Miami’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in South Florida has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From South Beach to Boca (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call South Florida home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout Miami and the surrounding areas.

Jose Cepero-Chang

A former professional chess player trained in Cuba’s High Performance Athlete School, Cepero developed the strategic mindset that would later define his career. After settling in the United States, he reinvented himself academically, graduating with honors from Florida International University (FIU). His excellence earned him recognition from the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) as one of the brightest minds of the academic year. Read more>>

Olga Garcia-Mayoral

I founded OGCURATED INC, a virtual and creative consultancy focused on contemporary art and installations. We curate exhibitions, produce educational publications, and emphasize public art and experiences. We’re devoted to Art, Community & Discovery—and one of the ways we live that out is by partnering with local nonprofits to coordinate art auctions and fundraising that elevate our artists while driving awareness and impact. As a leading online gallery rooted in Miami, we’re growing opportunities for artists with innovative commissions and tailored creative consultation. Read more>>

ARACELI VILLANUEVA

I’m Araceli Villanueva, and my story is one of persistence, education, and learning how to master the financial system from the inside out. I was born and raised in Mexico, where I learned early on the importance of discipline, responsibility, and the value of money. Those foundational lessons shaped my mindset long before I began my professional career. Read more>>

Jessica Sanchez

My name is Jessi, and I’ve been in the fitness industry for nearly a decade as a personal trainer, online coach, and fitness instructor. After having my daughter in 2024, I experienced a deep shift in my identity. I found myself craving connection—community, socialization, and spaces where I could truly enjoy life and good vibez with new people. Read more>>

Stefania Echeverria

I’ve loved fashion for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would cut up old magazines, build outfits from the pages, and recreate the looks however I could. By high school I was setting up photoshoots with my closest friends, styling them, and bringing my ideas to life through clothing. Read more>>

Chef Rocco Pizzaiolo

Rocco’s Dough Artisan Pizza Catering began in 2021. The spark began in March, 2020 from watching a YouTube video on how to make Pizza at Home. In short, as soon as I placed my hands in the dough, I fell in love with it ! I then schooled myself in the Art and became a Certified Pizza Maker, known in Italian as Pizzaiolo! Read more>>

Yimeidy Gonzalez

I started my journey from a place of curiosity, resilience, and a deep desire to create something meaningful. My professional background is in geophysical engineering, a field that taught me how to think analytically, design systems, and solve complex problems. Over time, however, I realized I wanted a life and a business that felt more aligned with who I truly am. Read more>>

Felicia Dhanota-McDaniels

I’ve been a registered dental hygienist for the past 10 years, and throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of dental office settings. Those experiences gave me a deep understanding of both the challenges dental offices face with staffing and the needs of dental professionals looking for the right work environment. Read more>>

Alina Gobbi

When I began my career as a makeup artist six years ago, my biggest challenge was building a clientele from scratch. I didn’t know anyone in the area where I lived at the time, so I quickly realized that I needed to create my own online presence. That’s when I decided to build my first website. Read more>>

Jacqueline Pirolo

My career in hospitality began with serving tables at Restaurant Joanina in Huntington, NY in 2007. I for sure fibbed and said I had restaurant experience to get the job, which became very obvious in hour one of training. Thankfully the owners were willing to give me a chance and I worked there for close to 6 years. Read more>>

Gregory Kushner

Veterinary medicine was never just a career choice for me, it was a calling rooted in a lifelong connection to animals, fostered by a family of doctors and nurses. I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. George’s University in 2016, graduating with honors, and spent the years that followed working in South Jersey in a variety of clinical settings. Read more>>

Jessica Castro-Perez

Hello! I’m Jessica Castro-Perez, the proud owner of SweetGem Cupcakes. We are a small family-owned cake shop which I run with my twin daughters. What started as baking sweet treats for family and friends quickly turned into something much bigger. Read more>>

David Jarmoune

My journey has always been rooted in entrepreneurship, hospitality, and passion for creating meaningful places. Before Maison Valentine, I worked across several businesses and real-estate projects in different countries, experiences that taught me resilience, discipline, and the importance of details and human connection. Read more>>

Andres Cantey

I started working in coffee about 15 years ago here in Miami; through my years working in different coffee spaces, I began to notice that in the specialty coffee space there were plenty of beans coming from the Colombia, Kenya, Nicaragua, Jamaica, etc., but a lot of the people in the spaces did not represent that. I say it was a blessing and perfect timing, getting to work with Taylor Morgan, because with her we started BlkBrw. Read more>>

Asia Die

I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was always drawing on everything, and my parents truly nurtured that side of me by investing in tools and resources that allowed me to express my creativity. As I got older, that passion expanded into acting, fashion, and storytelling in all forms. Read more>>