We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hanaya Ali. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hanaya below.

Hanaya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

At Sunshine and Smiles Summer Camp, we are redefining what it means to create an inclusive workplace that empowers everyone to thrive. As a young, motivated woman leading this family-run business, I am passionate about fostering a culture where every voice matters and every family feels welcomed. My journey began during my transition from the pharmacy industry to launching Sunshine and Smiles, where I discovered the unique strengths that motivated young professionals bring to the table.
Throughout my early career in a male-dominated environment, I witnessed the incredible potential that both women and young voices offer when they are actively heard. This experience fueled my commitment to creating an inclusive workplace, where the ideas and perspectives of everyone contribute to our collective success. I firmly believe that organizations unlock a wealth of innovative solutions when all employees, regardless of age or gender, have an equal voice and a seat at the table.
Today, as I lead a dynamic team at Sunshine and Smiles, we’ve transformed challenges into triumphs. I understand the uphill battle of establishing a business, particularly as a woman, and I’m dedicated to ensuring that women’s leadership is not only welcomed but celebrated. In just two weeks, we skyrocketed from 20 to 120 campers, a success directly linked to our commitment to fostering an environment where both women and young professionals are empowered to lead, collaborate, and contribute.
At Sunshine and Smiles, we prioritize empowering the younger generation by encouraging them to take on camp counselor roles and participate in daily decision-making. Our inclusive policies support flexible schedules that accommodate personal commitments, ensuring our team members feel valued and respected. Our weekly team meetings are more than mere check-ins; they serve as a platform for all voices to be heard, where collaboration thrives. By embracing open communication and empowering women and young professionals at every level, we’ve cultivated a thriving environment that has driven our camp’s explosive growth and built a foundation of trust and innovation.
At Sunshine and Smiles, we are living proof that community success flourishes when there is a commitment to inclusivity and adding value to every member of the organization. We are resourceful, bold, and unwavering in our dedication to lifting each other up, creating a brighter future for everyone involved.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a family-run business right here in Boca Raton, we’re not just another camp, we’re a community. Transitioning from a career in pharmacy, where I earned my PharmD and MBA, to entrepreneurship has been an incredible journey. After years in healthcare, I realized my true passion was creating something that combines fun, education, and a sense of belonging for families. That’s where Sunshine and Smiles was born!

What sets us apart? For starters, we offer daily field trips, not once a week or just on special occasions, every single day! From exploring local attractions to learning hands-on, we make sure our campers don’t just sit around but instead dive into a world of discovery. These experiences are designed to create lasting memories while helping children build confidence, form friendships, and develop a love for learning.

At Sunshine and Smiles, we’ve worked hard to create a camp experience that’s top-notch without breaking the bank. We’re all about creating a space where kids can be themselves, learn through play, and experience something new every day, all while making it affordable for parents. We’re not just running a camp, we’re creating memories, building confidence, and giving back to our community. If you’re looking for a place where your child can thrive, make new friends, and have a blast while doing it, we can’t wait to welcome you to the Sunshine and Smiles family!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After years of working as a pharmacist, earning my PharmD and MBA, I thought I had my career path set. I was thriving in the healthcare world, particularly with CVS Caremark, where I was a clinical pharmacist for the leading pharmacy benefit company in the US. Deep down, I felt a calling that was hard to ignore: a desire to build something of my own, something more connected to my passion for family, fun, and working with children.

The turning point came when I realized that the traditional 9 to 5 grind wasn’t giving me the fulfillment I craved. I wanted to create something meaningful, a space where kids could not only have fun but thrive in a nurturing environment. That’s when the idea for Sunshine and Smiles Summer Camp was born.

At first, the thought of leaving the stability of the pharmacy industry to start a summer camp seemed crazy. I had zero experience in the camp industry and was diving into unknown territory. But I didn’t just jump, I planned. I leveraged my background in operations, budgeting, and customer care from a pharmacy and my MBA degree and applied those skills to building a camp that was safe, affordable, and packed with daily field trips and educational activities.

Within two weeks, our camp went from a modest projection of 20 campers to a staggering 120! The demand was overwhelming, and I had to scale up staffing, logistics, and programming almost overnight. What I thought would be a small side project turned into a full-blown business success. I was able to blend my love for kids, my knack for operations, and my entrepreneurial spirit into something that quickly became the talk of Boca Raton.

The real “wow” moment for me was realizing how much this new venture aligned with my core values. I wasn’t just running a camp, I was creating an environment where kids could build lifelong friendships, learn, and grow, all while building a family business. It wasn’t easy but pivoting from the pharmacy world to owning and running a summer camp showed me just how powerful following your passion can be.

This journey wasn’t just about stepping away from pharmacy, it was about completely reinventing myself and building something I could be proud of every single day. Looking back, it still amazes me how a leap of faith turned into something so much bigger than I ever imagined.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Starting Sunshine and Smiles Summer Camp was all about embracing my vision while minimizing risk. Many people believe that launching a business requires a massive upfront investment, but I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be that way. With creativity and careful planning, you can bring your ideas to life without the burden of huge costs.
The key was to focus on essentials. I prioritized what was necessary to get started by securing a school bus, investing in effective marketing to spread the word, and finding the right space for our camp activities. By negotiating smart deals and keeping costs lean, I set the stage for growth without overwhelming financial pressure.
This journey has shown me that starting a business is more about passion and vision than it is about hefty investments. By managing initial expenses wisely and focusing on cash flow, I was able to build a sustainable, successful venture step by step. As the camp started generating revenue, I reinvested those earnings to expand our offerings and hire staff.
For anyone considering entrepreneurship, my advice is this: if you’re in love with your idea, don’t let concerns about initial costs hold you back. Focus on defining your vision and structuring a plan that works for you. With determination and strategic thinking, you can turn your dreams into reality and create something that positively impacts your community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.snscamp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snscampboca?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556551111849

Image Credits

Caleb Gemma Photography