Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration came from a simple belief that businesses should be able to grow without abandoning ethics. When I started Designs by Nature Gems, I hadn’t heard many stories proving that a handcrafted company could scale while treating people fairly. I wanted to see if it was possible. The artisans, team members, and customers who have joined us since then continue to reinforce that responsible businesses can create meaningful work and lasting impact.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by focusing on the long-term impact of what we are building. Designs by Nature Gems has created more than 92,000 hours of work across our artisan and operations team. I also want to show that an ethical, handcrafted company can grow onto the global stage. Building responsibly is rarely a straight path—we have had to fall, rebuild, and keep going—but proving it is possible keeps me moving forward.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The funding would support the next stage of growth for Designs by Nature Gems as we expand internationally, beginning with the UK. With early traction including British Vogue coverage and acceptance to the Jewellery Show London, this investment would strengthen production capacity, support our artisan team, and build the infrastructure needed to scale responsibly while creating meaningful employment through handcrafted production.