Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Crystal Espinosa

Miami needs more poetry. Read More>>

Janyia Lumsdon

The reason I started doing hair is because I’ve always had a passion for beauty and self-expression. Growing up, I was the go-to person for family and friends whenever they needed their hair done—whether it was for a special event or just to feel more confident. I loved seeing how a fresh style could completely change someone’s mood and boost their self-esteem. Over time, I realized this wasn’t just a hobby—it was a calling. Doing hair lets me connect with people, express my creativity, and make a difference in how others see themselves. That’s what inspired me to turn this passion into a business. Read More>>

Arianna Bladon

When I decided to step out on my own, the question I kept circling back to was: “What does *ideal* learning actually look like for a child?” After nearly two decades inside traditional systems—as a classroom teacher, curriculum specialist, and even an administrator—I could see both the promise *and* the limitations. Class sizes were growing, assessments were getting higher-stakes, and the space for curiosity kept shrinking. Parents were coming to me after school hours asking how to keep their kids motivated, and teachers were quietly admitting they wished they had more room to individualize. Read More>>

 Jose Herrera

Honestly, I didn’t start my business with a five-year plan or a vision board full of metrics. I started it because I had no other choice but to listen to my soul.

At first, I was chasing shortcuts. I wanted to find a fast way to make it—something that would get me out of survival mode quickly. But life humbled me. Over and over. Until I finally understood that there are no shortcuts to something meaningful. Only hard work, commitment, and a ridiculous amount of self-discipline. Read More>>

Elizabeth Fabars

Starting my own business wasn’t just a decision — it was born from a deeply personal experience. As a pediatrician and a mother, I’ve always been passionate about caring for babies and preserving the beauty of early motherhood. But it wasn’t until I had to cancel my own daughter’s newborn session that everything truly changed for me. Read More>>

Shareese Logan

Starting my business wasn’t just about skincare — it was about purpose. I’ve always believed that beauty is more than skin deep, and I wanted to create a space where people felt seen, cared for, and radiant from the inside out. My thought process was rooted in passion, healing, and a commitment to helping others feel confident in their own skin. I took a leap, invested in myself, and built Logan Skincare to be more than a service — it’s a lifestyle, a community, and a reflection of my journey as a woman, esthetician, and future cosmetic nurse. Read More>>

Kathleen Ragland

My journey into entrepreneurship has been anything but linear—it’s been an evolving
story of self-discovery, reinvention, and embracing creativity in ways I never imagined.
Over the past 35 years, I’ve pursued various business endeavors, each one teaching Read More>>

Ober Delgado

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and after a fulfilling decade in the corporate world—working in communications and public relations, which I truly love—I felt ready to pursue a passion that had been growing for years: real estate. My corporate experience gave me the opportunity to grow professionally, travel, build relationships, and, most importantly, create the financial foundation and confidence to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Read More>>

Terry Jacobs

Upon arriving in Miami in the early ’80’s I recognized the absence of a cosmetic line specifically dedicated to products tailored for individuals living and working in tropical regions. Charles Revson always said, ‘If you want to be successful, you have to do something, to stand out from the rest. “ Therefore, Le Tropique, Inc. became Terry Jacobs Cosmetics for the Tropics with my signature product Tropical Waters Cooling Mist. It was here that my signature product, Tropical Waters Cooling Mist, was born. Combining aloe, herbs, and soothing mints, the alcohol-free formula addressed the unique needs of those living and working in hot , humid climates. Read More>>

Angela Maleh

As a classically trained cellist with a master’s degree from Yale University, I have spent the past 18 years performing with the Miami City Ballet and in esteemed orchestras like Boca Sinfonia, Orchestra Miami, and the Atlantic Classical Orchestra. My life has always been defined by the artistry, creativity, and self-discipline demanded by classical music. Each performance is a delicate balance of precision and emotion, a blend of technical mastery and creative expression. Read More>>

Bud Fleisher

Early on, I realized that most of us spend a large portion of our lives working—our waking hours are often devoted to contributing to the world in one way or another. I’d had a few jobs, and I was good at them. I was always hired, no matter the role, and that gave me confidence in my ability to take on almost anything I set my mind to. But I also noticed a recurring pattern: no matter how capable I was, there were often external factors—organizational shifts, leadership changes, decisions made above or below me—that could impact the work in ways I couldn’t control. Sometimes those changes helped, but often, they didn’t Read More>>

Maria Preston

I really didn’t think about it….I jumped right in and just trusted that it would all work out as long as long as I worked from my heart and fought for the special individuals I work with. Read More>>

Funky Matas

I don’t know if there was a crazy thought process behind it. I think it was more just the fact that I would rather die than work for someone or having someone tell me what to do. I like being free. I like my liberty. I like doing exactly what I want, when I want. My mental peace is priceless. Read More>>

Angeline Myers

The business actually began unintentionally. I originally wrote my book as a passion project—something personal and therapeutic for me. It wasn’t meant to become a business at first. But as I shared parts of it, word started to spread. People connected with it and began asking for their own copies. That organic interest made me realize there was a real demand, and it inspired me to take the next step. What started as a healing process for myself turned into something that could impact and support others—and that’s what motivated me to turn it into a business. Read More>>

Diego De Vera

I decided to start my own business because I am passionate about fitness , fighting and martial arts , and I saw a significant gap in the market that I believed I could fill with a unique solution. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to create something of my own. Starting a business not only allows me to be my own boss but also gives me the freedom to innovate and make decisions independently. Read More>>

Jaime Rodriguez

I wanted to wake up late… Lol. Just kidding. Not really. I wanted to be able to create without having restrictions. I just find it exciting when a client comes to me with a spark of an idea and I help them turn it into something they had only dreamed about. Read More>>

Vanessa Bloom

It was something that I had always thought about but just continued to stay “comfortable” in a salon. I think the main deciding factor is being mentally prepared for something “new”. The mindset of just showing up to do the hair but NOW showing up for the business end of it too. It is a transformative experience and although I say, “why did I wait so long”, I know the timing for everything in life happens when it’s supposed to. I feel most happy now than ever hair designing. Read More>>

Javier Salgueiro

Alex and I share the same hometown, Caracas, Venezuela, but we met in Miami in 2019, when a mutual best friend introduced two water-obsessed strangers who quickly realized they’d grown up only a few neighborhoods apart. Our bond formed on the sandbars and mangrove cuts of Biscayne Bay, where the sea breeze felt like home and every outing reminded us of days spent between the Caribbean coast and the green slopes of El Ávila back in Venezuela. Those memories hard-wired us to chase sunlight, open water, and the chance to help others feel that same sense of freedom. Read More>>

 Elizaveta Konoshenko

I started my business because I saw a real gap between creative vision and flawless execution in the events world. After years of managing high-end experiences, I realized that many companies needed not just ideas, but operational support that understands luxury, logistics, and pressure. I’m not just a service provider — I step in as a partner, whether for one event or an ongoing collaboration. I aim to make others shine while ensuring everything behind the scenes runs seamlessly. Read More>>

Laura And Maisha Chaves And Mitchell

Moms On Caffeine, stemmed from intimate conversations that we both had as boy moms while sipping our coffee on our commutes to work. What started as casual chats soon revealed something deeper—we were touching on topics that felt both meaningful and often unspoken, yet likely relatable to so many other moms out there. Read More>>

Leonie Resuma

I officially started my business out of necessity. —I couldn’t get to work, so I had to hustle to pay my bills. That challenge pushed me to bet on myself. I also wanted freedom, control over my income, and the chance to create something meaningful. I saw a gap in how clients were being educated about hair health, and I knew I could fill it with purpose, passion, and real results. Read More>>

Jennifer Thacker

The thought of starting Parents at Play, came to me when the place where I was teaching parent/child classes and preschool closed in 2021. At the age of 58 I found myself out of work, I was a stay at home Mom for 15 years. I started Parents at Play because I really missed teaching, helping, listening and getting to know all the amazing parents/caregivers and watching them and their children learn and grow through sensory play. Read More>>

Jhanille S.

Since the start of my career, I’ve always poured passion into every project, whether it was during an internship or a full-time role. But over time, I realized that no matter how much you give to a company, you’re often just a number on a payroll or a title on an org chart. That realization shifted everything for me. Instead of chasing the next big marketing role, I made the decision to take everything I’ve learned and pour it into my own business, helping small business owners brand and operate their companies with a similar strategy and intention as larger corporations. It was a way to reclaim my value and build something that truly reflects who I am. Read More>>

 Martina Gurgel

My thought process behind starting my own business was deeply rooted in my passion for jewelry and my extensive background in the fashion industry. After more than sixteen years working in the field, I felt the urge to merge my expertise and love for design into something personal and meaningful. I realized that I could offer a fresh perspective on classic jewelry designs by reimagining them with modern concepts, blending timeless luxury with contemporary elements. Read More>>

Luca Creed

The thought process behind starting Blockrise came from a mix of passion, frustration, and a genuine desire to build something meaningful—not just for myself, but for others. I’ve always believed that the financial system as we know it is built to keep most people in the dark. Crypto changed that for me. It gave me freedom, flexibility, and the power to grow my income on my terms. Once I started seeing real success from trading and creating meme coins, I knew I was sitting on something bigger than just personal wins—I had something teachable. Something I could pass on. Read More>>

Adi Kaplan

Honestly, starting my own business was never part of some big plan—it grew from life, love, and necessity. I was a career woman with a Master’s in Industrial Engineering, fully invested in the corporate world. But after struggling for four years to get pregnant, everything shifted once I finally had my first child. All I wanted was to be a stay-at-home mom. Read More>>

Nadiya Williams

My brand wasn’t born from a business plan — it was born from real life.
In 2018, I went through breast cancer and a painful divorce — experiences that completely shifted my perspective. I had to choose between staying in survival or stepping into growth. I chose to understand myself deeply, to rebuild my self-worth, my femininity, my connection to my own body. Read More>>

Casey Hambro

Starting Faceby.case was really a natural next step for me. I’ve always been passionate about skincare, especially because I’ve dealt with my own skin challenges—like hormonal acne, scarring, and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. That personal experience made me want to help others feel confident in their skin too because I fell in love with finding out what works for me and my skin. Skincare is not a one size fits all, so it truly is trial and error. Read More>>