Stay informed. Stay inspired.

California’s Higher Cost of Living is a Reflection of its Prosperity by Christopher Thornberg PhD Editor-in-Chief: Rick Gibson Publisher & CEO: Christopher Luna Will Rogers, one of America’s sharpest wits, once famously quipped: “It ain’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble. It’s what we know that ain’t so.” He was describing a deeply held human tendency—the ability to accept certain narratives as unquestioned truth even when the available evidence points in a very diffe

How the Son of Immigrants Rewrote His Story Written By: Rick Gibson Editor-in-Chief: Rick Gibson Publisher & CEO: Christopher Luna The road signs were not clearly marked. In fact, they were pointing in another direction. It would be unfair to blame young Juan De La Cruz for taking the well-worn path of sub-par grades and odd jobs with no prospects. When he began working at age 11, he was not surprised that life was difficult and unrewarding because that was the only expectati

Written By: Ed Mauss Editor-in-Chief: Rick Gibson Publisher & CEO: Christopher Luna There's a moment in every leader's story where someone decides to believe in them before they believe in themselves. For Dr. Thomas A. Parham – psychologist, scholar, and recently retired president of California State University, Dominguez Hills – that moment came on a walkway at UC Irvine, when a professor named Joe White put his arm around a bright but aimless young man and said, simply: "Y

Dr. Noel Hacegaba The CEO of the Port of Long Beach shares leadership principles forged through a blue-collar family, serving his teams, and navigating intense operational challenges Written By: Ed Mauss Photography by: Andrew Heiser Editor-in-Chief: Rick Gibson Publisher & CEO: Christopher Luna The day his parents dropped him off at USC, his stepfather reached into his pocket and pressed a $50 bill into his hand. “Mijo,” he said in Spanish. “This is all I got for the whole w

Stephen Cheung and Ron Frierson are Redefining Economic Success in Greater Los Angeles Written By Rick Gibson Photography By: Andrew Heiser Publisher & CEO: Christopher Luna Hair & Make Up: Patrick Santa Ana Agency Videographer: John Kandalaft Location: City Club Los Angeles The story is told that three bricklayers working on a church construction project were asked to describe what they were doing. The first responded, “I am laying bricks.” The second said, “I am building a

"The people in flight from the terror behind—refugees from dust and shrinking land, from the thunder of tractors and shrinking ownership, from the desert's slow unmoving hand; they all come to California. And they are one great snake moving along the road." —John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath Like the “Dust Bowlers” before them, the post-World War II wave of migrants from Oklahoma were attracted to California by a general sense that a better life was possible there. Burdened

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” — Proverbs 11:14 Behind every organization, every institution, and every major initiative shaping our communities are individuals whose experiences, decisions, and values guide the outcomes we see. Yet too often, the deeper journeys of those leaders — the lessons, challenges, and defining moments — remain untold. California Leaders was created to help capture and share such stori

Congratulations to Ron Frierson on being named the next President & CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. A well-deserved milestone for a leader who has dedicated more than two decades to building a stronger, more equitable, and more prosperous Los Angeles. Ron's journey is one of rare breadth — from leading the Business Team in Mayor Eric Garcetti's Office, shaping policy for one of the world's largest metropolitan economies, to driving large-scale economic development a

We welcome Babatunde Cole, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, whose leadership continues to expand the power of meaningful connection, strategic alliances, and long-term community impact. Babatunde has built his career at the intersection of financial strategy, legacy planning, executive relationship development, and ecosystem building. With a strong background in financial services and trust and estate planning collaborations, he has become known for bringing together

California Leaders Magazine Announces Official Launch in Los Angeles, Bringing Together Voices Shaping the State’s Economic Future Los Angeles, CA — April 15, 2026 — California Leaders, a new statewide media platform dedicated to elevating the voices and stories of influential leaders across California, will officially launch its inaugural issue with a live event at City Club Los Angeles on April 15, 2026. Founded by Christopher Luna, Publisher & CEO, California Leaders was c