It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Dallas.

Idalia ‘Sandy’ Jones

I recently retired from the Dallas Police Department and throughout my career and even before, all I wanted to do and did was travel. Seeing all that I was able to experience and see I decided that others needed to see these awesome beauties of the world as well. Read more>>

Cody Hahn Kim Kueberth

Often times, inspirational stories tell the journey of one person, but in our story, Elemental Farm would not exist without the two of us falling in love and sharing a dream. So we decided to write this together and share how it all started with a click of a button. Read more>>

Gabriela Deantoni

Our business was born from a simple but powerful belief — that the most meaningful moments in life deserve to feel special, warm, and unforgettable. We are a family-owned social bar catering service built on passion, creativity, and connection. What started as a small idea quickly turned into something much bigger. Read more>>

Robyn Reyna

I moved to Texas when I was 12 years old and eventually planted my roots in Burleson, where my husband—my high school sweetheart of 26 years—and I raised our three children. Family and hard work have always been at the center of my life. Read more>>

Jose Cortina

Like many collectors, my journey started with a simple passion for the hobby. Growing up around trading cards and collectibles, I always loved the excitement that came with them—the thrill of finding a card you’ve been searching for and the friendships that naturally form between collectors. Over time, I began to notice something in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Read more>>

Stephen Slaughter

At UTSA, I majored in Marketing, minored in Spanish, and earned a scholarship to study abroad in Spain. Following college, I had an invitation to go work for Giovanni Mastromatteo in Europe, which came through our time in the shoe industry. Giovanni apprenticed under Salvatore Ferragamo and invited me to work with Intertech Shoes in Florence. There, I learned contract negotiation, purchasing, and logistics. Read more>>

Tony ‘The B’ Roberson

My journey in music has always been connected to something deeper than sound. I first began creating and releasing music under the name Tony B, a season of my life where I was discovering both my voice as an artist and my purpose as a person. Read more>>

Mook Bagley

Elite Sports University (ESU) was established in 2018 by co-owners Ryan Tennison and Emmanuel “Mook” Bagley with a clear mission: to positively impact individuals through health and wellness while developing athletes across all sports—from youth to the professional level. Over the past eight years, ESU has become one of the premier athletic development programs in the city, producing measurable and lasting results. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Gardner

Anyone who works in the Food and Beverage or Hospitality industry knows there can be hurdles and rough roads along the way but the clients and team members make it all worth while. Every event is a fun new challenge and that’s what makes this industry so exciting. Read more>>

Antoinette Thompson

Started singing and doing a little modeling at a young age until I started playing sports (volleyball, basketball, track, cross country, softball) in middle school. High school chose 3 sports. Was offered a scholarship in all 3 (volleyball, basketball, track) chose basketball Went to Texas Christian University (TCU) No kids Raised by mom no father growing up. Wasn’t present. Read more>>

Ana Torres

My story really begins with a love for people and a desire to create meaningful connections. I’ve always been drawn to community—bringing people together, educating them, and giving them experiences that feel intentional and memorable. Read more>>

Gwen Miller

I walked into a human trafficking awareness luncheon. I came as a favor to a friend who was part of the host team. What I heard that day from three speakers changed my life forever. I learned Dallas ranks #2 for the trafficking problem in the state of Texas. 400 minors are trafficked on the streets of Dallas nightly. Read more>>

David Brownell

My journey into canine training began with a simple truth I discovered early in life. I loved dogs and I loved helping people. What started as a fascination with working dogs eventually became a lifelong calling. Early in my career I served as a United States Army Military Police Canine Handler. Read more>>

Ladina Johnson

My primary career has been in education. I’ve worked as a Special Education teacher for the past 15 years. In addition to my career, I’m also a wife and a mother, so life can be very full. Like many people, balancing multiple responsibilities and finding time for self care was sometimes limited, but it was always necessary. Read more>>

James Smith

Alright JT — let’s make it stronger and more powerful, something that really shows your hustle and business mindset. You can paste this in the interview box: Writing My journey started with a simple goal — to build something for myself and create opportunities for others. I began cutting hair years ago and quickly realized that barbering was more than just a job for me. Read more>>

Zac Lindsey

If we’re being honest, our story really starts with Jesus. There was a season where I was chasing success — trying to build everything in my own strength, trying to prove something, trying to move faster and go bigger. And the Lord had to humble me in some ways. I realized pretty quickly that without Him at the center, none of it actually means anything. Read more>>

 

John-David (JD) Foster

I was born in San Antonio but raised by my entrepreneurial grandparents in Venus, Texas, where I grew up watching what it meant to build something from the ground up. Read more>>

Debrah Nickerson

I am the founder and CEO of Fort Worth Five Loaves and Two Fish Outreach, a boots-on-the-ground nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness and families in need across Fort Worth. My journey began with something very simple, seeing a need and deciding not to walk past it. Years ago, I started by preparing and distributing food to individuals experiencing homelessness. Read more>>

Christan van Slyke

I’ve always had a natural affinity for film and storytelling. Growing up, I spent a lot of time writing short stories and poems throughout grade school and high school, and I was fascinated by the way films could capture emotion, character, and the complexity of life in such a powerful way. Read more>>

Ebony Skinner

Gladly, I have always felt passionate about helping others , even before I knew I wanted to be a counselor. As an Undergraduate, I found an interest in Psychology. After I graduated college, I spent some time working and obtaining experience. Then I went back to school for my Graduate school degrees and I became licensed. Read more>>

Madyson Simmons

As a mom of four, life is busy, fast-paced, and full of responsibility. Like many mothers, I wanted to build something that allowed me to help support my family while still being present for my children. That desire is what inspired me to start my own mobile spray tan business. Read more>>

Liana Bramlett

I have been the director and owner at Coppell Conservatory since January of 2015. Prior to taking on the role of director and business owner, however, I was a piano teacher at Coppell Conservatory. Read more>>

Leslie Monsivais

Being raised in a single parent household, my mother taught me to be strong and independent. Growing up, I always knew I was destined to be more than just an employee for a company. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, but I just hated the thought of having to work under someone else’s terms for the rest of my life. Read more>>

Valerie Grossman

Rocine Designs began in 2021 as a creative outlet, during a challenging time. As my mother was losing her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, I realized I would need something to fill the time I had been spending with her. My mother brought creativity into our family, she sewed, crocheted, quilted, was an artist and had dabbled in ceramics. Read more>>

Bre Torp

Her Advocate Weddings & Events began with a leap of faith and the influence of two incredible women who shaped my early journey in the industry—a photographer and a wedding planner. I initially began assisting the photographer, which naturally meant helping with the flow and coordination of wedding days. Read more>>

Dr. T. Morris Fowler

I grew up in New York Metro in the 1960’’s and 70’s. After high school, I studied computer programming and then enlisted in the United States Air Force. The discipline, structure, and global perspective I gained there would shape the way I approach leadership and strategy forever. Read more>>

Nigel Kasali

Dr. Nigel Kasali was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. After middle school, he and his family moved to Atlanta, GA where he attended high school and continued on to Valdosta State University to receive his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. From there, he went on to receive his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. Read more>>

Harrison Baer

I’ve always loved the idea of surprise. Growing up, whenever someone asked what I wanted to eat or drink, I’d usually say “surprise me.” Over time, I realized I often enjoyed the experience more when I didn’t already know what I was getting. Eventually, it hit me that maybe other people would enjoy that same sense of discovery. Read more>>

Rubi Anjum

I was born and raised in North India, and graduated from College with Post-Doctorate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition. I have always been passionate about science, nature. and holistic lifestyle. I began practicing as Private Practice Dietitian in my early career. Later, I relocated to US and restarted my career as a Registered Dietitian working in hospitals and outpatient clinics. Read more>>

Tausha La Flore

I didn’t plan on becoming an entrepreneur. I became one because I became a mom to a beautiful baby girl with special needs! When our daughter Gracie was born with Down Syndrome, she spent time in the NICU and later needed a great deal of therapy to reach milestones many parents take for granted. Read more>>

Lonnie Johnson

My story really starts in Marlin, Texas, a small rural town about 30 miles outside Waco. Growing up there, you could really see what it meant for a community to be underserved in technology and infrastructure. Internet access was limited, resources were scarce, and tech opportunities just weren’t the same as in bigger cities. Even today, you still see some of those challenges. Read more>>

Vanecia Johnson

My journey started right out of high school when I entered the legal and insurance field. I quickly realized it was an industry I genuinely loved. While working full time, I continued my education and earned a paralegal degree from El Centro College and later a business degree from Dallas Baptist University — all while raising my children as a single mom. Read more>>

Dr. Louisa Stanton

Before there were degrees, titles, books, or organizations, there was survival. I was raised by my mother, stepfather, and grandparents, with deep roots in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. In the world I came from, there was not much conversation about careers, purpose, or long-term dreams. The focus was simpler than that and heavier than that at the same time: learn how to make it. Read more>>

Toni Pearson

I created the TP logo out of boredom in 2023. Months later, I came across a video that said you could make lip gloss using Kool-Aid and Vaseline. But trust me, that was a huge fail. It burned my lips so badly, definitely not the way to go! But instead of giving up, I got curious. Read more>>

Anne Shackelford

I was six years old when I first felt the pull to create. For my birthday, my grandpa built me a dollhouse and my grandma began furnishing it. After that, I was constantly making things. I crafted miniatures, made tiny doll clothes, and spent hours building out that world. I did not just want to play in a world. I wanted to build it. Read more>>

Wendy Kidd

My father and I started a company called ViaTexas, where we sold lead lists of newly formed businesses across the state. It began as a side gig for me while I was in school and continued for a few years after. Eventually, as access to that data became more public and automated, we closed the business down. Looking back, that experience quietly shaped me — I was learning sales, systems, and business fundamentals long before I realized I was building an entrepreneurial foundation. Read more>>

Joe Zeman

Pay-Per-Click (PPC): Managing Google Ads, Google LSA Ads, Bing Ads and social media advertising with a strict focus on maximizing ROI rather than just spending budget. We disclose our mamagement fee up front which is based on the monthly ad spend and we don’t behind reports. We engage with our cleints to ensure we are always targeting the services they offer in the areas they cover and this updates as the business’ goals are reached or change. Read more>>

Trisha Swift

Through that work, I gained an unfiltered view into how healthcare truly operates: how incentives drive behavior, how performance metrics shape priorities, and how leadership decisions ripple across both business results and patient outcomes. It was there that I began to understand not just how to deliver care, but how to redesign the systems, regulations, and policies that determine its impact. Read more>>

Alante Hamlett

As the vision matured, I began developing additional initiatives under the AIP umbrella — from consumer products to construction and distribution concepts — all aligned around the same core principle: build systems, create value, and design for long-term ownership. Read more>>

Mary Anne Morris

I began sharing the cooking instructor with neighbors and friends so he could share this important insight. In fact, when he cooked for my parents, my dad went for seconds on all the veggies without adding salt, and insisted my mom begin using that cooking system. After 5 months of sharing that cooking instructor with others, so many of those expressed their gratitude to me for sharing his knowledge with them. I began seeing it as a ministry disguised as a business, and made a decision to train under him. Read more>>

Nelson Rodriguez

This days I still enjoy what we do while wife takes care of accounting department books and everything in the background I run the day a day operations at the office warehouse. Supervising sales team and overseeing Fabrication Shop while taking care of Purchasing and vendors. Read more>>

Matthew Baek

That moment stayed with me. I realized she was seeing the world in a completely different way. What I thought was accidental and without value, she experienced as form, life, and meaning. Through her eyes, beauty didn’t depend on intention or perfection—it simply existed. Her way of seeing quietly challenged my assumptions about art, about standards, and even about how we define worth. Read more>>

Jacqueline (Jackie) Pelcastre

I’ve always been interested in art ever since I was in elementary school. Every elective I chose always included art and to this day I still use a lot of what I’ve learned. Read more>>

Jason Thing

I began making art because I needed a way to communicate when words were not enough. I was born in Burma (Myanmar), where my early life was shaped by conflict, displacement, and strong family bonds. These experiences followed me when I left home and lived in Malaysia for five years, a period marked by uncertainty and resilience. Read more>>