Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration comes from the resilience of displaced communities and youth who were never given safe spaces to heal. I’m also inspired by purpose-driven education models that prioritize emotional intelligence and self-awareness over survival conditioning. Every young person who chooses growth over pain fuels my work.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by remembering why I started—turning pain into purpose. Daily grounding practices, reflection, and witnessing real transformations in the lives of youth keep me aligned. When even one person finds clarity in who they are, it reinforces that this work matters.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest in scaling the School of Ikigai’s youth programs—developing curriculum, training facilitators, and expanding access to underserved communities. This funding would also support the Sawa healing circles and digital platform, allowing us to reach more youth globally and provide tools for trauma healing, purpose discovery, and long-term resilience.