Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration comes from the people society often overlooks—those fighting to rebuild their lives after addiction, incarceration, or hardship. Having walked that road myself, I saw how fragmented support systems can be. That experience inspired me to build CORA, a platform designed to connect services and measure real stability so people get help before they fall, not after.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by remembering where I came from and why I started. A few years ago I was struggling with addiction and instability. Today I’m building solutions to help others rebuild their lives. Every message from someone in recovery, every small win, reminds me that this work matters. My motivation is simple: if the system can be improved, people’s lives can change. Remember "Progress Over Perfection" even a small step in the right direction, means you're moving forwar

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the funding to accelerate development of CORA so it can reach the people who need it most. The goal is to build tools that help agencies coordinate services, track stability, and intervene earlier. Part of the funding would support pilot programs with recovery and community organizations so we can demonstrate measurable outcomes and expand the impact nationwide. You can learn more about the CORA Initiative here : https://corainitiative.org/