The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.
Caleb Dean
Ha no. The road has been a lot of things and smooth is not one of them. A huge struggle along the way has been my voice. My voice has always been a huge part of my identity as a storyteller and songwriter but I always seemed to lose it so easily. It actually wasn’t until I got nodules that I slowed down long enough to figure out what was actually going on with my voice. Now I’m able to and am still working on making the lifestyle changes necessary to keep my voice in consistent good health. Read more>>
Chinyere Onyirimba
Also, all of my experiences have aligned to allow me to combine my passions and skills, using pharmacy as my gateway to providing education to my peers, colleagues, and community using Chinyere PharmD Consulting. Additionally, I have built a community space and brand, called TrapQueensRx, which centers Black womxn and the fullness of their person. TrapQueensRx aims to connect Black womxn across age ranges, professional backgrounds, and walks of life. Read more>>
Gabrielle Dunn
Over time, self-doubt crept in, and the feeling of failure lingered. But the pursuit of perfection was holding me back. I realized that perfection is an illusion—art, like life, isn’t meant to be flawless; it’s meant to be felt. When I let go of the pressure to create something “perfect” and instead embraced the process, I found my flow again. Read more>>
Corey Kent
In 2020, I moved to Dallas to expand my business roots and build something special for the underground and the youth in Texas, similar to what I had done in Atlanta. That’s when I co-founded Blapworld, a movement and brand centered around making things happen. BLAP stands for Believe, Learn, And Prosper, and it’s all about taking action and creating opportunities. I met my co-founder while throwing events at SXSW, and we both knew we wanted to build something impactful that would help creatives thrive. Read more>>
Andie Ibarra
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating the legal side of animal chiropractic. In Texas, the laws are very strict, and a veterinarian referral is required before I can see any animal. While I fully support collaborative care and believe working with vets is so important, the process can sometimes slow things down or create extra hurdles for pet owners who are just trying to help their animals feel better. Read more>>
FAE
At first, everything felt challenging. Not only did I need to perfect my English, but I also had to navigate an entirely new culture and learn the ins and outs of the music industry. My first step was enrolling in a music school, where I took piano, singing, and dance lessons. After gaining confidence and skill there, I continued my education by earning a Music Business Certificate in college. This experience gave me invaluable knowledge and equipped me with the tools to navigate the complexities of the music industry. Read more>>
Chloe Vela
I launched a social media page for my cookies and gradually expanded my menu. While I learned to bake from my mom and grandma, I credit both of my parents for teaching me the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. In 2022, I added lemonade to my menu, which quickly became my best-selling item, especially during the summer. I sell my lemonades and sweets at paintball tournaments, and through these events, I’ve met incredible people who have become like a second family to me. Read more>>
D’Juana Ziegler
As we worked closely with our clients, we noticed a pattern—most of them weren’t just asking about business operations; they were struggling with marketing, branding, and visibility. The more we assisted with these needs, the more we realized where our true impact could be. It became clear that our path was shifting, and Prestige Professional Services was born as a full-scale marketing agency. Read more>>
Tara Lenney
These days, our focus is twofold: elevating both our design solutions and the experience our clients have along the way. We aim to make the process feel like the opposite of what most people expect from a renovation or new build (i.e., stressful and overwhelming). Instead, curated choices that feel effortlessly easy, a Team you can trust implicitly, and the kind of project flow that feels more like a well-orchestrated vacation than a construction zone. Read more>>
Micheal Matthews
While I was in school I took on a part time role as an educator for Givenchy Beauty where I traveled the metroplex and educating the public about the brand and makeup artistry. My hands have always been in beauty and attending the Aveda Institute helped me learn how to manage my creativity through technical training. I also was able to participate in training and photoshoots for the Neil corporation and Smashbox cosmetics. Read more>>
Anonymous // Mechari
Another challenge has been staying true to the vision without cutting corners. I’m DIY’ing things most brands outsource—encoding NFC cards, customizing vacuum-sealed packaging, designing everything from logos to lore—because every detail has to hit the right frequency. That level of intentionality is exhausting, but it’s also what separates Mechari from everything else out there. Read more>>
Selina Lopez
It has absolutely not been a smooth road! A career in real estate is hard work. You have to build a business from the ground up. Some challenges I have faced are learning the industry, building my client data base, gaining experience and learning to utilize social media to market my business. Another challenge I have faced is learning how to stand out in an extremely saturated industry. I am pushing through and learning as much as I can! Read more>>
Odette Olmos
In my teenage years, I became fascinated with the makeup trends of 2013. They were incredibly vibrant, bold, and dramatic. This was also the era of the rise of beauty influencers, and seeing them online made me yearn to experiment with makeup myself. That’s when my passion for makeup blossomed. After graduating high school, I was uncertain about my future. However, my sister encouraged me to try cosmetology, which was closely related to makeup. That’s when I discovered my true calling as a makeup artist. During my time at Ogle Cosmetology School, I secured my first job as a makeup artist in 2015 and began working at Marbles Makeup & Blowouts. Read more>>
Jacy Penland
Honestly not really, I was born with a birth defect called Pierre Robin and have had twenty surgeries, most of them jaw surgeries through my life starting when I was four days old and into high school. I had my last surgery when I was 16 and don’t anticipate having any more! Through it all, I saw so many people step in to help, serve, and encourage my family. They prayed for us, and from a young age, I learned what it meant to put my faith in God, even in the unknown and in circumstances I wouldn’t have chosen for myself. Over time, I’ve seen how God has used the challenges I’ve faced to strengthen my faith and allow me to encourage others. Read more>>
Maddison Adkins
My personal journey with mental and physical health struggles has been transformative, shaping who I am today. I’ve walked through moments of hopelessness, confusion, fear, and self-doubt, and because of that, I deeply understand what it’s like to feel less than. Looking back, I now see those challenges as a gift—one that has given me a powerful sense of empathy, which I’m able to offer to others in their own journeys of healing. Read more>>
Everest Goldstein
At the same time as I was studying to become a NP, I was struggling with my own health battling Lyme disease. I saw doctor after doctor and continued to get worse without any answers. Finally I was directed to a functional medicine provider and, for the first time in years, started to heal and regain my life. It was through this approach that I realized the impact that functional medicine (a true root cause, individualized approach) can have on patient outcomes. I decided to concurrently get certified in functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Read more>>
Estella Martinez
My wedding dog attendant service started organically from my love for dogs and my experience running a dog care business. One of my amazing clients asked if I could help include their dogs in their wedding, and of course, I said yes! What started as a favor quickly turned into something bigger when I realized just how much couples wanted their furry family members by their side—but needed someone they could trust to handle all the details. Read more>>
Quinn Hoffmann
Living in LA was a dream—the city is a huge melting pot of people from all over the country, and the world. Everyone is from somewhere else, and as eager to make friends as you are. It wasn’t long before I found myself living out my dream of going on castings, and auditioning for roles in some of my own favorite TV shows. Some of my favorite jobs I booked include 90210, Miley Cyrus’ Party In The USA music video, and the main title intro to the show Pretty Little Liars. Read more>>
Norma Palomares
In the beginning, I struggled with self-doubt and lack of guidance. I didn’t have anyone to show me how to start a business, how to price my work, or how to attract clients. I had to figure things out by trial and error, and sometimes that meant learning the hard way. There were moments when I questioned if I was good enough, if I had what it took to make this work. Read more>>
Amy & Heather Groff
For any small business it’s a huge challenge trying to make a name for yourself and create a following amongst all the established large franchises. You can have the best product but with a poor location or bad marketing you can not make it in today’s economy. For us, it was important that we found a way to stand out and offer unique menu items and ways for customers to customize their drinks. We believe in the quality of our products but it was initially difficult getting people to step out of their comfort zones and try something new! Read more>>
James Trigg
I’m an artist who specializes in hip hop/rap I’m known for having great word play and catchy beats. I’m most proud in the attraction I’ve had in a mere 4 months. My instagram is currently sitting at +70,000 views monthly. What sets me apart from others is my delivery, and I feel this way because I can rap on several type of beats and I have a lot of different flows for specific beats. Read more>>
Key Dotson
When I made it to college, I felt like I had made it. Even though fashion had always been a big part of my life (and everyone assumed that’s where I’d end up), I chose a “safe” route and went into healthcare. I thought hey let me show them I have beauty and brains. I worked in the field off and on for over nine years and I found myself very unfulfilled. During that time, I also explored real estate—fix and flips, short-term rentals, multi-family, you name it. Life was good. I was living that middle-class “American Dream.” House, car, good job, and a side hustle (or five). I thought I could start any business under the sun! Read more>>
Elisa Jimenez-Pate
Then, in 2019, I had a vivid dream that I was meant to pursue photography—but not just as an “odd job for extra income.” I felt called to use this gift to bring joy to others in a meaningful way. Since then, I’ve always tried to keep Jesus at the center of my work. My passion has always been to create joy and lasting memories for families at all stages of life. Read more>>
Lan Nhi Nguyen
Over time, my passion for helping people evolved. I was drawn to aesthetics, where I found a deeper connection between confidence and self-care. Like many, I’ve had my own insecurities, and I loved that I could help others feel more comfortable and beautiful in their own skin through the art of injectables. Today, as an aesthetic injector, I am grateful that my journey — filled with struggles, growth, and resilience — has led me to a career where I can empower others to feel their best. Read more>>
Marvin Garcia
“I decided to immigrate to the USA because I needed to advance in fashion. I really needed a higher education degree and to meet people in the industry to establish myself,” proving that I always had clear goals.Every day is an achievement in my life. Just waking up makes me thankful for all the wonderful things around me, for great opportunities, for being featured in magazines like Elle Magazine, Style Magazine, Grazia, etc. Read more>>
Justin Cho
I ended up needing to take some drawing and painting classes to progress but I never quit trying to become a tattoo artist. The next couple years I would end up apprenticing at a couple different shops to get where I am today. I’m barely a year into tattooing skin but I’m so eager and hungry to learn and grow! I was fortunate enough to be given chances and guidance by a lot of awesome artists in the local tattoo community and I’m so grateful for everything I’ve picked up along the way. It truly does take a village, and I hope my attitude work ethic, and desire to grow shows that I don’t take tattooing or the graciousness of artists who have helped me for granted! Read more>>
Veronica Williams
Growing up, I have always played in make up and wore make up for fun at a younger age. I always knew that Makeup would be something that I would like to do on other people not only on myself. As I continue to get older, I continue to really research and start doing make up on others and it suddenly Became my passion . I have now been doing makeup for 11 with great experience and very excited with my growth. Read more>>
Gwyneth Ndikaka
My journey has been anything but smooth. I’ve faced my share of highs and lows, but I truly believe that every obstacle, struggle, and setback has shaped me into the woman and leader that I am today. On a personal level, I’ve wrestled with a lack of self-confidence, fear, hopelessness, and grief. Letting go of the past has been one of my biggest struggles, and there have been many moments where I’ve felt like I was falling behind in life. Read more>>
Toska Smith-Washington
My career began in 2012 as a co-owner operator of T K Express, where I gained firsthand experience managing trucking operations. Seeking to expand my expertise, I transitioned into a broker agent role for two years, learning the ins and outs of freight brokerage and industry networking. Read more>>
Marquise Willis
As a runway model and entrepreneur, I see the runway as a sport—one that requires dedication and practice. Every photoshoot and every stride on the runway is a form of art, a way to express creativity and passion. Most proud of being represented by two modeling agency, and opportunities of work in this industry that comes my way. Read more>>
Red Harvest
We don’t have a large budget, but we’re making do. It has been slow going, but we’re steadily adding new songs to our library. The good news is that our current recording equipment is pretty good, and the music we’ve released with it sounds strong. The next step would be to update the recording equipment for an even better sound quality, but that’s an expense we’ll have to save for. Read more>>
Shania Brown
During my sophomore year of high school, I took my passion to the next level by offering hairstyling services from my mother’s home. This hands-on experience allowed me to refine my skills, understand the fundamentals of hair care, and build connections with clients. It was a pivotal moment that affirmed my love for this industry and solidified my commitment to mastering my craft. Read more>>
Ace Gardner
In addition I’ve worked directly and from a business perspective with Coaches, Athletic Directors, Program Marketing Directors, and other key roles within the collegiate athletic offices when I managed the largest 7 on 7 tournament in the country, which spanned 16 cities, and aired on Fox Sports in 2012 as a 5 part series “Red Bull Game Breakers. ” So in a sense, I speak multiple languages/jargin within the collegiate sports world. I understand the interests and key priorities for each title. This helps me to not waste their time, and to speak to what matters most to them each. This is all expressed in our app design and flow. We speak to and translate for the Coach/Program, Athlete, and Parent. www.coachesvue.com I launched Coaches Vue in the winter of 2020. Read more>>
Brittany McDonald
I am so grateful for the village I have gained along the way because I’ve met some amazing business besties, virtual and in-person, who have kept me from throwing in the towel. I also learned how to run a business on the fly, which, of course, is challenging in understanding trademarks, contracts, budgeting, and running things safely and securely. But even with prior knowledge, business can be unpredictable, so it’s not easy! Standing on my purpose, passion, and goals keeps me going! Read more>>
Roohi Anwar
I work full-time in medical billing and coding while also pursuing my passion as a content creator and social media influencer. Both roles are demanding, but alongside them, I manage my family and kids. What sets me apart is my ability to balance multiple responsibilities while staying committed to my goals. I take pride in inspiring others..showing that you can reinvent yourself at any stage in life and pursue different passions without limitations. Read more>>
Steve Jensen
The things of most value are never easy. Being first generation ranchers is no easy task, Fortunately, we have wonderful friends who have been a great support. With regards to the beef business, the greatest obstacle is getting the word out and connecting on social media with individuals and families who want real, unadulterated food. We have made great progress this past year, and expect to double our efforts to ensure that more people receive the numerous health benefits of purchasing fresh, local beef from ranchers like us. Read more>>
Dulce Garcia
I always tell people to buy your first home and see it as a step to your dream home . As long as you take steps you will achieve your goals . I’m a bilingual agent that works with New construction, pre-owned homes , Land & manufactured homes with land . I have learned lots of valuable information that i love sharing with all my clients. My practice is to always be transparent about the whole process. I don’t sugar coat , I like preparing you for everything from the day you purchase to even after ! Read more>>
Ario Itrez
Seeing those artist sing and dance always looked so fun to me, but I was too scared to follow that dream for a long time. I didn’t start singing until I was 19 years old (I am now 26). A very good friend of mine who also has an incredible voice, saw my passion, heard my potential, and encouraged me to invest in a vocal coach. I wanted to follow in Beyoncé’s footsteps and took a the classical route which taught me so much about music. I sang opera for about 2.5 years as a counter tenor before shifting my focus to modern music where I’m continuing to build and utilize my voice in a different way. Read more>>
Gary Williams III
I started by noticing things in my generation that can be fixed so our future can be better. Living in a society where people are struggling with being themselves I knew starting WeirdWear would encourage individuals to be themselves. (For Example) you might have a great idea and you stop pursuing that idea because you feel like your Family and Friends wouldn’t approve so you stop and forget about it. Seeing situations like this happening everyday I decided to start a Clothing Company that will release my message. I’m confident that my company will encourage many to “never apologize for being them”.By believing In the message Weird Wear has started to grow. Read more>>
Sydney Donatella
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Law school, in particular, is a monster—it’s not only difficult but incredibly time-consuming. On top of that, you’re constantly having to unlearn old habits and ways of thinking and work to bring all of these pieces together to succeed. Content creation has its own set of challenges. It’s tough to get started and even harder to stay consistent when you’re juggling studying, keeping in touch with family, and maintaining a regular life. But despite the challenges, I genuinely enjoy both law school and content creation. They both push me in different ways, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Read more>>
Dustin Marx
My wife, Becca, and I saw an opportunity to transform the plumbing industry. We acquired Mother Modern Plumbing with a clear vision: to elevate the standard of home services by integrating modern technology, ensuring transparency, and fostering a culture where employees thrive. Our commitment to sharing 50% of all profits with employees and employee well-being stems from our belief that when our team prospers, our customers receive unparalleled service. Read more>>
Anagha Kolanu
Growing up in a world that didn’t understand me, I faced challenges that many wouldn’t recognize at first glance. Living undiagnosed with ADHD, battling depression in a community that dismissed it, and enduring a household where abuse was normalized, I often felt isolated and unheard. But through resilience and self-discovery, I found a way to heal and break free from the cycles that held me back. In sharing my story, I hope to shine a light on the struggles so many endure in silence—whether it’s navigating mental health, challenging cultural stigmas, or breaking generational curses. This is a journey of transformation, of reclaiming power, and of proving that healing is possible for anyone who dares to fight for it. ADHD was one of my earliest, yet most invisible struggles. I always felt different from my peers but could never quite understand why. In the Desi community, mental illness is often dismissed as a phase or a weakness rather than acknowledged as a real struggle. Because of this, many of my symptoms flew under the radar for years. My hyperactivity, forgetfulness, and difficulty focusing were seen as carelessness, and my struggles with executive dysfunction were labeled as laziness. Read More>>
