We asked some of the city’s hidden gems to tell us about what they feel is the most important factor behind their success.

Seirin

I think about risk as an opportunity for change and taking an action based on instinct and curiosity. It is essential to do so to grow and make it worth living for me. Taking risks has taken me where I am now. Read More>>

Rebecca Lipps

Risk-taking has played a role in the decisions I make during my artistic process. I choose to work with a variety of mediums and technology combined to make an artistic environment. This type of work responds to the traditional gallery settings by eliminating the gallery wall and surrounding my viewers with works that create an experience. The primary mediums I use are sculpture, found objects, murals and projection mapping.  Read More>>

Stephanie McPherson

The most important factor behind my success and the success of my brand DeFaRekinLicious is my passion for health and wellness combined with my passion for personal worthiness and empowerment! Read More>>

Carol Parker

Truly caring. If you truly care about your clients and providing them with the best possible service, you will dedicate yourself to that goal. Of course, you need to have the ability, the skills and the smarts necessary to provide them with the best service, to adequately represent them, but you must care about them as well. The caring drives me. Read More>>

Chef Nekqua

The most important factor behind my success — and the success of my brand, Chef Nekqua — is resilience rooted in purpose. I’m not just cooking meals; I’m creating comfort, healing, and culture on a plate. As a single mother of four, I didn’t have the luxury of giving up. I had to build something from scratch, not just for myself, but to leave a legacy that fed more than just bellies — it had to feed souls. Read More>>