Starting a business or creative project is scary for many reasons, but one that is often overlooked is the anxiety related to whether this is really “the one.” To some, this isn’t a valid consideration while to others this is the only consideration. Some argue that what you work on, along with who you work with are the two most pivotal decisions you’ll make and so we’ve asked folks to tell us about how they came up with their ideas and how they knew this idea was the one.

Stefanee Gia White

In April of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I started studying aromatherapy in an attempt to maintain some semblance of mental health and combat the effects of isolation. I had some previous experience with essential oils and wanted to expand my knowledge so that I could not only incorporate their benefits in my own life but also share with friends and family. Read more>>

Francesca Inglin

I have been cooking as long as I can remember. All my memories of my grandmother were of her in the kitchen, my mother cooked the majority of our meals at home, and now I do the same for my children—it’s in my blood. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first child that I really dove into baking. My nesting instincts went into hyperdrive: I had this urge to bake and feed people. So, I baked as much as I could as often as I could, and when I didn’t have any more room to store my loaf cakes, I would give them away to family and friends. Read more>>

The Hood Doctor

When I went to college in 2015 in a completely different state, the air took a toll on me. I was diagnosed with chronic asthma. I probably visited the clinic once a month for 3 years straight. I was also diagnosed with bronchitis, tonsillitis and other respiratory infections. I was tired of being prescribed antibiotics and medications and nothing was helping me get better. Read more>>

Velora Thomas

The idea to create an organization of this type came directly from God. I was going through a really rough actually the most painful season of my life and that’s often when we draw close to God the most. So back in 2019, I began seeking God in the solitude of my home through His word, worship and prayer. I fully committed myself to His will for my life. Like Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior did. Read more>>

Pamela Huff

I’m a LPN(Licensed Practical Nurse). I’ve been a nurse for 9 years but in the medical field for 13 years. I started this journey off as a CNA(Certified Nursing Assistant). I love what i do it’s my calling. Being that i love what I do so much it encouraged me to also become an entrepreneur and start a scrub business that has been up and running for 3 years. Read more>>

Joana Moore

I used to do my nail’s every two weeks but as time went by it got alot more expensive. I decided to try press on nails and I fell in love with them. One, they were alot more affordable and two, I could change them up frequently. I bought the nails making kit online and I started making my own press on nails. I started to get alot of compliments so I decided to create them for friends and family. Eventually creating them for different people and building the business I have now Read more>>

Cassandra Flores

My passion for photography was sparked during a transformative trip to Mexico, a place I hadn’t visited in years due to being a DACA recipient. The vibrant colors, rich culture, and the deep emotional connection I felt overwhelmed me in the best ways. It was as if I was rediscovering my roots through the lens of my camera. Read more>>

Reek Rozay

My journey in the entertainment world started with my cousin Viergina. She was the one who told me that there were lots of Haitians in Dallas and that I should create events in the city to showcase and share the Haitian culture with the community. A week after having that conversation with her I was driving back to Dallas from Florida and found out about her untimely passing. Read more>>

Vanessa Tilaka Kalb

The idea for Agnes came to Thomas and I when we were on vacation years ago. We had been working in the restaurant industry in San Francisco for a while at that point, and I had recently begun my career in cheese. I was telling Thomas that I wanted to open a cheese shop one day, and Thomas asked if he could have a little restaurant behind my cheese shop. Little did we know that this dream would literally come true! Read more>>

Katie Kick

I’ve had a passion for cooking and experimenting in the kitchen my entire life. In 2008, I embarked on a journey that would eventually lead to the creation of Good Life Eats, a business I never initially envisioned. Back then, I started writing on the blog as a means to document my culinary adventures and curate a virtual family cookbook. At the time, I had no idea that a recipe website could evolve into a business. Read more>>

Jeff Heggie

Athletics have always been a part of my life. From a very young age I was involved in different sports from hockey, baseball, boxing and others. The two sports that ended up taking center stage in my life are basketball and rodeo. Read more>>

Shadonna Brand

I overcame obstacles that we all face everyday that we may be afraid to talk about such as setbacks, divorce, depression, fear, low-esteem and self-sabotage. One day, I told God He could use me as a willing vessel. I’m eager to get uncomfortable, undone, and vulnerable if that is what it takes to help set someone free from bondage. I figured out the one thing that was hindering me from overcoming obstacles; I was fighting myself! Read more>>

Carlos Zambrano

.We came up with the idea of La Cocina Pickleball when we realized there were not brands promoting pickleball to the Spanish speaking community around the world. Read more>>

Laura Garcia

First and foremost I must thank you for this wonderful opportunity. For many years I have been working in the event activations industry, from major concerts, festivals to local restaurants and the private sector and one thing I am very particular about is how more efficient operations could happen if this happened or that, etc. I love seeking solutions and alternatives to have a greater impact and when it came to cigar related events I noticed many cigar rollers and not engagement with customers and the idea came to me immediately to mobilize the service to meet the high attended events. Read more>>

Rachel Cruz and Ruby Saleh

Rachel is a hairstylist and specializes in curly hair. Ruby is a lash and makeup artist and owner of Ruby’s Beauty Bar. Over the past year, we spoke about starting a podcast, and March of this year we launched Beauty Bosses & Bright Minds. The reason we decided to start this podcast was because we thought it would be fun to do, and with our experience and knowledge throughout the years, we felt others would find us relatable. Read more>>

Jennifer Arizpe

I have always loved cooking and baking. Even when I was younger I loved making cakes and brownies, even if they did come from a box. Read more>>

Reginald Baylor III

Owning an apparel company has always been a dream of mine and once I gained the inspiration to do it, I fully submerged myself into the world of designing. I began running through a list of names, ideas, and concepts that would make a positive impact and be able to stand the test of time. The first few names on the list just weren’t permanent enough, they didn’t stand for anything and had no real value. Read more>>

Nathaniel Mathis

After working as an operations manager for the majority of my home improvement career I became keenly aware of some common problems that the industry shared. After 30 years and 4 different companies, I noticed that delivery/logistics was always changing and a constant source of problems. I also saw an increase freight being delivered from the stores and knew that the current infrastructure wasn’t big enough to sustain or remain competitive. Read more>>

Kelsey Allen

In 2015 my stepmom, Lisa bought her first DSLR camera and was so excited to start learning the process of photography. I had take a few years of classes for film photography about 7 years prior to this and always had a love for photography but didn’t have the equipment accessible for me to develop my own film anymore so I took a pause on photography. After she had purchased her camera and I saw how excited she was I knew that was my push to just go into the digital world. Read more>>

Krystal Parker

While in corporate, I had an experience with implementing a leadership initiative in an organization. Initially, leaders, particularly those with engineering mindsets, were primarily focused on tasks, systems, and processes, often neglecting the human element vital for a thriving workplace. A prevalent sentiment among frontline workers was a wish for their supervisors to spend time understanding their work and challenges firsthand. Read more>>

Sonia Miller

in order of happenings in my life, I am going to talk about my business first, then the charity… Read more>>