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.
Giovanni Cabrera
Started with expression. Learned to express things through my lens of my camera which later transferred to music. Read more>>
Susanna Guerrini
My story is really one of resilience, faith, and starting over. I came to the United States from Venezuela 27 years ago looking for opportunities and a better future. Like many immigrants, I worked hard, adapted to a new culture, and focused on building a life for my family. For years, I never imagined I would become a business owner. Read more>>
Demarkus Drumwright
I started cutting hair in 2015 , got my license 2016-2017 , cutting hair wasn’t a life long dream of mine but I needed a foundation to start and open the doors of oppurtunity . Getting my barbers license did exactly that , but also built a base foundation for networking and other opportunities. Read more>>
Deondriea Cantrice
People often assume my story started when I became a confidence coach, author, or speaker, but the truth is it started long before that. I spent years building what looked like a successful career on paper. I led global teams, worked in IT program management, managed multimillion-dollar initiatives, and climbed corporate ladders many people aspire to reach. Read more>>
Kenny Agbim
My story is rooted in faith, family, resilience, and a desire to create impact. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, as the oldest of three children to Nigerian immigrant parents. Growing up, I had the opportunity to experience two very different worlds. Read more>>
Henri Davis
I’m 34 years old, from Shreveport, Louisiana. I’ve been in DFW for 10 years now because of work. In short everything started in College at LaTech University when I majored in Computer Information Systems. I knew I wanted to have a job that would provide me with a good salary and flexible work arrangements. Read more>>
Kevin Prince
I started One Eleven Studios in April 2008 and then shortly after Drummer101.com Read more>>
Zhanne’ Lyles
Hello my name is Zhanne’ Lyles I am a handbag designer , I used the money I made to sale my shop in San Antonio to invest to handbags , I launched my business “ FÉROCE FASHION_FF “ on instagram. Read more>>
James Smith
My wife and I started our window cleaning business in 2018 after I realized my career in retail and food service was going nowhere. We decided that we wanted to pour back into our community by beautifying the homes of our immediate community, and so Lone Star Glass and Gutter was born. Read more>>
Tom Jung
I had been a residential realtor for 10 years. We started a youtube channel for folks looking to relocate to the area. In doing so we were walking tons of new homes. I started to notice there were small things that would make homes really stand out but builders weren’t doing them. That’s where Thunder Bunny Co got it’s legs. Read more>>
Monique Allen
College Elite was founded in 2015 with a mission to support college students in their academic and personal success. As the needs of students evolved, we expanded our focus in 2024 to include health and wellness. This led to the launch of our wellness line, Intrinsically Yours, which offers natural and holistic products ranging from herbal teas to dorm cleaning sprays. Read more>>
Denise Wolford
Pushing past the pain of toxic relationships. Putting all the wisdom and knowledge together over the past 29 1/2 years made me realize how important it is to love yourself unconditionally. When I look at how unhappy people are with themselves and the bad relationships they continue to settle for makes me want to continue to share my story on H.H.R= Happy Healthy Relationships! Read more>>
Ashley McMillan
I am humbled to say that what started off as a quirky project idea slowly started to blossom into something bigger. I am a person who is always on the go, and it’s awfully hard to sit still when there’s always stuff to do. I didn’t really know how to relax and not be ‘on’ all the time. Read more>>
Mariah Wyatt
My journey started back in 2010 on a break from college. I was at my parents house with nothing to do for the summer and for some reason I started watching make up tutorial videos and that’s when I became intrigued with MakeUp. I eventually started practicing on myself then Close, family and friends. Read more>>
Kevin Punch
When I was four years old, I was watching TV, and I remember thinking, ‘I want to do that.’ I wanted to be on TV because I wanted to bring joy to people and make them smile. I felt like acting was one of the fastest ways to reach a lot of people and make a positive impact. Read more>>
Jordan Batiste
My journey to creating Jayco Handyman & Contracting Services started at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. I helped a non-profit organization build a couple houses, a wellness center, and school and loved working with my hands. After I graduated and became a math teacher, I spent my summers and breaks working with my hands and helping people in the neighborhood. Read more>>
Jamylla James
I grew up in a small small town but was always a big Dreamer I searched for purpose and meaning everywhere I looked I found art in the most unlikely places I strove to create my life into something meaningful and masterful mistakes were made and help make me into who I am today Read more>>
Brittany Samuels
My path to founding my advisory firm wasn’t linear, and if I’m being entirely raw, it was forged in the fire of some of the most challenging moments of my life. For over a decade, I climbed the ladder in Corporate America. Read more>>
Matt Chalmers
I’m Dr. Matt Chalmers, and for nearly 20 years I’ve dedicated my life to understanding how the body truly heals and performs at its highest level. My journey into health and wellness began after a serious football injury in high school left me barely able to walk. Read more>>
Sperlynn Byers II YoWingman
A Midwest Southern gem Kansas City raised by way of Dallas, Tx made, from USD 500 all the way to the London Underground, with a genre blending style guaranteed to bring a unique crooner. Singing in mass school choirs to church pulpits, bringing experiences from classical music to an RnB Group…an original sound is the only outcome, strictly moods Read more>>
Adeola Adeniran
Hello, my name is Adeola, popularly known as Marie. Entrepreneurship has always been in my DNA. From a fashion business in my college days, to a natural hair care brand towards graduation, I have always been building. Before I moved to the United States, I had a corporate career in the downstream oil and energy sector at one of Africa’s largest energy companies. Read more>>
Ashley Avery
I grew up in malls from as early as I can remember. My parents, who started their journey together at just 18 years old — and are still happily married today — began as glassblowers. What started as a small dream quickly evolved into something much bigger. Read more>>
Tony Anderson
I am a car appraiser and own the DFW franchise for Auto Appraisal Network. I got started in the car business in 1986 as a service writer for the local Ford dealership. I went on to earn a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology. I have worked for two different automobile manufacturers, worked in many shops and sold electronics to automotive suppliers. Read more>>
Kimberly Flores
Movement has been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up dancing — it was how I processed the world, how I felt most like myself. Read more>>
Cecilia Gonzales
Pixee’s Paws Pet Palace was created to provide a home away from home setting for pups. Instead of being in runs most of the days they are in temperament appropriate packs throughout the day and sleep as a pack with their hooman pack leader. Our pack leader is with them throughout the night to ensure safety and calm for our guests. Read more>>
Randy Floyd
I was born in North Carolina learned to play guitar at age 13. My teacher was a Bluegrass banjo player. As a teen I played in many Rock N Roll bands. I appeared on TV and radio as a teenager. I joined the military at age 18 and ended up in Shreveport Louisiana where I joined several different country music bands. Read more>>
Kelly Bowden
Well the real journey began back in college when a bed and breakfast was my dream. Then we purchased the perfect property in 2010 and opened the business in 2011 after extensive renovations. We’ve been enjoying hosting people from all over the world to explore Fort Worth and all the city has to offer since then. We are a three room bed and. Read more>>
Jaime Sisson
Growing up in Mesquite, I was always a curious student who loved learning, though I could never pin down just one favorite subject. I was raised in a monolingual, English-speaking household, but from an early age, I found myself deeply drawn to worlds outside my own. Read more>>
Jeff Anderson
A big part of my career has been either working with startups or running my own company — so the entrepreneurial itch has always been there. My current position is in sales for a new home builder, and while I love what I do, my wife and I started asking ourselves: how do we give more? That question became the catalyst. Read more>>
Mark Washington
I started out creating music independently with limited resources but a strong focus on storytelling, consistency, and building a real connection with listeners. Early on, I was recording, writing, and learning the business side of the industry at the same time—handling everything from content creation to promotion on my own. Read more>>
Claudia Zamora
I always was pretty creative and artistic during High School and dabbed in oils, pastels and watercolors, I went to Texas Tech University for my Bach. of Architecture, and worked for some local firms when I graduated. After the birth of my daughter, I started taking watercolor classes to get adult interaction. Read more>>
Chandler Sanders
I tell people I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon; I grew up with a surviving Savior. I grew up in a single-parent home. After my biological mother was murdered, my aunt, who I call my mother, took in my siblings and me. Read more>>
Marty Younkin
I officiated my first wedding on July 3rd, 1976. I was a singles pastor at a local church with a large singles class. People would meet and fall in love and they would ask me to officiate their wedding. Read more>>
Jessica Esteves
I’ve always wanted to have something of my own, I could never figure out what that was. I didn’t really have some huge calling like people say they have, one thing that defines them, that wasn’t really me. There are two inspirations behind opening my Lagree studio, the first one being my sweet angel daughter – Vivienne. Read more>>
Jennifer Wagner
I met my husband, artist Alan Alldredge in 2009. Being in a studio surrounded by a wealth of materials, I became curious about learning to paint or learning a craft that I could make my own. After a few years of instruction and guidance under Alan, we came up with a style and process that I began to genuinely enjoy. Read more>>
farrah ramona marx
My name is Farrah Ramona, and my partner in business and in life is Jordan. We’re RADD. If you told us ten years ago we’d be traveling the country in a white work van selling art, crystals and handmade goods, we would’ve probably laughed and gone back to our office jobs. Read more>>
Sheena LeMay-Nelssen
I started my photography business in 2013 while pregnant with my first daughter. I had graduated from two colleges the year before and had turned an internship with a NJHS hockey team into a photography job. Running my own business allowed me a flexible schedule with a new baby and made it easier when we moved to Texas in 2015. Read more>>
Jenny Lockwood
I’ve been in the social work profession for over twenty years, and a practicing LCSW-S in private practice for the past five. The journey to becoming a therapist in private practice was a long one, and honestly not something I thought I would want for myself. Read more>>
Guillermo Rios
Studio Guillermo Rios grew out of my desire to merge art, fashion, and storytelling into a single creative practice. While my professional career has been in education as a Spanish professor and language educator, creativity has always been a central part of who I am. I started creating art as a way to explore identity, culture, memory, and the experience of living between different worlds. Read more>>
Kimberly Gonzalez
I started my lash journey in 2019 when I was 19 years old. At that time, I was attending college and working in the restaurant industry. I had been getting my lashes done since I was 18 and i was always fascinated by the artistry behind it and wondering if I myself could have the skill to do the same. Read more>>
Danerria Phillips
I’ve always been interested in fashion, modeling, and creative expression since I was a little girl. At 21, I started modeling and hosted my first creative networking photoshoot, which ignited my passion for bringing creative concepts to life both in front of and behind the camera. Read more>>
Kent Barker
I discovered photography in college and on the advice of a mentor, moved to Dallas in the late 70’s. My area of interest has always been portraiture and I have pursued that primarily in the commercial realm…i.e; people in advertising and portraits for magazines. I am old enough to have spent half of my career in the Film Era and am so grateful for that! Read more>>
Iyana Aycock
i’ve always known that i was meant to be a creative. At a very young age… I didn’t have the language for it, I just knew that i wanted to be a singer, Actor, writer .. basically anything that allows me to tell a story and make people feel something. Read more>>
Kim Brewer
I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. My father was a self-taught artist and I spent a lot of my childhood traveling around with him helping him sell his art. I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember and never really imagined myself doing anything else other than being an artist. Read more>>
Irene Avramidis
Passionately Baking Since Baking has never been just a hobby for me—it is my absolute passion. I am a dedicated, from-scratch bakery in Fort Worth, where quality and freshness are always my top priority. Before the pandemic, I proudly supplied over 25 unique products to local coffee shops. Read more>>
Sabrina Sakhrani
Twenty-eight years ago, I moved from Italy to Okinawa. My husband was born and raised here, but work later took us to Hong Kong, where we spent nearly twenty years. Okinawa was always home. We returned constantly and during Covid we made the decision to come back permanently. That was when I met Ayako Ikehara and her father. Read more>>
Kiffani Nicholes
Home With Kiffani was born from a lifelong passion for cleaning and creating comfortable, welcoming spaces. Growing up, Saturdays were dedicated to cleaning the entire house. From an early age, I was responsible for keeping my room and a shared bathroom clean, which helped me develop habits that stayed with me throughout my life. Read more>>
Liz Zabala
Growing up, I always assumed I was going to become a doctor. Most of my family members are doctors, and that’s simply what I grew up knowing. I did well in school, had strong grades, and for most of my life, medicine felt like the obvious path. Read more>>
Tiffany Biggers
I provide lap of luxury skincare/body treatments for men, women and teens (Under 16 parent must be present). I opened my small business “Absolutely Everything Aesthetics” in July of 2024. My ultimate goal is to continue providing amazing experiences not just any boring services while eventually owning my own spa in the future. Read more>>
Laura Tulumbas
My life has been a story of many beginnings, endings, deaths, and rebirths. Read more>>
Kristen Loveless
Southern Soul started as a dream two years ago. Growing up, I got to see firsthand what can happen when family, hard work, and faith come together. Read more>>
D’andre Miskel
I got my start as a musician in the heart of Chicago as a kid. Growing up in church and having a musical family everything came naturally. I started picking up things around the house to make noise before my family knew that drums were my calling. By the age of 3 I had already started solidifying myself as drummer. Read more>>
Tiffany Chen
Debbie Wei and I met in 2021, introduced by a mutual friend. While I had dreamed of private practice, Debbie wasn’t ready to take on the challenge solo while raising two children. We both also discussed how it would be nice to have a partner to open up a practice with, which is when our brainstorming started. Read more>>
Kim Bailey
My journey into interior design has been anything but traditional. Like many women, I spent a season of life focused on raising my family and was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years. During that time, I discovered a passion for creating beautiful, functional spaces and became fascinated by the way thoughtful design can influence how people live, gather, and connect. Read more>>
Deondra Crippen
I have to start by saying how grateful I am to even be where I am now, because if you had told me years ago that this was possible, I wouldn’t have believed you. I honestly didn’t think it was still in the cards for me. Read more>>
Jaleesa Bray
Here’s a polished version that keeps your story professional and engaging for a magazine interview: My journey as an entrepreneur began in 2014 when I launched my own staffing agency in Rockwall, Texas. Over the past 12 years, I’ve successfully operated and grown that business, which later relocated with me to Anna, Texas. Read more>>
Miguelina Pierre-Louis
I am currently the President of Dallas Haitians United, we are a nonprofit organization serving the Haitian community throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. While DHU was founded in 2019, I became involved because I was passionate about being in a space where Haitians could connect, support one another, and celebrate our culture. Read more>>
Joel Just
We started Uptown Carolers in 2013 with the goal to be the most entertaining caroling company in DFW. We pride ourselves on being able to perform almost any Christmas, holiday, or winter song that audiences might request — all performed entirely from memory! Read more>>
DerNeccia (Lucy) Livingston
Hello again! It’s truly an honor to be recognized for the third time by Voyage Dallas, also known as Shoutout DFW. You’ve already had the chance to meet the model and artist, PrettyLu, now it’s time to get to know the actress behind the name, Lucy. Read more>>
Desha Smith
My name is Desha, and I’m originally from Miami, Florida. I moved to Dallas in September 2024 looking for a change of scenery and honestly just a new chapter in my life. Looking back, it was nothing but God that brought me here. The first few months in Dallas were definitely slow. Read more>>
Zuka Zeqiri
My name is Zuka Zeqiri. I am originally from Macedonia, I am Albaninan, and I am the founder of ZZ Lampshades. I am also a mother of two beautiful children, and in many ways, my journey as an entrepreneur is deeply intertwined with my journey as a mother, a caregiver, and a survivor. My path into design began after the birth of my daughter. Read more>>
MARY BLAKE
Doctorate Loading…Building the Ecosystem of Health My story began when my father passed away from cancer when I was just five years old. This profound loss sparked a lifelong curiosity about how the immune system fights disease and how medicine can optimize the body’s natural defenses. Every twist in my journey since has led me closer to this core purpose. Read more>>
Natalie Kudakwashe
Growing up, I was always creative. My dad is a musician and pastor, so music was a huge part of my life from an early age. He taught me how to play keyboard and guitar while my sister learned drums, and together we traveled around New England ministering at different churches. Music was my first love. Read more>>
Karrington/ Aren Davis/ Hugo
It started when I was 7. I had a lot of energy and nowhere to put it. My parents enrolled me in a bunch of sports and they were fun but they weren’t clicking the way the kind of exercise I needed should have. Read more>>
Marilu Villegas
Photography started as a creative passion and slowly became something much bigger for me. I’ve always loved capturing emotions, details, and moments that tell a story. Starting a photography business also requires investing in equipment, developing technical skills, mastering editing, and finding ways to stand out creatively. What started with small sessions and practicing at home has grown into building my own photography brand. Read more>>
Raf Miastkowski
I started the @texasdives Instagram account out of a mix of curiosity and interest in getting back into travel writing. I had written previously for outlets like Thrillist and Eater when I lived in Chicago. I moved to Texas for work during the pandemic, and I noticed many dive bars were closing. Read more>>
Christina & Will MacMeeken
We’re Christina & Will MacMeeken, the husband-and-wife team behind The MacMeekens Photography, a documentary wedding photography company based in Dallas-Fort Worth and traveling wherever love takes us. Like a lot of creative businesses, this didn’t start with a giant business plan or investor backing. It started with two people who genuinely loved storytelling, human connection, and creating something meaningful together. Read more>>
Salem E. Rahel Woldezghi
When I was a kid, I always dreamed of having the freshest sneakers, but I couldn’t afford them back then, and I actually faced a lot of bullying because of it. That moment stuck with me, and as I grew up, I turned that pain into passion, diving into sneaker culture—first as a collector, and now as a creator. Read more>>
Saul Portillo
I graduated University in 2009 with a bachelor’s of science in information technology, in the midst of the housing market collapse so I started making websites for cheap, to whoever I could find. But it wasn’t easy, the biggest hurdle with customers is that they do not know what they want, or how to communicate what they needed. Read more>>
Joey Salvia
Some people spend their lives searching for a path. Mine seemed to reveal itself one song at a time. It started with a guitar and a fascination with music that never really left. As a young musician, I spent years writing songs, participating in musical theatre, playing clubs, and touring with a college rock band in the 1980s. Read more>>
The Black Rose Studio
Co-owners Jerry Martinez and Alonzo Gonzales met in 2011. Alonzo went to the shop where Jerry worked looking to get tattooed. They talked and Alonzo mentioned he was interested in tattooing and Jerry made some suggestions on how to go about it. Read more>>
Yulia
I started playing piano when I was five years old, and by the age of eight I was already composing my own melodies. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Read more>>
Carolina Baldomá
I’m a visual artist from Argentina, and I live and produce my work immersively in the Argentine Pampas. I have always lived in close relation to nature, and this contact has shaped the way I see and understand the world. My path to becoming an artist has not been a linear one. Alongside my artistic interests, I also studied and worked as an agricultural economist. Read more>>
Frabina Edwin
I am currently in my final year of college pursuing a Computer Science degree with a concentration in Cybersecurity. Additionally, I am minoring in STEM Education and pursuing certifications on the side. Throughout my academic career, I have been involved in building communities that support my peers on campus. Read more>>
Toni Gary
For a long time, I didn’t realize I was building a brand; I was simply becoming more of myself. My journey started long before “Ms. Tee” ever had a name. I spent years working in the corporate world while also navigating my own personal growth, transitions, and self-discovery behind the scenes. Read more>>
Courtney Bates
My journey to business ownership began with a lifelong love of animals and a desire to make a difference in their lives. In 2021, I took a leap of faith and started grooming dogs, combining my passion for pet care with my entrepreneurial spirit. What started as a new career quickly grew into Courtney’s Groom Room, a business built on trust, compassion, and personalized care. Read more>>
Teia Jones
I’ve spent most of my life working with children and families in one way or another. My background is in Psychology and Family Psychology, and over the years I’ve worked in youth development, education, family support, and as a Certified Family Life Coach. Read more>>
Latifat Sulaimon
Creative storytelling has shaped my life since I first stepped foot in America. At the age of three, my family moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Columbus, Ohio. With most of my family still living in Nigeria, I learned a great deal about America through the media I consumed growing up. Read more>>
Idania Hernández
Born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, Idania Hernandez began her musical career at just five years old. Trained in Cuba’s prestigious music education system, she graduated in vocal performance, percussion, and flute, while also earning a degree in Social Communication from the University of Cienfuegos. Throughout her career, she has received national singing awards and international recognition in percussion. Read more>>
Jessica Monsivais
Over the years, I have worked to become a passionate and conscientious leader in the marketing and community outreach sectors. Eager to express my creativity in all my endeavors and striving to always give back to the community I was born and raised in, here in Dallas, TX. In my personal life, I wanted to refocus my fitness journey by turning towards more accessible workouts. Read more>>
Bryson and Meagan Funk
We began our careers in film and television production in 2013, working across multiple departments on projects of all sizes. Those experiences shaped our approach to collaboration, problem-solving, process management, and work ethic while giving us the opportunity to work alongside some of the most talented professionals in the industry. Read more>>
Luis Silva
I started growing up with a family of restauranteurs on my father’s side. I spent numerous summers in my dad’s restaurant. I grew up loving and absorbing as much as I could about food. I always been fascinated by the culture, history and skills involved. I graduated college and started my career in hospitality. Read more>>
Kaleah Courtien
Buffalo Property Inspections was founded in 2023 by Ian Warren and Lawrence Courtien, two friends from New York who became business partners and moved to Texas with a shared goal: to build a home inspection company that truly serves buyers, homeowners, and real estate professionals. Read more>>
Presleé Beard
I started my love and journey with makeup in high school when I was on the drill team. I became really good at it and I began to do my teammates makeup on and off the field. My love and passion continued when I was in college I started to do makeup for fashion shows, step shows, probates and graduations. Read more>>
Anthony Reyes
It all started randomly being in Austin and getting on stage at a comedy show. From that moment I knew I wanted to do comedy. Like any industry, you have to put in the work. Instead of begging to be seen, I decided to put in the work! Read more>>
Carmen Edwards
My name is Carmen Edwards, and my journey has been shaped by faith, perseverance, and a desire to help others. I became a licensed cosmetologist in 2008 after earning my license in Kansas City, Missouri, where I was born and raised. Read more>>
Avono
I grew up in Oakland, California, in a very musical family, so music was always a big part of my life. I started playing instruments at the age of three, which helped me develop a strong foundation and appreciation for music from an early age. As I got older, I became interested in creating my own sound. Read more>>
Puja Agarwal
My journey into health and wellness began in 2008—not as a passion project, but out of necessity. After being diagnosed with food and environmental allergies, I had to completely change the way I lived. Read more>>
