The 2014 Rising Stars of the Profession: 35 Under 35

What can one say about our first Rising Stars of the Profession: 35 Under 35? Well, as it turns out, plenty. And we let them do just that over the next 35 profiles. Check out their inspiring stories and their accomplishments. Read their quotes: What do they have to say? More times than not, they deflect praise and instead opt to credit those around them—their co-workers, their team, their mentors, their clients. Since they won’t say it, we will.

The award winners, and plenty of their colleagues in Generation Y, are eager and well educated. They know what they want, and are not about to settle. They don’t like the status quo; in fact, they have no problem challenging it. They are not afraid to take chances. They expect their jobs to be fulfilling. They expect to be fulfilled. If they’re not, they’ll move on. The “work hard, play hard” mantra was practically invented for them.