’s been a full-circle transformation, and I’m passionate about helping others do the same. Read more>>

Film Girlz Brunch

Three years later, the brunches have expanded to workshops, panels, collaborations, wellness events and even an annual short film festival in partnership with the American Cinematheque that celebrates the films made by members of Film Girlz Brunch. Our group chat(s) encompass 300-400 women filmmakers of various experiences, all actively working to make their projects happen. In 2024 a Chicago chapter was formed thanks to Imani – she’s originally from there and had friends in Chicago willing to run Film Girlz Brunch there too. Read more>>

Paloma Ronquillo

Cinematography started in my living room, filming my dog, cat, and cousin on a Cyber-shot Sony digital camera. There were times when I was young that I remember documenting even the hard moments. Back then, it was just for fun—or because I felt the need to capture a specific feeling in those moments. But somewhere between those homemade scenes and the first time I held a cinema camera, something clicked—a heat wave of just knowing: this is it. It wasn’t just a hobby anymore. Read more>>

Benjamin Sarcadi

My journey began with a deep frustration at how society marginalizes people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, boxing them out of opportunities they deserve. That fire to change things led me to team up with Melissa Spicuzza in 2013, when we co-founded Breaking Barriers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to shattering those limits. Together, we set out to build a world where individuals with disabilities could chase their dreams with real support. Read more>>

Matt Bass

I originally set out to be a music video director, but over time I gravitated toward documentaries. They felt like more grounded, real stories with substance, purpose, and something educational. I still enjoy the creative freedom of music videos and commercials, but these days I prefer to approach those types of projects as a cinematographer. Read more>>

Jeff Keasberry

After moving to LA in 2005, Jeff realized how little Americans knew about the Indische Nederlanders or Indo community—people of mixed Dutch and Indonesian heritage who immigrated to the U.S. via the Netherlands after Indonesia’s independence. This diaspora includes notable figures like the late Eddie and Alex van Halen and actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, yet remains underrepresented in mainstream narratives. Read more>>

Kevin Cheng

My one-act play “Dear Diary” was selected to premiere at the Chain Theatre Winter One-Act Festival in New York in February, and I had the opportunity to portray one of the lead characters alongside Elizabeth McBryde. It was such a rewarding experience to see my writing manifest on stage at a prestigious theater and seeing the impact my play had on the audience. After four sold-out performances at the Chain Theatre, the play will now transfer to The Players Theatre for its Off-Broadway run in June with the original cast. Read more>>

Shaun Boles

I am from Sacramento area, moved to LA over a decade ago. I have a big family with 3 brothers and 2 sisters and they are my favorite people. I was a good student but decided to go to culinary school after high school despite my mother’s wishes to be a doctor or something. I loved cooking and it always felt so cool to make that my career. I worked at UCDavis for many years before moving to Los Angeles in 2013 to become a chef at CalLutheran University in Thousand Oaks. I went on to be chef for the Los Angeles Rams, was a private chef and head chef at a high end rehab. I am currently an executive chef at Riot Games headquarters.  Read more>>

Marina Swann

I’m a singer, songwriter, and music producer, and music is the air I breathe. It has been for as long as I can remember—I’ve always sung and experienced all my emotions through sound and dance. I was born in the crumbling Soviet Union, surrounded by an eclectic mix of music—from folk songs to Madonna, Queen, and Michael Jackson, and from Disney tunes to punk rock. After a not-so-brief pause to earn a living and sort out my life, I made a decision to pursue music on a professional level about five years ago. Read more>>

Pua Hall

At 17, everything shifted. I found out I had a broken back, and that diagnosis became the catalyst for my spiritual awakening. I dove deep into meditation, visualization, and the mind-body connection. It became clear to me that healing wasn’t just physical — it was mental, emotional, and spiritual as well. I used those practices not just to cope, but to compete. I went on to earn a full-ride scholarship to UCLA, became an All-American and National Champion, and finished my college gymnastics career with a broken back — all through the power of the mind, my support system at UCLA, and unwavering inner strength. Read more>>

Alix Goodwin Olavarria

My path to becoming a holistic transformational life coach has been anything but linear. I’ve always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit, which led me down a variety of creative and professional paths. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats—actress, e-commerce business owner, real estate agent, and entertainment executive in the film distribution industry. While these careers may seem unrelated, I now realize they were all stepping stones in my personal growth, with each experience contributing to the person I am today. Read more>>