Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Rochelle Davis-Cox | Philanthropist, Community Advocate, Social Media Strategist

I am originally from Broward County, Florida. I eventually moved to Tampa, Florida to attend the University of Tampa where I became the President of UT-NAACP collegiate chapter and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Read more>>

Jayson Callejas Nicholas Deneen | Mortgage Loan Originators

When we would have lunch breaks while working for a local Miami lender, we’d always talk about how we’d work differently if we ran the company – from both an operations and sales perspective. When working for someone else you tend to think how you’d run things differently and that your way would be better. Eventually we felt we could make the leap to start our own Mortgage Loan Brokerage and build upon as well as improve on what we learned while working for the local lender. Read more>>

Jenifer Stover | Artist & Owner of Art is Life Studio

I always loved creating and always thought I would go to Art School and pursue an art career. During my second year in art school I had a professor tell me I was not good enough to become an artist and I should pursue other courses outside of the art program. I was devastated. My Professor was a great artist and a well known artist in the community. I was young, I was naive and I believed him. So I did what he said, I stopped taking art classes and started fulfilling my science and humanities prerequisites. It was then that I fell in love with an anatomy course. I went on to become a Physician Assistant in Emergency Medicine. For the next 20 years, I loved being a PA and loved helping people. I did start painting again after finishing PA school as it was my stress reliever from the crazy long shifts in the ED. Medicine had changed a lot over 20 years. I began experiencing burn-out in the ER for almost a year when Covid hit. It was then I realized I had to make a change. This was a really difficult time for me, medicine was all I have known for 20 years and I had just paid off my student loans!! I tried teaching in a PA program, working in different fields of medicine but It was not enough. I wanted out of medicine. Read more>>

Flavia Daniele | Artist

Starting my own business was very hard, I’m a very distracted person and sometimes taking care of multiple aspects of a business is extremely exhausting. Although I think it came naturally when I started to build my career in art. It was something that naturally happened when I started to put my artworks on social medias. Read more>>

Cynthia Meadows | Beauty Mogul

My inspiration for starting my own beauty salon stemmed from a deep-rooted passion for beauty and personal care. I’ve always been fascinated by how the right hairstyle or makeup can not only transform a person’s appearance but also boost their confidence and mood. Witnessing these transformations first-hand and knowing I could contribute to someone’s happiness and self-esteem was a powerful motivator. Observing the joy and satisfaction on a client’s face after a makeover always felt rewarding. Additionally, I noticed a gap in the market for a salon that not only offered exceptional beauty services but also prioritized a personalized and relaxing experience for each client. I wanted to create a space that wasn’t just about beauty treatments, but about nurturing and self-care, where clients could unwind and feel pampered. The creative aspect of beauty and styling also greatly motivated me. The beauty industry is dynamic and constantly evolving, and the prospect of experimenting with new styles, techniques, and trends was exciting. Lastly, the desire to build a community-oriented business where staff and clients alike could feel valued and heard played a significant role. My salon is not just a business; it’s a place where relationships are fostered, and every individual is treated with respect and kindness. Read more>>

Katherine Bigott | CEO & Founder of BSocial Group Marketing Consultancy

As I evolved professionally in the field of Advertising & Public Relations, working in both boutique-style agencies and corporate firms, I developed a strong skillset and a deep understanding of client needs and management. I thrived in creating communication strategies and played a pivotal role in executing them. Often, when you work in fast-paced environments, your full potential isn’t fully realized. Read more>>

Doneida Simpson | Fashion Designer & Singer

My business actually didn’t start as a business, it started out as a passion and an idea. I’ve always had a love for Fashion and so when I was considering what to study in College it was easy to decide on studying Fashion Designing. But it wasn’t until a couple years later after completing my certification that I decided to make a crochet bag for myself with the beautiful blue yarn I saw in the store.. I was so proud of myself when I was finished that I took it to work to show everyone. They were very impressed- so much so, one person asked to purchase it .. I was shocked but that’s how it started! I began getting orders and the rest was history Read more>>

Dina Rauch | Hair and Wig Stylist

As a full-time mother ready to rejoin the workforce, I decided to take a chance on a long-held passion by starting my own hair salon. Fueled by my love for the beauty industry and recognizing my inherent creativity, I envisioned creating a unique space for clients. I’ve always found my most creative outlet was in my passion for hair, understanding the transformative power of hairstyling. This venture not only allowed me to turn my passion into a business but also provided the flexibility to avoid the traditional 9-5 work structure, ensuring I can still be there for my children. This endeavor represents not only a business pursuit but also a way to balance my professional and personal life. Read more>>

Gee Winesberry | CEO, Digital Marketing Coordinator, & Fashion Curator

I started Coco Brooke out of a genuine passion for helping women feel confident and empowered through their clothing choices. Over the years, I noticed that many women struggled to find outfits that truly resonated with their personalities or that made each event memorable by ensuring they felt exceptional. Inspired by the idea of celebrating individuality and style, I embarked on this journey to provide a curated selection of clothing that not only caters to different occasions but also embraces the unique essence of each woman. Seeing the transformation in someone’s demeanor when they find the perfect outfit is what continues to drive and fulfill me every day. Read more>>

Lisa Zawrotny | Productivity Strategist + Accountability Coach

After experiencing a deeply overwhelming time in my life juggling multiple roles as a caregiver, wife, mother, and business owner, I became a professional organizer. I knew how clutter impacts our lives and wanted to help clients create space in their lives that would reduce stress and help them live more fulfilling lives. Read more>>

Maria Carla | Furniture Artist and Designer

Freedom to create and experience my own growth as an artist. I am an Engineer because back when I had to choose a career path I had no idea what I wanted to study and some of my cousins were engineers so that’s what I chose but after experiencing the engineering world I needed something more creative to go to work every day. Read more>>

Destini Russell | Organic essentials maker

DesJanay started as just a hobby. It was me collectively creating things to help with my personal issue like extremely dry skin, acne and at one time we even created customs keepsake blankets. So to explain my thought process really I was trying to survive and make a profit by helping people like me or blessing families with something that they can keep forever. Once I noticed that I was really helping people with my organic products. I then I realized I had to make this a business. over the years we went from a sole proprietor to an Llc in within a year of being in business. Dropping the customs off our Title making us DesJanay From Earth to Skin Llc. This jump was necessary even though I was new to business we were soaring and it was all happening so fast. Read more>>

Kristine Burns | Owner and Chief Administrator

We are four women who were all in education in varying capacities. We came together and created a private Montessori school from scratch. There was a need and we learned through trial and error what we needed to know to run a business. We were very clear on educational principles and backgrounds, but the business aspects definitely had a learning curve. But we were driven because we wanted to help our children, grandchildren, and greater Homestead/Florida City community. Read more>>

Vincent Daubas | Founder and Partner at Millesim, Music Director, Consultant

Vision has always been at the core of our philosophy: it’s not just about identifying the essentials, but recognizing and valuing what is often ignored. In the world of hospitality, a crucial aspect is regularly underestimated: the power of music. It’s a missed opportunity, an untapped potential in enriching the customer experience, and consequently, a significantly neglected source of revenue. Read more>>