Doing things differently often leads to outsized results and so we connected with some of the most inspiring leaders and trailblazers we know and asked them to go into detail about what they do differently relative to others in their industry.

Pep Williams

With my photography I speak all over the world at exhibits and colleges inspiring people with my work. Just bringing awareness on certain subject matters the people all over the world can relate to. Read more>>

Richard Chungong

One thing I focus on with clients or businesses I work with is to meet them where they are at when it comes to understanding the Web3 space. Many people in the Web3 space speak in complex technical terms which tends to confuse new people about what is going on. People learn quick from analogies to things they are familiar with for example when explaining blockchains and cryptocurrencies I compare them to Chuck E Cheese and their tokens or McDonald’s and their reward points. Using terms that people can connect the similarities on their own helps for better understanding of this new technology. Read more>>

 Angana Sinha

In the realm of traditions, where henna application has long been confined to the skilled hands of artists gracing festive occasions, a paradigm shift is underway! No longer tethered to the conventional canvas of South Asian weddings or State Fairs, henna is poised for a remarkable transformation. Read more>>

Lisa Machac

As a music business consultant, I consider it my mission to help independent artists earn a livable wage. The music industry has undergone a huge transformation since the advent of social media, but many professionals are reluctant to change the industry standard and continue to promote the “dream” of being signed to a record label. Read more>>

Lily Schuette

Often times consumers don’t get to see the personal side of a business. For example, think of a business you have bought from; Do you know the owner? Have you seen their face? Heard their voice? Know their story? When I started my business I knew I wanted my customers and supporters to feel comfortable with me, and I wanted them to feel as if they could make personal connections to my life. In my case, I see a huge jump in growth when I share my face on my social media pages. Whether it’s sharing a failure or a win, something interesting that happens to me that day, or just checking in to say hi and update my followers on upcoming launches, it has made an incredible difference. Read more>>

Georgina Shipp

As a dedicated gluten-free bakery most of our customers are following a gluten-free diet for medical reasons. Living a gluten-free life inherently means that your choices are much more limited than the average person when it comes to buying food. When you are purchasing commercially made gluten-free food it unfortunately means that a lot of that food has some pretty unhealthy stuff in it. Now I’m not saying that brownies and cookies should be healthy, but in our business we try to make sure that we don’t use preservatives and some of the extra fillers and artificial ingredients used in some foods. As a small batch Bakery we try to use the best ingredients without a lot of artificial stuff. We avoid high fructose corn syrup for example. Our products are made fresh to order each week. Read more>>

Brian Altman

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life”. In the music industry, I have found that the majority of established studios and producers whom I encounter are not willing to share critical knowledge and guidance with inexperienced bands and artists. These ‘independent’ artists then become ‘dependent’ on these gatekeepers for a great many things. I am currently restructuring my business model to combat and eliminate these dependencies. In the next several months I will be unveiling a service package through which I will be coaching and equipping independent artists to perform a great many tasks themselves, from music production (which, contrary to popular opinion, can be easily done at home for most artists), to navigating the ins and outs or music licensing, royalty collection, and music distribution. Independent artists choose to be independent so they can maintain control of their own careers. Through the guidance of knowledgeable and trustworthy mentors, the artists I work with will soon be able to break free from the predatory clutches of industry gatekeepers. It’s a long overdue service that the market desperately needs, and I’m excited to bring this program to the market and enable artists around the world to achieve TRUE independence! Read more>>

 David Bovis

Both partners have 37 years experience involved with change programs and performance improvement in business around Europe and the world. They have also both spent >20years studying esoteric subjects, such as philosophy, psychology and neuroscience, as these subjects apply to the effective and efficient execution of change and leading high performance teams, in a way, that sees a high performance culture emerge. Read more>>

Andrew Woodson

Awesome, here at Dreams Drawn Marketing we definitely thrive on are unique approach with in media industry. Our main focus is for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others to receive valuable tools and beyond the brand empowerment. We believe if you own a business or matriculating through a profession, you are a brand! Read more>>

Cara Thurman

In 2012, I started Vinings Massage & Wellness as a solo practitioner. My vision was to provide Atlanta with the best possible massage therapy services and to offer massage therapy specifically to those who were recovering from a physical illness, surgery, or chronic disease. Read more>>

Julie Bendlin

Here at Daisy-Dos Salon and Spa we see one pet at a time. Or one family if pets. There is no big bank of barking kennels. This allows the one client and I to connect on a mutual level. It’s much calmer and quieter than a normal grooming Salon. I have groomed dogs, who in the past have not been able to be groomed without sedation, and we have no issues here. The pet is calmer and happier Read more>>

Jacqueline Grover

Something that I truly pride myself on is the unique individual experience I give to each of my clients. I know that the way I do things now may not always be manageable as I grow, but I love that I can give a personalized experience to each person and wedding I photograph. I ask them to send me as much inspiration as they want, and rather than adhering to a single preset or “style”, I edit and take my photos based on what my client wants, and I add my own style as I see fit. I also provide sneak peeks usually within 24 – 48 hours and I provide as many as I am able to edit. Sometimes I can deliver up to 30 or 40 sneak peeks. I don’t have a set list of poses that I use either, I go based on the couples personality as I get to know them in my session. If they seem more adventurous and playful, I may have one sit on the others shoulders. If they seem more quiet and low key, we may have some poses that are more romantic. I feel like this is not the norm, at least with a lot of bigger photography companies who may have a single editing process, a single set of poses they use, etc. Read more>>

Fanchon Jones

I’d like to think that one of the first things people notice about me is that I do a lot of things differently. Whether it’s parenting, human resources or cooking and baking. I’ve always tried to put my personal spin on things in order to yield above average outcomes. I always try to lead with kindness and empathy first. Which is what’s missing in many industries today. Read more>>

LaDray Gilbert

I’ve heard all of my adult life about how when you’re doing what you love, you’ll never truly work a day in your life. Although my initial career path led me to pursue money, I often found myself working in the spaces that held my heart. That is working with and developing programming for nonprofits. I could have a file with a million dollar case on my desk, but I would choose to spend my days working on programs to help students reach college, feed families in need during the holidays, or raising money to pay for students to fund their education. Read more>>

Kelly Zielinski

In the world of real estate, where profit margins often overshadow client needs, I’ve made it my mission to stand out by prioritizing people above all else. As a real estate investor, owner of a construction company, and a licensed real estate agent in New York, I’ve consistently adhered to a set of core values that guide every aspect of my business – “People before profits,” “Passionate about what we do,” and “A positive attitude.” Read more>>

Tonya Kappes

As a reader when one of my favorite authors made me feel like I was important to them, the feeling never left me. When I transitioned from writer to author, I knew I wanted every single reader to feel like I had felt as a reader with my favorite authors. This was before social media so I started to collect mailing address so I could send little notes to readers or even post cards of places I was visiting. Social media changed everything for me. For the better! I was able to really get in front of readers and talk to them. I cherish each one of them and wanted them to know it. Every reader has an opportunity to sign up for a real birthday card from me. Every month, and over the last ten years, I have been sending thousands of birthday cards to readers each month. Sometimes I’m the only card of acknowledgment readers get for their birthday and that means something to me. They matter to me. I also host an in person reader event where I rent a mystery train once a year in a different location for a weekend filled with mystery theater, local tours to the area and ending with a book signing. Read more>>

Dawn LaFontaine

Pet toys are big business. Today, pet toys are a $1 billion industry and growing.

Most of that is dog toys. Even though there are more pet cats in the U.S. than dogs, cat toys make up only about a quarter of the pet toy industry. And, unfortunately, most cat toys on store shelves today are poorly designed and cheaply made little balls and stuffed mice. Read more>>

Seth Klein

There are a good amount of ice cream/frozen dessert shops around, but the big thing that separates us from the rest is the products we use. Our frozen custard mix is locally made and made for us; we also try to make a majority of our topping in-house. We make our brownies, cookie dough, pralines and several other items from scratch with our recipes. We also offer a lot of specialty sundaes that we are known for like our Tiger Paw (Hot Fudge, Hot Caramel, and Salted Roasted Pecans) which is one of our most popular dishes. We are also a coffee shop that specializes in small roasted batches of beans that are roasted by our roaster. Along with coffee we offer energy drinks and several breakfast food options that include our Ultimate Bagel (Sausage or Bacon, Egg, Cheddar Cheese and Pepper Mayo that we make in-house) and several pastries. I think the biggest thing that sets us apart from the rest is our workers, we have some awesome workers that are willing to help customers with whatever they need and they know exactly how to make all our products look good and taste even better. Read more>>

Brenda Brownell

We pride ourselves on quality at The Olde Creamery. We attended Ice Cream School in Idaho where we learned state of the art technologies that sets our ice cream apart from any other ice cream in the area. We use a blast freezer that freezes the ice cream to -40 in order to prevent from ice crystals from forming throughout the process from when its made until its scooped for our customers. We also use 16% butterfat content in our mix that makes our ice cream super creamy and delicious. Read more>>

Charlie Faye

Absolutely. We don’t do anything cookie-cutter. There is no formula for success in the music business, and the most likely path to an individual artist’s success starts from looking at who they are and what makes them special. It all has to begin with a conversation with the artist. What do they want, for their career, for their life? What are their strengths, their limitations? What kinds of support do they need most? What kinds of situations will they thrive in? I don’t think this is an uncommon approach among artist managers — we all know that every artist/manager relationship looks different. But in other areas of the music business, things can feel a little more formulaic. So I like to approach things with my consulting and PR clients from more of a manager’s point of view. Read more>>

Annie Johnson

Unlike most gift basket businesses, Take Care, South Bend is based entirely on local collaboration. I seek out “the best of the Bend and beyond” to fill gift baskets for clients and support our local economy. Sometimes this means doing limited runs or absorbing higher costs, but I believe in the shop local movement and started this business to support other small business owners. Even my business cards and labels are printed locally. Many years ago, I heard a theory that the only way independent businesses would survive against big box stores is by collaborating. I hope my work inspires others to get creative and band together with other indies. Read more>>

Francesca Pittaluga

As a passionate home chef, COVID inspired me to cook more than ever…Until it didn’t.
Life got busier, and I started looking for easy meal options with a clean label and great taste. As an Italian-American, I lean towards foods that bring me nostalgia for my Italian dad’s home cooking, using few quality ingredients. Read more>>

Lia Loewenthal

The end goal is NOT to grow. As a business owner and entrepreneurs, we are taught from day dot that becoming profitable is the most important measure of business and personal success. Read more>>

Jazmine Allen

One thing I pride myself on is the ability to give my clients a positive experience despite the negative reputation the beauty industry is known for. Unfortunately, in recent years, clients receiving beauty services that should be a positive boost to their self-esteem have turned into cringeworthy experiences. My goal is to make every appointment not only an enhancement to their beauty but a deposit of peace, relaxation, and self-care. I make my salon a safe space for women who are already battling the world; they shouldn’t have to battle their hairstylists as well. I think sometimes people forget that when you look good, you feel good, and you show up in the world better. My goal is to use beauty services as an avenue to facilitate that process. In return, I’ve built trust with clients that expand beyond a decade. Providing clients with consistency, great customer service, and an overall great experience ultimately has been the foundation for success in building my brand after so many years. I now use my beauty industry experience, good and bad, from salon assistant to salon owner, to coach others in the field on obtaining this same success. I think that the more educated beauty professionals in regard to the client experience make all the difference in our industry reputation and a positive increase in human interaction. I’m so thankful that I’m able to make a difference for all clients and beauty professionals through coaching and digital products. Read more>>

Elle Welch

At Lakeshore Coffee Company, almost everything that comes out of our shop is sourced locally through other small businesses. We are proud to be able to lift up other small businesses while providing a quality product in our own. Read more>>

Kevin Yang

Unlike the wedding videographers I’ve encountered, I don’t have a background as an assistant or a film major. In fact, I’m a graphic designer and a fashion photographer with extensive experience. My journey into wedding videography began when I created a video as a gift for a friend. Fortunately, that video led to word-of-mouth referrals, and I started receiving requests for engagement films and wedding films. While I may not have the traditional training from a lead videographer, I’ve seamlessly integrated my background in fashion into my filming style. This marked the beginning of my journey, and it has continued to evolve up to the present day. Read more>>

Aly Hansen

We are told especially in the wedding photography industry that it’s not about us, it’s not our photoshoot, it’s not our day. This is true, and I agree. Just the other day I was shooting a cocktail hour at a wedding, an idea came to me so I asked the bride if she’d like to take this photo. She said she’d rather not, and I said okay, no problem! So I am certainly not saying to center yourself on someone’s wedding day. But what I am saying is that if I didn’t allow myself to be driven by my own creative process and visions in my business, I’m not sure there’d be much joy in showing up to work, nor would it be worth the hassle of being a photographer if I had to do what other people wanted. Photography is a job of passion, or it should be. It should derive from passion. It’s not just a job, it’s not something I clock in for. I’m a photographer 24/7, carrying a camera with me always. If I am led by what other people want, even my couples, I am uninspired. I am unexcited. I am probably not going to do a great job taking that photo. So the core of my business is really that I am going to do what I want and execute the visions I see, and the couples I attract not only trust me to do that (a trust fall, if you will) but they encourage it. It’s incredibly liberating keeps me from burning out or showing up to work uninspired. Read more>>

Jennifer Black

Being the 2nd owners of Hickory Road Inn, since 2018, we are committed to offering the same all-star Craft Retreat service and accommodations that our guests have come to know and expect. Read more>>

Myra Harris

The Prestige Solution was birthed from a place of a learning experience for me, that turned into an impact for others. It’s not just “business” its purpose. Before my business, years ago I was in business with my spouse, and there were simply some things we were getting wrong. I knew we either had to get it right or get off the pot. As a mother of 4 and a long time elementary educator at the time, it was hard, but I took the time to do the work. I began researching and attending classes to understand business better. During that time people began reaching out to me for help. I knew very quickly that what I was doing was necessary. I had found a new passion in helping new and struggling small business owners to understand how business works, along with compliance and tax liability. Read more>>

Toya Meadows

At Simple Tax Solutions, we take pride in our unique approach to client service and problem solving within the tax industry. While many tax firms focus solely on compliance and paperwork, we have made a conscious effort to prioritize education and empowerment for our clients. Instead of just completing their tax returns, we take the time to explain the process, answer their questions, and provide them with resources to better understand their tax situation. Read more>>

Shannon Moultrie

I am an author and blogger. Generally speaking, when you read blogs they are about other people; Holywood, current affairs, etc. My blog tells the audacious truth about my life and it’s gripping details of the trauma I endured by family members. This intentional approach is to provide a platform for others, young and old, to safely tell their story. To encourage others to use their voices loudly in hopes of helping children generations to come. Read more>>

Tyler Kopkas

Every 3rd Tuesday of each month we host an event called Sips @ The Station where we partner with a local nonforprofit to raise funds for that chosen charity. We’ve been blessed to work with over 2 dozen local nonforprofit organizsations over the past 2 years. Sips @ The Station also serves as a platform for Savannah’s most diverse networking event series as we spotlight nonprofits. Since it’s inception we’ve raised close to $50,000. We’re hopefully years 3 is the best year yet! Read more>>

Xanthe Appleyard

The content marketing space is traditionally driven by tips on how to “hack” the algorithm, and pressure to spend more time online, and an emphasis on quantity — posting MORE to gain MORE followers — but I’ve flipped that narrative by approaching social media with a quality over quantity mindset, when it comes to the content businesses are creating AND the relationships they’re fostering, as a result. I support my clients in using social media not just as a marketplace to sell their services or amplify their message, but as a tool to call in community, recognizing that it’s not the number of online connections we have, but the depth of each one, that truly defines our success as a creative entrepreneur, personal brand, or business owner. Read more>>

Frank Wickstead

I have worked in the residential design/build/develop construction industry for over 25 years. A year or so ago, I did a reboot with new branding as Alair Buckhead. The intent was to merge our different business interests across design, build, and development and to focus on the best practices that we had gathered over that quarter-century of experience. Read more>>

Nicolas Nami

At Nami Pictures, the approach to motion design and client interaction is distinctively different from the industry standard, focusing on a blend of personalized client engagement and sustainable business practices. Read more>>

Patricia Aguilar

When i first started making treats it was during covid. However my interest began shortly before as i was preparing to celebrate my sons birthday. I was searching for someone to create some treats for me. When i was requesting quotes the prices were ridiculously overpriced. I made my own calculations and told myself this isn’t right. So, I decided to learn how to make my own treats. Mind you my first attempt wasn’t bad but it wasn’t the best. However with a few more attempts i began posting on social media and started gaining a following and receiving messages requesting prices. Read more>>

Sheryl Sabol

Once upon a time in a world saturated with polished and meticulously crafted photographs, there lived a free-spirited individual named Sheryl. Unlike many in the photography realm, Sheryl dared to tread a different path, unburdened by the weight of traditional norms. Read more>>

Krystyn Stafford Audra Satmary

At ILoveKickboxing-Trinity, we offer an unparalleled kickboxing experience! Our go-at-your-own-pace atmosphere is perfect for all fitness levels and ages 13 and above. We make it a priority to get to know our members on a personal level, and everyone is greeted by name when they walk in the door. Don’t know how to kickbox? No problem! We’ll teach you everything you need to know. As a beginner, and throughout your time with us, we make sure you’re working safely on the mat and getting exactly what you need and came for. We always have at least one instructor on the mat at all times, so we can correct and challenge our boxers as needed. Our studio is the perfect place for boxers to come and reach their individual goals! We take the time to understand any restrictions and goals they may have, so we can work with them on the mat to the best of our ability. Our members come to us to find a new way to exercise, and they stay because they love kickboxing and the amazing community we have built. We also like to take getting to know our members to the next level by hosting different events every month outside of the studio! Whether it’s a restaurant experience, a planned social event, or a challenging sporting event, we like to do it all! It helps everyone remember that balance is key, and that hard work should be accompanied by rest, relaxation and FUN! At ILoveKickboxing-Trinity, what sets us apart from others in our industry is – we become family! Read more>>

Craig Altobello

At Magic Bear Beer Cellar we focus on the education and elevation of beer. Many businesses in beer, whether a brewery or beer bar provide a similar experience in a similar atmosphere. Typically this involves a male dominated base clientele in an often industrial or “man cave” type of vibe. Where there has been a shift towards a higher end vibe to some breweries as of late, I sought out to create an environment that was welcoming to all. A wine or cocktail bar vibe, but still focused on beer. Beer often gets a bad wrap as a simple beverage and I feel it takes a back seat to nothing. The history and culture that comes with beer as well as the current beer culture is one to be celebrated and explored. Magic Bear also provides educational classes for the beer enthusiast to enjoy some culture and history as well as some great quality food and beer. When contemplating the business model, I felt the need for this as my wife often does not enjoy visiting breweries and beer bars as much as I do. They are not as inclusive, especially if beer is not your main drink of choice. They are not the most comfortable setting either – metal chairs, wrought iron and Edison bulbs everywhere, I built Magic Bear to be a one stop shop for everything beer, that all can enjoy – even the non beer enthusiast. Read more>>