We recently connected with Dana Rankin and have shared our conversation below.

Dana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

One of the most significant failures I’ve experienced came during a time when I thought I was finally making progress — only to lose everything again.

After surviving 17 years of domestic violence and moving through 10 shelters with my four children, I had finally saved a little money and launched a small business from a place of hope. I thought I had made it out — I was finally doing something for myself and my children. But I made the mistake of trusting the wrong people in business. I didn’t do my due diligence. I rushed into partnerships and platforms without understanding contracts, fees, or even my target customer.

Within a few months, I had lost all the money I invested, and I felt like I had failed my children all over again. We had just started to rebuild, and I had to look them in the eyes and say, “We have to start over — again.”

At the time, I was crushed. But looking back, that failure taught me how to research, build smarter, and protect my vision. I learned how to vet business relationships, how to read the fine print, and most importantly — how to bounce back. That setback became the soil for what is now S & D Boutique, my ecommerce store, and the foundation for The Sistah Resource Collective, my faith- and resource-based podcast and platform.

Now, I teach other women how to avoid those same early missteps. That failure, though painful, has made me a wiser businesswoman and a better mentor. It wasn’t the end. It was a setup for everything that came after.

Dana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Dana P. Rankin, and I’m a faith-driven mother of four, entrepreneur, and survivor turned leader. I am the founder of S & D Boutique, a stylish and affordable ecommerce store, and the creator of The Sistah Resource Collective, a digital platform and podcast dedicated to empowering women in the areas of faith, family, and finances. I also work as a freelance virtual assistant and proudly partner with Rok Financial, helping small business owners access growth funding.

But my journey didn’t begin with entrepreneurship — it began with survival.

I endured 17 years of domestic violence, homelessness, and relocation to 10 different shelters while raising my children. I once had to start life over with just five trash bags — no home, no job, and no clue how we’d make it. But what I did have was faith and a fierce will to create a better life for my family. That’s how I started my first business — right from a shelter.

Today, S & D Boutique offers fashion-forward apparel, accessories, handbags, and home décor for women who want to feel confident and radiant regardless of their circumstances. Our slogan, “Sizzling Styles and Dazzling Designs,” speaks to the fire and beauty within every woman. The Sistah Resource Collective continues that mission by offering real conversations, encouragement, and resources to women who are rebuilding just like I did.

I also use my administrative and communication skills to support business owners as a VA, and I partner with Rok Financial to help others fund their vision and scale smart.

What Sets Me Apart

What sets me apart isn’t just my work ethic — it’s my lived experience. I know what it’s like to have nothing and still choose to build. I’ve walked through abuse, loss, instability, and rejection — and still chose healing, purpose, and growth. I bring that same spirit into every project, every conversation, and every client relationship.

What I’m Most Proud Of

I’m most proud that my pain didn’t go to waste. I turned it into a platform, a business, and a brand. One of my proudest moments was becoming a published author in the Amazon Best Seller, Break the Silence Volume 2: Remove the Mask and Heal. My chapter, “A Mother’s Story,” details how I had to start over with just five trash bags and a vision — and how I transformed that low point into a purpose-filled life.

Final Thoughts

My message is simple: You can start over, and you can win. Whether you’re in crisis or in transition, I want to be a voice of hope. I invite you to follow my journey, support my boutique, tune into my podcast, or reach out if you need help starting or scaling your own dream.

Your story matters. Your survival matters. And your comeback can be stronger than anything that tried to break you.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I didn’t meet my business partner in a boardroom or networking event — I met her in my own home, in the middle of the storm we were trying to survive together. My business partner is actually my daughter, Seani.

During our journey through domestic violence and homelessness, she watched me build from nothing — starting businesses in shelters, hustling online to create opportunities, and refusing to give up. Over the years, she saw firsthand what it takes to be resilient, creative, and resourceful. So when I rebranded and relaunched S & D Boutique, it only made sense to bring her in as my partner.

We’re a Christian mom-and-daughter team, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of. She brings a fresh, youthful perspective to our brand — from trends and marketing to social media strategy — while I bring the wisdom of lived experience and business grit. We balance each other out beautifully.

Building S & D Boutique together has given us more than just a business — it’s given us a bond rooted in purpose. We’re not just selling clothes and accessories; we’re building a legacy of survival, style, and strength. Our partnership is a daily reminder that something beautiful can grow from brokenness.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

didn’t enter the marketplace with funding, a huge following, or a marketing team. I entered with a story. People saw that I had survived 17 years of domestic violence, homelessness, and starting over — and they respected the fact that I didn’t hide it. I built in public, sharing the ups, downs, and in-betweens of launching a boutique and a podcast from the ground up while raising four children.

My brand, S & D Boutique, is not just about fashion — it’s about showing that style and strength go hand in hand. I treat every customer as a person, not a number. Whether someone shops with me or follows my content, I always make sure they feel seen, supported, and empowered.

With The Sistah Resource Collective, I built trust by being a voice that wasn’t polished, but real. I share faith, family, and financial resources that I’ve actually used and lived through — and that level of transparency has helped me connect deeply with women who are still in survival mode or are just starting to rebuild.

Being dependable and consistent — even when life was chaotic — has helped people know they can count on me. I follow through. I show up. And I lead with service first, not sales.

That’s what’s built my reputation — not just what I sell, but how I show up to serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sndboutique.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danacarter1525/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaprankin/