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

Caroline Ofe | Owner and Head Designer

Something that has changed our business is deciding that part of giving our clients excellent service means making the process fun. Home and commercial projects can be very stressful—delays, unexpected expenses, etc. We have made it our mission to provide world-class services that: Read more>>

Duong Thuy Mai | Founder & CEO

The most important factor behind Zelene Head Spa’s success? It’s a culmination of things, really. It started with relentless passion and an unwavering belief in our vision. You see, Zelene Head Spa was born from Hera Head Spa – a rebranding that symbolized a renewed commitment to excellence. In those early days, it wasn’t about the paycheck – it was about pouring my heart and soul into building something truly special. I worked longer hours than I ever thought possible, going above and beyond what any salary could ever compensate for. There were countless days without income, times when I chose reinvestment over personal reward. But that’s what it takes when you’re driven by a dream. Read more>>

Chandler Cooper

Quality consistency. I have been “failing” at this craft CONSISTENTLY since I was 15. For every 50 failures or broken promises you get 1 milestone. (Typically)
No matter what has gone on in my life I have always created with the same quality consistency I started with, the only difference is I’ve gotten better with time. Read more>>

Nino Melean

Confidence and patience! Nothing gets built overnight and when you are the one behind everything, it can be challenging to feel like you are taking the right steps towards your end goal. To anyone starting their own business, whether it is photography or not, I would encourage them to trust in themselves and their intuition and to take their time to enjoy every single step of the way, be patient and kind with yourself. Read more>>

Kristina Rodriguez

Learning to take the wheel of my own career was the pivotal factor in my success. Coming from the military, I was programmed to follow a certain playbook – follow orders, maintain a low profile, pursue education, and advance through time and merit. Man, was I in for a wake-up call in the civilian world! Read more>>