Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.
Kelli Oberndorf
I spent a lot of years doing what I thought I needed to do and what others told me I should become. Walking away from that was one of the hardest and best decisions I’ve ever made. It was disappointing at first, for me and for others, but it led me to what I now know I was born to do. Read more>>
Craig Robb
I would probably go with wandering. With a purpose. There is always a goal to attain but I do have a tendency to veer off course to explore. When I started out in life, I had a focus and determination to succeed. I crafted a path with a set outcome, a goal to attain. So I definitely started out walking a path. Read more>>
Alyssa Ruffin
I recently won Social Impact Song of the Year at the Josie Music Awards held at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. I stepped into the iconic circle where so many great musicians have stood, so many of my musical inspirations. I took my daughter Aurelia who is an up-and-coming recording artist on stage with me. Read more>>
Michael Moody
From the very beginning, I made myself a promise: whatever role I’m in—personal trainer, business owner, author, wedding officiant, friend—I don’t want to play a character. I want to show up as the same person everywhere. So when you ask if the public version of me is the real me, my answer is yes—by design. Read more>>
Malky Allouch
I’ve always shied away from leadership. As an introvert, it felt safe. But lately, I’ve been watching Jewish women entrepreneurs in Boulder struggle with the same thing: building a business alone, feeling isolated, not knowing who to turn to when you’re terrified you’re not good enough. And I realized—there’s a real need here. Read more>>
Rachel Taylor
Suffering has taught me things that success never could. When my parents divorced during my teenage years, it exposed me to the complexity of family systems long before I had the language for it. I watched the ways people cope, protect one another, misunderstand each other, and ty to navigated through chaos. Read more>>
Savannah Herr
The fear that held me back the most was the idea of not being “ready enough” before taking the next step. For a long time, I felt like I needed more experience, more knowledge, or a more perfect plan before putting myself out there. Read more>>
Melanie Damore
I hope people say that I helped them see the beauty in the world, and in themselves, because of my art. Read more>>
Shari Barta
I hope people say that I helped change the way the world thinks about pelvic floor therapy. That I took something often hidden in silence or embarrassment and made it approachable, empowering, and even joyful. Through Posture Power Wellness, I’ve worked to redefine what healing looks like—fusing therapy and movement, science and soul. Read more>>
Steven Rodriguez
Landing in Bangkok a number of years ago to help open a restaurant for an aspiring (and now quite decorated) Thai chef. It was a moment of great learning, not only as a cook, but as a human. I was in a foreign country far from my original comfort zone. It was an empowering experience to be a part of, and one I’ll never forget. Read more>>
Lonnie Somers
When I was about 14, I struggled with confidence and motivation. I didn’t really believe in myself or see much potential in who I could become. One day while waiting for a bus, a small group of Native American men approached me. They looked rough around the edges, and I’ll admit—I was scared at first. Read more>>
Elian Monjack
In the beginning, I was embarrassed about shopping secondhand; I worried people would think less of me. Traveling to NYC didn’t help; everywhere I went, it felt like everyone was wearing designer clothes, and I constantly compared myself to others. I carried that quiet frustration for years, feeling like I couldn’t have what I wanted. Read more>>
Lynn Skinner
I would build greater access and connection to the internal and external presence of beauty that surrounds us in many shapes and forms. Singing, teaching, words, visual art, inspiring conversations, music, collaboration, lasting relationships and the lessons of love have shown me how to appreciate the beautiful power of the moment through our human interplay with each other and the world. Read more>>
Risa August
I find myself chasing “something.” I can’t see it, name it, or define it; it keeps slipping through my fingers, always just out of reach. I’ve climbed mountains, crossed finish lines, traveled the world—questioning, learning, evolving. The chase has shaped me more than anything I’ve ever caught. If I stopped chasing my “something”? Read more>>
Justin Petty
Ageism the world tells us as creators that we have to accomplish our goals by a certain age especially as men. We have to understand as men that we’re not born with our value like women we have to go and build and earn it so it takes us longer to establish our lives. Read more>>
Ann Clarke
My organization, Colorado Women of Influence, is comprised of over 100 women at the peak of their careers. You see them and you say, “Wow, these are crazy-successful women. They’re so lucky – they have it made!” But we had NO IDEA about their childhoods, their early careers, or even their private lives away from the workplace. We had NO IDEA about challenges they overcame. Read more>>
Amy Brewer
I decided in 2019 to finish my degree. After high school, I had taken years of college courses and never really knew what I wanted to do. I really thought that I wanted to be an elementary school teacher, but after completing the student teaching portion of the program, I just couldn’t do it. Read more>>
