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.

Juan Velez

From there, I moved into Macy’s, where the scope expanded significantly. I led one of the highest-volume operations in the country, managed a multi-million P&L, and delivered several construction and renovation projects. It was a period that sharpened my ability to balance operational excellence with financial discipline and long-term strategic thinking. I also spent a great deal of time developing leaders—something that remains a core part of my identity as an operator. Read more>>

Tyler Mills

I am a cultural brokerage, and that philosophy is the foundation of +CNTRL, my creative & cultural platform. I translate culture, people, and energy into platforms, experiences, and opportunities that move brands and communities forward. My work is rooted in real spaces, real relationships, and a deep understanding of how attention and influence actually operate. Read more>>

Zsofia Varhelyi

After completing the seasonal hiring, I was offered the opportunity to join the pre-opening HR team at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm. Living in the Middle East was unforgettable — I loved exploring the region and fully experiencing its culture. After a year, I was invited to return to California to support the J-1 visa program once again, where Coast 2 Coast Experience was born. Since then, our journey has taken us to Las Vegas and now to Boca Raton, where we love the energy, diversity, and sunshine. Read more>>

Aba Zions

I’m a full time gigging musician who also teaches music and does private parties weddings etc. My recent goal has been to start focusing on my original trio “Aba Zions Trio” to play more shows. I’ve been putting together some shows starting end of 2025 “the original showcase” a show we put on with local original music once a month as well as psychedelic rock festival we recently hosted at Tea & poets Jan 16. Read more>>

Isaac Zapata

Looking back, I’d say I got lucky. My mother is a former circus high wire act & gymnast from Brazil, and my father is a former Navy mechanic from the US. They met in New York and eloped to Puerto Rico in the late 1970s. It was a strange start, and being a third culture kid gave me an outsider’s perspective. Read more>>

Andre L. Wright

I entered behavioral healthcare with a background in psychology/sociology, and from the start, I knew my career would be multidisciplinary. I’ve always been drawn to things that offer flexibility, human interaction, and space to bring compassion and creativity into the work I do. Read more>>

Henri Crockett

I grew up in Pompano Beach in an environment that presented real challenges, including limited resources and exposure, but it was also a place rooted in resilience and community. Read more>>

Carina Ramos

PinkDog® began with a belief I’ve carried from the beginning: working with animals is a privilege, and that privilege comes with real responsibility. I started in grooming because I genuinely loved the craft, but I quickly realized I cared just as much about how animals are treated—emotionally, physically, and ethically—as I did about the final look. Read more>>

Kamilah Jolly

My journey began with a childhood dream that took root while growing up in Miami, Florida. Unlike most children who wanted to be astronauts or singers, I dreamed of becoming a business lawyer. I was captivated by stories of entrepreneurship and the idea of solving problems through the power of words.  Read more>>

Sophia Zamor

My journey to early childhood education has been anything but linear — and that’s exactly what makes it so meaningful to me. I was born and raised in Haiti and later earned a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University. Read more>>

Estelle Berenbaum

I was born and raised in France and began my legal studies there, where I earned advanced degrees in law, political science, and management sciences. Early on, I knew I wanted an international career, so in 2005 I moved to the United States to gain firsthand experience with the U.S. legal system. Going through the immigration process myself was a turning point. Read more>>

Elena Drayko

I’ve always loved photography. My dad got me my first camera when I was 16, and once I picked it up, I was hooked. At first it was just about capturing moments and having fun but over time I became more curious about learning, improving, and finding my own style. Read more>>

Chris Catanzaro

Our story being on a hinge date. I met my fiancée and business partner, Kynsie in the fall of 2022. Kynsie is an Occupational Therapist and I have a long background in health care (on the administration side). After dating for a few years, Kynsie couldn’t find a work place that she felt offered what she wanted to do within occupational therapy (OT). Read more>>

Adrian English

I entered the real estate world ten years ago with a clear end goal: I didn’t just want to sell homes, I wanted to own, build, and develop them. I began my career as a realtor in South Florida, using that first year to deeply understand the market from the inside out. Read more>>

Nathanaelle Vazquez

I don’t wear makeup very often, I only wear makeup occasionally, but when I do, I believe that beauty should feel good on your skin, in your routine, and in your life. Like many great things, it didn’t start as a business plan. It started as a personal journey. Read more>>

Samantha Gibbons

Well I always had a passion for cooking and baking as a kid. I watched channel 2 every weekend, Julia Childs show, recipes out the newspaper..if it had to do with food lol I was on it! By the time I finished high school I had already gotten excepted to Johnson and Wales University (north Miami), I was so excited! Read more>>

DJENANE VALBRUN

My relationship with money began early in life. Raised by a single mother who was exceptional at managing her finances, I learned firsthand that financial success isn’t defined by how much you earn, but by how wisely you manage what you have. Read more>>

Romina Alvarez

My journey has never been a straight line — it has been built through courage, resilience, and a lot of heart. I was born and raised in Argentina, in a family where hard work and entrepreneurship were always part of everyday life. Read more>>

Gloria Florexil

I didn’t start out with a clear blueprint for building a business. My path has been shaped by curiosity, observation, and a deep interest in how people show up, lead, and connect with others. Read more>>

Adriana Hummel

My story really begins with becoming a mother and learning how much your identity can evolve in that season. I’ve always loved fashion, travel, wellness, and creating, but motherhood forced me to get more intentional about how I showed up for myself and my family. Read more>>

Cara Kaul

We started our practice in 2023 to deliver care the way we thought was best for patients. Dr. Beaman and I became friends in training, and when we both were graduating and getting into the job market, that’s when we decided to create our own practice and shape it the way we were hoping. Read more>>

Tom Ruthardt

I moved to Miami Beach from Gainesville in October 1998, and at the time, a couple of close friends were working at Camillus House in Miami. One was their Grants Manager (my best friend), and the other coordinated Volunteers and Special Events. Read more>>

Erica P.

I began my creative journey in high school writing raps, dancing, acting and creating skits in drama class. Over the years, I wrote music for friends and dropped a project of my own. Being in front of the camera and involved in media has always felt natural to me. Read more>>

Buster Cox

I was born in Boston and spent the 90s in Boston radio. By the time I landed in Miami in 1999, radio was still king, print still mattered, and nobody was holding a phone up to film their lunch. Read more>>

Javier Marzano

The Story of Hub Car Share Javier Marzano – Founder & CEO Hub Services Corporation | Miami, Florida My name is Javier Marzano, I am 38 years old, an Argentine immigrant based in the beautiful city of Miami, Florida, and the founder of Hub Car Share and Hub Services Corporation. Read more>>

Jennifer Warren Medwin, MS

I was born in New York City and moved to Miami over 30 years ago. Throughout my life I’ve always been drawn to helping people navigate change. I’ve consistently invested in my own growth through advanced education, certifications, workshops, and an ongoing love of reading in the personal development space. Read more>>

Kary Arnet

I began my career in insurance over nine years ago, when I made the decision to franchise and build my own agency. From the start, I was driven by a desire to truly understand risk and help businesses protect what they have worked so hard to build. Read more>>

Roberto Su

Well, I had a dream to one day own my own business again and decided to start selling and selling boats from my home about 5 years ago. It was tuff a first i had to wait for my income tax so I may purchase my first boat for sale. Read more>>

Esther Deutsch

My story starts in a tiny town in Pennsylvania, where I grew up in poverty with six siblings, a brother who literally slept in a closet, and a childhood shaped by food stamps, instability, and constant bullying. Those early years forced me to develop resilience fast – and they also gave me a deep well of empathy for people’s struggles and the stories they carry. Read more>>

Victor Berrios

My journey as an entrepreneur has been anything but linear. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but life had a way of pushing me to bet on myself before I felt fully ready. Read more>>

Ana Campo-Jimenez

I started as an speech language pathology assistant and took a pay cut at my job at that time when was approximately 21-22 years old. Then, I went back to school as I worked as an SLPA, and got my masters to become a Speech Language Pathologist. Read more>>

Pavel Zakhvatov

I was born in Kazan, Russia — a city with a strong character, deep history, and a quiet sense of dignity. For a long time, my life had nothing to do with the tobacco industry. Everything changed during one trip. While traveling through Spain, I found myself in Barcelona. Read more>>

Natalia Manrique

NaMa Native Landscapes was founded in 2018 by my partner, Mauricio Gonzalez, and me, out of a shared desire to challenge conventional landscaping and offer a more thoughtful, sustainable alternative. Read more>>

Dr. Alexander Weiss

I am Dr. Alexander Weiss, Founder and President of MOMPD Corporation. People who know my work call me Doctor Future, not as a nickname, but as a job description. My work is to define how people will live and to bring that future into the present. Read more>>

Monica Capille

As a Registered Dietitian and founder of Dietvana PLLC, my journey into the world of nutrition has always been driven by a passion for helping others live healthier, more fulfilled lives. With over 15 years of experience in clinical nutrition, public health, and private practice, I’ve had the privilege of guiding individuals from all walks of life toward their wellness goals through science-based, personalized care. Read more>>

Amelia Ravelo

My path to becoming an attorney was driven by a desire to advocate for people during some of the most stressful and difficult moments of their lives. My first experience with the legal system was when I volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem as a court-appointed advocate for abused and neglected children. Read more>>

Folasade Fayiga

I grew up in South Florida in a Nigerian-Honduran household as the oldest child. From the age of 12, I knew I wanted to be a dermatologist. Although I had physicians in my family, my first exposure to medicine came through my mother, who faced challenges navigating healthcare, including language barriers. Read more>>

Sibylle Pasche

I studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara, Italy, what brought me into contact with materiality and three-dimensional art. I began to work with stone and benefited from the proximity to the marble quarries, the countless storage areas with stones from all over the world, and the surrounding workshops, where I was introduced to the technical skills. Read more>>

Leandra & Alexandra Lean & Esplugas

After over 15 years in the mortgage industry working for other companies, Leandra realized that none of the companies she had worked for up til then had the same community mindset or desire to improve the quality of life for people, by helping them obtain their home. Read more>>

Prisa Zachariah

As a first-generation Indian American, I grew up acutely aware of the cultural stigma and quiet misunderstandings that often surround mental health. That awareness planted the seeds for a lifelong commitment to creating spaces where emotional well-being can be discussed openly, without shame, and with compassion. Read more>>

Kayla Tyrrell

My path into nutrition has always been shaped by a deep interest in the connection between food, the body, and long-term well-being. I began my journey studying Nutrition and Dietetics at Samford University, where I was drawn not only to the science of nutrition but also to its practical, human application, through cooking, education, and community engagement. Read more>>

Noel Bello

My story is built on hard work, discipline, and the belief that the way you work reflects who you are as a person. I also firmly believe that every step forward I’ve been able to take has been guided by God, who has given me clarity, strength, and direction throughout every stage of my journey. Read more>>

Andrea Covarrubias

Hello VoyageMIA reader! My story started as a little kid in Venezuela with big dreams of traveling the world. While we were fortunate to travel to Florida many times, my heart desired more. I’ve always loved movies and the entertainment world as a whole, and seeing exotic destinations on screen made me dream of experiencing them myself one day. Read more>>

Ana Tomasino McGough

The Prime Cleaner is a family business, but it didn’t start that way. My son Jayger founded the company in late 2021. He had been working in the corporate world at Salesforce and IBM, but he saw an opportunity in residential cleaning – an industry that was fragmented, inconsistent, and ripe for someone who could bring real systems and standards to it. Read more>>

Xavier DeRoos

I’ve always been fascinated by living systems and how everything is connected. My background is in marine biology and aquaculture, and aquatic ecosystem management. Read more>>

Lilly Galindez

I started Lilly’s Munchies while I was still figuring life out—going to the Art Institute pregnant, with a toddler at home, chasing a dream that felt bigger than my circumstances. It wasn’t easy, but I refused to quit. I took a leap and bought a food truck, pouring every ounce of creativity and grit I had into it. Read more>>

Leo Martz

I’m Leo Martz, founder and CEO of MiamiPhotoshootBooking.com LLC. I grew up in a small town in Maryland, where opportunities in creative entrepreneurship felt limited. From an early age, I knew I wanted to build something meaningful through art, creativity, and service. That desire pushed me to look beyond what was familiar and search for an environment where collaboration, growth, and ambition were encouraged. Read more>>

Franckel Jeanrisca

My name is Franckel Jeanrisca, and I am originally from Haiti, from a beautiful mountain city called Kenscoff, known for its pine trees, fresh air, and cool climate. I grew up there in a large family of eight children 5 boys and three girls and I am the eldest. From a very young age, I was surrounded by responsibility, leadership, and hard work. Read more>>

Jorge Gonzalez

. Most of our clients are HNMWI’s which have a large interest in keeping their private lives private, which is why we often sign NDA’s to protect their information. In addition to Miami, we now serve a variety of different cities including Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, the Florida Keys, Naples and Ft Myers. Our business model is simple; provide professional, safe, luxury transportation with concierge services available upon request. Read more>>

Hernsline Toussaint Katianna Fevrier

K&H Digital Photography began with a genuine love for people and a passion for capturing meaningful moments. Founded by two best friends Hernsline Toussaint and Katianna Fevier who believe their creative gifts are God-given, what started as a personal creative pursuit naturally evolved into a full-time commitment to storytelling with purpose and intention. Our faith is at the foundation of everything we do, guiding how we serve, connect, and create. Read more>>

Arminda Figueroa

In the late 1980s, that same fire is what pushed me to leave the island for New York City. I knew I was destined to follow an entrepreneurial path, but I wanted to sharpen my skills against the world’s toughest competition first. I spent nearly two decades in “Corporate America” with giants like Anheuser-Busch, Verizon, Univision, and Scholastic. My time there wasn’t just about climbing a ladder; it was a masterclass in how major brands function—and more importantly, where they were failing to connect with the Hispanic community. Read more>>