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.

REGINA OSWALD | Designer / Founder & CEO of Regina Oswald

What is the most important factor behind your success, the success of your brand? I have always been fascinated by the process of creation; connecting your ideas with techniques, putting your heart, mind, and soul into a beautiful piece of work. Each creative piece is filled with love. It lives, it vibrates, and it carries the energy of its creator. In that way, it is important for me to enjoy the process because I believe that my customers feel it when I do. That’s one of the many reasons I keep production of my pieces here in the United States. My customers feel the energy that was exerted from the moment the idea was born, then sent to the patternmaker, and into production. It’s important for me to know where my garments are created, who worked on them. Read more>>

Jayce Venditti | Actor, writer, producer, director, business owner and nonprofit founder.

The most important factor behind the success of my brand or ANY BRAND is a number of things. It can’t just be one thing… sat least not in my opinion. It never is. You have to know yourself and the crazy thing is MANY now a days are so distracted they don’t know themselves or are scared to DO ME, worried that they will be called selfish. But those who you want to surround you will agree with that decision and probably be doing it themselves. Read more>>

Jasper Sussman | Artist-Scholar, Composer & Educator

Pursuing what genuinely brings me joy. Success for me means being in a position to do the things that I love in an environment where my contributions are acknowledged and appreciated. The love I have for music-making and for sharing with others the power that music has to transform us compels me to continue; it fuels not only my professional endeavors, but my personal pursuits as well. When I share my passions with others, I find that this fuels their passions, just as their joy fuels me. Of course, finding what brings you joy can be its own challenge: the trick is to prioritize listening to yourself, whatever it takes, in order to gauge the priorities that are unique to you. Although it’s not always easy to remember (I have to remind myself often), it’s you, and only you, who can determine what’s right for you. Read more>>

Steven Picanza | Global Brand Strategist & Educator

Mindset is everything. You’re not always going to have massive successes follow you. When you get knocked down, as you will as an entrepreneur, what really matters is your bounce-back rate. How quickly you get up and learn from those mistakes. This is all about your mindset. Read more>>

Bonnie Taylor | @famdiego – San Diego Adventures With Kids

Being authentic and honest in front of my followers is the most important factor for my brand to be successful. Followed closely by giving detailed information to know exactly what to expect from every single thing that I share. Those who follow me @famdiego know by now that I don’t share anything unless it passes my family’s test first. If we genuinely like it, love it and use it, then it will come across as an honest and sincere thing to share and that’s what will keep people sticking around for more. Once they’re hooked on something, they’ll want to know how they can replicate that same experience for themselves. This is where the details come in because the best way for my followers to have that shared experience is to know exactly what we did to make that magic happen so they can feel it too. Read more>>