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.
Paola Ventura
I was born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico, and moved to Dallas about 17 years ago for a work opportunity. My professional background is in project management, but I have always been the person my friends come to for recommendations—where to eat, what to do, and which new places to discover. Read more>>
Zachary Loredo
I grew up being raised around strong women alongside my older brother Matthew. My mother was a single mom and did what she could with the resources she had to make sure we always had a roof over our heads. Read more>>
rishika vanam
My journey began in Hyderabad, India, where I grew up surrounded by color, culture, fashion, and the little details that make Indian design so distinctive. I studied Bachelor of Design at NIFT Hyderabad, where I developed my foundation in fashion, design, and creative thinking. After graduating, I continued exploring different sides of the creative industry, from fashion and merchandising to branding and marketing. Read more>>
Sheen Sosa
My story has really been about refusing to put myself in one box. Basketball was the foundation for me and opened a lot of doors, but over time I realized there was much more I wanted to build beyond the court. Read more>>
Caleb Williams
Gaming started as my escape and a way to stay connected with friends long after the school. As I grew up, that passion evolved from just playing to creating. Today, I use my platform to give people that same feeling I had growing up, building a community centered around pure entertainment, comedy, and real connections. Read more>>
Dimitria Ahmad
Our story is complicated because there was never just my husband and me. There were seven children between us already, all with different ages, different homes, different experiences and different needs. Then we had our little girl together, and in a lot of ways I think we believed she would be the little piece that tied all of us together. Read more>>
Jeff Corkran
I gave a talk a few years ago for Creative Mornings, the monthly global meetup series for creatives in over 150 cities. I talked about my ‘reset’ just a few years ago where I saw this opportunity to align my work with a lot of my beliefs, that I could both have a career and help do positive things for people and the planet. Read more>>
Bethany (Prefer Beth) Olson
I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, with two parents who were social workers, so the importance of helping others, leading with kindness, and being a safe place for people was instilled in me pretty early. Read more>>
Tetiana Budyznska
We started more than 10 years ago, working with just a few photographers on a project-by-project basis. In the beginning, the jobs were small — often 7–10 images for editorial shoots or magazine features — and some of the work was done simply to build our portfolio and establish relationships in the industry. Read more>>
Brent Hale
I’ve always been drawn to improv. I discovered a local improv show while I was in high school, and from that point forward, I was fascinated by the spontaneity, skill, honesty, and vulnerability involved in creating something completely in the moment. My career has taken me through a wide range of entrepreneurial ventures. Read more>>
Catalina Klock
Hi my name is Catalina started my journey in the beauty industry back in 2013 as a lash tech. I was getting my own lashes done at the time and found myself completely fascinated by the process. Beauty had always been my thing — I went to cosmetology school in high school and was always the friend doing everyone’s hair and makeup. Read more>>
Jassi Hendrix
Thank y’all so much for having me; it’s truly an honor. I’m Dallas born and raised, South Dallas specifically, and creativity was always close to home. I grew up in a house full of singers, so music was just part of the air I breathed. Read more>>
Stony P
My 2nd speed bump was a few years ago when I lost my mom due to a car crash, it’s crazy that Im bringing this up because after my first magazine article was posted, the next day she had passed away and that messed me up for a long time because she was my biggest supporter and to lose someone that was there since day one thru it all isn’t a easy thing to get over especially when it’s your parent Read more>>
Bruno, Beth and Pancake Jham
We always joke that we became content creators completely by accident. Pancake came into our family as a three-month-old English Bulldog, and from the very beginning, she had the funniest, goofiest personality. Read more>>
Addison Parish
I started playing recreational volleyball in fourth grade for Allen Sports Association. This is where I developed a love for the sport. From here I continued to grow my skills and joined my first club team when I was 11. The following year I tried out for my middle school team and made A team for 7th grade. Read more>>
Julius Bayone
Infinitus Texas is a Houston-based educational services company founded in 2020 by Julius Bayone to address persistent academic inequities and help students overcome learning gaps. What began as a tutoring-focused organization has evolved into a broader partner for school districts and charter schools, providing high-dosage tutoring, EOC remediation, TSIA2 college readiness, ACT/SAT preparation, curriculum development, and data-driven academic intervention. Read more>>
Jay McKinney
Hi, my name is Jay! Read more>>
Monica Kizziar
Our story really began long before Roxie’s Pet Sitting officially became a business. For many years, I worked in the corporate world, but animals were always a significant part of our lives. On the side, I was what I jokingly call a ‘hobby pet sitter,’ caring for the pets of friends and family. Read more>>
Brisha Brichelle
My story didn’t begin with a business plan, a title, or even a clear understanding of what I would become. It began with survival. I lost my mother to violence when I was nine years old. I became a mother myself as a teenager, and life handed me experiences very early that could have easily determined the rest of my story. Read more>>
Bryan Gore
I think the common thread throughout my life has been reinvention—although most of the time I didn’t realize that’s what I was doing while I was going through it. I learned pretty young that life doesn’t always go according to plan and that nothing was simply going to come to me. Read more>>
Rachael Gray Smith
I come from a family that teaches for a living. My mom taught music. My sister followed her into the classroom. I figured I’d round out the legacy and make it three for three. Read more>>
Autumn Dunn-Jones
My career definitely hasn’t followed a perfectly straight path. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma and had the opportunity to complete a professional internship with The Walt Disney Company, which was one of my first real experiences seeing how much culture, customer experience, and attention to detail can impact a business. Working 12 hour shifts in the Florida heat. Read more>>
LAM Collective
LAM Collective is the shared expression of Lauren James, Alyssa Donovan, and Marison Clayton—shaped by a mutual desire to create, to teach, and to build something expansive. Teaching yoga together revealed a clear through-line between them, forming the foundation for LAM. Drawing from distinct yet complementary lineages and perspectives, the collective moves fluidly across practices and formats. Read more>>
Darnique Williams
The Vulnerable Room® was actually born during a rough season in my own life. I had recently relocated, I was experiencing seasonal depression, and honestly, I was going through it. Read more>>
Rachael Sebastian
I’ve taken photos all my life. When I was briefly a teacher, I taught students how to take photos and realized how much I missed photojournalism. I was previously a newspaper reporter and content creator (in those days we called it multimedia producer) for a daily newspaper. My parents run cattle and my dad is a cowboy. Read more>>
Nicole Booth
Salty Sun Glow started with a simple idea: I wanted to create a spray tan experience that felt more personal, elevated, and fun. I’ve always loved the confidence that comes with a good glow, but I noticed that getting a spray tan could sometimes feel rushed or impersonal. I wanted to change that. Read more>>
Parker Keane
Lone Star Fight League was founded in Dallas, Texas, by entrepreneur Parker Keane and former UFC fighter and world-class combat sports veteran James McSweeney. The promotion was created to give amateur MMA and kickboxing athletes a professional-level platform to develop, compete and showcase their talent. LSFL produces high-energy live events featuring MMA, kickboxing and championship fights. Read more>>
Michael Memar
I went to interior design school to study interior design. Soon after graduating, I formed Memar Interiors to focus on design for commercial and residential projects. Then we added construction services, and now we are offering design build services. Read more>>
Thabang Lehutjo
My journey into media started with a genuine love for storytelling and a desire to create something of my own. I studied Film and Television, which gave me the foundation to understand the creative and production side of the industry, but a lot of my growth came from actually getting out there, creating, experimenting, and learning through experience. Read more>>
Keven Chavez
My journey into DJing started somewhat unexpectedly on October 3, 2023. Music itself wasn’t new to me, I had been a musician since I was 14, but DJing and entertainment as a business were. An opportunity came up for me to start running karaoke nights at a local dive bar. Read more>>
Junah Sparrow
First want to give GOD the Glory. Well, I started out as a beat maker/artist in Lawton, Oklahoma. Making instrumentals for my friends and family. I liked to rap and sing, but it wasn’t something I had a big passion for. As I loved to make beats, I gravitated into writing music. That’s when I fully went into pursuing being a producer. Read more>>
Valerie Cipriano
When my dad passed away, it really changed my perspective on a lot of things, including what I wanted to do with my time and my voice. I had already been creating content, but after losing him, I started to really focus on it and think about what kind of impact I actually wanted to have. Read more>>
Samuel Olvera
I started creating content about a year ago by trying cuisines I had never tried before. Through that, I got to meet so many amazing people, learn about different cultures I never really knew much about, and try foods I had never even heard of. Read more>>
Alley Scurlark
From the start, I have always had a passion for being creative. From a young age, I would always love DIY projects that I would find on YouTube, enjoy making homemade birthday cards for my friends and family, or find joy in making something from things I had lying around the house. Read more>>
Maria Silva
My journey into nutrition started 18 years ago, after the birth of my second son. He was sick all the time, and as a mother, I struggled to understand and accept that this might be something he would have to live with for the rest of his life. Read more>>
Messlie Rodriguez
Howdy Candles began out of a personal mission to protect my family’s health while honoring our unique cultural heritage. During our family wellness journey, I discovered that traditional, big-store candles filled our home with synthetic pollutants and ‘mystery toxins.’ I wanted clean air, but I also wanted a space that smelled like home. Read more>>
Kendra Holman
My story really goes all the way back to when I was a little girl. I remember having my own lemonade stand right in front of my house. I was also surrounded by people who loved to cook. My father was a chef, and both of my grandmothers cooked, but one grandmother in particular played a huge part in my life. Her name was Myona. Read more>>
Michael Cano
I started off cutting my own hair with a cheap pair of clippers my mom gifted me for Christmas when I was 14. I would cut my own hair in the garage and eventually start cutting my dad’s hair. I was attending an arts magnet high school at this time. Read more>>
Vanessa Abuchaibe Delaney
My story has really been about following what I’m passionate about, taking chances, and allowing myself to evolve. I’ve always loved storytelling and connecting with people, which eventually led me to pursue a career in journalism and meteorology. I began working in television and spent years building my career in different markets, eventually making my way to Dallas. Read more>>
Sade Childs
Soft Sovereignty began during a season of my life when I was learning what it meant to come back to myself. I had spent so much time being many things for many people — a mother, an employee, a partner, a friend — and I wanted to create something that belonged to me and reflected the woman I was becoming. Read more>>
D Diligent
My journey with music started when I was around 12 years old. I was always interested in music and the way artists could use it to tell stories, express themselves and connect with people, so I eventually started writing and making music myself. Read more>>
Lei Rivas
I am a creative person born and raised in a dual world, and I have embraced the different perspectives that come with it in everything I do. Born bicultural, Latina, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican, I always saw the world from two different sides of my own identity. The mountains and the ocean. Urban life and island warmth. Read more>>
David Pope-Breckenridge
My journey has been quite a journey, but to keep it brief, I grew up in a pretty strict family. In the 1980s, my dad had an old Atari game system, along with Pong—an electronic tennis-style game with paddle controllers that hooked up to the TV. We eventually had a Nintendo, too. I could never beat Super Mario Bros. Read more>>
Danny Gutierrez
It had started when I first moved back to Texas after being on the East Coast for a few years. I was going back to college and my brother, Alex Owens, was a local musician helping me navigate the scene. Read more>>
Chandra Semple
My story has always been rooted in creativity, faith, and entrepreneurship. I’ve been a hairstylist for over 26 years, and throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of helping women look and feel their best. Hair was my first creative outlet and my introduction to entrepreneurship, but my love for fashion and creating has always been right there alongside it. Read more>>
Levi Sheppeard
My journey into photography started with a love for creating and telling stories through visuals. I’ve always been drawn to photography, video, design, and marketing, and over time, I realized photography was the perfect way to combine all of those interests. I started LJS Visuals with the goal of creating more than just good looking images. Read more>>
Sameer Butt
I started my journey with a strong interest in clothing and manufacturing. Over time, I gained hands-on experience in the apparel industry and learned about fabric, cutting, production, and quality control. With that experience, I decided to build something of my own and started RAPITAC WEAR, a clothing manufacturing brand. Read more>>
Rucha Rajendra
My journey has been one of growth, learning, and allowing myself to explore different parts of who I am. When I was younger, I was always interested in creativity, acting, modeling, and teaching. As life moved forward, marriage, motherhood, family, and other responsibilities became my priorities, and some of my personal dreams were put on hold. Read more>>
Joshua Gordon
I got my start the day I lost my job. I had no money saved, no backup plan, nothing but hope, talent, and God. I reached out to Daisha Board Gallery just trying to make it to the next bill and the next meal. I wasn’t trying to become an artist — I was just trying to survive. But God had other plans. Read more>>
Brianna Cossio
I usually go by Bri ✨🩷. I’ve always been someone who wanted to do a little bit of everything. Growing up in Las Vegas with a Peruvian background that I’m incredibly proud of 🇵🇪 , my dreams were BIG—and constantly changing. There were times I wanted to be a singer, then a vet, then a police officer…girl, I truly could not pick a lane! Read more>>
Dajia Davis
I started as an inspiring singer in 2016, posting music covers of myself singing to some of my favorite artist on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. I then unexpectedly went viral in December 2017 when my mother hilariously interrupted me doing a piano cover of James Arthur’s ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ with impromptu dance moves. Read more>>
Christian (CJ da barber) Gonzalez
My barbering journey began when I moved to Texas. Born in New Jersey, I spent much of my childhood in the Dominican Republic before moving to Puerto Rico at 13 with my mother, both places where barbering culture runs deep and self-grooming is a form of identity. Read more>>
Monica Wayts
Lil Bits of Mona really began with curiosity. I’ve always been someone who loves creating, trying new things, and figuring things out myself. What started as my own creative outlet eventually grew into making and selling string art, and then into something I didn’t necessarily see coming: helping other people discover their own creativity. Read more>>
Lee Brown
I grew up in North Texas, raised by a hardworking single mother alongside my sister. Because my mom often worked the graveyard shift, my sister played a significant role in helping raise me. Watching their strength, sacrifice, and determination from an early age helped shape the person I am today. Read more>>
Kristi Washington
It is funny, but I didn’t start playing organized basketball until the summer of my 7th grade year. And it was completely by ACCIDENT. I was athletic as a kid, I loved P.E and would win all of the gold medals and suckers at Field Day in ele mentary school. However, I never played an organized sport or anything. Read more>>
Ro’Mya Deyoncè
My journey into modeling actually started in a way I never expected. I was originally a makeup artist at Dallas Fashion Week in March, and I went into the experience simply excited to do makeup, meet people, and connect with other artists. Day one as a makeup artist was so much fun. Read more>>
Candace Williamson
After 16 years in corporate America, I knew I was ready for a change. I’ve always loved books, and through social media, I was introduced to some incredible indie authors. During a TikTok Live one day, I was encouraged to take a chance on myself and start working as a PA for authors. So, I did! Read more>>
Daneydy Hernandez
My story has never really followed one straight path. I had already built a career as a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, a profession I’ve now been in for about a decade, when entrepreneurship became another major part of my life. The story of Boka Feliz really began when we came across an available space at Golden Triangle Mall in Denton. Read more>>
Jessica Rogers
I didn’t set out to become a professional organizer. I had spent the first 10 years of my career as a teacher, teaching middle school math and science, with training in Special Education and a Master’s Degree in Education. Read more>>
Zsaknor Powe
My name is Zsaknor Powe, and I’m originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Growing up, the arts weren’t heavily funded. Yes, Louisiana is known for its rich cultural heritage and iconic art movements—but that’s New Orleans you’re thinking of, not Baton Rouge. The visual arts weren’t exactly at the forefront of our Republican, gas-lobbied politicians. Originally, I wanted to become an animator. Read more>>
Taylor Reliford
Taylor Made Experiences was a thought I had during COVID-19 while in my college apartment. None of us knew how long the social distancing would last or what was to come. TME was originally only for luxury picnics, but I realized I had more to offer and picnics are the most sustainable in Texas summers. Read more>>
Amy Stumpf
My story has taken quite a few unexpected turns. I’m an Air Force veteran, entrepreneur, mom, and two-time breast cancer thriver. Before Bunker Brew, I spent many years in the mortgage industry, but my life changed dramatically when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Bunker Brew was actually born during that chapter of my life. Read more>>
Wyatt Poindexter
Honestly, it didn’t start glamorous at all. My first year in real estate I made $650, total. Second year, $11,000. I was living in a small house with one window unit for air conditioning, driving a gold Toyota Avalon. There was no shortcut and no safety net. Read more>>
Carmen Virginia Zavarce
I’m originally from Venezuela, and I’ve been working in graphic design for more than 18 years. I studied Graphic Design and started my career in the creative industry, but entrepreneurship has always been part of my journey as well. Read more>>
Katonya Trent
I am an author, social impact speak, podcaster and founder of an organization called Konnected Thru 22, Inc. The most important title I carry in life is being a mom to a former 22 weeker. In 2017 I unexpectedly delivered my son at home alone at 22 weeks pregnant. Read more>>
Verdell Rhett IV
My story really starts with always wanting more for myself and never being afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. I was born in Savannah, Georgia, but raised in Augusta, Georgia, and a lot of the strength, determination, and work ethic I carry today comes directly from my mother and father. Read more>>
Ge’Yane Laloli
My dance journey began two years ago when I was turning 22. I have always danced since very young whether that was watching 106 & Park or a YouTube video. I remember being nine years old and seeing a ciara music video and saying to myself that’s what I want to do and be when I grow up. Read more>>
Giovana Mercado
When i turned sixteen, for my birthday party, i designed my birthday cake for my sister (who is a vegan chef) to create and make real. It was a The Smiths reference from the song “Half A Person”. Later that night, I took a video and without thinking much i posted it on tiktok. The next day it started to blow up, everyone loved it. Read more>>
Cass Stewart
My name is Cass Stewart, and I’m the founder of AeroPoint Intelligence, a Dallas-Fort Worth-based aerial data and geospatial intelligence company. We use drone technology, mapping, 3D modeling, photogrammetry, and other spatial data tools to help organizations better understand, document, and manage the physical assets and projects they are responsible for. Read more>>
Chanelle Brooks
I started my journey in the beauty industry as a hairstylist, but my career has never really followed a straight line. Hair was my foundation, but creativity and entrepreneurship continued to pull me into different spaces. Read more>>
Jdiggs Tha Prodigy
My journey with music really started before I ever stepped into a studio. I was the guy rapping and freestyling at house parties, mostly just having fun with it. Around 2008–2009, I was heavily involved in club promoting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and through that world I met a guy named Sam Garcia. Read more>>
