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.

Fernando Cabral | Executive Vice President, Business Development fir Sony Music Latin America

I’ve had a pretty unique childhood. My father was a Brazilian diplomat so I spent my formative years traveling around the world with him. I was actually born in Switzerland and afterward, we lived in Brazil, Spain, France, Peru, and Portugal. Growing up in these wonderful countries, attending international schools, and having parents who placed importance on culture and arts had a lasting impact on my life (and are things I strive to share with my 4-year-old). I love literature, arts, music, and history because I had very early and direct contact with them. My mother played piano and loved classical music so that was always present at home. From my older brother, I inherited his guitar when he gave up on it and started playing music. Read more>>

Thurayyah a.k.a. Raye The Promo Addict Pitts | Award winning Female Promoter & Nominated Best Manager

This seems to be a basic question but for me it’s not so bare with me as I give you an important glimpse of who I am. I was originally born in Camden NJ, but I moved to Miami FL prior to starting Pre-K so Miami is home. My background is Jamaican as that is the culture I was raised in/with. My mother is from Kingston Jamaica so that’s the type of upbringing I had which was well balanced with the Miami culture I experienced growing up. I graduated from Miami Carol City Sr. High where I participated in the marching band under the direction of Richard Beckford. I feel like the information I just provided is key to who I am today, being raised by only my mother and watching her be strong and consistent no matter what challenges came her way. Read more>>

D’shon El Villlano | Artist, Activist & Entrepreneur

I was born in Miami, im first gen born in the u.s. of Colombian Immigrant parents. I grew up partly in Colombia between the cities of Barranquilla and Valledupar as well as in Miami so I grew up with the best and worst of both worlds. From the Beginning I learned the importance of hard work and making your own opportunities from watching my parents, family, and friends really really go thru their struggles and so that’s something that I have applied to my life and career. And then I have the external influences of being fortunate enough to be exposed to many many different musical genres and the culture that inevitably comes with them. My father was a professional dancer, my uncles were musicians, so music was an important part of my household and of me growing up. Read more>>