Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My mother rebuilt our family after losing my father, without access to formal capital or institutional networks. That taught me the gap between human potential and economic opportunity is structural, not personal. Muhammad Yunus proved that capital deployed with trust in overlooked markets does not just grow businesses. It expands opportunity for entire communities. That is my inspiration. And the foundation on which EmpowerHer Capital is built.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by focusing on long-term systems change. The global informal economy represents billions of people with limited access to capital, yet enormous entrepreneurial potential. Every business we support is a step toward proving that inclusive financial infrastructure can unlock growth at scale. That mission keeps the work disciplined and focused.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The funding would expand EmpowerHer Capital’s next cohort of women entrepreneurs and strengthen the platform’s mentorship and financial training programs. Our model pairs catalytic capital with operational support to help informal businesses stabilize revenue and grow. The goal is to refine a scalable approach for expanding access to capital across the global informal economy.