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.

Iyana Irie

I’m from Memphis, TN, and that’s really where my roots are. That place raised me—it taught me how to be tough, how to hustle, and how to express myself when words weren’t enough. But I also moved to Atlanta, GA, and that change played a big role in my growth too. It gave me a new perspective, showed me different ways of life, and helped me find my sound on a deeper level. That move was uncomfortable at first, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone and into my purpose. Both places shaped me—one gave me my fire, the other helped me focus it. Read More>>

A’Maginese O’Neal

I am originally from the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. I spent the first half of my life there with my mother and two brothers. Although I witnessed my fair share of challenges and knew we were not in the most ideal neighborhoods, Chicago has always felt like home. It is where I first learned the true meaning of community and where I embraced being unapologetically myself, no matter who was watching. Read More>>

Shari Perkins

I’m born and raised in Mississippi, where community, faith, and perseverance were at the heart of everything. Growing up in the South taught me the value of showing up fully—whether it was for your family, your goals, or your dreams. I was surrounded by strong, nurturing women who knew how to make something out of nothing and still carry themselves with grace. They instilled in me a deep sense of resilience, creativity, and the importance of staying true to who you are. Read More>>

Shelly McWilliams

I’m from Georgia, but I was born in upstate New York. My parents divorced when I was 4 years old and I have not seen my Korean biological mother in 34 years. For a long time, there was a part of me that felt missing-like I was searching for a deeper understanding of who I am and where I come from.

Just recently after, 34 years, I found my biological mom. She didn’t want a relationship, and while that was incredibly hard, it became a turning point in my personal growth. It led me down a path of healing, self-reflection, and identity. Read More>>

Danjuan Witcher Sr.

I’m originally from Toledo, Ohio, and I’m the youngest of all my siblings. I was raised in a two-parent home where faith and family were the foundation of everything we did. My parents are devout Christians, and we were very active in church, which deeply shaped my values and gave me a strong sense of faith, purpose, and community from an early age. Sports also played a major role in my upbringing. I grew up playing multiple sports and was especially inspired by my dad, who was an elite high school football player and went on to play at Florida State.  Read More>>

Dell Simutia

I was born in Killeen, Texas, the youngest of four girls in my family, but I mostly grew up in Fort Moore, Georgia where my father was stationed when I was very young and settling in Columbus, Georgia as I got older. Between my father’s military life and my mother introducing me and my sisters into her Samoan culture, my life required a lot of movement—shifting me between spaces, never fully anchored to one place, but always carrying each one into the next. Read More>>

Nanci Smith

I grew up in a small town in Maine where hard work wasn’t optional, trust was earned, and showing up mattered more than talking about it. That small-town grit and quiet resilience shaped how I move through the world—and it’s grounded the way I lead, collaborate, and build relationships.

I come from strong roots—parents who taught me that my name was everything. That it carried weight. That your word matters, and once you give it, you better mean it. They worked long hours and led by example—my mom smashing glass ceilings in a male-dominated industry, my dad leaving everything he knew in Oregon to start a life in Maine. Read More>>

Blanca Ruiz

I am originally from Honduras, a small country in Central America that faces many challenges. Growing up in an environment where daily necessities were not guaranteed instilled in me a strong drive to seek a better life for my daughter and myself in the United States. My family in Honduras was always on my mind, serving as a constant source of inspiration and motivation to improve my circumstances. Read More>>