Highlighting Local Gems

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.

Kaylin Ambrose

Yes. I think when we start doing things to seek out the praise of others, we’re doing it for the wrong reasons. I try to give everything my best, regardless of what it is, to make myself proud. Read more>>

Jalen Gage

I avoid negativity. And I avoid conflict that I can’t learn anything from. At this point in my life, I’m very intentional about what I give my energy to. In the content creator space, I’m avoiding being boxed into any single narrative especially being seen as just a sex symbol. There’s so much more to me than being an attractive guy. Read more>>

Tre’Prince White-Williams

This is such a deep question. But I think the fear that held me back most of my life would be the world not understanding me. For me being an empath I crave connection. I love knowing that I can be seen without judgement and express myself without limits. Read more>>

Tonya Moore

I hope people say that I created space—for honesty, healing, and meaningful conversation. That I used storytelling not just to entertain, but to help people feel seen, understood, and less alone. More than anything, I hope they say I was brave enough to tell the truth and generous enough to invite others to do the same, leaving people freer than I found them. Read more>>

Meredith Limoges

The “I can learn anything and do it myself” mode. It got me here—resourceful, fast, scrappy. But to grow, I have to stop defaulting to DIY and start trusting other people with real ownership. Read more>>

Neethu Gopal

I am deeply committed to the belief that confidence can be learned and that it doesn’t have to be built through competition, pressure, or comparison. AP4Women is the project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes. It exists for the women and girls who feel invisible, who are capable but quiet, and who don’t thrive in high-pressure or competitive environments. Read more>>

Salina Thompson, PMP

I changed my mind about caring too much about what other people think—and I had to fail hard to finally let that go. I’ve worked in service-based environments my whole life, so “customer service” used to feel like my entire identity. That made me hyper-aware of other people’s opinions. Read more>>

Lacey Taylor

In 2025. I learned the art of transmuting anger into abundance, by crying. 2025 was a time of reimagining my power and the magnitude of it. Read more>>

Dr. T. Ph.D.

I’ve felt most loved in the quiet, ordinary moments—being present with my family, watching my children grow, and knowing that I’m valued not for what I produce, but simply for who I am. Those moments carry a depth that success or recognition never could. For a long time, I’m not sure I fully believed I deserved that kind of love. Read more>>

Tarryn Hoff

Yes, I would hire me—and not because I think I have all the answers, but because I’m deeply committed to doing the work. I bring consistency, integrity, and a genuine care for people into everything I do. I don’t cut corners, I don’t chase shortcuts, and I don’t disappear when things get difficult. What sets me apart is that I combine experience with humility. Read more>>

Ashley Rouse

I’m being called to fully lean into my creativity—and to trust it enough to monetize it. For many years, I made money doing things that didn’t bring me joy or fulfillment because I believed stability had to come at the expense of purpose. Creativity was always there, but I was taught—directly and indirectly—that it wasn’t a “real” skill or a viable profession. Read more>>

Dana Miller

It certainly taught me who my real-deal ride-or-die friends are and who they never had been. Spoiler alert, kids: it’s almost never who you think it is! Read more>>

Jean-Marie Andrews

Suffering taught me how to listen—deeply and honestly. Success can affirm ability and effort, but suffering stripped away noise and forced me to discern what actually matters. It taught me patience, humility, and how to move with intention instead of urgency. Through hardship, I learned that endurance isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about staying aligned. Read more>>

Leebra Clark

What fear has held me back? There is a fear of success. Read more>>

Chandrika Phea

The one kind thing I’d say to my younger self: ‘You are not and have never been broken. Be the whole, the complete, and the free you were created to be.’ Read more>>

BANVOA

Yes, I’m naturally very vibrant and social—a literal ‘social butterfly’. Lol! I love connecting with people, learning about them, and hearing their stories. I’m a child at heart, but I do have serious moments, especially when it comes to business and the world we live in. I’m very caring and empathetic, and I always try to make people feel seen and special through my work. Read more>>

Tope Mitchell

What I’m most proud of building—what nobody really sees—is the inside of Reflekt Me: the way we work together. In a startup world that often romanticizes founder drama as “grit,” we’ve built something quieter and far more powerful: a leadership team anchored in trust. The relationship between our CTO (Jorge Cuel) and COO (Gerald Mitchell, Ed.D) is one of the most strategic assets we have. Read more>>

LaQuana ‘L.APink’ & Phillip ‘Stone’ RAMSEY’S

People often see the visible actions — the boldness, the advocacy, the pressure — without recognizing the deeper motivation behind it. A legacy rooted in conviction is not about seeking attention or approval. It is about responsibility, accountability, and following a moral or spiritual directive that isn’t always visible from the outside. Read more>>

ArtByGwn

As a child I believed that I had to conform to what other people did in order to be valued. As I grew up, I realized I didn’t have to live in that box that everyone placed me in. I could be outspoken, I could be creative, I could be non traditional, I can just be me. Read more>>

Alex Beano

I feel like my legacy would be misunderstood but how quick things will happen for me. A lot of the time people see the overnight sussess but never really knowing how long it actually took to get there. Its always easy to show the ups but not as much as the downs and most people could care less. Read more>>

Chef Phillip Whitaker

My mentor, the late Chef Patricia Francis. She was the first person to ever see the potential, gifts and passion. A culinary mentor is essential because they provide guidance that goes beyond recipes and techniques. She invented and poured into me as a true leader should. Mentors help shape and discipline you in the kitchen while offering real-world insight that can only come from experience. Read more>>

Andre Melgacio

I’m following my dream. I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was a child, but my family was naturally worried about me being financially stable—especially in Brazil, where there are fewer opportunities in this industry than here. Because of that, I actually graduated in Social Communication and started a corporate career before I finally decided to pivot and commit to acting. Read more>>

Jalyssa Jimenez

I personally feel like, for me to continue my path. I would need to wander around and find out what I want to do. I have time and time again worked so hard to control the avenues of my life without realizing. Read more>>

Juan Mejia

It’s okay to do things differently. My industry has long relied on cold calling and transactional prospecting, but I always knew that wasn’t my path. I wanted to build relationships first—adding value, showing up consistently, and earning trust before ever asking for business. Creating a small, nimble firm has allowed me to prioritize quality over quantity and to experiment without fear of failure. Read more>>

Hak Sung Kim

I think this is a very personal question. For me, I’ve always planned with a long-term mindset. I usually think in terms of at least five years, and I don’t really do anything expecting it to pay off sooner than that. If someone wants fast money, they can gamble, but that’s not planning — that’s hoping for a miracle. Read more>>

Jessica Hernandez Park

Jessica Hernández Park is most proud of building a kind, cohesive, and hard-working team at Park Ave Cosmetic Center. For her, the true success of the business isn’t just in the treatments they offer, but in the supportive culture she’s created—one where everyone shows up with compassion, accountability, and a genuine desire to help clients feel their best. Read more>>

Obatalia™ Yemoshunya

Suffering put a black light on things I thought were squeaky f&@king clean. I had to sit with things I believed were “healed.” I found myself in muddied waters of defense, asking my body for clues to the truth behind feeling triggered by a circumstance that washed over me like a wave. Read more>>

Bresean Pierce

What I use to believe vs now as a kid? me being different was a caution to my adult life. Growing up I wasn’t in to things like most girlies! I use to feel like my personality, my interest in certain things, my style & the music I listened to was so different from the people where I’m come from. Read more>>

JOM Prod

The fear that’s held me back the most is the fear of being wrong—and paying a permanent price for it. As a Black man, there’s an unspoken pressure to succeed “the right way,” to be responsible, to not become a stereotype, to make choices that can’t be questioned later. Failure doesn’t always feel personal—it feels representative. Read more>>