Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration is the hustlers and dreamers from the East St. Louis urban core who turned limited resources into real impact. Growing up seeing Black entrepreneurs create something from nothing fuels me. I’m building to show the next generation from our community that Digital Arts, AI skills, marketing & promotion can be our new path to wealth and independence

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by remembering the kids in my neighborhood who need to see proof that someone from here can win big in tech and creativity. Every time I teach AI or help someone launch their digital brand, I feel the mission in my bones. Legacy over likes — that’s my fuel.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’d invest it straight into my Digital Arts, Marketing & Promotion, and AI skills business. $10k on high-end equipment + software, $8k on targeted marketing campaigns to land my first clients in East St. Louis and beyond, $5k on launching an “AI Hustle Lab” for local youth (ages 14–24), and $2k on legal/setup to go pro. The AI training program would offer free weekly workshops teaching practical AI tools (ChatGPT, Midjourney, Canva Magic) for digital art, content crea