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.
KayLynn McMurtry
I’m very confident that I’m doing what I was born to do. My mother and others have always told me that I have “healing hands,” and over time I’ve come to understand what that means. As a lash artist, I use my hands not just to enhance beauty, but to create a peaceful space where people can relax, open up, and feel seen. Read more>>
Sharon “Pinkee” Pinkerton
I’m doing what I was born to do. For me, it’s not just baking—it’s creating art that people can see, touch, and taste. I follow my creativity, not what anyone else expects, and that’s what makes it meaningful. Read more>>
Haleigh Rice
Hi Voyage! How have you been? Thank you so much for having me again! I think it’s definitely a great way to kick off the day, too! I will be wandering a path 🙂 Read more>>
Barbara Perez Marquez
Recently at a convention, I met a reader that had grown up reading one of my early books. Yes, not a CURRENT reader necessarily, but someone that (now a teen) remembered enjoying the book when ‘they were a kid.’ While in the moment I struggled internally with my own mortality, it brought me immense joy to realize what this meant. Read more>>
Shakya Vaughn
I’d tell my younger self that failure isn’t something to avoid; it’s the key to success. Every setback is data, not defeat. For a long time, I let the fear of failure keep me in limbo, stuck in planning instead of taking action. Read more>>
Jack Quinn
Suffering and heartbreak…they can open you up or destroy you. Suffering made me love more deeply. I realize love and having love as an abundance model is the right way to go. Loving everyone is deeply as you can with equanimity. Attachment leads to suffering but also leads to growth if you hold Love in your heart. Real love Read more>>
Jamie Rockymore-Bess
Next year I am launching a crowdfunding campaign. Prior years, I was afraid because I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to hear me, or if anyone thought that there was meaning behind the purpose of Helpful Living. But this year, I am intentional about planning and using the platform to help people with their mental health and wellness. Read more>>
Denise Wood
The one thing I’m most proud of building, is my confidence. No one really sees how I struggle with this on a daily basis. Thankfully, as I’ve been working more and perfecting my craft, the confidence is slowly gaining momentum, while the apprehension is, for the most part, at bay. Read more>>
Nathalie Savell
Suffering has taught me what humans are capable of. Suffering has taught me the lengths at which our minds will go to defend ourselves against hard truths that are painful to face. My own suffering has taught me more about how healing happens than any successes ever could. Suffering teaches me that success doesn’t matter unless you are at peace with yourself. Read more>>
Durga Ekambaram
As a child, I always believed in luck. I thought that I could do everything right and still not be lucky enough to receive what I deserved, and I held on to that belief for many years. Read more>>
Jasmin Walters
I think I have recently developed a realism that is rooted in humility. I no longer believe I can do it all and be the best at it. I am very aware of where I sit on the totem pole of other artists and musicians. It’s definitely not the highest. But I won’t allow that to stop me. Read more>>
Rita Collins
Within the last year, I moved into senior housing in Baltimore. A big move from rural Montana to urban Baltimore, from a house to an apartment. I wasn’t entirely sure how it would go. When I started meeting people where I live now, I made a couple short videos about events (an Indian music concert, a political rally a number of us attended). Read more>>
Da-Sean Downing
Music. I get lost in it and sing to the top of my lungs and create a fun environment everyone wants to be in Read more>>
Ebony Wheeler
Hustle culture. I’ve spent most of my life moving fast, using busyness as a shield from facing what was real. I was raised in a lineage of women who didn’t have the luxury to pause, who believed rest meant laziness and that worth was measured by output. Hustle was rooted in lack and survival, passed down like an inheritance. Read more>>
Dr. Tasheka L Green
The part of me that has served its purpose and must now be released is the version of myself that once felt the need to carry everything and everyone alone. For years, I held tightly to the belief that leadership meant doing, proving, and pushing through in my own strength. Read more>>
Kiamonique Martin
I am committed to Behind Closed Doors (BCD) no matter how long it takes because I understand that BCD is bigger than me. It’s for God’s glory, salvation, healing, and restoration. BCD is bigger than a project, it’s ministry. BCD will be ten years old in 2026. Read more>>
Luz Marrero
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized it could be fuel instead of a weight. Instead of letting it break me, I started pouring it into my art — every brushstroke, every design, every creative moment became a release. My work became my healing. It’s how I turned what hurt me into something beautiful that could touch others, too. Read more>>
Nicole Alston
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized it wasn’t something to be ashamed of it was proof that I survived. For a long time, I tried to mask what hurt me, thinking strength meant silence. But over time, I learned that true strength comes from owning your story. Read more>>
Woody Holland-Davis
I feel most at peace when it’s just me, my camera, and nature. Read more>>
Candace Oglesby-Adepoju (she/her)
When I think about the first person who taught me work ethic, the person who comes to mind is my mom. I’m an only child, and I had the privilege of being raised by both parents. My dad is disabled and has been for most of my life, so my mom was the breadwinner in our home. Read more>>
Siriguejo
Before I found my way to capoeira and the arts, I was living a version of success that never felt like mine. I had followed a path into engineering, commuting out to suburbia every day, sitting in traffic, doing work that paid the bills but left me drained. Read more>>
Maria N. Listman
You bet I am! Bringing that kind of energy to my day makes all the difference. My art and agriculture passion projects are currently part-time, but that doesn’t stop me from approaching every task with a fun-loving attitude, and a sense of excitement for what’s to come. I get to talk to some of the most important people in our country – local farmers. Read more>>
Carrie Kopp-Adams
There is always a giddiness that comes from witnessing a client feeling empowered about their health. Often, I see people when they’ve lost hope and the pain has become so debilitating, it’s interfering with daily life. The first time I witnessed a wheelchair bound stroke victim walk after one of my sessions, I knew my practice could change lives. Read more>>
J Glow
Yeah. We’ve stood up for people when it cost us, and not just once. We’ve made a habit of it. I’ve stared down rooms full of people who wanted me to keep quiet, play nice, fall in line. But I don’t do “quiet.” I don’t do “fall in line.” We’ve always fought for the underdog. Read more>>
Martha Cargo
Trick question, because I’ll never retire. Read more>>
Veronica McCoy
If I retired tomorrow, I think our customers would miss the personal connection and community that comes with being part of the Perfect Finish family. They’d miss the behind-the-scenes stories, the passion, and the genuine care that goes into every product and interaction. Read more>>
Jada McDowell
I’m chasing elevation — in every lane. In my creativity, I’m chasing moments that express my vision — whether behind the chair, in front of the camera, or on set. And in my heart, I’m chasing peace, fulfillment, and the version of me that doesn’t settle for average. Read more>>
Hanna M
Haha so much! It’s honestly such an eye opening experience to talk to people who have never had a massage or tried yoga or pilates. Read more>>
George Haight
I believe that people will be amazed and shocked that this amazing man has been operating and living amongst them but they never knew. Read more>>
Katia Meisinger
You do NOT need to sell your work to be an artist! You can be an artist and make sure, not sell it, and still make work of value. I only make work for myself and not to sell. Read more>>
Ashley Callaway
I think for a while, I dimmed the part of me that loves out loud. I’ve always been that person who naturally pours into others and speaks life into them, especially when they can’t see it for themselves. When life is heavy or people are feeling defeated, something in me just wants to lift them up. Read more>>
Kayla Marie
The relationship that has shaped how I see myself is the one I have with my daughter Miracle. For a long time, I was very hard on myself because of the life choices I’ve made and the challenges I’ve faced as a single mother. Read more>>
Breona Briscoe
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is my relationship with Christ. My faith has given me a true understanding of who I am and what I’m called to do. Through my relationship with Him, I’ve learned the value of discipline, humility, and perseverance. Read more>>
Nishan Gugsa
My earliest memory of feeling powerful is rooted in understanding my strengths and knowing how to use them. As a child, I picked up on concepts quickly, had a strong memory, and was naturally organized, assertive, and driven. That combination gave me a quiet confidence. When my mom introduced me to Mrs. Read more>>
Michael Nicholls-Pierce
My spiritual father and pastor, Jerome Lewis, is someone I have had the privilege of witnessing in every aspect of life. I’ve watched him remain steadfast and faithful to his calling, exercising authority with humility and integrity—qualities that have deeply influenced how I view leadership, responsibility, and faith. Read more>>
Violet Anibaba
I rely most on Jesus’ ideas and principles. My faith isn’t just personal, it shapes how I run Millemonts and how I approach every event. It reminds me to lead with integrity, humility, and generosity, and to see my work as more than a business but as a way to bring joy, connection, and memorable experiences to others. Read more>>
Chanel Haughton
Absolutely, I would hire myself without a doubt. I am a dedicated and hardworking individual who values excellence. When something isn’t right, I address it immediately, ensuring that the integrity of my work and business is never compromised. My commitment to integrity speaks for itself and is vital for anyone looking to grow and elevate a business. In addition, my customer service is exceptional. Read more>>
