Chef Marcus Samuelsson knows that the key to being a good chef is a lot like being a good athlete. You get up every day and keep pushing yourself.

Despite being told that his Blackness would never let him own a fine dining restaurant, he made his way cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. After landing in New York in his early 20s, he set his sights on building a restaurant empire, starting with the renowned Red Rooster in Harlem. Today, he is a James Beard award winner, Top Chef alum and host, philanthropist, and food activist.