Who or what is your inspiration in business?

I’m inspired by entrepreneurs who turned their vision into lasting impact. Growing up, I was inspired by entrepreneurs and business owners like late Jack Kent Cooke, who grew up in poverty, built an empire and left behind a legacy and a foundation that has changed people's lives decades later. Their resilience, ownership and philanthropy inspire me to help others turn their pain into purpose and leave behind a legacy of impact!

How do you stay motivated?

My motivation comes from my determination to break the cycles of poverty in my own family and the young people I serve through ScholarCHIPS, pursuing college despite the challenges of parental incarceration. Their resilience reminds me why the work matters. I am also driven by the belief that my story of overcoming adversity can help others build purpose-driven lives. I’m determined to establish a legacy that will inspire for generations.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the funds to strengthen the long-term sustainability of ScholarCHIPS. A portion would seed an early endowment—an uncommon but powerful step toward building generational impact and financial stability for the organization. The rest would support our 15th scholar cohort and allow me to invest in professional development so that my team and I can master storytelling, lead generation and come up with a core product offer to help diversify the organization's revenue streams.