Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration for business is rooted in a deeply personal mission. I ground this mission in three core principles, (oddly, inspired by The Wizard of Oz: passion, intelligence, and courage). Without these held in balance, the mission fails. When I look for a model of these character traits, there is no one compared to the person of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who, within my life time, has lived a life reflecting the ultimate epitome of these character traits accomplishing the unimaginable.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by purpose and perspective believing my life has something more to offer and to leave as legacy. I wake up everyday with one question on my mind. What can I do today, even in difficult moments. As Winston Churchill said, “Never give up!” That mindset drives me to push through challenges, trust the process, and continue building solutions that matter. Motivation isn’t constant—it’s built daily through discipline, resilience, and a commitment to somet

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use $10,000 to finalize the Aveyawear jewelry tool design and $15,000 to place pipeline orders of the Aveyawear jewelry line making our product D2C market ready.