We asked some of the city’s rising stars to reflect on what made a difference in their journey. We asked them to tell us about what they think the most important factor has been behind their success.

Ishani Bakshi | Co-Founder of WASH

Though most people characterize awkwardness as a byproduct of middle school parties, bad hair days, and bad jokes, in my experience, tackling awkwardness has been the key to building my youth organization. For the Women’s Alliance in STEM and Humanities (WASH), I have often had to approach teenagers I barely know from MUN conferences, and professors I meet on college tours, and ask them to help expand WASH. The initial approach is awkward and so is the inevitable interrogation: who runs this? how is this legitimate? what do you want from me?  Read more>>

Whitney Power | Wellness Pedicure Specialist

The success behind my personal brand is specializing in a skill and doing it well, for me thats wellness pedicures. I found a niche that I love and am passionate about. Providing a listening ear and care to clients who suffer from troubled feet who need help getting their toenails in a controlled manner. They can’t get this kind of service from a regular salon so they are looking for someone to help them. I have been a resident in Texas for only a year and not knowing anyone here I was able to move from California and build up my clientele in a little under a year as well as open my new place of business using my expert skills of performing wellness pedicures which has had a great impact on the community here. Read more>>

Paul Salfen | Author

Never giving up. That’s the common denominator with all of the successful people I’ve interviewed in my book, GOING FOR IT!, is that they hung in there a little bit longer – and so did I. There are so many people that almost made it but they may have fallen down right in front of the finish line but the rest of us are still here in the race. Read more>>