40 Under 40 Winners

Matthew is inspired by the quote ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough’ by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 

Albert is inspired by ‘1941: New Revelations of Americas Before Columbus,’ a book that combines his interests in history and Latin America. 

Anita is inspired by ‘Ask’ by Jeff Wetzler, which encourages leaders to tap into the hidden wisdom of the people around them by asking great questions. 

The Magic of Thinking Big” by David Schwartz inspires Ibtissam to see challenges as opportunities for growth and to believe that with the right mindset, any goal is achievable. 

Liberty is inspired by ‘The Maxwell Daily Reader’ by John C. Maxwell, which provides daily inspiration and leadership advice.  

Dawson finds inspiration in ‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek, which emphasizes understanding one’s “why” and the purpose of others to foster better collaboration. 

Nathan finds inspiration from a book called Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The Stoic reflections remind him to focus on what he can control, act with integrity and remain steadfast in the face of challenges. 

Will finds inspiration in ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’ by W. Timothy Gallwey, which offers valuable lessons on overcoming mental obstacles and achieving peak performance. 

Cierra is inspired by ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott, a classic that helped shape her beliefs in female friendship, women empowerment, and unconditional love. 

Archit is inspired by the song ‘Le vent nous portera‘ by Noir désir, which reflects the belief in staying present and making big decisions. 

Megan is inspired by ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ by David Goggins, a memoir that compelled her to examine her personal attributes and pursue a career in economic development. 

Hilary is inspired by the song ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin, which embodies a ‘won’t back down’ attitude and a tie to both Aretha and Hilary’s home city of Detroit.  

Michael is inspired by ancient philosophical and religious writings that offer fresh insights into modern-day business decisions. 

Marissa is inspired by ‘Happiness Falls’ and ‘Miracle Creek’ by Angie Kim, which explore themes of language, identity, immigrant experience and disability. 

Michaeljohn is inspired by ‘The Color of Law’ by Richard Rothstein, which provides insight into how segregation in America is the byproduct of explicit government policies and challenges him to right the scales and provide opportunity in his community.  

Brock is inspired by ‘Outliers’ by Malcolm Gladwell, which encourages rethinking the structures that foster or suppress success. 

Elli is inspired by the book “Why Simple Wins” by Lisa Bodell because it provided a roadmap for her to focus on removing unnecessary complexity and time-wasting practices to focus on truly meaningful and productive tasks as much as possible. 

Taylor is inspired by ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle, a memoir that speaks to various aspects of her life as a woman, from motherhood to career to faith.  

Danielle is inspired by the song ‘GOOD DAY’ by Forrest Frank, which provides her with perspective on the impact of gratitude, grit and zest.  

Justin is inspired by ‘Tinkers’ by Paul Harding, a reminder of the infinite beauty and fragility of life. 

Maggie is inspired by ‘Broken Heart of America,’ a book that helped her understand generational divisions in her community. 

Kevin is inspired by the song ‘Family’ by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, which reminds him of the joy and chaos of family life. 

Ashley is inspired by the song ‘Here Comes the Sun’ by The Beatles, which reminds her that you can find a small sliver of light if you pause, get quiet and pay attention to the people and things around you. 

Jeff is inspired by ‘Start with Why’ by Simon Sinek, because it emphasizes understanding what motivates people and being a purpose-driven leader.

Troy is inspired by “Rooftops and Alleys: Adventures with a City Kid” by Michael Kaufman because of the parallels to his own coming of age story in Philadelphia in the 90s and 2000s. 

Humberto is inspired by ‘Create or Die’ by Andrés Oppenheimer, which ignited his passion for economic development and motivated him to pursue a career in the public sector. 

Shakthi is inspired by ‘Wings of Fire’ by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, an autobiography that reflects resilience, ambition and the power of dreaming big. 

Jodie is inspired by ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, which focuses on the power of positive thinking and attracting positive outcomes into one’s life. 

Mark is inspired by the song ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran and its symbolization of loyalty, commitment and enduring love. 

Meghan finds inspiration in ‘Can You Drink the Cup?’ by Henri J.M. Nouwen, which uses the metaphor of a cup to embrace the life God has given us in all its joys and sorrows. 

Laura is inspired by the song ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ by Carole King, which reminds her of her mom’s love and the type of person she strives to be for her community. 

Kyle is inspired by the song ‘5 Leaf Clover’ by Luke Combs, which reminds him that for all the ups and downs of economic development, he is lucky to work in this industry.  

Sarah is inspired by ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom, which emphasizes how meaningful it can be to devote your life through love, community and purpose. 

Allison is inspired by the song ‘Hakuna Matata’ from The Lion King, which reflects her belief that while life has challenges, anything can be overcome.  

Tom is inspired by ‘Shoe Dog’ by Phil Knight, a memoir that delivers lessons on perseverance, calculated risks, and determination. 

Alison is inspired by ‘The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze’ by William Saroyan, a collection of short stories that speak to the role of creative people within the economy, the assets and challenges that come with being an immigrant, and the beauty in things we often classify as distinctly unbeautiful. 

Tony is inspired by ‘Almanac of Naval Ravikant,’ which offers insights on growth, leverage and prioritization. 

Thomas is inspired by the poem ‘IF’ by Rudyard Kipling, which emphasizes believing in oneself and being kind, humble, loving, and hardworking. 

Kate is inspired by ‘Ego Is the Enemy’ by Ryan Holiday, which emphasizes humility, collaboration, and service above self. 

Jenna is inspired by ‘Lean In’ by Sheryl Sandberg, which gave her the inspiration and confidence to seek challenges and pursue her goals as a young woman in a male-dominated field.