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.
India Harris
For a long time, I did what I was told to do. I followed the path that looked right on the outside — the one that made everyone proud and kept me safe from judgment. I chased stability over fulfillment, survival over purpose. I wore many titles, but few truly reflected who I was inside. Read more>>
Key Glover
I truly believe I’m doing what I was born to do. I didn’t choose this industry on my own — I prayed and asked God which gift He wanted me to use to bring Him glory, bring me joy, and also sustain me financially. Within days, the answer came, and I was honestly shocked. Read more>>
Tonya Jeffries
One of my proudest recent moments was graduating with my degree in Marketing. It wasn’t just about earning a degree it was about completing a promise I made to myself years ago. There were late nights, long workdays, and plenty of moments when balancing everything felt impossible. Read more>>
Perry Clarke
My last shoot with my guy Santrell, it made me appreciate my journey. He is a whole movie director and he working with me on my projects. Read more>>
M-16
For the most part, yeah — what you see is what you get. I don’t really believe in putting on a different version of myself just for the public. Of course, there are parts of me that stay private, but the energy, the humor, and the way I approach conversations on the show — that’s all me. Read more>>
Michelle Mendoza
Honestly? Every other day, no mentira, pero casi. There were moments where I felt overwhelmed, confused or doubting if I was really built for everything I’m creating. But every time I got close to giving up, I reminded myself why I started: the freedom I want, the life I’m building, and the woman I know I can become. Read more>>
Yvetta Young
Yes — many times. But I had to push through. Life has a way of throwing things at you that you don’t feel prepared for — or at least, you think you’re not. That’s when my faith steps in, and when I lean on community. Read more>>
Unnati Topiwala
Yes, there have been many moments when I felt like giving up. Building a business is challenging, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed or unsure at times. However, I remind myself of the reason I started this journey in the first place: my children. Thinking about the example I want to set for them and the future I’m creating motivate me to push through challenges.
Patrice Lindo
I’m being called to expand beyond visibility coaching into cultural restoration — helping professionals not just find their next role, but reclaim their voice in a system that’s spent decades muting it. For years, I played small inside polished rooms that didn’t know what to do with a woman like me — Black, bold, and unbothered by hierarchy. Now, I’m leading from that truth unapologetically. Read more>>
NEFERTARI COUNCIL
I’m chasing alignment, the balance between creative purpose and visionary execution. Every project I take on now, from CBA Crime Files to my role as Brand Identity Architect for ZLIBS™, is rooted in building something that outlives trends. Read more>>
Dahmarre Bournes
I’m chasing a future to be an inspiration — for those who need it, old and young. I’ve never once thought about stopping. Because if I did, there’d be people in my life — people who’ve watched me work so hard — wondering why I gave up. There’d be people out there who could’ve connected with my message, still stuck because I never reached them.
Malik Bailey
I’m most proud of the mental fortitude and moral standing that I have built through years in this industry. I can roll with the punches and I’ll never slight a peer for the sake of getting ahead.Read more>>
Celi Viloria
What I’m most proud of building — that nobody really sees — is my little, beautiful family. Behind the door of our small house on a hill, we live with true joy and gratitude every single day. Read more>>
Bria Clark
Often, it isn’t betrayal or distance that breaks bonds — it’s danger. Unforeseen danger exposes the difference between those who prepared and those who simply hoped. As children, the deepest disappointment comes when we realize the people we looked up to didn’t do anything to prepare. That realization changes how we trust, how we love, and how we plan. Read more>>
Amarilys Gonzalez
What suffering taught me — that success never could — is the strength that comes from breaking but still choosing to rebuild. When I was a teenager, I grew up in a dysfunctional family where there was pain and emotional abuse. At that time, I didn’t realize it, but those difficult years were shaping something powerful inside me — resilience.Read more>>
Jeremy Smith
If anyone knows me, they know the first 90 minutes of my day are sacred. Do not call, text, or even think about emailing me during this time. I’m not a morning person—unless you count my shower, which is basically the only thing that wakes me up. I don’t drink coffee (shockingly, I know), so that cold water is my life support. Read more>>
Brandon Alston
I believe that art doesn’t come from the artist alone — but something we participate in. It’s created through a relationship, a conversation between the artist and the world around them. Every piece of art is born from reciprocity: between human and nature, maker and material, idea and experience. Creation is a shared act, a mutual exchange where both sides leave changed. Read more>>
Katie Hawkins
I think people often underestimate how much heart, strategy and collaboration go into what we do because sometimes, it can feel effortless once a project is released into the world. People see the final video, not the hours spent shaping a story, planning each shot, and collaborating with clients to make sure it reflects their voice and purpose. Read more>>
Arianna Maisonet
I think what people will most misunderstand about my legacy is that it didn’t happen overnight or come easy. From the outside, people might see the confidence, the achievements, or the moments that look effortless — but what they won’t always see are the silent battles, the sacrifices, and the faith it took to get there. Read more>>
Ced Wynez
I deeply understand and believe we are the miracle and the blessing GOD has created. God has given us the power, the knowledge and wisdom to accomplish anything we set our minds too. As humans we have done it already. People go to church, the mosque and pray to God for blessings or a miracle. Read more>>
Messieurs Swank
Fear has been a big theme in my life lately. I’ve been having a lot of conversations about not just feeling fear, but really examining it, asking where it comes from and whether it’s even valid. Growing up performing, as I mentioned earlier, I learned early what it felt like to have attention on me. Read more>>
Dania Henry
Starting the Queer Perspectives: Then and Now Podcast has been a deeply fulfilling journey for me. It’s something I’ve dreamed of doing for a long time, and now that it’s finally happening, it brings me genuine joy. The podcast gives me a platform to amplify voices and stories from across the queer community, bridging past experiences with present realities. Read more>>
