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.

Pamela Pastor | Cake decorator and Industrial Designer.

I am from Argentina, Buenos Aires from a city, called La Plata. When I was a little girl, my Mom used to make us our birthday cakes. She also kept doing cakes as a second job, to keep being recommended. After some time she had to give up her passion, to focus on her daily work and taking care of my brother and myself, However she never stopped making our family cakes. Read more>>

Katie Granados | DJ & Event Host

I’m from Orland Park, a southern suburb of Chicago. I grew up with parents who filled our home with a lot of rock and pop music. They never caved to playing kiddie tunes, which I’m grateful for. Read more>>

MaryKay Dreisilker | Crossfit Coach, Personal Trainer & Lifestyle Enthusiast

I grew up in the west suburbs of Chicago in the small town of Winfield.
I started gymnastics very early around the age of 5. It quickly escalated from recreational fun to full time training and became my main focus for the next 12 years through my junior year of high school. Read more>>

Jessi kalambayi | Model and Program Manager in Refugee resettlement

I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Kinshasa. This is located in Central Africa, My family migrated to South Africa before I could remember. I spent most of my life growing up in Durban. where I completed both Primary and High School before migrating to the United States, all 3 of these places have played a significant part in my identity, the language I speak, my values, and the work I am passionate about today. Read more>>

Penny Winn | Watercolorist, Lavender Farmer

I grew up in the 1960s and 70s in Northwest Denver. It was so different then; all the neighborhood children ran as a pack. We would go outside after we ate some breakfast and then come home by dark. If we were hungry, we would make some quick food so we could go back out to play. Read more>> 

Cass Schulz | Event Stylist and Founder

I grew up on a farm in small-town Kansas. My parents were contractors and farmers; while my dad grew the crops and reconstructed the old houses we lived in, my mom added her interior touch to them. I’m pretty sure that if there had been HGTV back then, they would have been the original Chip and Joanna Gaines. Read more>>