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.

Gladys Adarkwah | Founder & CEO OF GLOWADARKWAH

I have had the privilege of traveling to over 16 different countries, primarily in Asia and I loved every second of every trip. But what I loved more was how refreshed and renewed I felt after each trip. There is really a GLOW that comes upon you when you take the time to step away from your comfort zone and explore the world of the unknown, try new foods and meet new people. Read more>>

Joseph Kuipers | Creative Director, Texas Cellos

Curiosity and creation of beauty are two of my core values. Over the course of my life I have been fortunate to perform and study in many of the great music centers around the world. I did my undergraduate at New England Conservatory in Boston, then I spent most of my 20s in Europe, studying in Germany and Switzerland. I wanted to bring this culture of fresh, expressive music making to Dallas, Texas. Read more>>

Jackson Traeger | Graphic Designer

I started my own business because I saw a gap in the market for young and experimental creatives like myself in my area. I believe my skills address that unmet need and can improve upon existing design firms in the DFW. I had motivation to begin after I finished at Texas Tech University that I started the day I graduated. Read more>>

Flora Martinez Vazquez | Bilingual Latina Counselor

Florecer translates to flourish or bloom. I chose Florecer because I want people to flourish from within, “florecer desde adentro”. I created Florecer Counseling Services with the Latinx community in mind, specifically Latina women. It is important for me to create accessible mental health services for clients who speak Spanish, Spanglish, English, or slang. Read more>>

Rekha Suryanarayana | Non-profit Co-founder and Mom

I am an engineer by training, and I had never imagined that one day I would be the co-founder of an organization serving children and young adults who are neurodiverse. (We used to call this population special needs, but our community is moving away from using that term). When my son, Siddhartha, was born in 1998, my husband Suri had the opportunity to take an overseas assignment in Scotland. Read more>>

Manju Nivsarkar | Adaptive Fitness Trainer & Baker

I had always been an advocate for exercise and actively pursuing a healthy lifestyle. I realized that while programs were available for the public, they rarely were accessible to those with special needs. I recognized that this missing service was one of the primary reasons why the special needs community had a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits. Upon doing more research on how I could help, I found Special Strong. Read more>>

Hank Shaw | chef and cookbook author

It started as a food blog in 2007, something to do in my spare time — an outlet for food writing when I was a political reporter in Sacramento. But very quickly Hunter Angler Gardener Cook got recognized, and I was nominated for a James Beard Award twice — 2009 and 2010 — and then opportunities started to roll in. So I took a chance, and started doing this full time. Happy to say I’ve never missed a bill payment since, 13 years later. So far so good. Read more>>

Sheridan Robinson | Operations Director

The rebel thought process behind starting my own business was to make money and defy all odds of being a subordinate. However, my true thought process behind starting my business was to create a safe and transparent work environment for individuals who wanted to serve others in a more holistic approach and to also create a safe environment for individuals to receive therapy in a non-traditional way. Read more>>

Samantha Baker | Premier Equine and Pet Portrait Photographer

Growing up, I was deeply in touch with my artistic side; doodles of horses and animals adorned the margins of my class notes. I took numerous art classes, incorporating animals into every piece. Eventually, I worked as a veterinary technician and loved it, but I wanted to also share my art. Living in the rolling hills and horses in Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, I purchased my first DSLR camera, set out on my journey as a professional photographer. Read more>>

Mike Lucero | Owner/builder

Initially I wanted to recover a Marshall 412 cabinet. After stripping it down I begin to see some things that I felt could be better. After making a couple of test run cabs, I started noticing there was a demand for 212 cabinets. Read more>>

Ty Harper | Photographer and Artist

Being creative requires a level of skill and effort that many of us, in some form, want affirmation for. Why I’ve enjoyed the community I’ve built around my photography. I did want some compensation for my level of effort. Additionally, there’s a sense of legitimacy given to your work when it’s within the structure of your business. Ultimately, I determined that having a business didn’t dramatically affect my creative process as long as I took on the right clients who respected my process. Read more>>

Michelle Dugas and Amy Hebert | Event Planners / Advisors / Best Friends / Mothers / Creators of Fun

AMPL!FY partners, Michelle and Amy, both have backgrounds in marketing, event planning, and fundraising as an occupation and as volunteers. We have over 25 years of combined experience planning festivals, races, galas, and corporate events to name a few. Read more>>

Vanessa Duran | Fashion Director & Wardrobe Stylist

I always knew that I loved fashion when I was a little girl I used to cut up my socks to make dresses for my Barbies and decorate them and my friends were always wanting to know where I got my clothes from.
I have a lot of older sisters that were all so stylish and we’re the start of my clothing and styling inspiration. Read more>>

Ernest Ej Jones | Founder of The Management company “Triple D Xpresxions” #TDX

My thought process was ambitious & hungry . I want to have the world an I know it takes a great amount of work. So I know I had to be hungry for the new life I wanted for myself. Read more>>

Lorina Coleman | Beauty and Wellness practitioner

I started MTM Solutions when I recognized that there was a need for a company that bridged the gap between beauty and wellness. The mission of MTM Solutions is to help our clients feel and be their most beautiful by offering beauty treatments and holistic wellness products that encourage beauty from the inside out. Read more>>

Lauren Pittman | Professional Cleaner & Organizer

I have always known I would own my own business I just didn’t know when or what it would be. I took some time to really think about my skills and passions. That’s where cleaning and organizing came in. Im good at it, I love doing it and there’s always a market for it. However, in the cleaning industry there’s not much awareness about the harsh chemicals in everyday cleaning products. Read more>>

Shambrie Prince | Makeup Artist and Beauty Consultant

My thought process behind starting my own business was LEGACY. Building a legacy for my children. Something to call my own, something I worked hard for and loved doing. I’ve always dreamed of being my own boss and having financial freedom for my family. What better way to do it than to own my own business and doing something I love and am passionate about. Read more>>

Sheena Bray | Decorator & Event Planning

I always giggle when asked this question. I’ve always had the passion for creativity and thinking outside the box. Turning something plain, old, or odd into something spectacular excites me. Even in my regular 9 to 5 my office is transformed into a space that you’d have in your home. My family and friends have always been my biggest support system. Feeding my creative niche and giving me small jobs to complete keep me going. Read more>>

Brook Miller | RN, Owner

I had thought about opening a Med Spa for years and years and just never had the courage or support to do so. I am a nurse so by nature I want to help people improve their quality of life. I had worked in the ER for nearly a decade and was looking for a way to continue to impact lives, just in a different skill set. By finally starting my own business I have been able to not only improve my clients confidence levels but also be able to teach them about all of the different treatments available to them. Read more>>

Yessy Rosas | Licensed Esthetician

I decided I wanted to start my own business because I wanted to pursue my dreams in the beauty industry. Working in the bank industry for several many years drained me & my capability. I knew I was capable of so much much more. I decided to take the risk & leave the steady paychecks behind. I knew running a business was going to be a 24/7 job & I was ready to dedicate my all to my small business. I was more motivated than ever to pursue my career upon my daughters arrival. Read more>>

Candie Barber | Notary, Life Insurance Agent, Tax Specialist ,Independent Adjuster & Tradeline Specialist

This questions always makes me smile when I am asked, because quite frankly each time I thought of owning my own business all I could think about was being in control of the way I delegated my time. Life is short but moves so fast and I would prefer to spend my time doing what I Love with the people I Love. I craved bigger things in life and that’s the beauty of humankind, we are created so uniquely + purposeful with different solidity and principles. Read more>>

Christina Bass | Esthetician

I came up with my business from being inspired when I was a little girl. I just remember being in the bathroom in seventh or eighth grade, arching my eyebrows with an eyebrow razor and charging my friends five bucks doing their eyebrows. I’ve always had the passion of making people look beautiful naturally. My business,, Sekani Skincare is named after my son Sekani. His name mean “joy and laughter” in Swahili. Read more>>

Christina Thomas | The Brew Mistress – Woman in Beer

My journey into the craft beer industry was driven by two main factors. First and foremost, I wanted to honor the legacy of my mother’s bakery, which had a significant influence on my life. The aroma of freshly baked goods and the love and dedication my mother poured into her craft were invaluable to me. I wanted to translate that same level of passion and artistry into the world of craft beer. Read more>>

Sagirah Wheeler | L1 Apparel CEO

I am an amateur competitive bowler. I bowled as a youth, in college, and now as an adult. When attending bowling tournaments, you may be required to wear apparel that has your name on it. And, of course, as a millennial, we like our clothes to represent our personality or skill. I found myself purchasing jerseys from apparel companies but needing more. Read more>>

Ken Nwankwo | Dentist, Husband and Encourager

My wife and I have a heart for people. Our thought process behind opening our own private dental office was to create and cultivate an atmosphere of restoration, belonging and care between team and patient family with full freedom. We believe everyone deserves to see themselves with health self-esteem and a part of that is with a confident smile. This was the inspiration for our name, ConfiDent Smile Studio. Read more>>

Baxter McDonald | Owner & Executive Chef of Emerald Sky Catering

The thoughts of starting my own business have been brewing for years. I have always known I wanted to become a business owner. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so for me the question for me was what my business was going to be. As soon as I got introduced to the culinary world, I jumped full-fledged. I quickly realized I wanted to own my own catering company and restaurant. Read more>>