One of the challenges we’ve seen to true equality of opportunity is that schools and books often can’t (or choose not) offer access to one of the most equalizing resources – first hand stories of how successful entrepreneurs made their ideas a reality. If you grew up in a family or community that had many successful entrepreneurs you may have been lucky to hear many conversations and stories about starting and executing on an idea, but there are millions of people across the country who haven’t had the same advantage and so our hope here is to create a space where those stories can be told in a more public forum for the benefit of any and every aspiring entrepreneur.

Romy De Grijff

Starting my activewear brand, Revyve Active, was born out of both passion and necessity. After becoming a mom, I realized even more how much activewear can impact confidence. So much of what I tried on wasn’t flattering and often made me feel insecure. I wanted something that not only looked amazing but also empowered women to feel confident and comfortable, no matter their stage in life. Once I had the idea, I wasted no time. The very next day, I started researching the industry—what fabrics and designs worked best, what was missing in the market, and who my target audience was. Within a week, I was speaking with manufacturers to create the first prototypes. I made sure the designs were sleek, flattering, and functional, with details like no belly seams for extra comfort. Read more>>

Dee Brown

I’ve always loved beauty, but my journey into the industry started with a bad lash extension experience. Determined to find better, I booked with a reputable tech who explained the differences between lash types. I fell in love—not just with the lashes but with the idea of helping other women have a safe, professional space to get theirs done while keeping their natural lashes healthy. I decided to take a lash certification class, and from there, everything snowballed. At the time, I was still working a full-time job and doing lashes in evenings and on weekends. I was so excited to start that I made it work with what I had. I converted a spare bedroom in my home into a lash studio. I didn’t have much capital after investing in the course, but I got the basics—a lash bed, lamp, cart, stool, and starter kit. Then, I started lashing my coworkers and friends, building my skills, my confidence, and my client base. Read more>>

Juan Augusto Chereminiano

For me, taking action has always been something natural. My partners and I have always found it natural to try things out before creating a highly complex theoretical plan that contemplates multiple variables. Of course, we did research and assessments for each project, but without overdoing it. We’ve always been about moving quickly into action, testing fast with the most efficient resources possible, and adjusting along the way based on feedback from clients and the market. It’s very important not to delay the theoretical process or hesitate too much to take the first step. Being in the game is what truly validates a concept and provides options to pivot and realign as needed. Read more>>

Paul Carriere

Starting a business can be a daunting venture. However, the best way to get started is to take the first step! As a financial Advisor/Planner, I have spent the majority of my career up to this point working for large investment firms. As an employee advisor, the pressure is intense. You have a boss that wants you to meet your metrics, and then you have clients who you are trying to serve in their best interest. This dynamic creates an environment much like a hamster wheel. You are never able to find YOUR enough and set that as a goal. Rather, the goal is always just more, more, more. Read more>>

Jodi Norton

It’s a rather simple story- in high school I was heavily involved in the business chapter at my school, and I loved to write. When I applied to college, I was running through interesting career paths and realized that a producer was a great combination of business leader and creative, leading me to running my own productions today. Each and every production is an individual business. Each one requires its own account books, tax write offs, permits, etc. And much of learning how to run each production as a business comes as trial and error, building each production off of what you learned from the previous one.  Read more>>

Heidi Toren

Flower Fairies began in our family kitchen, where creativity and the scent of flowers filled the air. Long before it became a business, it was a family tradition, born from our love of nature’s beauty and its power to bring joy. It started with family weddings—each an opportunity to design floral arrangements full of love and celebration. At first, it was just for fun. Weekend mornings were spent gathering fresh blooms that whispered of romance. We transformed spaces into enchanting paradises, learning and laughing along the way. With every event, our skills and confidence grew, and a distinct style emerged—organic, vibrant, and magical. Read more>>

 

Steven Tallas

Good question! Things all happened with such an unexpected turn of events. My initial move was when I started a volunteer-based project called the Sit, Walk, and Barc Event, which later turned into more events and formed a coalition of other dog trainers, groomers, and photographers aimed to help shelter and rescue dogs get adopted and further offer affordable education and resources for fosters and dog owners. Despite our love for this mission, money ran dry, and my team collapsed soon after. In an effort to seek a more financial standing, I went to every dog daycare in the area and asked if they would like to start puppy and adult group classes. I walked door to door, business to business, and even sat with business owners over coffee to discuss my vision of starting group classes at their facility, I got a few that took me up on the offer. One company even hired me as their in-house trainer.  Read more>>

Ashley Johnston

I began my journey of social media marketing when I was managing a local restaurant and running the social media page for them. We had some influencers come to visit and make a video of the restaurant and try the food. I really connected with them and they taught me how they do their videos and I got to see behind the scenes of how different influencers make their content. They encouraged me to start my own page and they provided me a lot of guidance to get started. I started making videos when I would eat lunch at work and when I would go out to eat. At first I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t have any special filming gear or knowledge. The local community of other influencers were really welcoming and everyone was willing to help me or share some advice. It took me a few months before I felt very comfortable to be filming in public and being on camera all the time but practicing and going to influencer meet ups really built up my confidence. When people say just post the content I really believe that is true. You don’t have to be perfect at first, you have unlimited time to learn and perfect your craft. Read more>>

Delfina Lazzaro

At 18, I began my career at an Advertising Agency in Argentina, and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the field. I made a bold decision to leave law school behind and pursue a degree in Social Communication instead. Over the years, I worked with various agencies and businesses, honing my skills and gaining invaluable experience. By the time I turned 30, I felt it was the right moment to take a leap and build something of my own—a Marketing Boutique Agency that reflected my passion and dedication. Throughout my career, I consistently found myself going the extra mile, putting in that little bit of extra work to elevate everything I did. One day, I realized: why not channel that same energy into my own brand and business? And so, in 2020, I launched Koffie Agency. Just as I was getting started, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was a challenging time for many, the lockdowns actually provided me with an unexpected gift: the time and space to focus on my vision, build my brand, and establish a digital presence. Read more>>

Jesus Alvarez

Starting my Tiktok Content Creator career was no easy walk in the park, but with passion and personality I was able to go from 10 or 100 followers to almost 22.4K followers in less than 2 years. The journey to how I got there is quite simple, as Tiktok was becoming popular and blowing up in the early 2020, during the Pandemic we were all on “lock down” without being able to socialize or communicate with the outside world due to the Coronavirus. My time spent indoors wasn’t wasted, but it became dull and boring, so I would scroll through Tiktok and see all these Creatives come up with such interactive and cool videos that communicated or engaged with a wider public audience across the globe…and I thought to myself saying, “Ok I can do that.” Read more>>

Justinne Whichard

Starting Sticky Fingers Cafe was driven by a deep desire to create something special for the community. Growing up in a bakery, I always knew I wanted to bring that sense of warmth, care, and delicious food to my own space. Lago Vista was missing a cozy, inviting place where people could enjoy homemade pastries, good coffee, and a welcoming atmosphere. I saw an opportunity to fill that gap. The journey began with finding a location that had potential. After weeks of planning and renovating, we transformed it into a cafe that reflected the vibe I envisioned—warm, welcoming, and full of character. The next step was creating a menu that reflected my love for baking and cooking—something unique yet familiar. All our food is made from scratch using family recipes and only the best all-natural ingredients. We focus on healthy options without compromising on flavor, ensuring that every bite is both delicious and nourishing. Read more>>

Phyllis Caddell

I still remember the moment the idea for my PR agency first sparked in my mind. It was while I was a publicist at a major hip-hop record label in Los Angeles. In college, I started off in radio and television broadcasting, but everything changed during an introductory public relations course. It clicked for me—I realized that I wanted to help brands tell their stories. That’s when the idea of starting my own PR agency took root. In 1995, fueled by passion and faith, I took the leap. I launched Pc Public Relations & Management, Inc. from my bedroom with just $500 and a dream. It was a daunting step, but I knew I had to make it work. The first challenge was finding clients. I spent countless hours networking, reaching out to anyone I knew in the industry. Read more>>

Cyndia Rios-myers

As a fiction writer, it is important that I have a connection with the heroine I am creating. I have to like her and see myself doing things that she would do. Before coming up with Marta Morales – the Housekeeping Detective – I’d already written a series about werewolves featuring a strong female protagonist. Marta was definitely human – nothing paranormal about her. Well, the chip on her shoulder was pretty big.  So, I had Marta Morales. I needed to find a trade for her that was kind of like an “outside looking in” sort of job. I came up with housekeeping. It’s a trade that has very little start-up costs. Also, it gave Marta the opportunity to watch people and what they did without them understanding how much they were divulging to her. To give Marta extra smarts, I made her a cop that left the force many years past. Read more>>

Sarah Hernholm

There’s no magic formula for turning an idea into reality. At the end of the day, it all boils down to one simple truth: I just have to start. Sure, that might sound like a cliché—and it’s definitely easier said than done—but it’s the truth. The more compelling question, though, is this: why don’t we start? What really holds us back? Read more>>

Dr. Jessie Lynn, Ph.d.

Before discovering my purpose, I did very well for myself and was already experiencing high levels of success. I graduated with my first master’s degree at the top of my class at Pepperdine University here in Malibu, California, and I was making well over six figures. Still, I had a clouded mind and heart around what my life purpose was and the work that I was placed on this Earth to do. No amount of money or accolade could fulfill my heart. I knew deep down inside that I had more to give, and my purpose continued to tug on my soul. Read more>>

Mariana Gonçalves Leal

My business was born out of necessity rather than as a hobby, even though I’ve loved sweets and began making them at the age of six. Starting a baking business had never crossed my mind until I faced financial challenges and needed a way to generate additional income. After several unsuccessful attempts to secure a better job or a part-time role, I remembered a friend in Brazil who had started a bakery business from her small kitchen and eventually opened her own store. Her story inspired me to reach out for advice, which became the first step in my entrepreneurial journey. Read more>>

Travis & Brittany Perry

We actually started in 2017 with a shared passion for inspiring children to believe in themselves. Travis began as a book author while working as a special education teacher, supporting students who often struggled with self-confidence and belief in their abilities. To empower these children, he wrote affirmation books, teaching them about the power of positive words and self-belief. His first book, I Am, encouraged children to embrace their potential and inspired others around them to do the same. Read more>>

Christina Glickman

It started with just a conversation. Two friends sharing texts, late night calls and voice memos with intimate stories about success, failures, laughable life moments, sadness that felt like it could never heal, deep rooted insecurities and all the personal and professional reinventions in between that we had conquered or were desperately striving towards. Starting isn’t the hard part. Continuing to show up and breathe life into your idea day after day is the real test. And we were never going to stop. Read more>>