Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

I’m inspired by the underserved, by women who have survived abuse, and by the legacy of those who loved me early. My children, grandchildren, church family, and God keep me grounded. So do my failures, losses, rejection, racism, bullying, and surviving abuse and abandonment. Every sunrise, every breath, and every life touched by my voice or story reminds me to keep building, encouraging, and never giving up.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by purpose. Every morning I wake up grateful for another chance to create, serve, and encourage. My children, grandchildren, faith, and the people who need hope keep me going. I am also driven by everything I’ve survived—loss, rejection, abuse, and setbacks. They did not break me; they built me. Each day is proof that I still have work to do, lives to impact, and a reason to keep moving forward.

What would you do with the $25,000?

$25,000 would help me turn my safety invention into a working prototype and launch a five-phase pilot. Funds: $8,000 prototype design/engineering; $5,000 materials and manufacturing; $4,000 testing and safety validation; $3,000 app/software development; $2,500 legal/IP and compliance; $1,500 pilot training and outreach; $1,000 data collection and evaluation. This funding would move the idea from vision to real-world impact.