Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My greatest inspiration is my father, Joseph Deon McGhee. He was a businessman and the first Jackson State alumnus to attend and graduate from Harvard Business School. He showed me what is possible. After losing him to a stress-induced heart attack at 54, I committed to building DEON LIBRA—carrying forward his example while founding a company that centers nervous system care alongside ambition.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by purpose and responsibility. Losing my father to a stress-induced heart attack made me realize how deeply chronic stress affects high-achieving individuals, especially within the Black community. Building DEON LIBRA allows me to turn my loss into action, creating products and rituals that help people pursue ambitious lives without sacrificing their well-being. I can't save my Dad, but I may save someone else's, and that's enough to keep me going.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The $25,000 would help us scale DEON LIBRA’s production and infrastructure as we expand our home fragrance line. Funding would support manufacturing larger product runs, packaging, and inventory, allowing us to meet demand while maintaining quality. It would also help us invest in the operational systems needed to grow a culturally relevant wellness brand rooted in stress recovery and ritual.