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.

Paige Mitchell | Founder at Recess OKC

I saw a need for workspace and childcare under the same roof. Many parents were working from home and needed another option besides traditional daycare. Parents were working at Starbucks, coffee shops and then dropping their kids off to me in my little apartment. I knew I had to fill this childcare gap for working parents. Read more>>

Trea Feist | Founder

Well I am Texas born and raised, Army Veteran and a bartender by trade, I really got tired of making other peoples dreams come true and decided to give myself a shot! Seeing these big premium brands that were just branding and packed with super sugary and “natural flavor” additives gave me an idea to get out from behind the bar and take a shot at my own dreams. Read more>>

David Hopkins | Instructional Video Creator / DIY Expert

My decision to start my own brand was founded in our passion of the DIY lifestyle and an effort to document things me and my family were already doing, and hopefully be able to teach others along the way. We are always working on some type of project, or a construction / remodeling project wherever we are living, so it seemed natural to me to point the camera and try to teach other people along the way. A perk of doing this was being able to leverage the success of the YouTube channel and other social accounts, to allow us to collaborate with tool manufacturers or other brands in the same space as us. Read more>>

Dewhya | Rapper, Song Writer, Music Producer & Poet

I wanted to create something that educates and encourages the youth. Aspire to inspire! Read more>>

Miche Van Essen | Management Consultant

My journey into entrepreneurship was born out of necessity and opportunity. After moving from the Netherlands to the US in 2012 I face some interesting challenges: my teaching credentials didn’t transfer, and visa restrictions limited my employment options. But I would find out later that this was just a catalyst for my business venture. Read more>>

Rachel Caldwell | At home Baker

I became a mom at a young age and never got into any sort of career. I finished my associates of science but since having kids, my husband and I agreed it made sense for me to stay home. I’ve always loved to bake and I wanted to create something fun and unique that not everyone was doing. Back in 2021, my sister and sister in law really encouraged me to start my own business. At this point our youngest was 6 months old but I really wanted to have something for myself and baking is what I love to do. Read more>>

Porsha Kimble | Cake Decorator & Flavor Producer

I wanted to be apart of everyone baking experience while in their home. Read more>>

Elizabeth O’dell | Property Manager/Real Estate Agent

I have been an entrepreneur for over 10 years now. I have had multiple businesses over the years. I have always had a passion for having my own business. Becoming a real estate agent was always something I wanted to do. All the businesses I had before definitely shaped me to the agent I am today. Read more>>

Morgan Larabee | Assistant Vice President of Iolite Studioz, Owner of CinnaBun Designs, Vtuber and Voice Actress

I was very passionate about acting growing up and in 2011 was inspired by anime voice actors to start my journey in voice acting. Along the way I learned so much that I wanted to help others enter the industry of entertainment. I joined my father on his entrepreneurial adventure to start a local studio in the Dallas Texas area as his Assistant Vice President of Iolite Studioz. Read more>>

Rasya Ramakrishnan | Founder & Managing Partner at Girls Fund the World

“Now, 6.6% of Fortune 500 companies have women CEOs!”  Reading this newspaper on the breakfast table, my 12-year-old self was too young to understand corporate hierarchies; however, even she knew 6.6% was not something to celebrate. Read more>>

Joe Weisbeck | RN & Clinic Manager

addition to our full time positions for awhile. As we started to hear more and more about the power and impact of ketamine therapy for mental health conditions, we just couldn’t ignore the evidence. We are a husband/wife team uniquely prepared to offer ketamine services in our community. Meghan is a board-certified anesthesiologist and Joe is a Registered Nurse. We thought this novel treatment would be a welcome resource in our area. There were some other, similar offices in the DFW area, but nothing in our immediate area. Read more>>

José Miguel Santelices | Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance | Classically Trained Singer | Voice Pedagogue | Stage Director

After earning my doctorate in vocal performance, I faced the reality of my career choice. Unfortunately, there is an oversupply of singers with doctorates nowadays, and very few university positions are available. Securing a professorship is almost like an impossible quest, where having an existing connection with the search committee makes for a significant comparative advantage. Read more>>

Marchantia Smith | Marchantia Smith Events – Owner & Lead Planner

Hello! I am Marchantia Smith, the Owner and Lead Planner at Marchantia Smith Events. I founded my business in the summer of 2022, turning my passion for planning beautifully crafted weddings and special occasions into a thriving career. With a background in Information Technology at a Fortune 500 snack and beverage company and my Project Management Professional Certification, I bring a unique blend of strategic planning and meticulous attention to detail to every event. These experiences have allowed me to seamlessly plan, design, and execute corporate, social, and private events for my clients. Read more>>

Michelle Word | Gluten Free Cottage Baker

I have never been a good baker. I would always try my hand at made from scratch items with limited success. However, a few years ago, I stumbled upon gluten free baking bloggers and their treats looked so incredibly delicious. I followed them and would look at their treats and wish that I could bake as well as they did. Then, one Christmas, I received a recipe book for those drool worthy treats. It took me eight months to work up the courage to try one of the recipes! Of course, I started with a very complicated lemon poppyseed cupcake with lemon curd filling and Swiss meringue frosting. Read more>> 

Sonali Chodavadia & Shrinkhala Rai | Sonali Chodavadia | Co-Founder & VP of Operations Shrinkhala Rai | Co-Founder & VP of Design

Starting an event planning business often involves a combination of passion for creativity, organizational skills, and a desire to help others celebrate important moments. Starting our event planning business stemmed from recognizing significant gaps in the industry while working with various other companies. We noticed inconsistencies in client communication, a lack of personalized service, and limited creativity in event design. This experience fueled our passion to create a business that prioritizes attention to detail, innovative solutions, and genuine connections with clients. By addressing these gaps, we aim to deliver exceptional experiences that truly reflect each client’s vision and needs. Read more>>