The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.
Destiny Smith
I’ve always loved beauty, but makeup was the service I started with before I even knew how far this business would take me. I decided to go to esthetician school in 2024, and while I was in school, I got pregnant with my second child. After having my baby in December 2024, I made a decision that changed everything for me. Read more>>
Deliyah Ledford
I grew up in East Tennessee (Chattanooga Area) but was born in Alabama. I came to Memphis for college during the pandemic in 2020 and I’ve been here ever since. While here, I’ve completed my Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. I had two minors in Spanish and Biology. Read more>>
Porsha Parks
‘I started BOLD Athletics because I saw a heartbreaking trend in youth volleyball: the game was becoming entirely about budget rather than talent or potential. So many kids were being priced out of playing at a highly competitive level, and I wanted to change that. Read more>>
Cora Jayne Stanford
When I was 15 years old, I started taking photos of my grandmother’s plants on my grandfather’s phone. I didn’t have a ‘fun’ camera, and no one in my family was a photographer, so I didn’t really know what I was doing; I just knew I loved it. When it came time to tour colleges and think about a career. Read more>>
Deirdre Pernell
My love for travel started long before I ever imagined owning a travel business. I was just 8 years old when I boarded my first Delta Airlines flight to Alabama. I still remember the excitement of getting on that plane and going somewhere different. That experience sparked a curiosity about the world that never left me. Read more>>
Danijha Foust
I’m Danijha Foust and I’m 23 so my story is far from complete but so far this is it. I grew up in San Diego California and I’ve always wanted to be a model. Growing up in California it’s easy to be drawn to wanting to be famous and a celebrity. I’ve always been passionate about this and my love for art. Read more>>
Tavia Al-Nemer
I started Easy Tiger Craft Club by making collages with my friends and coworkers in November of 2025. I organized a different craft event each month at either my mom’s, sister’s, or my house. Eventually, we outgrew living rooms so my friend connected me with the manager at Hampline Brewing. Read more>>
Whitney Lavender
In 2017 I was living a normal, busy, life…running a family HVAC business in Texas, raising two boys, running to sporting events, and hunting every chance I could get. Then on November 27, 2017 I went to pick my boys up for school, went in to sign out for a basketball jersey, and went to leave. In one split second, everything changed. Read more>>
Kyla Andrews
I started my brand when I was 14, with just a dream & a makeup brush. Overtime, I developed my skill by practicing day & night. Being an entrepreneur has tested me in ways I can’t imagine. Read more>>
Renee Pinlac
I always say that De La Belle wasn’t something I dreamed up overnight—it really grew out of the different chapters of my life and career. I’ve been a nurse practitioner for almost 25 years and have spent over 30 years working in healthcare, with much of my career centered around endocrinology, cancer, weight management, wellness and caring for patients through different stages of their lives. Read more>>
Kenitra Wright
The Wright Event Planner started from my genuine love for bringing people together and creating memorable experiences. What began as a passion for helping others celebrate life’s special moments has grown into a business centered around organization, creativity, and exceptional service. Read more>>
Cynthia-Kila’ Wilson, MBA, M.S., CE-E,
I’m Cynthia-Kila’—pronounced Key-Lay—a Memphis-born strategist, practitioner, and builder. Long before I had formal language for what I was creating, I was paying attention to how systems shape people, businesses, and communities. I graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Nonprofit Management and began my career in community-based work, supporting outreach initiatives, grant management, and local organizations. Read more>>
Eric Nielsen
I took the scenic route into artist management. I was a musician first and still consider myself one. I studied at Berklee in the late 1970s, spent decades in and around Austin’s music community and, when I was younger, had the opportunity to play in a big band backing Dizzy Gillespie’s quintet. That will rearrange your understanding of musical command fairly quickly. Read more>>
Dondrika Lacy
This is my story: I remember thinking back as a young lady no matter how beautiful I was on the outside; I was missing something on the inside of myself. Once I discovered what I was missing on the inside of myself; this is when my life completely changed for the better and it keeps getting better! Read more>>
