Through our work we have had the good fortune of seeing firsthand how success comes in every shape, size, color, faith, and orientation. More importantly we’ve learned that success is often the result of people embracing their unique backgrounds and so we’ve asked the community to tell us about their background and how it has impacted where they are today.

Manya Pathak | Book Blogger, Researcher and Writer

I am from New Delhi, India. I grew up in a house where reading and love for language was an overarching theme. Growing up, when my brother and I used to study for exams, our mother used to sit next to us and read novels. Read more>>

Maddy Trainor | Psychotherapist

I originally grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to Raleigh, NC at age thirteen. Spending childhood in one place and adolescence in another taught me about growth, connection, diversity, culture, and openness to experience. Moving to a new state with a very different culture (Rust Belt to Sun Belt) exposed me to a different pace of life. Read more>>

Leo Valladares | Indie Christian singer/songwriter

I’m originally from the plains of Nebraska, raised in the country, in a family of 5, my mom and dad plus my brother and sister. We were very poor but looking back at that time I didn’t know it. My mom and dad were very self-driven to improve themselves and the family. Read more>>

Cameron Smith | Cinematographer & Filmmaker

I grew up in a midwest small town where you could drive 20 minutes in any direction and find cornfields all around. It wasn’t until I was twenty years old that I decided it was time to leave that small town and find a new place to call home, that being Denver, Colorado. I grew up in a loving and supportive home. Read more>>