Over the years as we connected with incredible from folks from almost every imaginable industry we realized that every nook and cranny of our economy is full of small business owners, artists and creatives who live and breathe what they do – and their stories are nothing short of heroic. It’s the immigrant parents who overcame the odds and kept their small business alive for decades allowing their next generation to thrive and the artisans who pour their passion into every piece and refuse to let even the most common items remain mundane that make our communities come alive. The stories below will inspire you and we hope you’ll take the time to read and connect with these incredible folks.
Joe Hawke
I was born on the prairie and raised in a deciduous rain forest. When it stopped raining, I would go outside to run and jump and play.
My mother tells me that my first career aspiration was, “When I grow up, I want to be a garbage man.” Later, when I had to take out the trash, I changed my mind about being a garbage man. Read more>>
John Sauchelli
Austin and I met through a mutual friend in high school. We immediately hit it off and became close friends quickly. As time progressed and our opposite work schedules and family life took hold, we lost touch. Then one day his wife Melissa reached out to me on social media looking to reconnect. We met up to discover he was growing peppers, tomatoes, etc and we began making a hot sauce recipe I had been tinkering with together. The kicker is that Austin and Melissa met at a party at my house when we were teenagers. He met her by being at my house and it was her that reconnected us after some years had passed. Funny how things work out:) Read more>>
Jen Cameron
Early in my career—now 26 years ago—I found myself at a crossroads. I was a single mom with two toddlers, one of whom had just been diagnosed with autism. It was a pivotal and terrifying time, filled with both the grief and uncertainty of what lay ahead and the immense responsibility of providing for my children on my own. Read more>>
Jill Reed
I started out thinking I would be in higher education forever. I enjoyed the calendar, the opportunity to work with undergraduate students, and the endless professional development. Over fifteen years I worked in admissions, financial aid, development, academic administration, grant management, and student affairs. Once I had children, though, the work/life balance became less tenable and I shifted gears into more entrepreneurial avenues. My wife and I developed our small farm into an events and airbnb business. I built and managed our online presence. We rescued large animals and created an idyllic place to raise our young boys. I earned a certification in athletic training and added coaching to my resume. Read more>>
Manisha Lad
Our journey began with our son, Akhil. When he was diagnosed with autism, it felt like the ground beneath us shifted. We were thrown into a world of therapies, unknowns, and conflicting advice—like many families, we were desperate for clarity and hope. But as we walked that path with Akhil, we realized that the journey was not just about finding the right resources, but about creating them. Read more>>
Matt Berman
My professional career began while attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music & Art; where I became the youngest member of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz High School program. At the age of 15, I went on my first tour playing alto saxophone alongside saxophonist Bobby Watson, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, and Thelonious Monk JR. Read more>>
Phil Ross
When I was young, we lived with my grandparents. My grandfather was a parttime boxing trainer and started me hitting a heavy bag and doing calisthenics at an early age. My father and uncles were all athletes and in the military and some were also in law enforcement. This environment had a profound effect upon my outlook. Read more>>
Maurice Clark-Wilkinson
First I would like to say thank you for having me, it is always a pleasure to speak with Canvas Rebel. My story is one of heartbreak, suffering, and triumph. The way I got started was through a promise I made to God, see I was in a bad space in life emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. I lost my job and eventually my money, my car got repossessed, and I was failing in school. When I hit rock bottom I thought those I looked out for and those that I loved would be there for me, but that was far from the truth. I found myself more alone and more isolated than I ever had before, many took pleasure and found joy in my suffering. Read more>>
Oryah
After making beats for years, I eventually started pursuing rapping as my artistic expression of choice. I lost my passion while making beats, but rapping reignited a fire in me. Since then I’ve been on a journey creating authentic music & building a community around the “YAH” brand. Read more>>
Mychel Sullivan
From doodles and graffiti as a child, to painting and graphic design as an adult, I’ve always used art as a way to share my style and taste. When I began searching for my purpose in this world I eventually realized that mines was one of creativity and visual expression. Over the years as I’ve embraced this journey I’ve learned a lot about myself and life in general. My story isn’t complete yet, but I can truly say that wherever my path as an artist ultimately takes me it will have been well worth the wait. Read more>>
Benjamin Long
After getting my degree in studio art, I continued making work, and exhibiting it wherever I could. In 1991 I got gallery representation in Philadelphia, and moved there around the end of that year. Since then, it’s been mostly the same story; making work and showing it in various venues. Read more>>
Malikah Harris
Founded in April 2017, Mother Earth Productions LLC was established with a profound mission: to uplift and empower individuals from all walks of life. Our organization is dedicated to fostering unity, resilience, and personal growth by nurturing the human spirit, igniting passions, strengthening families, and supporting dreams. In a world where adversity—pain, disappointment, loss, and harsh truths—can often dim our inner light, we aim to restore a sense of self-worth, purpose, and empowerment. We started out as a one-woman organization building to employing serval projects for many people. Read more>>
Rachael Burns
I started in the ‘traditional’ wealth management industry in 2007. I was perfectly happy working under the big investment firms and never had any aspirations of being an independent financial advisor. However, I was inspired to start my own financial planning firm while stuck home on lockdown in the early days of COVID. Read more>>
Rachel Elder
My journey to being a couples therapist started in my adolescence when I became a huge fan of romance and rom-com movies and began writing love stories where I was the main character. I didn’t know I would become a couples therapist but I dreamed of being a wedding planner, a relationship guru or a matchmaker. Read more>>
Jody & Jennifer Lyddane
Jennifer and I have never been comfortable by just existing. We both share a desire to leave our mark, push oursleves to be better, and set an example. Having children, amplified these characteristics. We have a 13 year old boy who is a natural athlete with a laser beam arm that sets him apart as a baseball catcher. Our 16 year old daughter is a higschool wrestler with a type of determination that we’ve never seen. Her dedication to the sport and her team make us so proud. We take no credit for who they both are and give all glory to God for blessing us with them. Our businesses take a second seat to them, however, we believe that the people you hang out with has an effect on who you become, we do take credit for setting that example. Read more>>
Joe Fee
I started out playing rock music – drum set, electric guitar, and electric bass. I became interested in jazz in my teens and was quite obsessed by it for a while, particularly the stuff that was happening in the 60s and the Miles Davis electric period. That led me to delve into other styles of music and I eventually went on to study and perform classical music as a percussionist, focusing on 20th and 21st century music. Around 2015, I decided to focus on composing and since then, I’ve been writing music for dance and video. I am putting together an album of some of my favorite pieces that I have written over the past few years and I plan to have it out within the year. Read more>>
Shadi Ireifej
I was born in Yonkers, New York as a first generation son of immigrants from the Middle East. My mother is from Lebanon and my father is from Jordan. They taught me the most vital of values imperative to a child trying to figure this world out. I learned diligence, dedication, and common sense from my parents. Throughout my educational pathway, I developed a love for science and learning about the natural world around us. In high school I was most inspired by my biology teachers who heightened my interest in this field, prompting me to decide on a career focused on science. Displaying a love of animals, genetics and biology, my mother encouraged me to apply for a position at a local veterinary clinic. Read more>>
Xuezhu Jenny Wang
A lot of my past work has been social media-heavy. I had a brief content creator career on the Chinese streaming platform Bilibili, posting visual analysis and art history videos. That was when I realized how important it is to bridge the gap between fine arts and popular culture via digestible content. Since starting IMPULSE Magazine in 2024, I have focused on trying to understand how people consume content nowadays. Our editorial work happens both on Instagram and on our website. Read more>>
Ryan Smith
I grew up around audio and musical entertainment at church. My dad was a videographer and AV professional and eventually started filming weddings and stage productions. I gravitated towards the technical side of things and loved helping run sound for different events or filming a live performance. Over time I gradually took a liking to karaoke and hosting events. After many requests to do private events I ended up DJing one of my friends weddings and completely fell in love with all of it. It felt really good to be a part of such a special event that will be remembered for a lifetime. Read more>>
Sylvia Faircloth
My journey began as I would have a love for people.There is a big difference in being compassionate and caring.As a younger woman I experienced very hard situations.I started going to the church.I was introduced to Jesus. Read more>>
Valev Laube
I grew up in Estonia, surrounded by a mix of nature and history that definitely shaped how I see the world. I was always curious about design and technology, and that curiosity just kept growing. At 17, I moved to Italy to attend the United World College of Adriatic, which was a pretty wild shift—suddenly I was surrounded by people from all over the world, and it really opened my mind to different perspectives. Read more>>
Zekeriya Polat
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—more like a winding railway track with plenty of unexpected stops and sharp turns. Starting my own business meant stepping into the unknown, leaving behind the comfort of a stable corporate job. When I launched Vision IT, I faced resistance from an industry that was slow to embrace change. The railway sector is heavily regulated, and convincing stakeholders to adopt new technologies wasn’t easy. There were times when deals fell through, projects stalled, and I had to rethink my entire approach. But persistence paid off, and today, Vision IT is helping modernize railway systems across multiple countries. Read more>>
Taylor Haines
Hello! My name is Taylor – I got started in 2017 when my mom was sick. It was a way for myself to keep my mind off of the daily struggles we were facing. I never thought it would get to where it would be today. I love connecting with small businesses but I also enjoy traveling and recommending any restaurants I try which I also love! Read more>>
Erica Bonelli
I started Philo as a passion project, to bring more connection and joy to my life through meaningful gatherings with friends and family. After hosting Orange brunch (link to last Canvas rebel feature that tells this story) I felt a creative spark , but it wasn’t until friends & colleagues started to reach out asking if I would help recreate the magic did I think there was a path forward for Philo as a business. A colleague who had recently launched a Saffron business and had seen photos from Orange Brunch asked if I would help style a lifestyle photoshoot for the brand, and I dove in headfirst. Read more>>
Baolu Chen
Growing up in a small town in China, the only music profession I had ever heard of was that of my Guzheng and piano teacher. I didn’t realize that music production could be a career because the people around me believed that being a musician meant playing an instrument on stage. However, things changed during one of my Guzheng classes when my teacher introduced a music theory session. He asked us—a group of eight-year-olds—to write a four-bar melody. When it was my turn to write on the blackboard, I ended up composing 16 bars non-stop because I found it so fun. That was the first time I realized I had an interest in composition rather than performance. Read more>>
Wilfredo Otero
My journey into podcasting, coaching, and content creation wasn’t something I planned—it was born out of adversity and a deep desire to turn my struggles into something meaningful.
In March 2020, like so many others, I found myself furloughed from my job as a casino table games dealer and supervisor due to the pandemic. But long before that moment, I had always been intrigued by the idea of podcasting. In 2019, I had purchased a basic $160 Behringer podcast studio with a friend, with the intention of starting a show. But, as life often does, things got in the way, and the idea was put on the back burner. Read more>>
Dylan West
The book Salamandastron, by Brian Jacques, turned me into a reader and writer when I was in the 8th grade. This was the first book I read purely for fun, not for a grade. That summer, I wrote a 400 page novel on wide-ruled notebook paper with a number 2 pencil. And though the book was terrible, it gave me valuable experience, which led me to write another novel I wouldn’t publish. But novel number three was Scribes’ Descent, my first published work. Read more>>
Sparkle Hill DeClet
My story starts when I was in charm school and I learned how to be more ladylike. I was a Tom Boy growing up, so the beauty industry was far from what I had imagined would become a huge part if my future. Through the years, it definitely grew on me and I became a model. Read more>>
Terri Sterk
I am a two-time breast cancer survivor, health and wellness coach, and author. After spending seven years facilitating face-to-face support groups and coaching women diagnosed with breast cancer, I took my experience online. I now use my story to serve women who have experienced trauma, including breast cancer and family discord, by nurturing them to thrive by healing their bodies, mind, and spirit. Read more>>
Daniela Blagoeva
I’ve always been an artist at heart. Before I even had the words to express myself, I used art to make sense of the world. It was how I spoke up, how I processed everything around me. Over time, that turned into photography—it became my voice, my way of capturing the essence of moments, places, and emotions. Read more>>
Kristian Zenz
I am a writer, an author, and a student of life.
The latter sounds strange, but it is only true. I was 15 when this website was born; now 21 and the author of three books.
In my experience, it is unusual for someone so young to have written a full length book. The statement is quite impressive, and the task to other people of the same age seems daunting. But, beyond the precipice of the matter, the simplicity of how my love of writing came to be may tell the true normality that this feat has been. Read more>>
Crittermake
I started rapping when I was about 13 for fun then I took it seriously as a teenager. Read more>>
Prateek Motwani
The Journey of Prateek Motwani: From Humble Beginnings to Meraki Consultation
Early Years and Passion for Growth
Prateek Motwani’s journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and unwavering dedication. Born with an innate curiosity and a drive to excel, he ventured into the professional world with the ambition of creating something meaningful. His early years were shaped by a keen interest in understanding people’s needs and providing solutions that truly made a difference. Read more>>
Tannya Iza
I wish I could have a definite description of when I started but the reality of it is that I started many times. I would say my entrepreneurship started in 2017 when I joined a multilevel marketing company that I stayed with until 2020-ish. I learned how to be confident and trust myself. How to truly love myself and feel worthy. During this period of time, I also rebuild my relationship with God and joined a church that till this day I call home. There were a lot of ups and downs like becoming a mother again for the third time, relocating, relationships that ended, going from unemployment to employed too self-employed. In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I had my third and last daughter right in the beginning of shut down. Read more>>
Kate McLeod
“Kate McLeod” and “actor” have been synonymous for as long as I can remember. My parents were always incredibly supportive of this, but they set a rule early on: I had to finish school before entering the entertainment industry. In hindsight, I can see how practical—and loving—that decision was. But at the time, it was the last rule I was going to listen to. Read more>>
Jenn Sanchez
Oh Gosh! I began my art and performance life after graduating from school and deciding to move to Philadelphia where things were a bit gnarlier. This was in the late 90s. A bunch of folks who had just graduated from RISDI started an art collective called Space 1026 and it was part gallery, part studio, and part performance art/music/happening venue. I was a huge fan of everything coming out of Space 1026. I kept sniffing around until I began working on various art shows that were happening regularly. My first participation at Space 1026 Gallery was in Smash it, Break it, Eat it a combination of food, sculpture, and performance art show. Read more>>
Christopher Evans
Christopher L. Evans, born in Oakland, CA on December 16th, 1989, embarked on a journey that took him from Dewey High School to Texas Southern University, where he pursued a major in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Psychology. However, financial hardships led him to leave college. Returning to the Bay Area, he engaged in various jobs while contemplating his next steps. Driven by his deep love for music, Chris ventured into the world of rap, envisioning a career reminiscent of his musical idols such as Ice Cube, E-40, Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, and Jay-Z. Yet, as time passed, he realized that the persona reflected in his music did not truly align with who he was. This realization led him to explore other passions, including the music business, as well as photography and video production. Read more>>
Samantha Foster
February 2025 marked 4 years that I have officially been a business owner. As, I look back on not only the past 4 years but the past 45. I like to think I started this journey as a young alchemist, creating herbal potions in my backyard of my childhood home as I collected wildflowers, herbs, and florals. When I was about 8 years old, I remember telling my aunt I was going to be a witch, she just giggled and said, “you already are!”. To this day those words endlessly roam around in my mind, “I already am.” They echo when I have doubt around trying to accomplish even the smallest thing. They give me courage and a simple voice of understand when I question where I’m going. Read more>>
Ray Jeremiah
I began my journey in fashion styling about five years ago during the pandemic. With the world on lockdown and uncertainty looming, I turned to my closet for an escape. I started wearing my best outfits and posting them on social media. Gradually, I began gaining traction, and a male model asked if I would style him for a shoot. Read more>>
Aneri Shah
I grew up in a tier 2 city in India and was drawn to art at an early age. Although I lived in an urban environment, various gender divides were quite apparent growing up and my views on bridging those found their way into artistic expression. I moved to the USA to pursue my passion in art, obtaining an MFA in textile art. My art focused on the traditional Indian garment, the saree, and its interplay with gender roles in India. Read more>>
Lesley S King
From a young age, I had a passion for travel and writing. So when I chose a job, I chose to be a travel writer. This journey took me to beautiful places all over the world. I started out writing articles for New Mexico Magazine, and soon was offered a monthly column. Each month I would travel to some small town in the state, where I would learn the story of the place from its residents. I would take photographs and video, and then write an article. Read more>>
Kyle Schiedemeyer
I’ve been an entrepreneur at heart for as long as I can remember. My little brother and I were always coming up with side hustles as kids, trying to find ways to make money and build something of our own. That drive, combined with the discipline I learned from playing sports, shaped my mindset: if I don’t quit, I won’t fail. Read more>>
Natalie Zacharias
I was working in the corporate world for six years and felt a strong intuitive nudge that it was time for a dramatic change. After a beautifully deep spiritual experience I felt strongly that it was time to forge a different path that wove spirituality and psychology together. I started looking for graduate programs that resonated with this viewpoint. I realized holding space for transformation came naturally to me but I didn’t feel called to follow the traditional path of psychology. Once my next step became clear, I quit my job, packed my bags, and moved to San Francisco where I was accepted into the Integral Counseling program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Read more>>
Vernon Williams
Karibe (https://karibecompany.com/) was founded in New Jersey. It all started with my Caribbean upbringing that inspired me to start this company. I wanted to highlight African and Caribbean cuisine, which we call the kulture (https://karibecompany.com/the-kulture/). Read more>>
Ximena
My journey is deeply personal and has profoundly shaped the work I do today.
I grew up in Colombia, witnessing extreme financial highs and lows. My father came from a wealthy family that lost everything overnight after we experienced a kidnapping. Meanwhile, my parents’ divorce was marked by constant financial conflict, which ingrained deep-rooted scarcity beliefs in me from a young age. Read more>>
Azfar Imam
It was in 2020 that COVID-19 affected every person in the world including me. I was working for a company full-time and then suddenly I was let go due to a lack of business. I was worried sitting at home wondering if the company would call me back or not. This experience made me realize that a job can go away quickly. My wife Sofia who is my partner in all my businesses told me one day about how you have a great mind and the experience that you gained in your job can be used to start your company. I was nervous at first, but she supported me about doing my own business. This made me think about how an entrepreneur can control their own destiny. Read more>>
Amelia Houde
I’ve always loved shopping at little local shops and finding unique gifts for friends and family that you can’t find a chain stores. When I looked at my home town of Onset, MA a seaside community nearly doubling in population in the summer and it only had one gift shop, I knew I could bring something to the town that didn’t exist. I kept an eye on retail spaces in the area but none were exactly what I needed for space or price. At the end of 2023 a run down building went up for sale, I couldn’t personally buy the building but hoped whoever did would make it nice and I could potentially rent from them. Well a few months later I was chatting with a local artist, Trevor Watson and to my surprise he was the one who purchased the building. Read more>>
Alli Bollinger
Being a dancer my whole life, I fell into an eating disorder during my undergraduate career as a dance major. What started as an innocent way to better myself quickly turned into the thing that was taking my passion away from me. Struggling to find help, I took recovery into my own hands. After many messy and hard years, I moved to New York City to pursue my dream as a professional dancer – as a new version of myself who is now free from the chains food and exercise had on me. One year after my big move, I booked my dream job as a Radio City Rockette. This was the biggest full circle moment, since this dream was what got me through recovery. Read more>>
Candy Hoehn
I started out in 2015 photographing my kids around the house and at parks and slowly built my business to what it is today. Read more>>
Chelan Harkin
At the end of this last September, 2024, my book, The Prophetess, The Return of The Prophet from The Voice of The Divine Feminine was published by a branch of Penguin Random House. This book is framed as a contemporary continuation of Kahlil Gibran’s classic, The Prophet. All of this has been a dream come true! Read more>>
Dierdre Barnes
FLY Girl Candles got started with me being on my self love journey. At the time I didn’t quite know “me” anymore. I had become a mom and a lot of my time went into taking care of my kids. I started journaling, walking and going to therapy to rediscover myself, learn my worth and put me first. Feeling crafty Dec 2019 I got my first deluxe candle making kit and the whole process from melting down the candle wax to watching the candle solidify was so therapeutic for me. Now it’s 2025 my candle business has grown from my kitchen, to a small bedroom in the house, to the back of Goddess Massage Boutique and now to a shared space in downtown Louisville. In this space I am able to host my Self Love Candle Making Workshops, production of candles and give the opportunity of our “FLY Girl” community to come shop. Read more>>
Genelle Sedon
C & G Tutoring began as a small, grassroots tutoring service, leveraging basic yet powerful tools like Facebook, a Google Voice phone number to connect with potential clients, and three tutors.
C & G Tutoring has grown into one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s premier educational service providers over the last seven years, evolving from a small operation to a company that now serves a wide range of academic needs across nearly every public and private school in the region. C & G Tutoring quickly recognized the importance of adapting to the individual needs of each student. By focusing on personalized instruction and high-quality tutoring, we soon became known for our commitment to educational excellence, gradually expanding our team to meet rising demand. Read more>>
Gabriela Henriquez
My journey started when I made the decision to take control of my health. I had struggled with my weight for years, peaking at a weight of 300lbs in 2024, trying different things but never finding something that truly worked for me long-term. That all changed when I found a structured nutrition and lifestyle program that finally helped me break old habits and build a healthier relationship with food. In just 10 months, I lost 140 lbs, but more importantly, I gained confidence, energy, and a completely new mindset around health and wellness. Read more>>
Dr. Josephine Harris
Dr. Josephine Harris is a distinguished mental health professional, international bestselling author, and philanthropist. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, she has lived in various regions across the United States, including Colorado, Hawaii, California, Florida, South Carolina, and Mississippi, owing to her role as a military spouse. She is currently based in Tacoma, Washington. Read more>>
Dionte Gilmer
When the pandemic shuttered Las Vegas, I, like many others, felt a profound sense of unease. The perceived lack of a cohesive, intelligent response from our leaders left me with the unsettling feeling that we were on our own. This spurred me to seek alternative avenues for financial security—ones that wouldn’t land me in trouble with the law. Though I’d been invited to the cryptocurrency party years earlier, back when Bitcoin was a mere $10, I’d missed the boat. Now, I felt a pang of regret. But rather than dwell on it, I dove headfirst into researching the world of cryptocurrency, NFTs, and the metaverse. I saw the potential, the opportunity, and I was determined to find my place within it. Going it alone, I began cautiously investing my own money, a little at a time, exploring various crypto projects like Cardano, SHIB, Solana, Bitcoin, PI and several others. Read more>>
Heather Donis
After the birth of my son, I knew I wanted to be the one to stay home and raise him. So, a year and a half later, I made the bold decision to leave my corporate job behind. I had been a graphic designer, and I continued working in the field for a while until opportunities became scarce. That’s when I set out to find the perfect part-time job. Read more>>
Bill Thomas
It all started with a pair of original WWII khakis Bill Thomas found at an army surplus store down the road from his college. Those khakis captured his imagination for what they were and what they represented. In 1990, that discovery grew into Bills Khakis, a ‘trunk of the car’ start-up that celebrated the virtues of American manufacturing and design. Read more>>
Gabrielle Dobrzelewski
Hello, my name is Gabrielle Dobrzelewski, and I’m a painter based out of Philadelphia, PA. I was born and raised in the Midwest, however I’ve lived on the East coast for several years.
When I encountered images of paintings in the first art book I’d ever received from my grandfather, I was immediately taken with visual art. Over the course of my youth, art had a consistent presence in my life, however I was uncertain if it was the path I ultimately wanted to pursue. As I reached my late teens I realized it was – I found myself always going back to making visual art despite everything. The impulse was and is inescapable. Read more>>
Kemisha Levy
My journey began when I started Kybos Baby Clothing at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a passion for stylish and high-quality baby clothing, I wanted to create an online boutique that provided parents with adorable, well-made pieces for their little ones. As my brand grew, I saw an opportunity to expand into the subscription box industry, which led to the launch of The Little Bee Box. Read more>>