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.

Jasen Alfrena

My full name is Jasen Alfrena, age 27, I go by Vito! I am a Haitian-American, full-time freelance Artist living here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I moved from New York to Philly. And I’ve actually lived here in Philly since 2003, so 21 years this year! I am a Photographer, Videographer, and also a Video Editor. My journey creatively began with drawing a great deal back in elementary school. But then it slowly transitioned to the tech side of Artistry with Video Editing when I started my middle school years, back in 2009. I was huge on gaming and using a video recorder called a ” Haupaggue HD PVR Video Capture Device “. Read more>>

Bonnie Cheung Sarkissian

My father was a watchmaker, and from a young age, I helped him during school breaks, which sparked my passion for diamonds and jewelry. After completing a graduate gemology degree at 21, I noticed a significant lack of proper education about engagement rings among clients. This inspired me to start By Bonnie Jewelry, focusing on fine craftsmanship and personalized customer education through online videos. Read more>> 

Clarene Mitchell

My introduction to the world of entrepreneurship was unforeseen. Throughout my college journey and my career, I never had aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur. It was never a deferred dream that I finally began pursuing when the time was right. Instead, I say that entrepreneurship picked me instead of me picking it. Read more>>

Chloe Luo

Before founding Quill Fine Jewelry and Lifestyle, I worked as a store manager at a local boutique. My passion for jewelry started during this time, And of course, I bought a lot of jewelry at work. However, I had a hard time finding jewelry that was delicate, and affordable, and the gold quality lasted a long time. After searching for the jewelry I love, I decided to start my jewelry line. Read more>>

Sacha Jones

My life as a wedding celebrant actually began somewhat by accident. My sister and her betrothed came to NYC with the idea of eloping but all that was on offer at that time was City Hall or a religious institution – neither felt like a good fit for them. And so, we created a ceremony which I officiated. It was quite a magical event and planted a seed for me. Read more>>

Marina Gee

I had been a freelancer social media manager working with clients around the Bay Area for years. At the start of the 2020 pandemic, I lost every single one of my contracts. With the entire world shut down and a suddenly empty schedule, I started working day and night to build my agency. It started with a desire to have a steady stream of clients and serve more people. That journey has taken me further than I could have ever known. Read more>>

German Vazquez

I am German Ayala Vazquez, a photographer and visual artist originally hailing from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, but having been raised in New York and now based in Philadelphia. My artistic practice encompasses a diverse range of photographic styles, including fashion, conceptual, and photojournalistic approaches. My primary aim is to illuminate and uplift the narratives and experiences of BIPOC LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide, with a particular emphasis on regions historically affected by colonization. Read more>>

Bernai Brown-Holman

My journey has been anything but straightforward, marked by unexpected twists and turns. I began my career as a second-grade teacher, where I found joy in inspiring young minds full of potential, love, and curiosity. I initially envisioned a long-term career in education, possibly as a reading specialist, which aligned with my academic background. Read more>>

Toni Moore

Ever since learning about what lawyers did while attending the Milton Hersehy School, I knew I had to be a lawyer. Upon graduation from high school, I went to the University of Pennsylvania, then later Temple Law School–twice. After law school, I started out as a litigator in hopes of righting ancestral wrongs. Instead, I found myself doing Toxic Tort Litigation and Insurance Defense. I later switched over to family lawyering and civil litigation where I practice law for almost 10 years. But I later found my niche serving as a Business Lawyer that handled prelitigation disputes, nonprofit compliance, contract negotiations, trademark litigation, and business continuity and protection planning. I so love what I do! Read more>>

Andrew Taveras

It would be cliche to say that it all started when I was a kid – but that would ring true for me. I was a creative kid, always into the arts & had a very big imagination which laid the foundation to what was to come once I grew up. The real journey started after high school. I spent a couple of years just testing waters, trying to figure out what makes me tick. I was searching for who I was & what I was passionate about. Today, it feels like I struck gold but I couldn’t tell you the exact moment it happened. Read more>>

Sarah Glaza

I went back to school in my mid- 30’s for my physical therapy degree which was a 2 year full-time masters degree at that time. I had a 2 yr old and 4 yr old. That was a crazy idea but I so badly wanted to finally be a physical therapist and the timing and place was finally right….mostly. The graduate program was very intense and I was on my own a lot as my husband, at the time, was traveling weekly for his sales job. After an 8-9 hour day at school I’d go race to pick up my kids at daycare, make them dinner, bathe them, tuck them into bed, and then study from about 8 – midnight and get up at 5 am the next day and start all over. Read more>>

Ariani Frias

This is a sensitive topic for me because i was SHOCKED to see how hard it is for those nearest to your heart to naturally support you. After years of working for others and finally having the opportunity to open up my own spa i saw less and less support from friends and more from complete strangers that believe in my hustle in my story and want to support me. Faithful clients that have become friends who without me asking will share with others about my business, will post online for me, will comment, like and share my post and always recomment people to come see me. To have family and friends do it becomes another full time job and ive learned to just be ok with it even tho it is a little hurtful. Read more>>

Fabian Carrera

Yes, growing up in stratified Ecuador I was both misunderstood and mischaracterized often due to my physical disability. Early in life, after surviving a severe case of polio I became physically disabled; consequently, I was wrongly assumed to have cognitive impairments as well simply because I used leg braces, and couldn’t walk. This resulted in being placed in a school for children with intellectual disabilities, not because of who I was, but because of how others perceived me. Even after transferring to a mainstream school, I was told by a teacher at my sixth-grade graduation that education wasn’t for “my kind” and that I should go shine shoes at the bus station with the other “cripples”. That moment crystallized in me what it feels like to be reduced to nothing more than a stereotype. Read more>>

Tay Banks

Definitely— I’m a Christian musician so a lot of people think that I’m going to really lean heavily into the hymns and traditional Gospel music, but that’s not what the Lord has called me to. My style right now is very grungy and sad and really reaching into the depths of heartbreak. So not traditional Gospel music at all, but also not secular music. I would label the project that I’m working on, Royal, as “Sad Girl Music”, unlike secular “sad girl” (think Billie Eilish and Adele), my intention is really to shine Light in the broken places. Read more>>

Nyxie Moon

The best investment I’ve made was into my music career. The story is a simple but a life changing one. Me deciding to pursue my dreams as an artist started with a walk through the mall and a bet with an old friend.

My best friend and I were in the mall one day, just walking and talking about everything and nothing. Somehow, we got into what our actual dreams for our lives were and what we really are passionate about. I’ve always been interested in making music but never had the guts. So we made a deal. I would get everything I needed to create a studio at home and kickstart my music career while she got what she needed to begin hers. Read more>>

Katy Casillas-Gray

The best investment I’ve ever made wasn’t in a product or a business. It was in myself. I just didn’t realize it at first.

About fifteen years ago, I asked my uncle how I should invest a little extra cash I had. His only answer was, “Invest in yourself.” No further explanation, just that. At the time, I was an esthetician and co-owner of a hair salon with my husband, so I decided that meant investing in my business. I poured money into launching a private-label makeup line, even hiring a makeup artist since I didn’t know much about makeup myself. Within a year, my life shifted, we left the salon, and I sold off the inventory. Read more>>

Pablo

23 years ago, I was very much a solopreneur at the start—just me, my pc, and a handful of client projects. In 2014, when I launched what would become Revved Mode today, I was still refining our core AI/RPA processes (that later birthed Adiv AI) and juggling everything from strategy calls to coding and campaign design. Read more>>

Gina Anderson

To bootstrap and build a company from 0 to a 3X fastest growing INC 5000 company you have to focus on adding value to your clients. One of our core values is our commitment to our customers. In 2020 my co-founder and I were talking to a client that said that their company would really find value if our learning system could take pictures of learners as they moved through the system. We work in a litigious industry (trucking), and if an accident goes to court then a plaintiff might ask how do you know that the learner is who they say they are. Read more>>

Adrian Cortez

When Desert Legion was originally founded as a mowing and junk removal company, a few months after our inception, we received a call from a customer requesting a quote to remove approximately 300 SQFT of decorative rock from his backyard. This would be our first time providing this service. My brother Omar and I scheduled an onsite appointment, walked around the property, and quoted him $250. The customer was an elderly gentleman on a fixed income who asked if we could do it for $200. Out of compassion and excitement, we agreed. For our first rock removal, we estimated it would take 2-3 hours with two men doing manual labor. Read more>>

Tenisea Madry

I worked with a wonderful couple planning a late spring coastal destination wedding. The bride was a detail-oriented checklist completer, and the groom was the steady voice of reason. Both were in the early stages of new careers and living several hours away, so they relied heavily on me for clear communication and hands-on coordination. Read more>>

Cassidy Rea

Vacations are a must! As a photographer the inquiries and questions will never stop rolling in. I’m very guilty of checking my email 100 times a day and still feeling the need to do that when on vacation. The truth is, if someone values your work, they most likely value your time. Have I lost clients for responding too slow when traveling? Of course, but they probably weren’t my ideal client. Vacations look different for everyone and there’s some sort of disconnect that any entrepreneur can achieve. Maybe it means a staycation for 2 nights so you’re close enough to come to the rescue if needed. Once you feel confident stepping away you can move on to further distances and longer trips. Maybe not as frequently as you’d like, but some sort of reset and reward for yourself is incredibly important and should be prioritized. Read more>>

Sonya Sava

I began my journey as a flower shop owner and hot glass artist during a time that changed us all—when the world paused and we saw both the best and worst of humanity during Covid. Before that, I worked as a teacher in early childhood and elementary education. My husband and I were fortunate to live and work in diverse locations around the world, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands, McMurdo Base in Antarctica, Alice Springs in Australia, Guam, Arkansas, Maryland, and finally, Evergreen, Colorado. Read more>>

Faizy Legend

Yes, ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved creating. But I believe everything happens in God’s perfect timing. When I finally started my creative career, I realized that every experience I’d had up until that point shaped my vision and gave me the stories I tell today. Starting earlier might have meant less life experience, and starting later might have meant missing certain opportunities. I’m grateful I began exactly when I did, it was all part of God’s plan. Read more>>

Jonathan Charles

If I could go back, I would start creating my own projects much sooner. I got my first paying acting job at a Texas Equity theater in 2013, but it wasn’t until five years later that I began making my own work. I was afraid to put myself out there because I didn’t know what I was doing. Looking back, that was pretty silly. Nobody knows what they’re doing when they start. Read more>>

Natalie Kennedy

Yes, I do donate a percentage of my sales to a few non-profit organizations. As a writer, my first priority is to ensure that my books reach as many readers as possible. Selling books in today’s economy is challenging, especially with the competition from big-box stores, Kindle, Amazon, and other digital reading platforms. Read more>>

Akiko Strock

When I was coming up with the name for my business I knew it had to be something meaningful. It needed to be genuine and authentic to what my aim is for my entire business. When I take a step back and look at my big ‘why’ for my business, it goes back to my big why for everything I do in my life, and that is the glory of God. You see, I am a Christian and the aim of my business is to provide tools for my fellow Christians to aid them in their journey with God. And so as I was developing the name of my business I wanted to center my focus on what I believe is, arguably, the central theme to Christianity and that is ‘newness.’ Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, provides a new life and a new birth to those who place their faith in Him. Read more>>

Rebecca Rand And Marrina Boontheekul

In 2019, we were both working at a small architecture firm in the city when we attended a speaking event featuring Topeka Sam, the founder of The Ladies of Hope Ministries. She spoke passionately about the need for housing and wraparound support services for women returning home from prison—and her vision to expand her residential program in New York City. Read more>>

Sarah Slattery

I started my career in real estate as a solo agent, choosing not to join a team even though I was told by other agents it would bring in business “quicker”. I was grateful to have a family friend (also top producing agent) mentor me for my first few transactions. I learned how to build my own systems and knew it would take me a little longer for people to learn my name and get to know me, I wanted to build my business the way I envisioned. I wanted to build my own brand from the ground up—one rooted in genuine authenticity and personal connection. Read more>>

Darla James

One of the most meaningful ways I’ve shown appreciation to a customer came during prom season, which is always a special and emotional time at my shop. A young woman came in with her mother to find the perfect prom gown, and they shared that this moment meant a lot to them—not just because it was prom, but because life hadn’t given them many chances to celebrate. Read more>>

Kshitiz Bhandari

Five years ago, I stepped into the world of videography with more passion than connections, ready to tell stories through my lens. I believed my enthusiasm would speak for itself, but instead, I was met with hesitation. People doubted me. Some wouldn’t even give me the chance to prove myself.

The first couple of years were a string of setbacks—canceled shoots, scarce bookings, and constant “no’s” that tested my resolve. But each rejection became fuel. I studied my craft relentlessly, shadowed seasoned filmmakers, and poured everything I had into even the smallest projects. Read more>>

Xavier Alexander

I have to be honest—this is one of those questions I’ve started to answer more times than I can count, only to delete and start over. Every time I think back to my failures, big or small, I feel that familiar sting. None of it feels good. And yet, I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything, because they’ve shaped who I am today. Read more>>

Michelle Nixon

My artistic journey is defined by personal response to challenge, as I’m sure many are. Watercolor wasn’t my first medium. It became my medium of choice out of necessity when my husband and I lived in a small apartment with our growing family. Oils were too risky with a baby on the way, so I turned to watercolor. My first instinct was to put away my brushes so I could focus on raising a family, but that proved futile as we realized I was more of a menace to society without painting than with. Read more>>

Eric Brownlee

The biggest trends I am seeing in the sport business industry include the shift to entertainment focused events, the shift from traditional cable broadcasts to streaming services, and increasing interest in previously niche sports such as Pickeball. Traditionally sports events focused on the game itself and event promoters and sport business professionals believed just having the event with elite athletes would be enough to draw fans and have a successful event. We are currently witnessing a major shift from focusing on the event itself to the entertainment aspects around the event such as live music, sports gambling, player celebrations, and even temporary team rebrands. Read more>>

Peter Voland

I want to leave behind a legacy of impact through creation. I hope people say I brought beauty, truth, and raw humanity into the world, whether through the stories I wrote, the photos I captured, or the people I stood up for. I want to be remembered as someone who didn’t chase attention but chased meaning. Someone who used his creativity to give others a voice, to reveal something real in a world that often hides behind filters and façades. Read more>>

Rhea Marmentini

Dedication to art requires persistent altruism to reach a depth and to develop one´s language, followed by a total, almost slavish commitment, for it is a chosen sacrifice, a full-time dedication to mastering a language that can evoke depth and beauty. This is the origin of freedom. The unfolding of this freedom is what I´m planning to share in the form of a sculpture park along the Hudson River. Read more>>

Glenn Tapia

In the field of criminal and juvenile justice, corrections, and even behavioral health, we suffer from the concept of “Change Enervation” – that is, when organizations grow in size, scope. and complexity while simultaneously being deprived of evidence-based methods to achieve meaningful organizational change. The field suffers from very rigid and threatening hierarchies, technocratic problem solving, and myopic mindset habits, Since COVID 19 (and due in part to the pandemic) I have observed organizations be stuck in their own silence when trying to change and heal from events and accumulated trauma from the last 10-15 years of reform, Leaders are stuck in old mindsets; Read more>>

Lisa Roers

Corporate America often mistakes “checking the box” training for true leadership development. Too many companies focus on teaching managers to pass a test or complete a compliance module, rather than equipping them to apply those skills in the real-world pressure cooker of business. I’ve seen organizations celebrate a new certification while the leader who earned it still struggles to inspire their team or navigate conflict effectively. Read more>>

Alan

Today’s educational system needs to be completely revamped and overhauled. Our educational system here in the United States is a for-profit system, particularly at the higher academic levels. As young students, we are taught generic reading, math, history, and basic science. This continues throughout our journey from middle school and on into high school. Suppose you decide to continue your education into higher learning. In that case, you have to repeat many of the same courses that you have already taken in high school, and it comes as a financial burden for many families. I see a complete failure of our educational system, leaving many students behind due to finances, and that is not fair. Read more>>

Melissa Kay-Steves

When I was roughly ten years old I knew I wanted to make jewelry. I scrapped about with anything I could get my hands on until I found a bead and findings warehouse in my hometown. As I journeyed through life, college, travel, I was always searching for a way into the industry; a class, an apprenticeship, someone who would teach me metalsmithing. For whatever reason the doors never opened and I forged on until one day, shortly after my daughter was born in 2005 I discovered metal clay. Things just catapulted from there and now I own Charmtree Jewelry Studio, a metalsmith school in Maryland, where I teach metalsmithing and metal clay classes. I also host guest intructors from across the country, Maker’s Nights and studio memberships. Read more>>

Wornden Ly

I believe everyone should start their business part-time while they work a full-time job. In fact, treating your business as full-time but operating under part time hours will probably be the best thing you will ever do in the first few years. It starts to make you think how to be efficient in the business, implement real systems, and help you determine whether you are ready to take the next leap of faith and going into full-time in the business. You will also learn what you are willing to sacrifice to keep the business going. Read more>>

Hammirah Eletu

In the crochet business, my biggest challenge to profitability is getting people to truly see the value of handmade work. Many compare my prices to mass-produced items and forget that each piece is created entirely by hand and can take hours or even days to complete. My prices reflect the materials, skill, time, and creativity in every stitch. Unfortunately, I sometimes have to undersell my work to make sales or gain recognition. For example, I once spent over 12 hours making a custom blanket, only for someone to tell me they could get something similar in a store for half the price. That mindset makes it hard to be profitable because it undervalues the dedication and artistry in my craft. Read more>>

Meghan Foley

I’ve worked in the yoga industry for 15 years as a yoga instructor, director of operations, co-owner, and mentor. From day one, I have believed in the ethos that when we all do better in this industry, we all do better. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside other yoga studio owners and managers who feel the same way. We share notes, challenges, and wins because this business is inherently challenging to navigate due to its low margins. Read more>>

Andre Wright

This wasn’t just a book—it was a movement in print. I wanted to create something that would shatter the boundaries between art, culture, and social change. The book weaves together my journey in fashion with the raw realities of systemic inequities, showing how clothing is never just clothing—it’s a language, a protest, a declaration of identity. Read more>>

Nathan Cruz

When i was first getting started i wrote letters and emails to all the best coach-building shops in United States seeing if anyone would be willing to take me on as an apprentice and teach me this Craft. After many weeks somebody by the name of Steve Hogue reached out, his shop was located in Long Beach California. He said after reading my letter he would be willing to teach me and guide me in this trade and so that was the first moment I felt I was where I belonged and so began the journey of learning this lost art, Read more>>

Chad Julius

As a photographer, one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me was at my first ever art showing within a Gallery that opened on First Friday in the Santa Fe art district in Denver Colorado. A friend of mine who came to check out my show purchased my first ever piece to sell and then he returned it to me so I would be able to keep my first ever sold piece. I still have it today and I think about what he did for me each time I see the piece. Read more>>

Dave Cunningham

Louise Hay is one of my most influential teachers and is definitely my She-ro! I was raised in a conservative Evangelical Christian household and was very sheltered/repressed/traumatized as a result. When I moved out of my childhood home to go to college I went on a spiritual journey to find myself and find out what I really believed. One of the teachers I found to be most helpful in my journey was Louise Hay who founded Hay House Publishing. Her book, “You Can Heal Your Life” became my “bible” as I found that its teachings resonated so deeply for me. Read more>>