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.
Doug Zeif
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would simply be: *you matter.* Your voice matters. Your struggles matter. The confusion, the doubt, the longing to find your place in the world—it all matters. You don’t have to earn your worth through perfection, productivity, or approval. You are already enough, exactly as you are, in every imperfect and uncertain moment. Read more>>
Diana Vargas
One of the biggest false labels I carried for years was the idea that I was “just one thing”, that I could only fit into one box, one role, or one version of myself. Read more>>
Audrey Keliehor
A normal day with Audswimmers always starts with coffee and a peek at my scheduling software to see which swimmers I get to splash around with that day. Depending on the roster, I’m usually thinking about which toys or stickers to pack, because motivation comes in all forms. Read more>>
Tatiana Denisova
My earliest memory of power does not come from childhood, but from before this life. I remember the moment of choosing this incarnation and knowing that I would come as a woman. It felt like a challenge and, at the same time, a calling. In that moment, I clearly sensed my strength — ancient, familiar, already lived before. Read more>>
Justin D’Angelo
While there isn’t one single, dramatic ‘lightbulb’ moment that instantly shaped my worldview, the most formative influence was definitely the time I spent living abroad as a teenager in Singapore, France, and Australia. Living in those three vastly different cultural and geographical contexts wasn’t just a fun travel experience; it was an intensive, real-world lesson in global perspective. Read more>>
Rachid Akiki
I stopped hiding my pain the day I saw it had a job. Pain was not there to break me. It was there to wake me. I learned that the things I tried to hide were the same things that made me move. Made me build. Made me fight for a better life. So I stopped running from it. I started using it. As fuel. Read more>>
Michell Llovet
I stopped hiding my pain the moment I realized I was living in a constant state of overstimulation and stress because I was a chronic people pleaser. I was giving so much of myself away that I didn’t even recognize who I was anymore. Read more>>
FirstKings Love
When do I feel most at peace? That’s an interesting question. One I’ve actually been reflecting on lately. So I’m glad you asked. Honestly, I feel most at peace when I’m on long car rides. There’s something sacred about driving with no music, no noise, no distractions. Just silence, conversation, and communion with the Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son. Read more>>
Brigitte Sinoradzki
When I entered the corporate world after college, I was very shy. I had social anxiety which compounded with my (questionable for my personality) career choice of public relations and marketing. I worked with a lot of famous folks in New York and always thought of myself as less than. Read more>>
