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.

Jason Rudd | Executive Music Producer

I grew up in a very small suburb of Fort Worth, Texas. My mother and I survived a fatal car accident when I was two, but she was left permanently disabled. I was raised by my grandparents, who were from the depression era and were very tough, determined folks. I learned self reliance and self sufficiency from them. I wanted to take music lessons, but where we lived the only private lessons were for art, so I painted hundreds of oil paintings between age 7 and 14. As an ADD/ADHD child, school was very difficult. Despite demonstrating college level artistic skills, I got passed over on joining the gifted and talented program, as well as joining band. Then at age 15 i got a guitar, and after a year of learning I was personally invited by the band director to join the high school Jazz ensemble! This was my first lesson in believing in myself, and is an experience I draw from to this very day. Read more>>

Lady J | Speaker | BounceBackologist | Author | Community Servant Leader

I am from Indianapolis, IN. My background and upbringing was rough emotionally and mentally. While I did learn a lot of life lessons and was taught about God by way of my grandmother, I endured a lot of verbal and sexual abuse as a child in addition to being abandoned by both parents… and a host of other traumatic experiences. These experiences led to a host of issues in my life as a child, teen, and young adult, but by the grace of God, I made it to where I am today. The moments of being exposed to drugs at the age of 4, growing up in domestic violence, being raped and molested, homeless, addicted to opioids, and surviving multiple attempts of suicide have helped not only shape me into the woman and community servant leader I am today, but it equipped me with the necessary tools and wisdom to help others completely heal and overcome from their past trauma and hardships in order to be happy, healthy, and successful both personally and professionally. Read more>>

Cheryl Monroe | Business Strategist | Community Advocate | Veteran

Cheryl Monroe is a native Atlanta, Georgia. She is the Owner/Business Strategist of CK Management and Consultant Group where the objective is to propel individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organizations towards their fullest potential. She is also the Owner/Executive Director of the Cleaning Advantage that specializes in providing environmentally friendly and sustainable cleaning solutions to businesses across various industries. She Co-Founded Blazing Beauties Non-profit organization that continues to cultivate a safe space where girls and women could come to engage, learn, and grow. From organizing community feedings, literacy programs, scholarships, and community enhancement seminars to poll watching, confidence building, and mentoring, Cheryl has become a stakeholder through service in the community. Read more>>

Brianna Smith | Entertainment & Business Attorney/ Author

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and have lived there up until 17 years old when I left to go to college in DC at Howard University. Growing up, I’ve always been into arts, dance and choir. I loved using my imagination and just creating things or putting myself in different worlds. My mother was very big on education and so I was very driven and focused on school, which was also my focus so that I wouldn’t get the extracurriculars that I loved taken away from me. I guess you can say I developed the “ work hard, play harder” mindset from a young age because that’s exactly what I did. I got good grades, did well in school so I can do everything I wanted to do and my parents gave me that freedom to express myself. Read more>>

Natalie Sanders | DJ & Up and Coming Producer

I’m from a small country town in Georgia. Lenox, GA to be exact. I was raised in church with my mom and aunts. Being in church all the time I discovered my gift of singing and love for music. I continued to sing throughout high school and college. During college I had grown a very strong interest in DJing. I would practice everyday after class and on the weekends. Mixing and recording myself so I could listen to my myself and correct any mistakes that I would hear. One day I finally built up enough courage to DJ in front a crowd of people that were not family or friends. My friends and I hosted a party in our apartment one night and the rest was history. I had so much fun that was the best party ever. It was also my first year DJing. Read more>>