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.
A-Wake
We would tell ourselves “Don’t be afraid to shine as bright as you can.” We each hold a light within us and it is great when it shines through. Instead of being afraid of the unknown, embrace it and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things, be yourself and have fun. Read more>>
Lara Grosso
I am living unapologetically me. I don’t care what others think or say about me. At the end of the day, I know the truth and how my life story goes. I will not be fake because someone wants me to. Being fake is exhausting and not ideal for anyone. Read more>>
D-Soul Davis
That there’s a lot of money to be made! LOL That’s fiction for sure. This industry is an absolute lifetime investment. From writing, to recording, singing, traveling. It’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff that’s not so glamorous. At times you are the one who’s paying to keep the ship afloat. Read more>>https://voyageaustin.com/interview/an-inspired-chat-with-d-soul-davis-of-round-rock-tx-highlight
Trevon Bryant
I’m being called to trust myself more publicly. For a long time, my confidence lived internally in my taste, intuition, and standards, but I hesitated to fully take up space or speak with authority. Now I’m stepping forward unapologetically, sharing my ideas and process without overexplaining or shrinking them. The fear hasn’t disappeared, but the clarity has, and that clarity feels like alignment. Read more>>
Jake Huddelston
Failing with my first two businesses taught me things success never could because it forced me to confront myself without any protection. I poured everything I had into a company that didn’t work. I ended up about $30,000 in debt and moved back in with my parents at 27. Read more>>
Emphasiz
Suffering taught me patience—and how to keep moving when nothing’s going my way. If everything I touched turned to gold, I’d never have learned how to navigate the dark. Setbacks gave me tools success never could: resilience, perspective, and the ability to adapt under pressure. I’d rather be equipped for the downside than be blindsided by it because I never had to face it. Read more>>
Kengo Hioki
I didn’t go to kindergarten; I stayed home and drew pictures all the time. I was afraid of people. Drawing was the most enjoyable thing for me. It’s still the same now, but thanks to drawing, I’ve gained acceptance from others and have come to like people. Read more>>
Rebecca Bennett
Coffee! Wordle, Spelling Bee, Pips, Jumble, Sudoku, Connections and Connections sports. My husband and I do connections together. Two heads are better than one. I peek into Instagram and do email. A walk is on the agenda 3X/week. All of this wakes up my brain and body to be ready for the day. Read more>>
Paul Smith
That’s a tough one. I don’t like to think about my mortality much. I often feel like I don’t have enough time to get everything inside my brain out into the world before I go. I guess I hope others will recognize me for my artistic output. Read more>>
Chantell Pfitzer
Integrity is, without question, the most important to me. Intelligence and energy both matter deeply — but I’ve met brilliant minds and magnetic personalities who lacked integrity, and I’ve watched what that absence eventually costs. When integrity is missing, whatever is being built rests on sand rather than stone. Read more>>
Sutton Van Gunten
My father was possibly the strongest influencer of my life. He was a man who both believed in the value and necessity of hard work while also heavily embracing the same in slack. Read more>>
Hannah Maness
A goofball who would do anything for a laugh… and pure curiosity and love. Infinite consciousness, like we all are. And a storyteller. And a truth-teller. (Which when you’re young is called a tattletale, but I mean in the larger sense. But, yeah, a bit of a trouble-maker… let’s say boat-rocker. I came in wanting to remind people of Home. Read more>>
Valentina Riabova
I ve always knew my path. My previous occupations were very connected with the stuff I do today because I believe that everything feeds into everything. I ve been working as an art and language tutor, sex shop consultant in a medical field store, and then after graduation from graphic design I started tattooing and later also graduated in fashion business and fashion design Read more>>
Julie Herrmann
I think people will misunderstand how much of my legacy was built through self-reliance, discipline, and rebuilding. There’s often an assumption that success—especially for women—comes with a safety net. In my case, it didn’t. There was no family money and no partner funding the journey. Read more>>
Jonah Hernandez
That I have learned to live for the now and don’t care about my legacy. When I die, I will live on through my music that is left behind but the reality is that it doesn’t matter if you’re an artist, world leader, politician- or even if you changed the fuckin world, we will all one day be forgotten. Read more>>
Nick Courtright
It took me getting laid off from a teaching job to really wake up to the possibility that there could be something better out there. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and in 2018 when I was laid off, it forced me to go all-in on Atmosphere Press. Read more>>
Andre Natera
I learned that it is not about the food and how good you are if you want to succeed. It is about the team and the culture and how much you’re investing in making them good. I noticed that my success was up and down. Sometimes I was on top, and right after that, not. I couldn’t understand why. Read more>>
Thom Singer
I have had an eclectic but good career, but during the pandemic my speaking business fell apart (due to no live meetings) and my role at ATC had many issues I had to deal with that I was not prepared for when I was offered the job. Read more>>
