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.
Dr. J. Montana Cain
To answer this question, I have to start at the very beginning, because looking back, every moment prepared me for the next, even the ones that felt like detours. Growing up, I was convinced I was going to be a pediatrician. Then organic chemistry arrived, and a shadowing experience made something very clear: medicine was not the path for me. Read more>>
Jess Scott
Subpar Snatch started because our drummer, CeeCee Email, got tired of being told there wasn’t room for her full self in other projects. She wanted to drum in drag, and when the bands she was playing with weren’t interested in making space for that, she decided to start her own. Read more>>
Josh Jones
After seeing the success my brother-in-law was having in the insurance industry, I inquired about how i could get involved. That turned into a job opportunity at the same company. I didn’t immediately start working with high value insurance. There were a couple of years of trial and error with different referral networks. I even tried a yearlong program that primarily focuses on business insurance. Read more>>
Tasman Sharp
My name is Tasman Sharp, and I’m a Texas-based singer-songwriter from New Braunfels. Music has always been a part of my life, but I started taking it seriously at a young age when I picked up a guitar and began performing on The Great American Loop while living on a boat. Read more>>
Jhonny Valera
My passion for barbering started long before I ever picked up a pair of clippers. As a child, I was fascinated by the experience of going to the barbershop. I remember insisting that my mother take me to a barber because even at a young age I cared about how I looked and appreciated the artistry behind a great haircut. Read more>>
Ryan Williams
I started my company to serve as a resource to the community and to help create learning advantaged environments for anyone who functions within the neurodivergent space. Five years ago, I began to have tinnitus and thought, how can I alleviate my tinnitus? Read more>>
Holly Medwid
I never set out to work in social media. More than 15 years ago, I was studying creative writing and running a personal blog as a way to practice my craft. At the time, social media was still in its early days and certainly wasn’t viewed as a career path. Read more>>
Carlos Lopez
Hi, Im ‘Carlos The Guy’ and music has always been a part of my life. When I was 14, I was in a dance crew here in Dallas and would help make mixes for the team. DJing actually runs in my family. My dad was a B-boy and a DJ when he was younger, and he still DJs from time to time today. Read more>>
Ronda Swanigan
My passion for education and student success began growing up in South Central Los Angeles, where I witnessed firsthand how education could open doors, change trajectories, and create opportunities that might not otherwise exist. That passion led me to a career in school counseling and college access, where I spent more than a decade helping students and families navigate the journey to higher education. Read more>>
Leslie Foster
Born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, I am the oldest of three. My mother, Cathy Carroll, had a long career at Delphi Automotive. My father, Kenny Carroll, worked in advertising at KFDX and had a small decorating business on the side. Read more>>
Egypt Bradley
My journey with QOC Network started with a vision that was much bigger than myself. I’ve always had a passion for communication, storytelling, and creating spaces where real conversations could happen. I saw a need for a platform that would not only entertain but also educate, inspire, and empower people from all walks of life. Read more>>
Shawntee Reed
My journey has been shaped by a willingness to take risks, embrace mentorship, and adjust the vision along the way. For more than 20 years, I built a career in corporate human resources, leadership development, and education. Throughout that time, creativity remained an important part of who I was. Read more>>
Gypsy Redd
Born in New Orleans ,not knowing how big of an impact just that alone would be in my life, moving to Dallas due to Katrina and having to integrate into a whole different culture . Read more>>
Trenice Martin – Da T-Shirt Lady
If I had to describe myself, I’d probably say I accidentally became a serial entrepreneur. I’ve realized over the years that my brain just doesn’t know how to sit still. It literally never shuts off and I probably have about 14 business ideas running through my head at any given moment. Read more>>
Melissa Rideout
My journey to creating Yaya’s Gardenland started with a simple love for plants and the joy they bring to people. Like many plant lovers, I began by caring for plants in my own home and sharing that passion with friends and family. Over time, what started as a hobby grew into something much bigger. Read more>>
Katia Perez
I’ve always loved beauty and makeup ever since I was a little girl, but I never imagined it would eventually become my career. I moved from a small town to Dallas, leaving behind my family, friends, and everything I was familiar with. Starting over in a new city where I knew nobody was definitely scary, but it also pushed me to grow. Read more>>
Rayla Blackmon
Hey there! My name is Rayla Blackmon and I am a believer in Jesus Christ, wife, mama and author. An Oregonian native turned Texan since about 2013, I started to dive into my passion for people in the year 2020. Read more>>
Jade Parks
My story started in Southern California. I grew up in a Christian home, so faith was the foundation. My mother passed away from complications of diabetes when I was 15 years old, and it changed my life forever. I struggled on my faith journey for a while. I knew that God was real. I believed in Jesus. Read more>>
Thaddeus L Miller
Howdy. As we’ve previously discussed I started this philanthropy and entrepreneur journey around 2018-2019. This journey has taken many turns and came to many forks in the road. So today I’ll be taking you all on my latest venture. The adventure of BLIGHT. Improving the city one block, one neighborhood at a time! Let’s get into. Read more>>
Empress Simone
My name is E. Simone, and I often tell people that my journey wasn’t built from a perfect plan—it was built from purpose, resilience, and a willingness to learn as I went. Professionally, I work full-time in healthcare compliance and credentialing, but entrepreneurship has always been a part of who I am. Read more>>
Megan Bahrenburg
I’m a Dallas native, and while life has taken me all over Texas, I was grateful to eventually return home to the North Dallas area. My journey into speech-language pathology began at Baylor University, where I graduated as a University Scholars major. Read more>>
AlyJo Chism
I always knew I wanted to build something. Growing up, I watched my dad run his own business my entire life. His work was an inspiration to me how he made a huge impact on families’ lives and created a company culture that was worth fighting for. Read more>>
Mike & Keli Weeks
Our journey started with the search for the perfect Christmas gift for a creative tinkerer. We were at an artisan fair at Watters Creek in Plano, Texas in 2018. There we walked up to a booth that had an old bed slinger slowly printing along with several 3D printed goods for sale. Read more>>
Barbara Johnson
I grew up in a military family that was posted all over the US and overseas. I remember going to flea markets in England and Spain, shopping garage sales on military bases and making do with what we had. Later on, as a mother of four kids, shopping second hand was how I could afford to clothe my kids and decorate my home. Read more>>
Stuart Humphreys
Absolutely. So I’m 35. I’m originally from Johnson City, Tennessee. Most of my family is from Tennessee and Virginia. And back in 2015 while in college I got really interested in real estate investing and started renovating some properties in the downtown area where I lived and immediately fell in love with that whole process. Read more>>
Mandi Robertson
I grew up in a family business that my brother and I eventually purchased from our parents. While I was grateful for everything it had provided, there came a point when I realized it no longer aligned with the life I wanted to create. Read more>>
Rachel Branaman
My journey into nonprofit leadership and advocacy stems from a lifelong commitment to community building. My parents instilled the value of volunteerism in me early; at 10 years old, I helped with the Summer Reading Program at our local library. I spent my summer days behind the library’s circulation desk, tracking reading logs and devouring book after book during the quiet stretches. Read more>>
Shon Battles
My journey has been anything but easy, but every setback became part of my purpose. I grew up facing trauma, instability, and hardship at a very young age. I became a teen mother at 15 and again at 17 while trying to navigate life without direction, healing, or support. Read more>>
Irene Ogeto
My name is Irene Ogeto and I discovered the outdoors as an adult. I was initially introduced to the outdoors through a camping trip in college. At the time I had no experience camping so I didn’t know what I was doing. Read more>>
gerhard maale
My story begins with a lifelong interest in animals, science, genetics, and the outdoors. I earned my undergraduate degree in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University at Galveston, where I spent a great deal of time scuba diving and eventually became a dive master. That led me into a cave-diving geology program and later to a Master’s degree in Marine Resource Management. Read more>>
Alisa Eykilis
I was born and raised, until the age of 12, in the USSR. Just before the fall of the Iron Curtain, my family repatriated to Israel, where I finished school and started to build my life. Since 2003, I’ve lived in the US with my family, trying to live my life with eyes wide open. Read more>>
Ty Thomas
My name is Ty Thomas, and I create under the alias TytheMisfit. I’ve always been a creative person and have spent years exploring different forms of self-expression through fashion, modeling, music, and visual art. Growing up in the Dallas area, I was often drawn to alternative styles and creative spaces that allowed me to embrace being different rather than trying to fit into a box. Read more>>
Kristi Smithson
I am a fine art painter. Creating is not just something I do, it is part of who I am. It lives within every fiber of my soul. I am endlessly inspired, always imagining new ideas and dreaming up my next project. Read more>>
Dan Sandoval
I discovered my love for acting at a young age. Growing up as a latchkey kid in the 1980s and 1990s, with a mom who worked near the mall, reruns on television and the movie theater often became my babysitters. Early on, I realized I could mimic the voices of many of the cartoon characters I watched. Read more>>
Mauricio Rocha
My story really starts with my roots. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, but my family’s roots are in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and that part of who I am has always been very important to me. Most of my family still lives in Guadalajara, and growing up, we visited Mexico almost every school break. Those trips shaped me. Read more>>
Camryn Martin
There are so many things I could say about this past year, but the truth is that it has been both the hardest and most rewarding year of my life. A little over a year ago, I made the decision to completely change my life. Read more>>
Destini Simmons
My journey into the tech industry was every bit of untraditional. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2016 and initially thought my career would follow a completely different path. Like many people, I didn’t grow up knowing what cybersecurity was nor did I know many people who looked like me in the industry. Read more>>
Madhupriya Srinivasan
Art has been a part of my life forever! I grew up in a creative and aesthetically rich environment and my parents introduced me to a variety of visual and performing arts in India, encouraging me to explore my creativity from a young age. Creating art became my favorite way to relax, unwind, and express myself. Read more>>
Ron Leonard II
I have always had a love for storytelling as a teen. From growing up in theater, to going to college acting in improv and learning the skills to be a director, I always tried to hone my skills in telling the best and entertaining stories. Read more>>
Shannel Gray
It all started one day when I was reviewing the newspaper for a small second job. I saw an opening for an assistant at a photography studio with a prestigious photographer in the Russellville, AR area where I lived. I interviewed and got the job. Steve, the photographer, and I became close. We talked and conversed every day. He taught me several things about photography. Read more>>
Mackenzie Smith
I currently am a freelance photographer/videographer with a background in sports, music, commercial brand work, and portraiture. Growing up, I always had a creative knack and would make fun travel videos to post on YouTube, was always taking pictures of everything, and finding ways to document my life. Read more>>
Hannah Riley-Murphy
Art has been the single consistent thread throughout my life. It was my first outlet, my sanctuary, and the tool that helped me navigate profound adversity from a very young age. After losing my father to a courageous six year battle with cancer when I was just twelve, and navigating moving out on my own at seventeen, survival mode naturally took over. Read more>>
Courtney Nicole Googe
After graduating with my Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Dallas in 2018, I did the run-around for a few years, teaching a variety of classes all over DFW until I joined the full-time art faculty at Tarrant County College in 2024; I teach printmaking, design, and art appreciation at south campus. Read more>>
Eliza Gray
I am a creative strategist, Brand Experience Manager, and curator of elevated experiences rooted in fashion, culture, and community. I have always loved working with small to medium labels to fine tune their brand presence and make sure they feel elevated in the face of their customer base in any medium, whether that be e commerce, events, or retail. Read more>>
josh pather
I got my start in the trenches as a service business owner, not as a software guy. I built a photo booth company from the ground up and scaled it to over 800 events a year — booking, running, and following up on every one of them. Read more>>
Justin Murray
I always say that music chose me before I could choose it. I found out from interviewing my parents that I was kicking on beat while still in the womb. As a kid I grew up playing in church; ABSOLUTELY FASCINATED with drums. At the age of 5 piano lessons started, but I didn’t take it seriously yet because drums were my first love. Read more>>
Chrishonna Tillman
I started doing nails in my garage in 2018 after feeling drained from working as a claims adjuster. My first clients were my sisters, Larrisha and Jasmine, who patiently sat through four-hour nail appointments while I learned and perfected my craft. Read more>>
Angela Buffington
Music has always been a passion of mine, but my role in the industry has never been on the stage—it’s been behind the scenes, helping make the music happen. I firmly believe you can’t have the music side without the business side. Every successful event, festival, concert, or artist opportunity requires planning, contracts, sponsorships, fundraising, marketing, promotion, and countless hours of organization. Read more>>
Lynn Moore Rhodes
My theatrical career began in my early years studying acting at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee.. After a few years of regional theatre and developing my singing skills and songwriting skills, I was fortunate to have several songs recorded by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner at a young age and other artists in that genre. Read more>>
JaNae Strickland
My love for makeup started when I was a child, around middle school age. My grandmother, who I called Grandmiss, would let me play in her makeup and gradually teach me different techniques. Those moments sparked my passion for beauty, and I quickly fell in love with everything about makeup—especially blush. Read more>>
Brooke Carter
My story starts when I was a kid, sitting on the kitchen counter helping my mom press a crosshatch fork pattern into peanut butter cookies. I’ve always loved baking and gathering over food with family. It has been a reason to connect over the years and eventually it turned into a love all its own. Read more>>
Maegan Norman
Growing up I was always artistically inclined, and as I grew and my struggles with mental health continued to worsen I found an escape through art. My early twenties were a really challenging time for me: my bipolar disorder would become a real challenge and I was sexually assaulted twice in 2020. In the six years since then I’ve had several suicide attempts and hospitalizations. Read more>>
Isabel Wallace-Green
I am a professional dancer based in New York City. Originally from Houston, Texas, I started dancing at age six at Houston Ballet Academy. My parents, who are both artists, prioritized arts exposure throughout my childhood. My earliest memories of home are colored with in-house art displays and family outings to art exhibitions, live theater, and dance performances. Read more>>
Karen DeArmond Gardner
How do you tell the story of how you got here? The story of a young woman who planned on moving to Chicago after spending the summer in California with her family. The year was 1974, I was 20 years old when an high school friend introduced me to a guy, the best friend of her sister’s husband. Read more>>
Bryan McCallz
United Training Systems was founded by Bryan McCall, known as ‘BMac’, who has dedicated over 26 years to the human performance industry. At United Training Systems, we focus on empowering individuals through our athlete training programs, helping them take control of their journey towards peak performance. Read more>>
Charo Knight
I began releasing music publicly in 2013 with my first project “Loyalty To Greatness”. Since then I have release 6 full length projects (7 total) with my latest, ‘Hell Hath No Fury’, dropping July 2025. Read more>>
Cynthia Appiah
My journey to where I am today didn’t follow a traditional template, because the space I was destined to build didn’t exist yet. Growing up and initially stepping into the entrepreneurial world, I had never heard of an ‘Empowerment Tech Ecosystem.’ I didn’t see anyone utilizing that kind of business model. Most people kept technology, digital media, and personal empowerment in entirely separate boxes. Read more>>
Jerome Johnson
I grew up in Dallas(Oakcliff) and learned early on the value of hard work, perseverance, and serving others. After high school, I attended Lincoln Tech and began my career in the HVAC industry in 2007 as an installer helper. Like many people starting out, I didn’t have everything figured out, but I was willing to learn, work hard, and take advantage of opportunities to grow. Read more>>
Allee Hays
I was a public school teacher for ten years and felt a nudge for a change. I have always been the friend that was capturing all the memories: the one friends swear nothing would be documented if I wasn’t there. During what I know now as my last year of teaching, I started to venture out to photography. Read more>>
Chris Brown
Chris Brown came of age in the ‘cultural decade’ of the 1960’s. His influences from that period – the music, the style, the art and media, all play a large role in his publication Refueled. Brown created his first magazine when he was eight years old. Read more>>
Jazmin Leslie
My journey into wedding planning actually started after planning my own wedding. I absolutely fell in love with the process and realized how much I enjoyed not only the creative side of weddings, but also the logistics and guest experience behind them. Read more>>
Anne House
I’m a lifelong singer and storyteller from North Texas, but the truth is I’m in a season of rebuilding. A few years ago, chronic pain and a career collapse forced me to start over from the ground up. I had to relearn who I was without the job title, without the old identity, without the version of myself I thought I’d be forever. Read more>>
Victoria Coolidge Dhawale
Owning my own photography and videography business has been a journey. I’ve spent countless hours outside my full time job to grow my client base and establish brand awareness. Right now, my big focus is growing my social media platform. I’ve been posting every day of the week. Hard work and dedication are my moto for success! Read more>>
Jessica Bell
My journey as an artist has been shaped by creativity, education, and a desire to make art accessible to everyone. While I have been making art for many years, I officially launched my public art business in 2021. What began as a leap of faith quickly grew into opportunities to create larger and more ambitious work in communities across the country. Read more>>
Loai Marashdeh
My journey into the security and technology sector was driven by a clear market realization: traditional security infrastructure is rapidly falling short of modern, complex threat environments. To address this gap, I founded Powerhouse Guardians Corp. in late 2024, architecting the firm to bridge the divide between physical security, advanced artificial intelligence, and low-voltage infrastructure. Read more>>
Ricardo Oviedo
Before anything else, I was raised by women of incredible strength, resilience, and sacrifice—I owe everything to them. Growing up in Frisco, Texas as a first-generation kid was bittersweet. There’s a quiet kind of wealth tied to the city—one where your zip code alone opened doors. I had access to well-funded schools and opportunities that shaped my curiosity and ambition. Read more>>
Lidumar Plazola
Lidumar Plazola – Professional Background Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. Moved to Dallas, Texas in 1996. Has been dancing since approximately age 8, with training and experience focused on Latin American dance styles. Founded United Dance Academy in Dallas in June 2009 with the vision of bringing diverse dance styles and cultures together in one community. Read more>>
Sasha Bishop
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember. Drawing was always the thing I came back to, and over time I became obsessed with the idea of putting artwork on skin. What started as a passion turned into a career, and I’ve spent the last several years pushing myself to grow as an artist and tattooer. Read more>>
Cyfa Fix
I started in the deep Ellum scene early mid 2000’s started out playing drums transition to being a hip hop artist working with Mav Traxx Shaun Martin Daniel Jones at jam session fast forward started working with Marcus Jones who created The Found I became the frontman and the rest is history I released my official album FINALLY which is doing really good and just performing all over the country Read more>>
BLANCA CONTRERAS
I actually started in the mortgage company industry. From interview to be a receptionist for a mortgage company to working with mortgage auditing department, to secondary marketing auditor, investor relations and now my purpose, REALTOR! I worked specifically with first-time homebuyer programs and have over 12 years experience on the mortgage and homebuyer incentives side of things. Read more>>
Olivia Mayer
E Closet started back when I was in college as a very busy interior design major. I had no time for a job but I was spending money like I had a six figure one! From three date parties a week, game days, birthday brunches, and so much more, I was buying an outfit for every occasion. Read more>>
Neta Tzivoni
My journey into midwifery began long before I enrolled in midwifery school – it started with my own pregnancies. Before becoming a mother, I never really questioned the common route to birth or challenged much of the conditioning I had absorbed from society, culture, and the media about pregnancy and birth. Like many women, I simply assumed there was one standard path to maternity care. Read more>>
Dr. LaKedra Brown
My journey has been one of faith, service, and purpose. I began my career serving in the United States Navy, where I learned discipline, leadership, and resilience. After my military service, I pursued higher education in psychology, rehabilitation counseling, and family studies, ultimately earning my doctorate. Along the way, I discovered a passion for helping individuals and families overcome life’s challenges. Read more>>
Chelsea Henderson
People often ask how I got started in mahjong, and like many players, it all began with a simple invitation to a Mahjong and Martinis on a Monday night in May! My friend Kylie invited several women who overlapped in social circles to her house to learn how to play. Read more>>
Cam Cordin
I didn’t start as a coach. I started as a guy whose body quit on him. For years I treated my health like something I could outwork — more volume, more grind, push through. The bill came due all at once: bone spurs, ulnar nerve surgery, and a nerve conduction test that came back with essentially zero response. Read more>>
Lo MCKINNEY
I started dancing ballet when I was about six years old. I was raised by my grandmother alongside several siblings and cousins under one roof, so she wanted to keep us busy lol and dance became my outlet. I fell in love with it immediately. I would use my cousins as guinea pigs, teaching them routines and performing for my family every chance I got. Read more>>
Allen Spurlock
Hello! Al-B here, the creator of ‘That’s Funny Ain’t It! Comedy TV Series’ Our platform just made a year since we started and it has been an awesome experience thus far! The concept originates from a birthday party we had for my wife at our home. The vibes were high, we had food, drinks and a live DJ (DJ JCof). Read more>>
Susanna Prummer
I have grown up in a family of very educated and admirable men and women who ‘studied something proper’ …as some people would say I assume. My mother was a highly decorated neuropsychologist traveling the United States for conferences and to present her work when barely 30. Until she retired to become a full time mother to me and my younger brother. Read more>>
Janemarie Clark
I am the lucky granddaughter to a magical, loving man who was a pastor, public schools educator, and WWII veteran who passed his wisdom to children through stories with lessons. With any childhood worry, ‘Papa’ would pull me onto his knee and tell me a story about two ponies that had encountered a very similar dilemma. Read more>>
Kemi Fasheyide
My story started 17 years ago, before I even knew it. I wanted to be a Pediatric nurse and somehow my nursing journey started with me working at Lew Steritt and eventually Parkland ER. Call me an adrenaline junkie lol! I’ve seen more that many nurses may even get to experience and from that it’s truly opened my eyes. Read more>>
Darian (Swayzee) or (Sway) May
I got started in music at a young age. My dad was a producer who worked with artists like UGK and Juvenile, so music was always around me. I grew up watching sessions, learning the creative process firsthand, and eventually started making beats myself. Read more>>
Catrina Labrie
My journey to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. I grew up in Oklahoma and experienced childhood trauma that shaped many of my early life experiences. As I got older, I found myself drawn to understanding people, relationships, and especially how family systems influence a person’s development, identity, and well-being. Read more>>
Karen Boykin-Towns
Here is a concise interview response that feels personal, authentic, and aligned with your journey: ⸻ My story is really a testament to the power of opportunity, preparation, and people who saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. I began my career in public service, working in the New York State Senate. Read more>>
Sophia Macias Gomez
My creative journey began when I was 16 years old and discovered a passion for makeup artistry. What started as a hobby quickly became something I genuinely loved, and over the years I continued developing my skills, working with clients, and building my confidence as an artist. Read more>>
Dalton and Aylin Rhode
Dalton started his hat journey about 6 years ago. Although we knew it wouldn’t be a longterm setup, we renovated our garage into a mini studio where clients could come get fitted and hang out. Read more>>
Tristan Dobbs
Howdy, I’m the Director behind the Stockyards Report, which has a whole team of reporters covering the story of the Fort Worth Stockyards. We throw events across the district, manage media in-house, while collaborating under contract with a significant portion of the district. Most of my staff are residents of the district, we work diligently to preserve the stories of the Stockyards. Read more>>
Rubi Soto
I have always been passionate about teaching language and literacy as a bilingual educator. To further expand my expertise, I earned a Master’s degree in Education and obtained my Reading Specialist certification. Read more>>
Toby Wright
I was born and raised in Richland Hills, where I attended Richland High School before spending some time in college. As a young adult, I worked alongside my father, an experience that helped shape my work ethic and perspective. I married my first wife in 1999, and together we welcomed my son, Bryce. Read more>>
Kelley Quach
I’ve been a licensed manicurist since 2014, but my story with nails started long before that. I practically grew up in a nail salon. My parents owned a salon in North Fort Worth, and after school I would spend my afternoons there watching my mom work, helping where I could, and slowly falling in love with the industry. Read more>>
Raina Slater
My journey into aesthetics started long before I ever entered the industry. Ever since I was a little girl, I was fascinated by skincare and especially extractions. There was something incredibly satisfying about helping clear congested skin and seeing the transformation. What started as a childhood fascination eventually grew into a passion and career dedicated to helping others feel confident in their own skin. Read more>>
Ali Kinsey Keith
I grew up in historic Hot Springs, Arkansas, spending countless hours in my grandmother’s antique jewelry store surrounded by vintage baubles that sparked my imagination. When I was twelve, my grandmother encouraged me to sketch my own designs—planting the seed of what would become Kinsey Designs. Read more>>
Tyinesha Watkins
Well back in 2019 I started my social media management marketing business and also I developed a podcast interview show. But a couple of years ago my PR business was doing amazing and I had to put my podcast on the back burner around 2024 and 2025 business was very very slow for me for my PR business. Read more>>
Sharaunda Wiley
If you had told me years ago that a small gathering of women would grow into a nonprofit organization, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. It all started with a burden on my heart to create a space where women could be real about their pain, strengthen their faith, and encourage one another. Read more>>
Oneka Byron
My story begins in the heart of the Caribbean, born and raised amid the stunning blue waters and vibrant culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Growing up on an island, the horizon always felt like an invitation, but it wasn’t until I packed my bags and moved to Texas for college that my world truly cracked wide open. Read more>>
Mendy Klein
I felt something in me needed more because of my upbringing and childhood connecting it into my deeper soul. I knew that I wasn’t a freeze when I was very young and then I got married. I needed to start working on opening up my heart. Read more>>
Jose Moreno
My journey began in hospitality at a young age. Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to work in multiple hotel departments, including housekeeping, front desk operations, public areas, and food & beverage. Read more>>
Dtown Ice
I started writing at around 7 years old. My Pops was a Dj and artist himself so I have been around music forever. From cookouts to Bar Mitzvah to weddings, versatility was not only embraced but encouraged. Pops refused to allow us to be put into a box. So initially, creating my own music was a hobby used to express my observations of the world. Read more>>
Djamila Horton
For a long time, I felt like I was trying to figure out where I fit. I knew I was creative, but I didn’t necessarily know what lane that creativity was supposed to take. Over the years, I explored several different paths. Read more>>
Sofia Vijay Elantholy
My first memory of being introduced to dance is as a toddler, watching my mother dramatically sway to Bollywood songs in the kitchen while she cooked. There was something about the joy she radiated while dancing that drew me in. Even at such a young age, I found myself craving movement. Read more>>
Vin Maloi
After 15 years in IT, I decided to take a leap and build my first business, Lone Star Finish, a mobile auto detailing service serving the DFW area. My time in IT taught me the importance of communication, accountability, attention to detail, and taking care of people’s needs with professionalism. Read more>>
Mithil Ramoutar
Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, my DJ journey began at just seven years old, when I first started experimenting with DJ controllers then I fell in love with the art of turntablism. Growing up in the Caribbean gave me a deeply versatile musical foundation — I was raised on everything from Soca, Chutney, Reggae, and Dancehall to Hip Hop and Country. Read more>>
Jana Noreen Sarmiento
I’m originally from the Philippines and moved to the United States with a background shaped by constant transitions, resilience, and community. Before entrepreneurship, I worked in education for years, primarily in special education and early childhood, which heavily influenced the heart behind everything I do today. Read more>>
Rashad Hawkins
My Wife and I started working together at a Barber shop in 2019, not long after we ended up starting Colossal Cuts. For 5 years we operated Colossal Cuts Together and now own and operate TheColossal Suites. We still come in and cut hair but we now look to rent out spaces for other ambitious cosmetologist and barbers in the industry. Read more>>
Sean Starr
I have over 35 years of experience as a Visual Artist, Master Gilder, and Sign Painter. I specialize in creating original Verre Eglomise gilded glass installations and provide decorative painting, restorations, gilding and sign painting services to other artists, architects, interior designers, collectors and business owners throughout the United States and abroad. Read more>>
Dorion Gipson
Rapid Fire Digital Marketing was built from a passion for helping businesses gain visibility, attract customers, and compete in an increasingly digital world. After spending years working in media, radio broadcasting, marketing, technology, and customer engagement, I recognized that many small and medium-sized businesses struggled to effectively market themselves online. Read more>>
Oriana Casallas
I’m originally from Venezuela and moved to the U.S. looking for new opportunities and a fresh start. Like a lot of people, I started creating content simply as a hobby and a way to share parts of my life, but over time it became something I genuinely loved. Read more>>
Kia Lusk-Caldwell
I grew up with a passion for sports and knew early on that I wanted a career connected to athletics. I earned my degree in Sport Management from The University of Texas and later attended Baylor Law School, where I developed the legal skills that would become the foundation of my career. Read more>>
Keesee Elliott
My career journey has been anything but traditional, and that’s what makes it so meaningful. Read more>>
Elle Schwartz
My story really begins long before the microphone. I spent my career as a behavioral analyst and an educator, which means I spent years paying very close attention to people. How they are perceived. How they are labeled. How often the version of a person the world receives is not the truest version of who they actually are. Read more>>
Diana DeMasi
I have been in the beauty industry since 1978. 10 years ago I decided to change my career and get into m edical paramedic and cosmetic tattooing. I more than that I really don’t need to ask for more. Read more>>
Christina $ Richie Epps& Fenn
MY husband and I had rough childhoods in different ways both had stepdads , his was the worst and mine was the best but we never felt like we fit in. We both had lots of bouts with the law at a young age and well into out adult years. Read more>>
Kelly T
Hi, I’m Kelly—the heart behind With Love, Kelly Events. I’ve always had a passion for planning, decorating, and bringing people together. From a young age, I was the one setting up parties for family and friends, adding thoughtful details and creative touches to make every moment feel special. Read more>>
Yolanda Wilson Smith
Hello. My name is Yolanda Wilson Smith, and I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, also known as the Windy City. In 2002, I relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where I later met my husband, Pastor Charles R. Smith. We married in 2004, and over the years I have been blessed with a beautiful family. Read more>>
Yasuyo Maruyama
I can’t pinpoint a specific moment when I started drawing. Ever since I was a child, I simply loved the act of drawing itself. Whenever I found empty space, in handwriting practice books, math workbooks, or even the margins of test papers, I would end up filling it completely with drawings before I knew it. Read more>>
Stephanie Regalado
I started Cleaned by Stef, LLC during a time in my life when I needed to rebuild everything from the ground up. What began as a small cleaning service quickly grew into something much bigger — a government‑registered, woman‑owned small business specializing in janitorial and facility supplies. I didn’t come from a business background. Read more>>
Elecia Wright
I began Taste & See as ‘help for the holidays’, for my mother who would do all the cooking and baking. From there, I began to perfect recipes and have branched out into offering both desserts and catering for special events. After being laid-off from my corporate job of 10.5 years this Spring, I’ve delved head first into expanding my small business. Read more>>
Rozy Morani
My journey with Angel Babies started simply, with a love of putting bouquets together for the people I care about. My best friend, who shares that same love of flowers, encouraged me to take it further and turn it into something real. Read more>>
Catherine Mitchell
This really started about 20 years ago because of my daughter. She was at the end of third grade, and she couldn’t read. We went through all the school interventions and their dyslexia program, but we saw very little progress. I finally had to pay for an outside program myself just to get her some help. Read more>>
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>>
