It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Dallas.
Candace Butler
I am a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, physical and mental abuse. I tried to take my own life three almost four times. The first time I was nine years old due to so much bullying, teasing, sexual abuse, and not fitting into what was expected of me. My verbal voice was buried in people pleasing and insecurities. I share this as a testimony of who God is. You are not your circumstances. You are who God says you are. Read more>>
Katie McCoy
I started small, renting a room just two days a week. But my passion and dedication helped my practice grow, leading me to open my own office. By 2024, I had expanded even further, hiring interns and other therapists, creating a supportive team, and, most recently, moving into a new location. Now, my focus extends beyond my own practice; I’m involved in community outreach and helping other therapists grow their own careers. Read more>>
Philip Denker
The pivotal moment in my development as an artist came when I realized I could merge these two worlds—by using digital tools to investigate and expand on my traditional drawing practices. I started experimenting with electric typewriter drawings, which became a bridge between the precision of the digital world and the human touch inherent in manual processes. Through these explorations, I began focusing on creating minimal, yet intricate, compositions that highlight the tension between precision and imperfection, order and chaos. Read more>>
Yaissa Montenegro Cifuentes
I am a wife and mother of 2 beautiful kids that unfortunately had to see me at the hospital more than they did at home, because of this in 2023 I attempted a bone marrow transplant without any success and there I was again thinking of the what if’s and knowing I would never be able to have life insurance to not only protect me but my kids and family if I didn’t make it. At this point I started digging into this world and realized there’s more options out there and the problem lies in the lack of people wanting to help families so I took a leap of faith got license and started my career in the insurance world where I concentrate in actually helping as many families as i can and specially people like me that have no hope because we been told no way to many times. Read more>>
Kenneth Bonilla
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I had gotten laid off from my job late 2023 and most of 2024 it was extremely hard finding a stable job. I had a short career in roofing sales, I learned quite a lot but I was unable to blossom in that business. Additionally, I’m debating going to university to study engineering, I’m thinking mechanical. I’ll see what the future holds for me! Read more>>
Chiamaka Enemkpali
My love for fragrance started when I was very young. I was obsessed with my mom’s perfume collection, and I used to sneak into her closet to try on her scents. When I first came to America, I lived with my aunt who also had a beautiful collection. I’d go into her closet the night before school, spray some perfume on my clothes, and wear it proudly the next day—I loved how it made me feel and the compliments I’d get. Fragrance, to me, is more than just a scent; it’s a mood booster, a memory trigger, and a confidence enhancer. Read more>>
Outlandish Festival
Overall we stand on the road because we know it’s paved by God, so yes of course there has been a ton of detours and road bumps, but regardless it means so much to still be standing and knowing that there’s a bigger purpose in what we do. Last year we broke our personal record and sold nearly 200 tickets, though leading up to the event there was a ton of doubt and obstacles, there somehow is always a positive outcome in the end and to that, we will continue to strive. Read more>>
Charlie Bui
2019 I started to learn about Real Estate, then I failed the 1st test, and I decided to try out to be salesman at a furniture store to learn more about selling process to support for my Real estate career later. Because of Covid 19 and the way the store selling things didn’t close to my honesty to sell, to help and to serve, so they laid me off first time in my life during Covid quarantine, that moment I felt like nothing to lose and started all in the Real Estate. Read more>>
Lorenza Rojas
The road has been anything but smooth, but every challenge has led me closer to my purpose. One of the biggest struggles I faced was dealing with anxiety—especially in the early years after moving to the U.S. Being in a new country alone, away from my family and everything familiar, left me feeling untethered. The cultural shifts, isolation, and uncertainty were overwhelming, and I was desperately searching for connection, for meaning, for a sense of home. Read more>>
Arjun Bali
My journey has been anything but conventional—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I started my career in India with a degree in Computer Engineering, followed by an MBA in Marketing & Finance. Like many others, I took the expected route into the corporate world, working sales roles at HCL and Citibank. At Citibank, I spent my days building relationships with high-net-worth clients—often closing deals over a round of golf. While I was learning a lot, I felt a growing need to do something more analytical and purpose-driven. Read more>>
Jay Lyons
That was on September 24, 2023. Just two months later, on November 24, 2023, Church for the World performed at Three Links in Deep Ellum. Since then, they’ve performed almost monthly, most recently opening for rock bands Tantric and Smile Empty Soul at The Rail in Fort Worth. In December 2024, I also began working with R&B singer Ashley Kaee, booking her first show with me on New Year’s Eve at Hillside Social in Cedar Hill. From January onward, Ashley has performed every month across the city. My story truly begins with partnering with two powerhouse, underrated talents in Dallas. Read more>>
Darshana Patel
Driven by my lifelong appreciation for education, I became certified in the Kumon Math and Reading program in 2003. Coming from a family of educators, with uncles who were professors in India, teaching was always a strong calling for me. A conversation with a friend sparked the idea of exploring Kumon, and I decided to pursue it. Read more>>
Kashif Williams
’ve always been that curious kid who couldn’t sit still—I was always taking things apart and putting them back together, whether it was cooking in the kitchen, fixing cars, or even building decks. But even as I dabbled in everything, it was my fascination with hair that truly captured my heart. I remember how my mom, a resourceful single parent and my very first “kitchen beautician,” would style hair on the side to make ends meet. When she bought me a doll at age three just so I could experiment with hair, I felt like I’d discovered a secret world. By age 12, I was already braiding my sisters’ hair, my cousins’, and even my mom’s—a skill that connected me deeply to the people I loved. Read more>>
Christian Englert
Over the next nine months, I went through aggressive chemo, a daunting brain surgery, and full brain and spine radiation. All of them brought challenges that transcended my physical state, and I spent a better part of that period preparing for the possibility that I may not get to see my sixteenth year. But after going through chemo, we learned it was unsuccessful, and my oncology team decided it was time for my surgeon to attempt a surgery to remove my tumor. Preparing for this was one of the hardest things I have have ever done. But this is when my faith became the only rock I could stand on, and God revealed his presence in ways that I could not deny. Read more>>
Benjamin Yim
One of the biggest struggles was unlearning everything I thought success had to look like. I came from a corporate background where productivity meant burnout, and rest was almost seen as weakness. So stepping into wellness—not just as a lifestyle, but as a business—meant reprogramming years of conditioning. Read more>>
Tailon Edwards
Throughout the years I can say it’s been challenging especially doing it by yourself in such a big city, you want all the support you can get but it can get overwhelming when your hard work gets unnoticed at times. Those times are when God tests your faith as an individual & as an entrepreneur, is this something you truly want deep down inside or is you gone fold & miss out on your God calling dream?! Read more>>
Teira Hill
From there, I poured myself into entrepreneurship and found success with GoddessGud Yoni Care, a brand that helped women build confidence and connect with their bodies. I also started F.A.S.T., a youth sports training camp that provides free coaching to kids in my community who have untapped potential. Beyond business, I stepped into the creative world—I freelance model across DFW and recently landed the lead role in the upcoming movie CLEO. Read more>>
Akea Collins
That’s when I had to stop and ask myself: What am I doing wrong? So I rolled up my sleeves and started researching what a resume really is, beyond just a list of jobs. I dove into formatting, keywords, storytelling, and personal branding. I studied what made hiring managers pause. And slowly, I began to crack the code. Read more>>
Amonjae Sealey
It wasn’t until I was about 16 years old my my dad bought me a studio set up so I could start to record my self. Even then I still wouldn’t understand where I was actually needed and appreciated at. Two years later when I graduated highschool I realized that I loved doing music but I needed a way to support my self too. That’s when the idea of recording other people for a fee would come and change my day to day life. It was a process at first just like anything else , but slowly these last two years I’ve been able to support myself and my music from my own business. Read more>>
Eternal Carmé
Every day we are faced with something new and although it can feel overwhelming, we have learned to roll with the punches and trust the process! We both work full-time jobs to support ourselves and the business, however.. sh*t is expensive so in addition to our full-time work schedules, we do all the sewing as well! The sewing is incredibly time-consuming and we run on fumes trying to keep up with our vision, but seeing our creations come to fruition makes it easier to pick up and sew the next pair of jeans. Oh, and our marketing manager, Shelby. She wouldn’t let us quit, even if we wanted to. Read more>>
Amber Wawak
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I’ve always had a deep love for animals and a strong desire to help them. By the time I was 5 years old, I already knew veterinary medicine was the career path I was destined to. Growing up, I spent many summers volunteering at animal shelters and many hours shadowing in veterinary clinics. These experiences solidified my passion for animal care and allowed me to see firsthand the profound impact that compassionate, skilled veterinary professionals can have on the lives of animals and their owners. The more I learned, the more I was drawn to the idea of becoming a trusted advocate for animals. Read more>>
Dereka Patterson
Absolutely! My journey started back in college. As a freshman, I found myself naturally supporting friends, family, and colleagues with administrative tasks—everything from organizing schedules to planning events. I realized I had a real gift for structure and support plus a keen unmatched eye for attention to detail, and process improvement and implementation, so by my sophomore year, I shifted my major to Business Administration to pursue that passion more seriously. Read more>>
Marcus Tamez
I took all the knowledge I had and offically opened Rabble Rouza Records in 2016. We opened up with the idea of helping young aspiring artist, so we offered a music crash course class to help artist set up there career with a very strong foundation. The class consist of distribution, graphic design, music marking and recording engineering. We also have a very professional recording studio and a very talented engineer. We are located at 110 Randol Mill Street Arlington Texas 76011. Read more>>
Meredith Abbott
Over time, I realized I wanted to create something more personal—an experience where patients feel truly cared for, with access to both surgical and non-surgical options in a seamless, well-rounded approach. That vision led me to open my own practice, where every treatment is tailored to each patient’s unique needs and goals. My guiding philosophy has always been to provide the highest level of care in a setting that feels both welcoming and elevated. I want my patients to feel at ease, knowing they’re getting personalized treatments and exceptional service. More than anything, I want them to feel heard, valued, and confident. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to turn that vision into reality. Read more>>
The Bodega Brovas
Our time together forged a unique friendship the extended past music. Sometime aroound 2008 HeadKrack was tapped to go overseas for a tour. Not wanting to go alone, Krack told Travii and Keynote to roll too so we can all wild out and have fun on the road. Typically there would be one song in HeadKrack’s set that feature Travii and Keynote but since we were cooking up so many songs, it made more sense to work some of those in too. Read more>>
Lamonica Williams
One of my biggest challenges was transitioning from being a hairstylist to a business owner. Doing hair and running a business are two different skill sets, and I had to learn how to manage operations, hire a team, and market myself beyond the chair. Another challenge has been shifting my focus from working in my salon to working on my business. I love what I do, but I realized that to create real impact and scale my vision, I couldn’t stay behind the chair full-time. Read more>>
Lilian And Yudit Portillo
Our business was born out of necessity — a shared desire to create an extra source of income during a challenging time. The idea came from me, and my mom provided the initial capital to bring it to life. I was a student trying to cover my expenses, and my mom, a single mother, worked hard to cover hers. Read more>>
Daniela Wilson
It’s very common for new agents to go months without making any income, and I was not the exception, I did not have income for 6 months. Real estate is all about building relationships and trust, which takes time. You have to consistently put in the effort before seeing results. Read more>>
Cameron Thomas
Born in in Beaumont , Texas a smaller “country” town about a hour half outside of Houston. Went to D1 college for football/baseball but God had other plans than playing sports. Inspiring and educating. I dropped out of college to Pursue business. A teammate introduces me to business & investing and I went all in. Learned from millionaires and from people that were broke. I learned from both. Who I wanted to be and who I didn’t want to be. I went all in on business and it took off , traveling around the world to all the places I’ve always seen on tv and wanted to go to in the US for business. Read more>>
Kirsten Brei
After years of friends and family encouraging me, I finally took the leap of faith and launched my personal styling business, StyleByKir. It all started from a genuine love for helping people feel their best through their wardrobe. I’ve always enjoyed curating outfits, finding that perfect piece, and helping others express themselves confidently through fashion. For a long time, I’d been offering my styling advice to friends and family, but the positive feedback and encouragement I received made me realize that I could turn my passion into something bigger. Read more>>
Lauren McAllister
At the heart of RHSA is a strong sense of community, built on the belief that education is not just about academics, but also about relationships, growth, and shared experiences. We are excited to be expanding and are thrilled to offer families the flexibility, diverse learning opportunities, and strong sense of community that so many are seeking as homeschooling continues to rise in popularity. Our program includes field trips, holiday celebrations, special events, community-driven fundraisers, and parents’ nights out—all designed to help families connect and create meaningful relationships. Read more>>
Lindsey Coates
Additionally, the process of customization has been a learning curve. From creating custom stickers and napkins to ensuring menus and themes align perfectly, there’s always a balancing act between creativity and functionality. Sometimes, I’ve had to remind myself that it’s okay to take things slowly and ask questions when venturing into uncharted territory. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth, and I’m always learning and adapting as I go. Level up, no matter what! Read more>>
Mark Jones
I’m originally from Louisiana and moved to Dallas in 2019 for better career opportunities. Once in Texas I was approached via LinkedIn to apply for a mortgage loan originator role. I applied for my license, studied for the test, passed with flying colors, and the rest is history. I love what I do and being able to help people’s dreams of homeownership come true. Read more>>
Wolf McNeil
Definitely not haha. I had to build a clientele and basically gain trust from friends as well as strangers to let me tattoo them. There were times I got depressed and wanted to give up for sure. But something told me to keep pushing, now I have dope clients who trust me to bring their visions to life Read more>>
Patrick A. Lewis
Growing up without my father left a void, one that I tried to fill by defining manhood and confidence for myself. Navigating life as a young Black man in a tough neighborhood taught me resilience early on. I also faced seasons where resources were limited. I didn’t always have the luxury of a full wardrobe, but that scarcity forced me to get creative learning how to rework, repurpose, and refine what I did have. That mindset still shapes how I help clients maximize their wardrobe today. Read more>>
Ikbal Biniyaz
We would like people to know that we are not selling our services to them but rather, we are here to become their lifelong dedicated agent in addressing and serving their needs. There have been times when a valued client has called us and needed a service that was outside our coverage of services in which case we have saved them the 20 calls they had to make to hire someone. and our customer service team does this at no charge, only to maintain that trust and relationship and to stay committed to bringing absolute convenience to our clients. Read more>>
