Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration in business comes from how people create and hold spaces. My grandfather showed me the power of steady presence, my mother the value of genuine conversation, and my sister how to make people feel welcome without effort. Together, they shaped my belief that a business should feel easy to enter, meaningful to stay in, and natural to return to.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated through the people around me. My partner Red constantly pushes me to be better and keep moving forward. The community steadily growing at Oliver reminds me why the work matters by seeing familiar faces return and connect. I also stay grounded in building something meaningful, focusing on consistency, and improving the space a little more each day.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’d invest it directly back into the business. I’d bring on and properly train a new barista to strengthen the day-to-day experience and create more consistency in the space. I’d also allocate it toward improving operations, refining the customer environment, and giving the business more room to grow without losing what makes it work.