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.

Virginie Benard

We start from 2 kids enrolled to 80, happy to see the kids enjoying the classes in full immersion. All our teachers are native and myself, founder and owner of the company, from France, I lived 17 years in Spain and after my first experience in USA (Chicago) few years ago, I decided to create and open an educational business based on languages & love. Read more>>

Dr. Carol Leibovich-Mankes

Professionally, for more than two decades, I’ve worked as a pediatric occupational therapist, inspired by the resilience and potential in every child. I’ve worked with children facing developmental delays, learning differences, and emotional or behavioral challenges, and I’ve seen firsthand how they thrive when the adults in their lives understand their unique needs and come together to support them. I believe deeply in every child’s potential and am committed to helping each one shine in their own way. Read more>>

Alejandro Vicuña

I come from a different world. Although I was always passionate about music, I studied materials engineering in Caracas, Venezuela — a career path that felt more secure at the time. I graduated, found a job, and started working. But very quickly, I realized it wasn’t fulfilling. The pull toward music and entertainment never really went away. Read more>>

Marcelo Valdés

We now have a group of technicians who truly care about the quality of their work, and that makes all the difference. Another big challenge was weather and logistics. South Florida can be unpredictable (heavy rains, hurricanes, heat waves) all of which affect pool conditions and scheduling. We had to create systems to respond quickly and make sure our clients always felt taken care of, even during chaotic times. Read more>>

Shawn and Polina Saparamadu

we have done a lot of research into men’s products and treatments and made quite a few changes to the shop itself. It has been a humbling and exciting process that has really challenged our creativity and stretched us beyond our comfort zone. We are grateful to our team for their support and encouragement on this journey and we look forward to the next chapter for the Well Groomed Gentleman. Read more>>

Yesenia Delgado

Those experiences deeply shaped my career. Today, as a licensed therapist and doctoral candidate, my work centers not only on trauma and relationships but also on cultural narratives and identity. My applied clinical project focuses on strengthening culturally responsive training for therapists working with Latinx clients, a direct reflection of the gaps I witnessed both personally and professionally. Read more>>

Jovanni Gaggero

Evolve Theatre Company was founded by two artists, Monica Leon and Jovanni Gaggero. We have worked together on over 30 musical productions, combining our creative energies to put on dazzling shows. We dedicate our careers to not only helping young actors learn and understand the art of performing, but to encourage kids to express themselves and live their lives authentically and unapologetically. Read more>>

Maria Melnikova

My name is Maria Melnikova, and my journey in the beauty industry began almost 30 years ago. I often say that I didn’t choose this profession — it chose me. Over three decades, I’ve grown from a practicing stylist into an international expert, educator, creator of patented coloring techniques, and now the owner of my own salon in Miami. Read more>>

Lucia Scarampi

Food has always been my passion, born and raised in Italy to a famkly that would home cook every meal, however I was never the cooking person. I felt very unconfident in the kitchen and as much as I loved eating good and healthy food, i struggled to cook it myself. Read more>>

Mauricio Cabrera-Salazar

My Journey: From Bogotá to Miami, Building Bridges in Business and Innovation Hello, I’m excited to share my story with the VoyageMia community. As an accomplished marketing and brand strategist, my journey has been one of constant growth, exploration, and building meaningful relationships. It’s a story that spans continents, industries, and a deep passion for creating opportunities—both for myself and others. Read more>>

Andrew Barnett

For me it started in college, where I was a field marketing rep for the FADER Magazine/Cornerstone Agency. That experience allowed me access to real brands and labels and projects at a very young age. It was trial by fire and I learned early on that if you’re not creating things that are valuable to the client or company, they’ll quickly find somebody else. Read more>>

Liliane Laborde-Edozien

Before becoming a filmmaker, I first trained as a biologist. I made the switch into film by attending an unorthodox graduate training program in London that takes scientists and turns them into artists—filmmakers, writers, and gallery curators. While I had a background as a dancer and actor, it was really this program that kickstarted my career in film. Read more>>

Sherry A. Henry

My story begins in Kingston, Jamaica, where I was born and raised in a vibrant culture that instilled in me a strong sense of community and resilience. From an early age, I was drawn to advocacy and inclusivity, influenced by my heritage and a desire to uplift those often overlooked. Read more>>

Chelsea Lehnea

I’m one of those people that started singing before I could talk. Like many singers, my journey started in my local church at the age of three. I was singing so loudly in the nursery that I was invited to the front, handed a microphone, and proceeded to sing my little heart out. Read more>>

Gregg & Wendy DePinto

We began our journey into pet foods, nutrition and supplements many years ago, because of our cherished furbaby, GiGi. She was a puppy with many issues, including allergies, autoimmune disorders and vaccinosis. Through learning about pet nutrition, proper supplements and a healthy lifestyle, GiGi thrived into a very healthy dog. Read more>>

NATASHA C WADE

I began Wade’s Tax Services in January 2005, but my journey started long before that. I left high school early and became a teenage mother, yet I refused to let those circumstances dictate my future. Determined to set an example for my five children, I returned to school, earned my diploma, and eventually completed my Master’s Degree in Management. Read more>>

Narjara Martinez

My journey began in the most humble way: doing my mom’s nails, my family’s, and my friends’ in the dining room of our home in Guantánamo. It was my way of helping while I studied, easing some of the weight my mother carried, and feeling that I could contribute something, even if it was small. Read more>>

Angela Molina

While in in high school, I always had a knack for doing my friends’s hair annd makeup and my mom suggested me in going to beauty school at the time. She was also a part-time student they are studying aesthetics. After graduating beauty school right after high school I assisted at a few salons. Read more>>

Maykel Fournier

My name is Maykel Fournier and I am the founder of Altesse LLC. Altesse was born from a simple frustration: watching how, in the insurance industry, many people were treated like policy numbers instead of lives, dreams and projects that deserve real respect. Read more>>

Debbie Helsel

Back to Nature started inside a mobile home behind an automotive garage by Founder, Carmen Shaw in June 1989. Eventually over time, it trickled out of the house and into the back yard, sharing the 3.5 acres with the automotive garage. Read more>>

Aneth Lusardi

When my oldest daughter left for college, and my youngest was halfway through high school, I found myself at a crossroads. After years of raising my girls and dedicating much of myself to motherhood, I knew I was entering a new season of my life. I kept asking myself, ‘what’s next?’, and with that question came a very simple answer: create. Read more>>

Shawn Maurice Brown Jr

I grew up without much guidance around money or business, so from a young age I knew I wanted a different life. By 24, I was on my own with no financial support, working contract jobs just to stay afloat. But during that time, I became obsessed with understanding credit, funding, and how people build wealth from nothing. Read more>>

George Small

Involved in horticulture for over 40 years. started business as a retirement income producer. Read more>>

Laura McCann

I’ve always been a builder, but my path to Auratherapy didn’t start in wellness. It started in performance and storytelling. I was a child star, and I spent part of my early life raised in France, where beauty, ritual, and the sensory details of everyday living are simply part of the culture. Read more>>

Denise Cataline

I have been training animals for over 30 years. I started at the early age of 12 when my parents brought home Pockets (my first pet) and, from that day on, I have been training ever since. My first training opportunity was at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago training a variety of small animals. Read more>>

Emily Kupferman

I was born and raised in Venezuela, and if you had asked me back then what I wanted to be, I would have confidently said “a doctor.” I was actually accepted into medical schools in Venezuela before moving to the U.S. at 18. Becoming a physician felt like the most natural path for someone who always cared deeply about people and wanted to help. Read more>>

Krista Witherspoon

My path into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned — it was forced. After nearly 18 years in Talent Acquisition and HR, coaching thousands of professionals and helping companies build high-performing teams, I experienced a season that pushed me out of corporate comfort and straight into purpose. A layoff. And what felt like disruption at the time was actually divine redirection. Read more>>

Bayley Ramos

I started my career in marketing over 15 years ago, long before strategy became a buzzword and social media became a business driver. What began as helping small local businesses quickly turned into consulting for national brands, restaurant groups, franchises, and international projects. I built my reputation on one simple strength: listening. Read more>>

Jessica Gray

Years ago, I noticed something that bothered me… beautiful beaches covered in litter and almost no awareness of how it got there or what we could do about it. Instead of waiting for someone else to fix it, I decided to take action. That decision became Boca Save Our Beaches. Read more>>

Alex Cohen

It might have been destiny for me to start a sauce company because I’ve always been obsessed with sauce, but I never actually thought I’d have one. My story really started in two timelines: thirty years ago and three years ago. Let’s start with three years ago. My career has never been in food. Read more>>

Will Williams

I was born here in Miami and lived in several different neighborhoods around Kendall, Pinecrest, and Coral Gables, before moving down with my family to the Redlands when I was 21. I started out in the real estate business when I was 18 years old in property management before moving into sales, both commercial and residential. Read more>>

JC Rios

Raised in Sabana Seca neighborhood of Toa Baja Puerto Rico, My journey has been shaped by culture, community, and an early passion for baseball. I began playing the game at just three years old, establishing a lifelong connection to the sport that would later define my career. Read more>>

Romina Erminy

My story really begins when I was very young. I grew up surrounded by art in every shape or form, and creativity quickly became my favorite form of expression. I was that kid who built dream homes out of cardboard and saved every “treasure” material because I was convinced it was destined for a model or sketch. Read more>>

Amanda Puentes

Project Speech opened its doors in June 2017 as a mobile speech therapy practice. My goal from the very beginning was simple, to provide high-quality, accessible speech therapy to children in our local community. As demand grew, I was able to open a small office in Boynton Beach, which gave us a stable space to serve even more families. Read more>>

Omri Negbi

A local member of my community invited me to join him in the credit-repair business. As we began working together, I discovered that I genuinely enjoyed the work and found myself truly interested in the financial world. But there was one major problem: I eventually realized that he was unreliable and dishonest with his practice. Read more>>

Ruth Jean

I am a boat girl! I came to the US as a young child by boat from the Bahamas. My parents are Haitian-American and my mother wanted a better life for her children so she risked our lives in search of a better life. In her sacrifice for us, my mother instilled the importance of education as the great equalizer. Read more>>

NURAY TOKCAN ARIK

I have studied and worked in Garment Industry in NY. Decided to move to Florida in 2016 and have been in real estate since then. I love helping people with their real estate needs. This is their biggest investment in their lives and i am part of it. I help making it happen and i am proud of it. Read more>>

Alexander Marin

I’ve had a passion for basketball since I was young, playing throughout middle school and high school. When I received Christ in my mid-20s, I began seeking my true purpose. God gave me a vision to use basketball as a tool to reach and guide the youth with His Word. That vision became the foundation of Vice City Basketball Academy. Read more>>

Mariia Shevchenko Rios

I started Toma Head Spa during a time when I wanted to create something meaningful — something that brought people comfort. I’ve always been drawn to wellness, touch, and the idea that a simple service can change someone’s entire day. I built everything from scratch. I learned every process myself, stayed late, fixed problems, and kept going even when it felt overwhelming. Read more>>

Jorge Alamo

Music has always been a huge part of my life. Since I was little, my dad would always play guitar to me and eventually bought me my first guitar when I got a bit older. In school, I began taking my first guitar class in the 6th grade and then eventually also participated in Orchestra where I played Violin 1 and then Cello. Read more>>

Danny Donelan

My journey with Savvy Sailing Charters began long before I officially launched the business. It was seeded in a deep emotional connection I formed with the traditional wooden sloops of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the kind of connection that happens when culture grips you before you even know what to do with it. Read more>>

JAI KOLE

Its more to my story than what can just put into writing its not just about wrestling, or entertainment but legacy and purpose. Read more>>

Melissa Ramnauth

I was born and raised in Miami to immigrant parents from Guyana and Trinidad. I attended the University of Miami and now work in West Palm Beach. My legal background is diverse. I previously represented large businesses in commercial litigation cases, and Chapter 11 bankruptcies. I now handle trademark and business matters for new and established businesses, small and large. Read more>>

Gabi Humbles Llanes

I am originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I moved to the USA sponsored by a corporate job in the cosmetics Industry when I was 25 years old. I then transferred to another company in 2002 and worked for them for almost 23 years. From 2012 until 2024 I was their Executive Director of Marketing and in charge of all global purchases and inventory management. Read more>>

Michael Tabers

Neptune Memorial Reef is the largest man-made reef on earth and thrives in just 40 feet of clear water. This extraordinary reef is a resting place for those who choose cremation and wish to be memorialized in a unique underwater setting. Construction began in the summer of 2007 with the first phase, followed by deployment of the second phase in 2018. Read more>>

Ashley Hendry

My name is Ashley, and my journey in the beauty world started when I was just 16 years old. What began as doing nails for friends and family quickly grew into a true passion. Read more>>

Philippe Horowicz

I grew up in a small town in the Swiss Alps and came to the United States alone at 16 with no English, just a work ethic shaped by sport and a will to succeed. Athletics became my real education. It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to think long-term, and I’ve carried those principles into everything I do today. Read more>>

Jake Stamatis

I was always a shy and misunderstood kid. I grew up in Tunkhannock, PA, which is a beautiful rural town in Northeast Pennsylvania. I was not good at making friends in my youth, and my middle school years in particular were shaped by the bullying I experienced for being a closeted gay kid in the early aughts. Read more>>