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 Miami.
Alissa Westcott
My own healing journey is what first led me down the path of beauty and wellness. I found myself constantly searching — researching health, wellness, and what it meant to truly grow as a woman. The more I learned, the more I realized that beauty wasn’t just surface-level. It was about feeling whole, balanced, and alive. Read more>>
Alexander Dopazo
My father transitioned into insurance while I was just starting in the workforce. I was working in a coffee shop. (Coffee is actually one of my lifelong passions) One day, while I was visiting my father, he asked if I would help him at his office. Like any dutiful son I said yes. Read more>>
Eliana Azarian
Right out of my master’s program in 2018,I began working in a community mental health company, providing home based therapy to low income households where my world view was changed and molded to consider the lack of high quality care for those who need it. I also began seeing stoneman douglas clients and began molding my work as a trauma specialist. Read more>>
Kelsy Aguera
All my life I have severely struggled with how I look but things got worse in 2017 with I was about 18 years old. I was what I felt “skinny fat” and I started working out and eating but I didn’t know how to eat so I did a lot of binging. Read more>>
Adam Bailie
Tropical Sailing had humble beginnings — just a few small Hobie Cats gliding over the turquoise waters off Deerfield Beach. But even in those early days, we had a big dream: to share the beauty and spirit of South Florida with as many people as possible. Read more>>
Esther Gavino
My name is Esther Gavino, and I’m the founder of Taste of Paella. I was born and raised in Marbella, in the south of Spain, where sharing good food around the table isn’t just a tradition — it’s a way of life. In Spain, it’s common for family and friends to come together on weekends to cook paella. Read more>>
Aylen Chappeta
Hello, and thank you so much for having me! I was born in Argentina and raised between Buenos Aires and Miami, Florida. I’ve truly been surrounded by art my entire life; my aunts were painters, and my mom created beautiful cakes and handcrafted porcelain clay pieces. Growing up in that environment taught me to appreciate creativity in all its forms. Read more>>
Jorge Rosso
I was a baby when I started my Architecture and Interior Design Practice! I took the leap far too young I think, but without risk there’s no reward, so I have not looked back. That was almost 30 years ago and I am still going! Read more>>
Jessica Masi
My journey with Masi Events started from a genuine love of storytelling through celebration. When I launched the business over a decade ago, it was about building trust, one couple and one event at a time. Those early years were filled with learning, long hours, and earning a reputation for care, creativity, and reliability in an industry that’s all about emotion and detail. Read more>>
Andres Vargas
My journey in real estate started when I was just 18–20 years old, full of ambition and curiosity. I got my first hands-on experience fixing and flipping homes for my best friend’s aunt. We were young, eager, and willing to get our hands dirty, literally. I learned the ropes by doing the work myself, from renovations to problem-solving on the job site. Read more>>
Madina Bahretdinova
I came to the US from Tajikistan at the age of 16 back in 2004 by winning a scholarship to be an exchange student and study in High School here. Read more>>
Carolina Monroy
My journey really began from a deep desire to help people heal their relationship with food and themselves. As a Registered Dietitian, I saw so many people struggling not just with what to eat, but with guilt, confusion, and a sense of disconnection from their own bodies. I knew I wanted to create something that went beyond nutrition plans something that addressed the whole person. Read more>>
Barbia Rivera
If someone would have told me that my artistic skills would be best utilized as a homeschooling mother I would have completely disagreed. Me, an educator? No way. In my twenty-something mind, ‘art’ involved paint, canvas, mental highs and lows, and a dedication to turn a vision into something that looks good hung on a wall. Read more>>
Lovester Montgomery III
What truly makes someone an asset? With training, anyone can learn a skill—but every now and then you come across a rare gem who naturally embodies excellence. Read more>>
Michelle Pearlman
I’m a board-certified gastroenterologist, obesity medicine specialist, physician nutrition specialist, and certified menopause practitioner who has always believed that food is medicine — but that the healthcare system doesn’t always make it easy to practice that way. I began my career in academic medicine at the University of Miami, where I started the medical weight management program. Read more>>
Felix Filias
My Story I was born and raised on Tortuga Island, Haiti, a small community that taught me the value of resilience, compassion, and service from an early age. My passion for medicine began there, inspired by the deep need for accessible healthcare and the difference one dedicated provider can make. Read more>>
Johanna Godinez
In 2008 I finished my MBA and had no idea what to do with it. The economy in decline and I couldn’t find opportunities that aligned with a lifelong career. That’s when I found fitness and yoga. I became a personal trainer and started a corporate wellness company in Puerto Rico and started sharing my passion of being healthy and happy. Read more>>
Tanya Patron, PA-C
My journey started long before Selfie Aesthetic ever had a name. I’ve always been fascinated by the balance between science and beauty; how subtle, precise changes can make someone look and feel like the best version of themselves. Read more>>
Benny Fernandez
Meet Benny Fernandez Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Benny Fernandez is a proud Cuban-American dental executive, entrepreneur, and licensed Florida real estate broker. His career began in dental sales and leadership, where he quickly gained recognition for his ability to build meaningful relationships, drive growth, and bridge the gap between clinical care and business success. Read more>>
Jenny Preston
I loved being a part of the homecoming planning process in high school, which led to an internship with the city of Delray Beach’s event cooperative, which lead to a few years in marketing, where I met a wedding photographer, and ultimately led to me starting my own business. Read more>>
Fatima Dahab
Over fifteen years ago, I began my journey as a therapist at Aventura Hospital, not yet realizing how deeply this work would shape me. In those early years, I was immersed in people’s stories — their pain, their resilience, and their capacity to heal. Read more>>
Maira Marin Villegas
I finish my school take my license years after that same lady training me to be a Nails instructor on the same school, after that I started my career as a Cuccio nails instructor thanks to the opportunity the director of the company (Marilyn Garcia) by this moment I don’t think I have much further to go until 2024 my husband give me the opportunity to open a studio I was the happiest person! With a lot of fear and nervousness but with a lot of faith . Read more>>
JACQUELINE MAGALHAES
My name is Jacqueline and I am an immigrant from Brazil, my mother came to this country 40 years ago. Unfortunately, when I arrived in Queens NY, I did not get to go or be in school, I was 13 years old. Being a teenager full of life I soon started to roam the streets of NY city. Read more>>
