Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

Honestly, my parents - but maybe not in the way it sounds. They’ve worked in corporate America for as long as I can remember, building stable, successful careers. For a while, I thought that was my path too. I even tried it with Chick-fil-A and Aramark. Watching them taught me the value of hard work, but also helped me realize I wanted something different - something I could build on my own.

How do you stay motivated?

My daughter, my husband, and future entrepreneurs are at the heart of everything I do. When work feels heavy, I think of my family - of building something that supports us, that brings my husband into the business one day, and that my daughter might be proud to carry on. And beyond that, I’m driven by the hope of showing others that it’s possible to build something from nothing.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would open a storefront in my local community that blends a beautiful retail space with a functional back-end for production and shipping. I’d add more machines to increase efficiency and take on more orders, and then focus on growing my own clothing line to continue building the PRESH brand.