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At 9, Bess saw Bella Abzug on stage, calling the event life changing. As a state prosecutor, she saw power and love help people with no voice. Freedman as CEO, has grown Brown Harris Stevens into one of the largest private real estate companies in the US.

Henry Meer's father and grandfather were good cooks but Henry Meer wanted to be a chef! A dream come true, Mr. Meer served - for 18 years - as sous-chef at La Côte Basque and Lutèce - two of New York's elegantly beautiful and best known French restaurants. Meer's story continues as owner/operator of the Cub Room, City Hall, and now, the Pure Liquid Wine & Spirits shop.

"..they had a passion for education," is Dr. Fritz François' description of his parents, Haitian immigrants, and how an education was provided. Dr François with an NYU team, went to Haiti with medical assistance after the devastating earthquake in 2011.

Bishop Victor Allen Brown, World Council of Independent Christian Churches and Senior Pastor of Mt. Sinai United Christian Church describes his calling to the ministry at 12, and his work, as a volunteer with the NYPD Clergy Police Liaison Program.

Ed Brown wanted to cook-to be a chef, to work in food services! Growing up, he worked in a luncheonette-went to CIA-to Paris- and was awarded Michelin Stars. Brown discusses good and bad of his own business and his relationship with Restaurant Associates.

A child of holocaust survivors, Jack Kliger, with his mother's photo, taken at 14 in the Budapest ghetto, and his daughter's Bas Mitzvah picture, discusses the vast differences in their lives, and his personal commitment to the Museum of Jewish Heritage

His family history made it almost certain that Robert CJ Krasner would be a physician. How does a doctor on the Berry Plan get posted to Ethiopia, Sardinia, England, Panama, attain the rank of Rear Admiral and serve as Attending Physician to Congress?

Judith Kelman, well-known mystery novelist, happy to explore the "what-if" of life, discusses becoming a writer and how "Prime Evil" was born. Kelman founded a remarkable program at Sloan Kettering, pairing patients who want to write with authors/mentors.

In 1880, three brothers hopped a freighter in Sicily-landing in Texas. Hard work, good fortune enabled Scardino's father to study medicine. Curiosity, love of learning-and science helped Peter Scardino, MD specialize in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Child of 3rd-4th generation German Jews, Michael Strauss shares his family's escape to Palestine in 1935; the difficulty living in Haifa; America in 1956, delivering groceries, bussing, CCNY-Baruch, American Express, Yeshiva University; the story goes on.

Stratis Morfogen, restaurateur, entrepreneur, author, talks about his family from a "little village in Sparta," opening their first restaurant, Pappas, on 14th Street. Pappas remained open from 1910-1975, the start of the Morfogen restaurant dynasty.

Stephen Siegel is known for deal-making and for philanthropic generosity. Born in the Bronx, Siegel graduated from Monroe HS at 15, worked as a real estate broker at 17, becoming chair and CEO at 37. Cushman & Wakefield, ESG, CBRE-peaks in Siegel's career