author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
unlearning
Claudia Pornaro
blogger. mother. possibility creator.
Claudia Pornaro is a mother, blogger, writer, and creator of amazing possibilities now that she knows what she want to be when she grows up. [www.facebook.com/claudiapornaro]
Looking back, you could say that I checked my identity at the door when I made the sudden, bold decision to leave my very well-paying corporate position to become a stay-at-home mom after I had my first child.
I could say that it was right after 9/11 and I wouldn’t return to the airline-industry I was leaving, or that I wouldn’t have been very successful at balancing my job and motherhood, given that I was a workaholic who put in long hours and often traveled internationally for weeks on end.
I like to say I traded my past life for a wonderful journey in unlearning.
I unlearned needing to be someone else or anyone else. I need to be myself, no matter what.
I unlearned thinking that everything I did needed to be perfect or that I needed to live up to a certain made-up ideal. I only need to be me, and that IS perfection.
I unlearned being ashamed about nearing forty and still not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I needed to be anywhere else than where I was. I need to enjoy the moment, even if there’s a crayon-drawn picture on my wall or spilled milk on the floor.
Now I can teach my two wonderful teachers – my children – how to stay true to the beautiful nature they arrived with. That’s what I dedicate my life to.
I teach them the power of the words they use.
I teach them that not fitting in might mean they’re being exactly who they need to be, and if they stick to it they’ll find their circle of friends.
I teach them the importance of finding friends who are fun to be with, friends who keep them wanting to forever improve themselves, friends who inspire.
I teach them the power of one, the power of giving back. I find volunteer opportunities suitable for young children, so we can give back together.
Unlearning means identifying where the cloak of labels I wear every day begins and ends. Unlearning has meant shedding some of those layers. Unlearning has meant discovering the fascinating one who’s here, quietly beneath it all.
– Claudia Pornaro
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leadership lecturer. lover of the world. broccoli advocate.
An expert in the fields of charisma and leadership, Olivia Fox Cabane has lectured at Stanford, Yale, Harvard, MIT and the United Nations. She helps people become more persuasive, influential, and inspiring. [www.AskOlivia.com]
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street dancer. teenager inspirer. brave decider.
Always the consummate student, Melvin Roberts is committed to the quest for knowledge and human uplift. He's making his dreams come true with the debut of his one-man show in Hollywood. [www.plays411.com/secondact]
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rapper. screenwriter. devotee.
Georgia Gwynne-Gruber was a rapper/singer in the rock band Weapons before arriving in Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. Her science fiction trilogy Darklight is presently in development.
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clean water champion. pro surfer. global changer.
Jon Rose founded the non-profit organization Waves for Water, which works with world leaders and strategic partners to provide clean water to communities in need around the world. [www.wavesforwater.org]
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Editor-in-Chief. Power Woman. Proponent of Fun.
Cynthia Leive is the editor-in-chief of Glamour magazine. She was named the "Most Powerful U.S. Fashion Magazine Editor" by Forbes. www.glamour.com
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culinary artist. gracious foodie. grapefruit huller.
Benjamin Atkinson launched The Dry Gourmet to re-make cooking wines. Along the way, he re-connected with food and grace. It is a journey he recommends for anyone. [www.drygourmet.com/the-story]
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hope vocalizer. musician with a cause. purpose liver.
Bekah Eden is a singer, songwriter, musician and Cause Artist based out of Virginia Beach. In the fall she took home the Upcoming Female Artist Award at the Malibu Music Awards. [www.bekaheden.com]
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Author. Lecturer. Wellness Authority.
Deepak Chopra is a world-renowned authority in the field of mind-body healing, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. [www.chopra.com]
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