Who or what is your inspiration in business?

When my daughter started school, I began working for someone with a vision for a coffee shop but not the drive to bring it to life. A coworker and I reimagined what it could be and pitched our ideas—his response was, “why don’t you just buy it?” At a turning point in my life, I took that as a sign. I wanted to build something my girls could be proud of and create a place that truly serves and cares for the community—so I took the leap.

How do you stay motivated?

Starting a business with no experience is intimidating—everything has been learned step by step. I stay motivated by giving it my all and pushing myself to see what I’m capable of. Watching what I’ve built grow, and creating a place that people genuinely enjoy, drives me to keep improving and moving forward every day.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the funds to expand my business by adding a second bathroom to improve the customer experience. I would also invest in refining our mobile coffee setup and securing proper licensing to boost profits and brand visibility. Any remaining funds would be donated to support school meal programs for underprivileged children, helping ensure they have access to breakfast and lunch.