Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds Over the past decade we have had the chance to learn about so many incredible folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds and our highlighter series is designed to give us an opportunity to go deeper into their stories with to goal of understanding them, their thought process, how their values formed and the foundations of their stories. Check out some incredible folks below – many of whom you may have read about already and a few new names as well.
Matthew Ramessar
In this point of my career, I believe I am walking a path. I’ve been doing this since I was 16 years old and a lot has changed over the course of life in terms of music. I’ve made new friends, I’ve had better opportunities and most importantly, I’ve just made better music too. Read more>>
Bryan Willis-Reese
I’m wandering, but with purpose. The distinction matters because wandering isn’t aimlessness—it’s a different kind of intentionality. I used to map out strong paths, construct detailed plans, and chart every step forward, but life had a way of redirecting me regardless of how carefully I’d plotted the course. The wind blew where it would, and those rigid outlines became more constraint than compass. Read more>>
Kay Paschal
Yes! Marketing a book on your own when you are not known by anyone takes a level of confidence, humbleness that you never knew you had, and a lack of the fear of humiliation that you didn’t know you could endure. Read more>>
Ny’Asia Keys
I would tell my younger self that I’m proud of her. I don’t think I heard that enough from those around me in my adolescence. I’m proud of myself for working toward becoming the person I am today! Read more>>
Tonia Thomas
Dear Younger Me, If I could sit down with you today, I would gently take your hand and share a few thoughts that I’ve learned along the way. You are a unique and wonderful soul, filled with kindness, love, and a quiet strength that shines brightly, even when you feel it doesn’t. Read more>>
Ama Serapheona
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would immediately stop letting money dictate where I invest my time and energy. I would no longer allow external expectations or societal pressures to determine the direction of my life. Instead, I would be intentional about pursuing projects that align with my purpose and values. Read more>>
Kim Dankoor
I’ve realized that I can’t really put on a “public persona.” It feels exhausting to fake who you are in certain situations. That resistance is closely tied to integrity and being real—qualities I deeply value in myself and in others. Of course, there are different contexts in which I share different parts of myself, but it is always me. Read more>>
Yolanda Grace
Yes—there have been several times when I almost gave up on music. As an independent artist, there are moments when continuing simply doesn’t make practical sense. Life is always in the foreground, and when there’s little or no income coming from music, it can feel irresponsible to keep pouring energy, time, and money into it. Read more>>
Richard Charles
I’m chasing alignment more than anything alignment between who I am, what I create, and the life I’m building. For a long time, I was chasing validation, momentum, and the feeling that I had to constantly prove something. Now, I’m chasing purpose, freedom, and sustainability. Read more>>
Sharia Philadelphia
What I am most proud of which often goes unseen is my entrepreneurial journey in digital marketing and AI engineering. Starting as an aesthetic social media marketing personality, I mastered corporate marketing techniques used within the industry. Read more>>
Dynasty Myles
I’m proud of building a different starting point for my family. Breaking cycles, creating stability, and showing that what we pass down isn’t just money but it’s mindset, Read more>>
Reedgion
Suffering taught me patience — not the passive kind, but the disciplined kind that keeps you moving when there’s no applause, no validation, and no clear timeline. Success can make progress look effortless, but suffering forces you to confront who you are when nothing is working and quitting would be easier. It also taught me restraint and awareness. Read more>>
Jorge Alain Herrera
Suffering taught me resilience like nothing else. When I was younger, I quit constantly, even high school at one point, always chasing a clean start. At one stage, I was essentially homeless, sleeping in my car and even on the desk in my architecture studio as I reoriented myself and my goals. Read more>>
William Christopher Scandrett
As a child, I believed that something was fundamentally wrong with me—that I was too much in some ways and not enough in others. I carried the idea that my sensitivity, curiosity, and differences were liabilities rather than strengths. Over time, and through faith, education, and healing, I’ve learned that those very qualities are what allow me to connect, create, and lead with empathy. Read more>>
Stephanie Robins
I’ve come to understand something that I wish more people truly believed: everyone is insecure, everyone is worried they’re not doing enough, and everyone is afraid of being judged. We spend so much time in our heads, assuming other people are analyzing our every move, when in reality, most people are far too busy worrying about themselves to notice the little things we obsess over. Read more>>
Lindsay Hartmann
The fear that has held me back the most in life has been the fear of failure. As someone who sort of fell into entrepreneurship, it’s hard to push through the fact that I will fail. However, as I grow as a person and in my business I recognize that true success is on the other side of failure (sometimes multiple failures). Read more>>
Tiffany Coles
I hope people say, “She treated people kindly.” In everything I do, I strive to lead with kindness, honesty, and respect — values that were poured into me by my village. I pray that Bosses Give Back becomes part of my legacy for my children and community, long after I’m gone. What began as a passion project quickly became purpose. Read more>>
Yolanda Wilson
When I’m surrounded by kind, gentle souls, people with great energy and uplifting vibes, I truly lose track of time. In those moments, I’m able to tap into my most pure and authentic self. There’s something incredibly powerful about the combination of sunshine, shared meals, meaningful conversations, and positive energy. Read more>>
Kenzi Taylor
One of the moments that most shaped how I see the world was realizing just how much access and opportunity can change a person’s life. Early in my work, I saw individuals who had been underestimated or overlooked completely transform when they were given the right support, patience, and a space where they were truly seen. Read more>>
Meagan Naraine
A moment that completely reshaped how I see the world happened when I started teaching science in a South Fulton high school through Teach For America in 2018. That was when I first saw how inequitable education can be. Read more>>
Dr. Kim McNair
integrity Read more>>
Jay King
Integrity is the most important value to strive for, because it’s during the right thing, even when no one’s around and I feel intelligence and energy comes with it. Read more>>
BraShauna Winbush
That shift happened when my mom became seriously ill and I had to step into the role of caregiver abruptly. Nothing prepares you for watching your parent change right in front of you, or for how quickly life can reroute itself. Read more>>
Sernesha Burston
I stopped hiding my pain when I learned I was chosen for this life . I stopped asking the lord why and how? Then, I started to embrace my pain because I would not be who I was without it. Generational Trauma is something that is brushed under the rug for many generations and in many families. Read more>>
Simone Middlebrooks
Simone Middlebrooks The last time I felt true joy was when my dad was alive. His presence brought a calm that’s hard to explain. Just sitting in the same room, hearing him laugh, or having one of our deep talks made everything feel safe. Life still had its chaos, but when he was here, joy was simple. It was real. Read more>>
splrssa
Right now, I’m learning a lot from Jeff Hardy. I’ve always related to him — the ups, the downs, the way he never hides the fact that he’s human. Seeing how he keeps creating through his struggles makes me feel less alone in mine. It pushes me to stay consistent and stay expressive. Read more>>
Genevieve LeDoux
My parents, in very different ways. My father had polio as a child and was told he would spend his life confined to an iron lung. What carried him through that period was imagination. While his body was limited, his inner world wasn’t. He learned early that creativity isn’t an escape from reality, it’s a way to survive it. Read more>>
Frank Oakley III
I was an extremely weird kid growing up, and at the same time, the world/neighborhood/culture told me who I ‘had to be’, what things I’m supposed to like, etc. And it wasn’t until the last couple of years that I tapped back into this side of who I am. Read more>>
Ashley Payne
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was deeply curious and imaginative. I was someone who loved asking questions, observing people, and getting lost in stories. I paid attention to how things worked and why people behaved the way they did. I didn’t see a divide between logic and creativity. They existed together naturally. Read more>>
