Coming up with an idea for a business or creative project can feel exhilarating. Inspiration for a new idea can come from so many places and we’ve asked some great folks from the community to share their stories of how they came up with their ideas.
Terrell Stanley
Garden Grown Social was created from firsthand experiences working in spaces in the advertising industry that claimed to celebrate my culture but often fell short in practice. Throughout my career in advertising and social media, I’ve seen how much of the industry is shaped by Black culture, Black creatives, and Black innovation—we’re the ones setting the trends and making things cool long before the world catches on. But too often, when it comes to the big decisions—budgets, campaigns, brand direction—our contributions aren’t given the recognition they deserve. Being one of the few—or the only—Black people in the room was isolating. It was knowing that even if my ideas were used or recognized, my name wouldn’t be mentioned or broadcasted anywhere. It was watching my work set industry standards while my worth was still up for debate. It was being told that I was essential but never being positioned as indispensable. Read more>>
Marina Lutovac Lalic
BRE BUZZ was born from a mix of passion, experience, and a deep understanding of what businesses truly need from digital marketing -but often don’t get. Read more>>
Verane Jackie Deschamps
The idea of creating the France USA International Film Festival and everything thereafter, by necessity or destiny, germinated when I became an American Citizen and was pondering on how I may contribute to both my countries – France and the United States — as well as participate in the nurturing of both cultures, so similar and so differently great. It sparked from my love for films and the work of the actors, directors, producers, editors, artists – all the agents of change through culture. Read more>>
Pamela Allen
Working within the non profit field, I found there was so much “red tape” How long you spend with a client. How much information you can actually give. Read more>>
Vanessa Peixoto
I spent nearly a decade as a phlebotomist before pursuing nursing school, and that experience shaped the way I approach patient care today. Working with needles every day, I developed not just technical precision, but a deep understanding of how to make patients feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. That skill set stayed with me as I moved into aesthetic medicine, where trust and expertise are just as important as artistry. Read more>>
Dj Roots Quee
It all started with a phone call from Fletcher Baats. DJ Clue had invited me to be on Desert Storm Radio, and I immediately said yes. At the time, I was deep into curating a roots and culture reggae mix called Rude Girl Rock. But with this new opportunity in front of me, I saw something bigger than just a mixtape. I saw a platform. Read more>>
Lorraine Bubar
I have worked in a lot of different artistic fields, including animation and illustration, but it was not until I started to pursue being an independent fine artist and finding my own signature way of working did my work truly become my own, blended many of my interests, and became more recognizable. I love to travel and I realized that so many cultures around the world, from Europe to Asia to Mexico, has some form of papercutting, including in my own cultural background. So I decided to change my painting style into papercuts, doing them in a more painterly, colorful way than any papercuts I had seen. I use handmade colored papers that are created in countries where I have traveled, including Japan, Nepal, and Thailand. As I pursued this style of working, more and more people remembered who I am: “Oh, you are the one who cuts their work out of paper.” Finding my own voice made my work stand out, which opened many more avenues to exhibit and sell my work. It brought together my interest in traveling and crafts created in those countries, and I enjoy honoring the cultural heritage of papercutting, but doing it my way. Read more>>
Taylor West
Coming up with the photography business was more like a gradual fall I wasn’t aware of and then a leap of faith once I was aware of my abilities and passion as a creative. Photography began as a hobby with an iPhone, you know, the old brick looking ones. Well, I liked what I could do once I took a photo and tinkered with it on various editing programs. I soon realized that wasn’t enough. I wanted to make quality, crisp images, not these pixelated concepts I was dabbling with. Read more>>
Blaque Diamond
I have seen firsthand how meaningful candles can be—especially when blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. But as I grew older, I realized that candles are more than just decorations; they hold a deeper significance. Candles have the power to energize and uplift, stimulating the senses in a way that evokes emotion, memory, and healing. Read more>>
Carolann Dvorak
It was the beginning of 2022, and I was four months postpartum with my third child. I had to go back to work at eight weeks with my first and second. I was so grateful that I didn’t have to do that this time around. I had quit my job that I was at for almost 15 years. My husband works for the railroad, and is on the road during the week. This meant whenever one of my kids got sick, or needed to be picked up from daycare / or school early I had to leave work. My employer would ask, “Why can’t your husband pick them up?” Well, by the time my husband left work in Montana, and made it to Illinois (where we live) it wouldn’t be feasible. I tried going part time, but if I wanted to they couldn’t give me set hours. Read more>>
Cody Adent
Vibrant Management was co-founded in the spring of 2018, initially created to manage the Cliffrose hotel in Springdale, Utah. This endeavor made us realize a significant void in the hospitality industry where our expertise could make a noticeable difference. Recognizing this opportunity, we expanded our vision to serve a variety of businesses, including incredible properties throughout Southern Utah, a fishing lodge in British Columbia, a well-being line based in Maui, Hawaii, and a luxury touring company in Park City, Utah. Read more>>
Anna Carolina Mihailovic
After spending 10 years working in a showroom in town, I realized it no longer felt like the right fit for me. I had the urge to pursue something I truly love. So, I went back to my roots- born in Brazil- and decided to bring beautiful, unique, and culturally rich accessories from my home country and beyond, including Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, Africa, and Australia. Read more>>
Michael Gakuru
I came up with the idea of opening Fortico Security Services LLC to provide reliable, professional, and high-quality security solutions for businesses and individuals. The concept was born from my desire to offer trusted, comprehensive security services that prioritize safety and peace of mind, ensuring that clients can feel secure in any environment. Read more>>
Terrance Bacchus
TeeTalksMoney was born out of my realization that investing was a powerful way to overcome poverty and build wealth. When I entered corporate America, I quickly learned how financial decisions could shape my future, something I was never taught growing up. Read more>>
Will Han
I graduated from graduate school with major in Fine Art in SUNY, specializing in oil painting. As I approached graduation, I felt lost and uncertain about my career path. Finding a teaching job in oil painting was difficult, and I wasn’t sure what other options I had. That’s when I decided to return to my undergraduate background—photography. Many of my former classmates had already started their careers in wedding photography, so it seemed like a natural path to consider. Read more>>
Natasha Wilkerson
As a kid, I struggled with math and science. I couldn’t connect with the content, and I spent many nights crying at the kitchen table trying to figure it out. I was desperate to just get the right answer, and I didn’t really care if I understood it—because what was the point? Why did I need this stuff anyway? Read more>>