It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around San Diego.
Patricia Del Campo
My journey began in the legal field, where I spent over 13 years working as a legal assistant and paralegal. That experience taught me the importance of attention to detail, strong communication, and advocating for clients during some of the most important moments in their lives. Read more>>
Marcela Valladolid
I’m a chef who was raised in Tijuana, Mexico, and trained in classical French pastry before becoming a food editor at Bon Appétit magazine. From there, my career evolved into television, where for more than two decades I’ve had the privilege of sharing traditional Mexican cuisine and California Mexican cooking through television and six cookbooks. Read more>>
BJ Gumkowski
Endurance sport has been a thread in my life for over two decades, but the path to where I am today hasn’t been linear. Like many athletes, I was first drawn in by the challenge — the physical test, the structure, the pursuit of improvement. Triathlon became a proving ground. Read more>>
Adria Marina
My story started long before I ever imagined becoming a chef. Growing up on the U.S.-Mexico border, my dad loved introducing me to places that felt completely unfamiliar. Instead of taking me to restaurants that catered to American or Mexican tastes, he would take me to small Korean and Japanese restaurants where we were often the only non-Asian customers. Read more>>
Allison Perry
I’ve always loved cooking, but my passion really grew after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in my mid-twenties. Learning how food could support my health inspired me to create simple, seasonal recipes that are both nourishing and approachable. Today, I’m a food content creator based in North Park, San Diego, where I share recipes, cooking inspiration, and partner with food and kitchen brands. Read more>>
Kyle Hayslip
My name is Kyle and I am the owner/roaster at Big Step Coffee. This company focuses on a rotating selection of lightly roasted single-origin coffees that are either purchased directly or through carefully selected import partners. I roast all the coffee at the California Roasting Collective in San Marcos CA. Read more>>
Jimi McJunkin
My path into this work wasn’t a straight line. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in restaurants and in group homes for disadvantaged youth, and I was actually in a graduate program pursuing a teaching credential. Read more>>
Samantha maksutovic
I started my beauty Journey 9 years ago. I was working for Wells Fargo and graduated from SDSU. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. But I did want to explore the fun side, beauty. I applied for Sephora and got a part time job as a receptinst for a waxing studio. Read more>>
John Lowery
I started my musical journey in my early 20s while living in Portland, Oregon. Like a lot of young musicians, I dreamed of making it big and chasing that idea of fame and recognition. Read more>>
Kylie Transki
I had been taking Lagree classes since 2017, but it wasn’t until 2021 that I made the transition from client to instructor. I was in grad school coming out of the pandemic and wanted to meet more people in San Diego outside of my program when a friend came across an ad for a Lagree Level 1 Certification and sent it to me. Read more>>
Osceola DuBois
Since 2024, the work has shifted from primarily event and branding coverage into a more layered media practice. What began as Ni0 MEDIA’s signature approach, which has always been showing up prepared, staying fluid, and delivering real storytelling rather than just images, has expanded into a more full ecosystem. LEGACY Magazine has taken shape as both a visual and literary platform. Read more>>
Emma Gibbs
I officially started my photography business during my senior year of high school, but my love for photography began much earlier. I picked up my first camera in sixth grade, and from that point on I was constantly photographing anything I could. When I decided to turn my passion into a business, I started by photographing senior portraits for my friends. Read more>>
Faye Schultz
SPOT, Saving Pets One at a Time, is an all-volunteer grass roots non-profit organization that saves dogs & cats from the shelters who otherwise may not make it out alive. There are many reasons an animal may not make it out alive; medical, behavior, age, shyness or lack of interest and sadly now overcrowding of shelter animals. Read more>>
Jonathan Yackley
My path to Rise Up Industries began well before I joined the organization. Early in my career, I interned at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, where I saw how meaningful employment, community, and a sense of belonging could help people transform their lives. That experience stayed with me and shaped how I thought about business, service, and the kind of work I wanted to pursue. Read more>>
Shoib myint
My father was a physician and I grew up watching him deal with patients and realized the power of human connection and how the mind soul energy play a huge role in a patients over all journey. I have tried to apply that principle throughout my 24 years of practice. Read more>>
Stacy D’Aguiar
Born in 1974 and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. From early childhood illustrations to award-winning student work, my creative path has always been a central part of my life. In high school, I was part of the AP Art Program and received multiple art scholarships. Read more>>
Irina Mak
I’ve always been interested in photography, but it felt out of reach. I worked in another field and never had the chance to truly do what I loved. It wasn’t until my husband gifted me my first camera that I wanted to do photography more than ever. Initially, I focused on learning how to use it, practicing on kids and friends. Read more>>
Sailboat Lewis
By day, I’m a physical therapist working in an outpatient environment. I specialize in orthopedic care, vestibular training, and golf rehabilitation. I am also certified in dry needling for the entire body. When I am off of my day job, I spend my time working on sneakers. My favorite project is what is known as a ‘Sole Swap Hybrid’. Read more>>
Ariana Cohen
I’ve always been passionate about storytelling. I started my career in local television news, where I spent more than a decade reporting, anchoring, shooting, writing, and producing stories that connected with communities. Along the way, I was fortunate to earn three Emmy Awards and cover everything from breaking news to entertainment and national events. Read more>>
Kevin Davis
I started out undersized. I stopped growing in the seventh grade — by the time I graduated high school I was 5’6”, 98 pounds, coming up in a pretty rough neighborhood. In that environment, it was a lot easier to be funny than to fight. So that’s the path I took. I’ve been funny my whole life. Read more>>
Paulette Goto
I was born in California but was raised in Utah, no, I’m not a mormon. My paranoid skitz/hoarder single teenage mom raised us (very much against our will) in the Jehovah Witness religion where no holidays including your own birthday are allowed to be celebrated. This suppression and my insatiable sweet tooth lead me to my love/obsession of becoming a pastry chef. Read more>>
Gil Riegler
Oasis Camel Dairy started with a simple fascination for one of the world’s most remarkable animals. What began as a dream to care for these gentle creatures, has grown into a family destination where people can experience camels up close, learn about sustainable farming, discover the unique benefits of camel milk and connect with nature. Read more>>
Shane Moise
I actually started out wanting to be a teacher — I designed curriculum and co-taught coursework as an undergrad. I loved it, but I saw how hard it is to sustain that energy quarter to quarter and year over year. My mom was a teacher for over 20 years, and I saw how rewarding the experience could be. At the same time. Read more>>
Gretchen Weidner
I packed my Jeep with art supplies and softball gear and drove 2,500 miles from Buffalo, New York, to San Diego, California, determined to chase my dream of becoming a full-time artist. My journey began in a humble 10’ × 10’ studio inside the historic Broker’s Building in downtown San Diego. Read more>>
Céline Maquelin
I’ve always loved creating beautiful things, so starting a candle company felt like a natural fit. Today, I run Peonies, a Swiss brand that handcrafts scented candles and home fragrances designed to make a home feel warm, elegant and inviting. Building a handcrafted Swiss-made brand has been both exciting and challenging. Read more>>
Molly Garcia
First and foremost, none of this would have been possible without God. I truly believe Busy Mom Socials came from a calling, even though I did not understand what that calling was at the beginning. Before starting my business, I worked as a nanny here in San Diego. Read more>>
Nathaniel Allenby
I grew up on a farm in Aurora, Oregon, in a house where I didn’t feel safe, and I spent my childhood chasing achievement instead of addressing the fear and sense of unworthiness stemming from my life circumstances. I became a Presidential Scholar, Eagle Scout, and statewide math champion. Read more>>
Ed Hartel
When covid hit, I found myself in need of a serious hobby.. I have spent years as a videographer and my passion was editing and creating.. so I got a drone and started learning how to fly it. At first, I jumped right in with chasing race cars out at the Barona Speedway – which was a total blast.. Read more>>
Julie Ann Stricklin
My artist life story spans many decades. I have always stayed in creative worlds. I work traditionally as well as digitally. I do not focus on one subject or media, I am interested in it all. My range is photo real, cartoon and artistic interpretive expression and Up-Cycling.to name a few. Read more>>
Anea Davis
My name is Anea Marie, and I am the founder of Grvced, a faith centered skincare and education brand built on the belief that true transformation begins from the inside out. Before becoming an esthetician, my life looked very different. I spent years immersed in the nightlife industry until I reached a point where I knew I needed a different path. Read more>>
James Mccoy
Gold Fox Repair started because I saw there was a better way to do appliance repair. Too many people were waiting days for service, getting poor communication, or being told to replace an appliance when it could have been repaired. I wanted to build a company that people could actually trust. Read more>>
Alyssa Chimiklis
When I started graduate school, I thought I wanted to focus primarily on research and treatment intervention work. Much of my training was in neuropsychology, particularly working with school-age youth with ADHD. That changed when I had a predoctoral placement at an eating disorder center. Read more>>
John Frazer
I always liked singing, drums came naturally, and I love songs with relatable lyrics I lost my drums in a day of stupidity. When my sister’s murdered fiancés brother got a harmonica, I borrowed it and was able to get some cool sounds from it. I had to get more drums and tried playing them together. Read more>>
Sophia Lesberg
My love for makeup and hairstyling started at a young age. In high school, I was always the friend everyone came to for makeup, eyebrow shaping, updos – you name it. What I loved most wasn’t just the artistry, though. It was seeing someone’s face completely light up when they looked in the mirror. That feeling never gets old. Read more>>
Perla Miramontes
I started photography when I was around 15 or 16 years old. Just using my phone to capture photos. It started off as a hobby, and I wanted to fill up a box of photographs just like my mother kept. In my early 20s, I went to school for photography, and I learned a lot from there. Read more>>
Loni Dayan
This story is for anyone who feels unfulfilled, uninspired, or stuck in a career that no longer feels aligned. In 2017, I was living in Philadelphia, the city I was raised in, and I felt deeply unfulfilled and bored as an accountant. At the same time, my curiosity about yoga, psychics, and spirituality was growing. Read more>>
Greg Erikson
My YMCA journey started as a kid in after-school care and summer camp. In high school, I took my first Y job helping with youth sports, and after college, I joined the Peninsula YMCA while considering a career as a teacher. What started as a temporary job quickly became a career. Read more>>
Ellen Spooner
I’m a strategic communications expert with a decade of experience in high-stakes sustainability communications. I’ve written remarks delivered by heads of state at the world’s largest international climate conference, led communications strategy behind landmark sustainability legislation, and navigated geopolitical crises in real time. Read more>>
Lucia Bellocchio
Lucía Bellocchio: Designing Cities for Life Urban innovation: beyond technology For years, when talking about smart cities, the conversation revolved almost exclusively around technology. Sensors, artificial intelligence, data platforms, and automation seemed enough to define the urban future. Read more>>
David C. Nelson
Filmmaking and storytelling has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. Going to the theater when I was 3 years old with my parents to see Jurassic Park, enthralled with the images. Read more>>
Carlos Montanez
My journey working with young adults and serving my community began at a young age. I grew up on the Lower East Side of New York City, where Henry Street Settlement has been a cornerstone of the community for generations. Read more>>
Dere Hney
I’ve always known I wanted to build something of my own. I was studying for my doctorate in business administration and had experience in network marketing, but travel was always the thing I was drawn to. I was usually the person planning the trips, and I loved the anticipation, the change of environment, and the memories created along the way. Read more>>
Mary Haas
My journey into physical therapy began with a passion for helping people regain the ability to do the things they love. As I progressed through physical therapy school at San Diego State University, I became especially interested in pelvic health because it addressed conditions that are incredibly common yet often misunderstood or left untreated. Read more>>
Sara Takieddine
Hello Everyone, I’m Sara ! I’m sharing my Journey on being a Permanent Makeup Artist . My company is ‘Brow and Lip Rejuvenation.’ I began a year and a half ago after I received my first Permanent Makeup appointment for Powder Brows by Christine. Christine owns LeLux in downtown San Diego. Read more>>
Kristina Renée
I grew up communing with nature and the unseen, but turning those raw gifts into a grounded, responsible bridge for others took years of deep study and personal healing. Academically, my degrees in Psychology and Women’s Studies gave me the intellectual lens to understand the systems of oppression and collective fragmentation that separate us from the Earth and our core selves. Read more>>
Mikaelo Aguilar
I grew up in the Philippines before immigrating to San Diego, where music became both my creative outlet and a way to build community. What started as producing electronic music eventually grew into a bigger question: how can shared experiences help people connect with themselves and each other? Read more>>
Paul Courtwright
I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and worked part time in construction from the age of about 18 to 22. 4-6 years of college and then a 9-5 office job where I had to go to the same place every single day and be inside a building never suited my idea of what I wanted to do for work. Read more>>
Carolina L. Mery
Twenty years ago, I was ready for a career change. I’d spent years in hospitality, and I knew I wanted something different, I just didn’t know what yet. That summer, I started tutoring Spanish, something I’d done a bit of before, and I honestly never imagined it would turn into what it is today. I started out teaching the way languages are typically taught: academically. Read more>>
Kimberly DeShields-Spencer
Honestly, I think I came out of the womb business-minded. (Laughs.) I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t trying to sell something, build something, or figure out a better way to do something. I was the kid with the lemonade stand, the lawn mowing business, the babysitting business—you name it. Read more>>
