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.
AIR SKY
I am a Dallas based entertainer. I mostly sing and create music, but I also act, dance, and model. I grew up knowing that I wanted to be an entertainer after watching A LOT of tv. After going to school for nursing, I decided that that wasn’t my calling and dropped out. I pursued in music and instantly fell in love. Read More>>
Tina Zawadzki
As a child I wanted to be a Chef. I remember getting a ‘hand me down’ Easy Bake oven and being so excited. Who knew a light bulb could cook a tiny cake? Throughout grade school, I was always placed in the honors classes so going to culinary school would have been considered a big U-turn. Read More>>
Marisol Saldana
I’ve always been drawn to beauty, creativity, and helping people feel confident. I started my journey in the beauty industry over a decade ago while working at Sephora, where I discovered my passion for makeup artistry. At the time, I had no idea it would eventually turn into a business and career that would completely change my life. Read More>>
Yuliia Cunningham
I started my career as a hairstylist more than 30 years ago in Ukraine. From the very beginning, I fell in love not only with hair, but with the art of helping women see their beauty, individuality, and confidence in a new way. Over the years, I developed my own approach to beauty through experience, creativity, and deep attention to detail. Read More>>
Julian Race
My journey in the arts has been a series of seemingly unrelated stops, but in hindsight, the path makes sense. I started in the mid-2000s with a passing interest in interior design, which is where I started to form a basic taste palette for visual work. That led to fine art, abstract painting. Read More>>
oscar Balepo
Oscar Balepo’s journey into fashion began with a simple passion for style and craftsmanship. Fascinated by how clothing could shape confidence and express identity, he started learning the art of tailoring and garment construction from the ground up. With limited resources but a clear vision, he spent countless hours perfecting his skills, paying close attention to detail, fit, and quality. Read More>>
Chase Chappell
I started in digital marketing at a young age, really just trying to figure out how businesses could use the internet to grow. What began as curiosity turned into obsession. I spent the last decade learning paid ads, funnels, ecommerce, creative strategy, and customer acquisition, then started applying those systems for brands that wanted to scale. Read More>>
Amy Tasukada
I started writing regular when I was ten years old. My first stories were anime fan fiction that I would share with my friend. Around my early teenage years I began to write original fiction. These stories were science fiction and would span several books. During my high school years the stories switched to more contemporary with a heavy central LGBT love story. Read More>>
Kipelyani Olesisian
My name is Kipelyani Olesisian , though most people know me as **Lekulek** or simply **Kipe**. I was born and raised in Oltukai Village, a traditional Maasai community in northern Tanzania, where life has always been closely connected to nature, wildlife, and our cultural traditions. Read More>>
Victoria Helepiko
My passion for bridal makeup began shortly after high school when a friend asked me to do her wedding makeup. At first, I was terrified and actually told her no because I understood what a big responsibility it was. After some encouragement, I agreed—and that experience completely changed my life. Read More>>
Kateryna Riabukha
My name is Kateryna, and I moved to the United States from Ukraine in 2024. I am a mom to an almost four-year-old son, and creating special celebrations has always been something I love. For years, I enjoyed decorating birthdays and family events, especially for my son. Read More>>
Tamara Mitchell-Davis
My journey to becoming an author coach, publisher, and entrepreneur began when I finally published my first book after struggling for several years to write it. For most of my career, I worked in education and workforce development assisting adult learners with recognizing their potential and achieving goals they once thought were out of reach. Read More>>
Clay Garrett
I’ve spent most of my career as a graphic designer. As a kid, I loved drawing and painting. I took art lessons for years, won a regional art award as a teenager, and eventually discovered there was this thing called graphic design that sat somewhere between art and problem-solving. That became my career. Read More>>
Matice Morris
Standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall (commanding 6+ feet in heels), I understand the nuances that affect tall women in fashion. Growing up, I was taller than my school-age peers, and wore store-bought jeans that never quite reached past my ankles. I also had a stutter, so one can imagine the awkwardness that youth brought. Read More>>
Pia Iribarne
I was born in Santiago, Chile, and lived there until 2008, I was 23, dealing with my life as a young woman with too many responsibilities, I was overwhelmed. One day I’ve decided to let all go, and join the love of my life who was living in Barcelona-Spain. Read More>>
Leslie Montena
My journey has been anything but traditional. I spent more than 20 years building a successful career as an engineer and program manager in the aerospace and defense industry, working on advanced radar systems and leading complex technical programs. While I enjoyed the challenges and accomplishments of that career, art had always been a part of who I was. Read More>>
PHILLIP VANARSDEL
I started Handsome Lawn Service in 2016 with one truck, one mower, and a simple idea: treat people right, and they’ll treat you right. For the first few years, I was doing most of the work myself. My first employee was my nephew, Caleb, who was just 13 years old at the time. Read More>>
Sonya Jacobs
From an early age, I felt a deep calling to help others. As a teenager, I became involved in mission work, a passion I continued to pursue throughout my twenties. During that season, I earned my bachelor’s degree in ministry and married the love of my life. At age 30, I walked through a significant personal trial that became a turning point in my life. Read More>>
Rachel Dangermond
I was at a crossroads in my life, having been an investigative journalist with a large, independent Wall Street research firm for decades. I was reinventing myself to become a facilitator for difficult conversations on race and equity, as well as becoming a certified mediator, and had been blogging since 2004 as a writer. Read More>>
Steve A Klein
I grew up in an upper-middle-class neighborhood…and we weren’t. I was so shy in high school that I had to look down at the floor between classes because I couldn’t look anyone in the eye. I was uncoordinated, so I joined the gymnastics team and ran track; the only thing I was naturally good at. Read More>>
Marleigha McGinty
It was the summer of 2023 and after what I felt like a long season of serving freshman students in housing at my Alma Mater, Prairie View A&M University, I felt the push to pursue a career in education. Read More>>
nyck khayo
Growing up, we didn’t have much, but what we did have were instruments and sports. Both taught me discipline, creativity, and the value of hard work. Whatever I did, I approached it with drive and determination. I started making music in college with a friend who was a producer looking for an MC. What began as a creative outlet surprisingly became a passion. Read More>>
Danny Taleno
I started part time right before covid then slowly transitioned to Full time with more services for businesses and Residential. Read More>>
Kayode Adegoke
Raise The Bar was founded from a simple belief: meaningful relationships and access to opportunities can change lives. After spending years building connections across various industries, I saw a need for a platform that could bring professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders together in an authentic and impactful way. Read More>>
Pastor Ricardo Miller
I was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, as the middle child of five siblings. As a young boy, I often found myself in trouble and made many choices that brought stress and concern to my mother and our family. However, my life changed dramatically in 1994 when I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Read More>>
Janeé Hill
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, media, and creating meaningful experiences. I started my career in television and production, producing nationally syndicated programming and learning how powerful stories can be when they make people feel seen, inspired, and connected. Over time, that work expanded into speaking, consulting, live events, ministry, and brand strategy. Read More>>
Christina Hester
My story really begins with trauma, but it does not end there. When I was a little girl, my sister was killed by a drunk driver. That loss shaped the way I saw the world very early. I grew up around pain, instability, and circumstances that statistically should have limited me. Instead, they gave me a deep understanding of what people carry behind closed doors. Read More>>
Candace Edwards
As a little girl, I started doing hair at the age of eight. Becoming a hairstylist wasn’t my original career plan—it was simply something that came naturally to me and that I enjoyed doing on the side. Years later, I attended school to become a nurse, but I continued doing hair in my spare time. Read More>>
Reagan West
I often joke that I’ve never really changed my mind about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’ve wanted to be a kindergarten teacher since I was in kindergarten myself. Read More>>
Ashley Mowbray
I’m a Dietitian specializing in women’s health and digestive issues. Currently I manage my own private practice, where I help women gain confidence through food. Some women come to me for sustainable weight loss and healthy eating to prevent disease, while others are trying to get to the root cause of their digestive issues- like IBS, bloating, and bowel irregularity. Read More>>
Stefani Connery
I attended esthetics school right after high school and began my first salon job at 19 years old. Over the last 10 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in three different salons, where I gained invaluable experience and developed my passion for helping clients look and feel their best. Read More>>
Nefertiti Beal
I began my journey in 2018 from a genuine passion for makeup during a season where I was still searching for purpose in a career that truly fulfilled me. A close friend suggested I explore makeup artistry professionally, and what initially started as a creative passion quickly evolved into something much deeper. Read More>>
Abby Hartman
I’ve been a therapist for about eight years, and if there’s one theme that has defined my career, it’s curiosity. I started in a traditional addiction treatment setting doing more short-term therapy, and while I learned so much during those early years, I quickly found myself wanting to understand people on a deeper level and build more meaningful relationships with my clients. Read More>>
Nate Mack
Honestly my story starts as a director begins at Concord Baptist church. I worked stage ministry with my mom since she worked all services each Sunday. One day the av ministry needed someone to hold the extra camera because someone was sick. I jumped at the opportunity to use a $15,000 camera. Read More>>
Elijah Caver
My name is Elijah Caver and I am a versatile musician from Fort Worth, TX. I was born and raised in a musical family. I hold a bachelor’s degree in music education with a classical percussion focus from Texas Christian University and a master’s degree in jazz studies with a focus in jazz drum set from the University of North Texas. Read More>>
GURRU
Music has always been at the center of my life. I began playing piano at four years old and spent more than 15 years classically trained in piano, music history, and theory, along with traditional marimba for several years growing up. Growing up Shona and Xhosa, I was surrounded by rich musical and cultural traditions from an early age. Read More>>
Timmy Arisa
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved music. I think back to sixth grade. I’d been picked for our school’s Select Choir, and our first performance was singing ‘The Chipmunk Song’ at Colin Creek Mall. Honestly, I was mostly excited to skip school for a day. But when all four parts locked in for the first time, something shifted in me. Read More>>
Becky Collazos
I went to culinary school in Guatemala, where I learned international cuisine. While working in restaurants, I became fascinated by the pastry chefs creating beautiful sugar flowers and cake decorations, so I decided to focus on pastries and cakes instead. After 20 years of experience, mostly at local bakeries in the Dallas area, I opened my own home-based custom bakery. Read More>>
Beca Valencia-Stevens
The Bec’s Boutique has been a dream in my heart for years, a dream I was afraid to chase for a long time. Not because I didn’t believe in it, but because I was surrounded by people who didn’t believe in me. I constantly heard doubts about what I could accomplish, and over time, those voices became the same fears I repeated to myself. Read More>>
Terrance Wilson
After serving in the United States Army for 24 years in the logistics field and retiring, it was quite natural to seek another career toward something I love. That love was ‘Always Seeking to Serve the American People’. July 5, 2015, I launched Veterans Standard America as a sole proprietor. Today, we are a premier courier/ delivery service working with government agencies and private sectors. Read More>>
Kendon Greene
My story isn’t a straight line, and it definitely wasn’t packaged for TV. It’s a journey defined by high heat, heavy losses, and a relentless commitment to building something that outlives me. I don’t believe in luck; I believe in the ‘lick back’ the ultimate personal comeback and restoration after life tries to count you out. Here is how the pieces actually fit together. Read More>>
Flor Zuviri
My story is one of faith, resilience, and learning to trust the process even when I couldn’t see the outcome. I’ve been a physician assistant for over a decade, and throughout my career I’ve always been passionate about helping people improve their health. However, a few years ago, I experienced my own health challenges that left me feeling frustrated and searching for answers. Read More>>
Right Behind You
Right Behind You started back in 2022 as the Guitar Club at Plano Senior High School. I (Bradley Blackwell, the vocalist/lead guitarist) was the president of the club, and our bassist Blake Valenta was a club member. Read More>>
Antonio and Julie Mayo
My story started in Mexico, where I was born and later adopted as a baby. Looking back now, I truly believe that was part of God’s plan for my life and the beginning of a journey that would eventually bring me to where I am today. Before entering the beauty industry, I worked in healthcare as a phlebotomist and medical assistant. Read More>>
Nicola Bertellotti
It all began during my university years at the University of Pisa, where I studied History. My academic background deeply shaped how I perceived the world. I became fascinated not just by text, but by the physical spaces where history occurred—specifically, the places that society had moved on from. Read More>>
Duron Karter
It all started when I was 8 years old and seen Micheal Jackson on TV and from there I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry to inspire all people of all ages and to become a humanitarian and give back to the community as well as the rest of the world. Read More>>
Matthew Dancy
Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even though I was heavily involved in sports and other extracurricular activities growing up, I always found my way back to creating. Some of my earliest memories are sitting at my parents’ kitchen table drawing the cartoon characters I watched on TV. Read More>>
Tara Williams
I started my journey as a single mother of two who wanted a better life, environment, and future for both myself and my children. I began my career in telecommunications project management before transitioning into an IT business analyst role. In late 2016, a family member introduced me to Scrum and Agile, and from that moment, everything changed for me professionally. Read More>>
Candi Eduardo
My journey started when I left my abusive relationship. I had to learn how to navigate life with just me and my kids. I begin working at a job in customer service for about a year. I then realized I am called to something bigger. Read More>>
Ramesha Nicole
My name is Ramesha Nicole. I’m originally from Houston, TX. The Ramesha Nicole brand actually began back in 2020 during the pandemic where I launched the original The Ramesha Nicole Show. Unfortunately, due to things like fear, rejection and other internal wounds that I had yet processed and worked through, that business eventually came to a close. Read More>>
Ashley Herod
I’ll be honest – I never know what version of my story to tell. The clean cut version exists as ‘I grew up in my favorite place in the world, Fort Worth, Texas. Loving parents and an amazing community that led me to discover what my passions are. Read More>>
Abisola Elehinafe
I was born and raised in Nigeria, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Driven by a desire to broaden my horizons and further my education, I moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Sheffield. Read More>>
Adrian Billups
I’m originally from Virginia, where I grew up surrounded by a rich culinary tradition, especially centered around seafood. When my day job relocated us to Texas, I found it challenging to find the same quality and type of seafood I had grown up with. I explored numerous local restaurants, and while some were decent, I realized they didn’t quite meet my expectations. Read More>>
Kortnee VanCleave
Everyone is expected to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives before they turn 18 and graduate high school. I’m not sure about you, but I didn’t know just how many career options I had available to me at that age. Read More>>
Zion Pullman
Hello, my name is Zion. Before I became a professional animator, I started out drawing comics on paper as a kid. Eventually, I started drawing digitally as a kid in Microsoft Paint and used Windows Movie Maker to make my images move like a ‘flip book’- style animation. Over the years, I progressed in Adobe Flash Professional (Now Adobe Animate) and went from there. Read More>>
Addi Christensen
Addi Christensen is a convert to Catholicism, coming from a Lutheran background. She had a conversion of heart to Catholicism in 2012, but was not confirmed in the Church till July 28th, 2018 – the first feast day of her confirmation saint, Blessed Father Stanley Rother. As a young adult, Addi found deep consolation from hearing other testimonies of conversion to the Catholic Church. Read More>>
Shannen An
I started my career as a fashion designer. I’ve always been fascinated by the way a space can make people feel. Over time, that interest evolved into a career in interior design. I began working on both residential and commercial projects, and that journey eventually led me to create Alfresco Cottage. I’ve always loved traveling and staying in beautifully designed spaces. Read More>>
Brittany Johnson
When I was pregnant with my son, I found out that he was going to have some medical complexities when he was born. Long story short, I found out that I actually have a genetic condition and it has been passed on to my son. Read More>>
Shelby Larson
My journey with cookies began in 2016 when I started decorating for family, That then led to selling custom cookies from my home under Texas’s cottage food law a few years later. What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into a thriving home-based business. Then life took an unexpected turn. Read More>>
Makenzie Koehn
Absolutely! I’m originally from Southwest Kansas, but I’ve called the Dallas area home for the past nine years. My own journey with chiropractic care began early after being diagnosed with scoliosis as an adolescent. Through postural challenges, sports injuries, and the everyday stressors of life, chiropractic care became a consistent part of my own wellness story and shaped the way I view health. Read More>>
Meagan Barron
People always assume mortgage was part of some grand career plan… it absolutely was not. Years ago, I knew I was heading into a divorce and decided to do something completely different. I packed up my life, moved to Barcelona, and spent a year teaching corporate English. Read More>>
Bobby Mitchell
I am the husband of 35 years to my exquisite wife, Sematha and the father to some very cool young adults… my beautiful daughter, Hailey and my awesome son, Myles and his beautiful wife, Shantaee! I have also just recently been promoted to the position of grandfather by my grandson, Maverick! Read more>>
Ariel Graham
When I was 15 l started writing and recording music because I wanted to be a singer & performing artist, but I couldn’t afford to buy beats online at the time. So l downloaded Fruity Loops and started trying to make my own beats instead. Read more>>
Erin Shumate
From a young age photography has been an art near and dear to my heart, as my mother fondly followed me around, photographing my entire childhood. Read more>>
Alex Johnson
The Art of Barbering goes back thru many Generations, as I being a 2nd Generation Barber was pretty much in my DNA Whether i wanted it or not. Read more>>
Melissa & Dylan Saylor
Fleur de Luxe Events was created from our shared passion for creating beautiful, memorable experiences that bring people together in a luxurious and elevated way. Read more>>
Ayo Uno
Always been into music, art, & fashion. Almost a natural occurrence in my life. Read more>>
Natalie Robinson
Hi! My name is Natalie Robinson, and I am the Founder & Owner of Raise the Barre Celina. I graduated with my BFA in Dance & MBA in Entrepreneurship. I previously worked at Texas Ballet Theater School in Richardson, TX and Suzanne’s School of Dance in College Station, Texas. Read more>>
Noah Garcia
I grew up in Terrell, TX on the border of the urban and rural. Self-taught in photography until the age of 20, I have been practicing photography since the age of eight. Read more>>
Abbey Killin & Kyle Casey Herridge
Hi there, I’m Abbey Killin. The first step in Kyle Herridge and my music journey was forming a band after producing our first single, “Magnetizing” together! Originally, we named the band Abbey & The Afternoon —like Florence & The Machine but jazzier. Read more>>
Nur Gurel
My story began in 1980 in Istanbul, and my path was clear early on; I graduated from Istanbul Anatolian Fine Arts High School in 1998. Following that, I was admitted in first place to the Painting Department at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts—one of Turkiye’s most historic and deeply rooted art institutions. Read more>>
Melvin Ukay
I often joke that music found me long before I found music. Read more>>
Kanish Bhattacharyya
My wife Samantha and I started Bhatta Boom Photo Booth in 2020 when we were looking for a photo booth for our wedding. We were in the process of finalizing vendors when COVID hit so we had to put our wedding plans on hold Read more>>
Harrison Candelario
I grew up playing the clarinet, bass clarinet, singing, and eventually learning how to play the piano. From a young age, I realized that music is a vital part of humanity and our culture — it tells our stories and makes us, us. I knew I wanted to make an impact on the world, and connect with people, and music has allowed me to do just that. Read more>>
Keaton Miles
WildCrafted FIVEz started in the middle of COVID, when my wife Monique and I were watching the world get sick and realized most of what was being sold as “wellness” wasn’t actually well. I’d heard and read up on sea moss, all the natural holistic guys swore by it like Dr.Sebi, but every product I picked up off a shelf was either watered down, full of fillers, or sourced from places nobody could point to on a map. Read more>>
Vanessa Silberman
I started playing guitar when I was about 11 or 12. I’ll never forget being in maybe fifth or sixth grade and hearing Nirvana playing from the back of my friend’s dad’s truck. It literally blew my mind. That was the band that made me want to play music. Read more>>
Jewel Odeyemi
My story really started from a place of purpose, creativity, and honestly, just saying yes to what felt natural. Read more>>
Khadija Moten
My time with Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) began initially as an intern in 2016 creating graphics for social media and heading the Ink Cartridge Drive. I later transitioned in to a part-time position assisting with the #ChooseKind distribution following the movie premier of “Wonder.” Read more>>
Desiree Gibbens
I got my start in both hip-hop and country radio, managing social media for stations in Sacramento. That experience was where I first learned how to create content for different audiences, understand engagement, and think strategically about how brands connect with people online. Read more>>
S&A Events
What started as two friends helping plan family gatherings, celebrations, and community events eventually turned into something much bigger than we ever imagined. We’re Sabeera and Ariba, the duo behind S&A Events, and our story really began over 13 years ago through a friendship built on trust, creativity, and a shared love for bringing people together. Read more>>
Ann Madden
I started a gallery in my town, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi with my neighbor friend, silversmith Sandy Maggio on a moment’s notice and had to turn a profit. It was called Smith & Lens and it was home to our work and featured a different, visiting artist each month. Read more>>
Joseph Ray
I started as a middle school science teacher. I’ve always had other streams of income and a desire to “Buy back my time” After my second year of teaching, I decided to go to graduate school and pursue a Masters degree in educational administration in hopes of becoming a principal. That goal became a reality just 14 months later. I left the school district and open my own school. Read more>>
Sam Kaiser & Mike Youssef
We started our ghost kitchen concept in March of 2021 after being furloughed from our jobs at the Hilton Anatole. Read more>>
Jenelle Johnson
It started with me craving something different in my life, and within my health & wellness. I was sick of myself to be honest with you. I was overweight & battling depression & anxiety so I set out on a journey to heal myself. Read more>>
Diego Cadenas
My name is Diego Cadenas I was born and raised in Fort Worth, TX. Growing up in a big Hispanic household, where all my family was loud and always making jokes, really made it easy for me to be outgoing. Read more>>
Amanda Gibby Peters
One of the questions I get asked most is: “How did you get started in Feng Shui?” People are always surprised when I tell them I came to it as a skeptic. I didn’t see the logic of how my house was going to improve my life circumstances. So, I came into it adversarially. Read more>>
Monica Lopez
I started my health journey in high school playing sports suffering intense back pain brought on from a birth issue. I wanted to learn how I could take better care of my spine for my future and live with less intense chronic pain, especially after many doctors telling me I would be in a wheelchair by 50. I write this article now at almost 65 years young and feeling great yet living with a lot less chronic pain. Read more>>
Jason Horton
My story started with music, service, and a deep love for helping people. I’m a Dallas-based entrepreneur, musician, notary, and founder of Uptown Notary & Signing Co., LLC and The Musicians Sanctuary. Read more>>
Tonya Huffman
I have a long history of self employment. I went to beauty school after high school so that I could work PT and still go to school. Doing nails fed my soul with creativity and served the purpose of a decent wage and flexible schedule. Read more>>
Jacqueline Jax” Fortin”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived with mental health disorders¬¬–generalized anxiety and major depression–migraine disease (a neurological disability) and of course some sort of gastrointestinal malady. And, I love coffee. So, I wanted to find a way to better support myself, and others in the space, loved ones, and certainly, the environment–while enjoying one of the things I love most. Read more>>
IZZY Maso
I can’t believe it has been a year since our last article together! I am Izzy. I love telling stories! I am an independent musician and business owner! I founded MSBDS in 2025. Read more>>
Zunek Ali
I grew up on watching others eating food. Tv shows like man vs food and diners drive ins and dives. Once social media started popping off, I watched food videos every day and one day said “why not try this myself” and posted my first video. Read more>>
Tracy Dawson
I started my journey in entrepreneurship in 2011-12 when I joined my first network marketing company called Kyani. I was working at IHOP at the time, serving tips, and I came across an opportunity to make some extra cash and build a business. Read more>>
Diana Ariza
I started my journey in entrepreneurship in 2011-12 when I joined my first network marketing company called Kyani. I was working at IHOP at the time, serving tips, and I came across an opportunity to make some extra cash and build a business. Read more>>
Jessica Neal Smith
Every market taught me something different. Miami taught me hustle. The Southeast taught me how to listen. DFW is teaching me how to scale.’ I am originally from Bogotá, Colombia and came to USA to Fort Lauderdale area when I was 13. Read more>>
Denise Reid
I often joke that entrepreneurship is in my DNA, but it’s actually true. My mom has been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. Over the years she owned a hair salon, a restaurant, a Jamaican black castor oil company, raised chickens, and found countless ways to create opportunities for herself and our family. Read more>>
Lindsay Walden
I never set out to become a photographer. I actually have a degree in Business Management and spent years working in the nonprofit world. Photography began after my children were born as a creative outlet and a way to preserve the fleeting moments of childhood that seemed to pass far too quickly. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a passion. Read more>>
Chinggay Labrador
I started Practical Magic in 2016 as a place online to channel my growing interest in the tarot—reading cards, collecting decks, and using the practice as a way to self-reflect. My interest in tarot came years ago as a college student; but I only took it seriously in 2012-2013 as an annex to my yoga teacher training and meditation practice. Read more>>
Kayla Alexander
I started Illustrated at 19 years old, while I was still in college with a completely different plan. I was set on going into the medical field. Creating was never something I had to force; it just felt like second nature. In 2022, I launched Illustrated while still in school, running the business and keeping up with classes at the same time. Read more>>
Kristene Newton
Hi! I’m Kristene aka The Tiny Home Designer! I use to be a top producing realtor with my husband in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, but the past few years we partnered with one of our friends and started Liberty Tiny Homes and Village! A luxury dealership that designs and customizes 399sf tiny home park models and ships them nationwide! Read more>>
Kristin Hartness
In the early 90’s I was completing testing to determine the cause of a variety of symptoms which started impacting my activities when I was 16. This long journey raised a variety of questions and possible diagnosis including simple infections and life ending diseases. It ended with two simple letters – ones I could live with – MS. Read more>>
Josue Melendez
I started my professional career as a K-12 educator. The focus of my career of public service has always been improving social, economic, and educational mobility in our DFW communities. While I worked for Irving ISD my role expanded past a classroom instructor, to include interventions in order to keep kids in school. Read more>>
Kenneth Young
I grew up feeling like we were behind. Not behind the billions of people around the world who had less than us. I never thought about them. I was comparing us to the family next door. Two Cadillacs in the driveway. A brand new truck. Blue Bell ice cream in the freezer before anyone else had cable. I thought something was wrong with us. Read more>>
L Johns
If you would’ve told me ten years ago that by 27 I’d be hopping on private jets, spending weeks in Napa Valley, sitting in rooms where billion dollar decisions were being made, and building my own company, I would’ve laughed. Not because I didn’t dream big, but because I had absolutely no roadmap for how someone like me was supposed to get there. Read more>>
Raneika Raine
I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’m a poet, a data specialist, and I work in real estate. I always had dreams of being successful I just didn’t know how to make that happened. I been a poet since I was 15. I have done podcasting, graphic design – just different avenues over the years to find my niche. Read more>>
Jessica Stettler
My career journey began after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. What was supposed to be an eight-week event marketing internship in Beverly Hills turned into eight incredibly formative years in Los Angeles, where I gained hands-on experience working with a variety of clients, from global brands to emerging startups. Read more>>
Tiara Smith
Five years ago, I made a decision that completely changed the trajectory of my life. At the time, I was working in corporate America and feeling increasingly frustrated. I was tired of the lack of work-life balance, the limitations on my income, and the corporate politics that often seemed to matter more than the people being served. Read more>>
Mary Maney
My journey in the events industry began in the trenches of a traditional event production company. It was an invaluable training ground that taught me the know how and operation from the ground up. I decided it was time to bring my own vision to life. In 2016, I officially founded my own business, launching a specialized branch dedicated entirely to modernizing event styling. Read more>>
EKATERINA (Katia) MUKHAMMADIEVA
I am a mother to a wonderful daughter with profound autism, and our family’s journey is the heart of why this nonprofit was created. From my daughter’s early years, our daily life revolved around finding the right support for her. We spent countless hours driving all across the DFW metroplex to access therapy services, adapted sports, music and art lessons, and social groups. Read more>>
Krishna Chinthakayala
For 15 years, I climbed the corporate tech ladder, managing large-scale teams and deliverables. While rewarding, the high-stakes pressure eventually led to severe burnout. Seeking a healthier path, I stepped away without a clear roadmap. The turning point arrived when my husband and daughter attended a local art session. Read more>>
Jay Capil
I actually peaked in college before college even started. Early college program in high school, got my associate’s degree in 2020 before I even had my high school diploma in hand. Felt like I was ahead of everyone. Then COVID happened right as I was supposed to transition into university. Two of my advisors died during that stretch. Read more>>
MELINDA Goff
The story of Paws for Reflection Ranch is rooted in a profound vision of nature-based healing that dates back to 2004. The foundational concept for the organization originated with Melode Seremet, who experienced a ‘God-inspired dream’ detailing a therapy ranch where horses and other animals would partner with licensed counselors and therapists to foster peace, hope, and healing away from standard clinical settings. Read more>>
Jenny Alvarado
My name is Jenny Alvarado, and I am the owner of Purely Magical Skin Lab in Seagoville, Texas. My journey began long before I became an esthetician. I came to the United States from Honduras in 2015 as a single mother, determined to build a better future for my family. Read more>>
Carea Morris
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Growing up, I was constantly looking for ways to earn my own money and become independent. Whether it was selling products at school or finding small opportunities to make an income, I knew from an early age that I wanted to own a business one day. Read more>>
Travon Barber
Being a people’s person, I like to connect with people in any way I can. Read more>>
Fred Howard
My fitness journey began at age 23 with a simple goal: I wanted to build a better physique and look more confident in my clothes. At the time, I had no idea that lifting weights would eventually shape my career and life purpose. What started as a personal challenge quickly became a passion as I saw the physical and mental benefits of training. Read more>>
Brittany Lenore
The reason why I am in the space that I am in today is simple. The word that I received from God in 2015 was “GO.” Since then, I have never stopped following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Read more>>
Carah Nowell
My journey into fitness and wellness started long before I ever stepped into a studio. In many ways, it started with my own search to understand my body. From a young age, I dealt with digestive issues and spent years searching for answers before eventually being diagnosed with celiac disease. That experience sparked a deep curiosity about nutrition, wellness, and understanding how the body works. Read more>>
Marly & Farah Moreau
We are twin sisters originally from Haiti. We immigrated to the United States without speaking English, and over the years we worked hard to build a life through education, faith, and perseverance. After graduating from college and establishing our corporate careers, we decided to pursue something we had always loved—fashion. Our journey into content creation started unexpectedly. Read more>>
Ankita Kapoor
Chaitanya’s Delights began as a dream shared between mother and daughter. Growing up, food was always at the center of our family. For my Mom, Renee, cooking was never just about preparing meals- it was how she showed love, brought people together, and built community. Read more>>
Annalyn Christensen
When I moved from California to DFW, I started a foodie page to explore and share local restaurants while continuing my background in portrait photography. What began as creating content for local spots turned into taking professional photos and building websites for restaurants across DFW. Three years ago, my husband and I turned that passion into a business. Read more>>
Richard Fowler
I drove 13 hours from Chicago to Dallas completely by myself during the pandemic, originally planning to move back home once everything settled down. Around that same time, I made the decision to drop out of high school and bet on myself, even though I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. But God had other plans for me. Read more>>
Emma Camp
I am intrigued by science yet conversely, overtly philosophical, with an ardent passion for art and art-making. In high school, my favorite courses were science, in particular biology, and art, where I created my first 2- and 3-dimensional bodies of work in my Advanced Placement (AP) art courses. Read more>>
