Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Paree Rohera | Artist

I was born and brought up in Mumbai, India, and find that I take on its inherent chaos. Once you soften your view of the anarchy and inconvenience of the city, it becomes more beautiful than any other. Read more>>

Michael Gaulden | Author

I was born and mostly raised in San Diego, CA. However, in my adolescence, I traveled across the country in what I coined was my own underground railroad. From seven to seventeen I grew up homeless or unhoused; no personal preference for both words evoke the same triggering memories. The underside of society is a melting pot of diversity. Homelessness is not prejudiced, homelessness will infect lives without discretion. Many of us are exposed to tragedy and anguish young. In most cases, the cry of the voiceless only echo in unknown memories. I experienced and witness many injustices that I made the decision to work my way out of. I understood a successful path would be longer than most for I had to travel from farther down in life. In my adulthood, I observed enough impoverished youth who also did not understand what was happening to them or a replicable means to escape it. Read more>>

Miranda Jones | Miranda Jones, co founder Galanter & Jones

My brother (and co-founder) and I grew up in Montana and then on a small island in Greece. So much of our life was centered on being together outdoors and enjoying nature. Hanging out at the river or the beach, eating outdoors and staying there well past dark. That value followed us into business; our furniture is designed to keep people comfortable outdoors so that they can spend more time there, together. Read more>>

James Caldwell | Coach & Mentor

I’m from San Diego California, Southeast, in particular. My background is in athletics, community, and civic engagement and I wanted to create something that would mesh those 3 things together. My great grandparents arrived here in the 1960s from Texas and Oklahoma and really had that family/community mentality. From there is where I learned the importance of teamwork, sacrifice, and what selflessness actually means. My upbringing was good for the most part. I’m the oldest of 6 children between my mother and father so I was always put in somewhat of a managerial role. I learned the word responsibility at a young age being put in charge of “holding down the fort” when my mom was working. That allowed me to understand importance of teamwork and sacrifice which I believe are vital with any successful venture. Read more>>