“I think if I’m gonna be remembered some way, it’s for the way I’ve served & helped others.” – Jim Marascio Seven-year-old Jim dreamed big — Notre Dame quarterback, Heisman, NFL Hall of Fame. But he grew up in Augusta, ME, where you chose something steady & respectable. His parents were educators; the path was predictable. So, when it came time for a career, accounting felt “right.” Until he looked around & thought, “I can’t imagine working with these people for the rest of my life!” So, he pivoted — to Computer Science, to late nights, to challenges that made him feel alive. Then came the moment that set his trajectory: the CEO of a global media distributor handed him a mandate & a budget — build the entire digital music platform from scratch. No roadmap. No safety rails. Just overheating servers & a cliff-steep learning curve. Jim didn’t say yes for glory. He said yes because he saw a way to serve — the company, the team, the people who’d never know his name but would rely on his work. That’s still his compass at Equals 11. If stories of leaders who build quietly & serve deeply make you feel alive, connect with him through Equals 11 Jim reminds us of what Albert Schweitzer wrote: “The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought & found how to serve.”

“Entrepreneurship is scary as well as compelling in a weird way.” – Shay Prosser That’s the quiet admission of someone who’s lived the tension of building something that matters—between fear & purpose, risk & reward—and kept moving anyway. Shay started in chaos: a newborn on the floor, the economy unraveling, & a business idea that couldn’t wait for permission. It wasn’t perfect timing; it was purpose knocking early. When her one-to-one financial coaching couldn’t reach enough people, she rebuilt the model—bringing financial education into workplaces & later onto military bases with the USO. That pivot became her pattern: find the gap, build the bridge. So when business owners began coming to her not just for answers but for direction, she created spaces to think differently—to set bold goals, make smart moves, & scale with clarity, courage, & connection. Today, she helps business owners do what she’s always done—move forward, even when the path isn’t clear. Not with ten-year dreams, but ninety-day wins. Progress, not perfection. Because growth doesn’t come from having it all together—it comes from showing up anyway. To learn more, connect with her through North 12 Partners or Birthing of Giants. Shay reminds us what Amelia Earhart said best: “The most effective way to do it is to do it.”

“I don’t give advice to my kids. I lead by example.” – Mark Fujiwara Mark’s compass isn’t a slogan on a wall—it’s lived. Born to a Japanese father and Chinese mother, he grew up between two worlds that both valued humility, presence, & community. ✨Wabi-sabi: embrace the cracks & fill them with gold. ✨Ichigo ichie: the sacredness of one moment. ✨Kaizen: one small improvement, every day. ✨Ikigai: doing work that gives life meaning. Those ideas shaped not just his mindset—but how he leads. In boardrooms, he’s the calm in the storm. In life, he’s the guy who turns struggle into connection. As a wealth advisor, speaker, & founder of Sanctuary 88, he doesn’t preach balance—he models it. He builds spaces where honesty is strength & leadership begins with stillness. Because in a world obsessed with hustle, Mark reminds us that the rarest power is peace. The kind that leads quietly, listens deeply, & lifts everyone in the room. If you’ve ever needed a reminder that leadership can sound like silence… Connect with Mark through Sanctuary 88 & markfujiwara.com. Lao Tzu said, “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” Mark listened.