One of the most important lessons we learned is that our lives and our businesses will teach us along the way. We don’t need to know everything on day one because the challenges we face on day will likely be ones we are already equipped to handle. As we overcome challenges we get better and better and as the challenges increase in difficulty so too does our ability to tackle them.

We asked members of the community that we admire to share important lessons their business or career has taught them and have shared some of those responses below.

Valeria Isabel Conde | Emmy Award Winning Journalist and Product Manager for Ryan Castro

I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I came to the United States 7 years ago as a college student full of many, many dreams. I always had my north very clear: I wanted to work in the Latin media industry and move precisely to Miami, the home of Latin America in the U.S., after graduation to pursue it. Read more>>

Litty Willie | Entertainment Media Specialist & Cultural Affairs Journalist

I was born and raised in the South Bronx in New York City. I moved to Homestead, Miami in 2003, during my freshman year of high school. It wasn’t easy to adjust to life in Homestead at that time, as people were more segregated than they are today in the south. I didn’t fit into any specific category – I wasn’t African American, I didn’t speak Spanish, I wasn’t white American, I didn’t play sports, and being from New York, people in Miami didn’t seem to like me much. However, because of my diverse upbringing, I was always around different cultures and nationalities, so I could blend in almost everywhere with everyone. Read more>>

Saidy Burch | Artist, Writer, Musician

I was born and raised in Miami, FL. I’m so thankful to have been given the opportunity to live in a place surrounded by color, tropical beauty, and whispers from the home of my mother’s side of the family, Cuba. My everyday observances in this vibrant, bizarre city have always and will continue to influence all forms of my artwork. There is so much beauty in mundanity here. Read more>>

Fernando Catalán | Basketball Worldwide Controller

I’m from Madrid, Spain, but I’ve had the opportunity to live in different cities in the USA, New York, and Miami. Growing up in Madrid, I was surrounded by rich culture, history, and a strong sense of community. My upbringing in Spain instilled in me a passion for excellence and a love for sports, mainly soccer, as I’m a lifelong supporter of Real Madrid. These experiences shaped my values (discipline, resilience, and the importance of teamwork), which have been crucial in my personal life and professional career. Read more>>

Coach Bud | Football Specific Trainer/Mentor

I am born and raised in Davie Florida. I went to HS at University School of NSU on a Baseball Scholarship. I attended College at FIU on a Football Scholarship. The aspects of my background and upbringing that impacted me the most was my family dynamic. My childhood gave me a unique perspective on the difference between a childhood with two loving parents and a stable home and one that did not have those things. During my youth my father ran a successful family Dry Cleaning Business in Miami called 5 Point Cleaners.  Read more>>