Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Nicole Pignatello
After a year at Louis Vuitton, recognizing I had more of an interest in events than PR, I accepted a role on the Events team at Burberry. I was there for four years, growing from a coordinator to manager role, traveling all over – from Brazil to Canada and everywhere in between. My team contributed to opening stores, being a part of launching live-streamed 3-D fashion shows and growing the footprint of the brand in the Americas market. Read more>>
Erick Dominguez
Immigrated to Miami in 1993 from Guatemala. I was a 6 years old. From a young age I saw my parents work hard to put food on the table. They gave me the worth ethic to strive in school. As a first generation in the United States I was able to graduate at Miami Dade College with my RN degree. Read more>>
sara stites
I was born in New York City and lived on Long Island until the 5th grade, when I moved, with my parents and two sisters to Puerto Rico. Four years later, I moved back to New York, my parents having divorced. The time in Puerto Rico was definitive in my view of the world. Read more>>
Sebastian Ohanian
For the longest time, the idea of learning and research the law resonated with me. After law school, I jumped into litigation and have expanded my areas of concentration since. Read more>>
Orianna Torres
My story really begins when I was 13 years old, navigating all the messy, overwhelming, beautifully confusing parts of being an adolescent in a complicated world. My parents recognized that I needed a little extra support and connected me with an incredible therapist; someone I could trust, someone who listened without judgment, and someone who made me feel truly understood. Read more>>
Mary Harris
My journey into midwifery began with a deep curiosity about the power of birth — the strength to create, to heal, and to transform. I was drawn to the idea that birth could be both safe and sacred — that it didn’t have to be confined to institutions, but could unfold in homes and communities surrounded by people you trust. Read more>>
Dr. Patricia Timerman
I guess I have to say I started at the age of 14, when I first moved to the U.S. from Brazil with little grasp of the English language, leading me to lose my voice. I believe that the impact of having lost my voice greatly influenced my desire to have a voice and help others find theirs. Read more>>
Casey Wilkinson
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved animals. I grew up surrounded by them! Dogs, cats, reptiles, farm animals…you name it! I was always the kid rescuing strays or bringing home injured animals, much to my moms’ surprise. Caring for animals just came naturally to me. For years, I thought I’d become a veterinarian. Read more>>
Dr. Augustin
I’ve spent most of my career as a pharmacist, making sure people receive the right medications, at the right doses, for the right reasons. But somewhere along the way, I noticed something was missing. Many of my patients were managing chronic conditions but not necessarily getting better. Read more>>
Catalina Gutierrez
RedViolet Studio started 12 years ago. Art has always been my passion and I’ve always loved working with children. Read more>>
Melvin Janvier
I started through birth honestly. It’s always been something I was born with . Sounds sarcastically put but that’s the reality of it . To better understand what I mean . It’s been an idea I was always born with . The name Blvckhart Co. originates from the concept of birth. We all come from the unknown . Read more>>
KeJuana Edwards
I started my fashion design business in 2015 after transitioning out of modeling. I loved fashion the moment i set my foot on the runway. My favorite looks to wear as a model were the Avant Garde and high fashion pieces. I knew that if i couldn’t continue modeling that I and wanted to create outfits that expressed my eccentric taste and style. Read more>>
Diana Lopez
I’ve always believed beauty is more than what we see on the surface — it’s a reflection of our internal health and how we feel within ourselves. My journey began as a nurse practitioner, where I cared deeply for patients’ overall wellness, but I constantly noticed a gap between traditional aesthetics and true functional health. Read more>>
Odette Fernandez Lopez
Eight years ago, I began my professional photography journey at Odette Photo+Art. It all began eight years ago. I didn’t want to merely capture moments but freeze time, making people immortal through my lens. One of my best friends once told me, ‘Take one good picture a day.’ Wise words and the beginning of my journey. Read more>>
Erika Moton-Ray
My journey began with a deep passion for dance and a desire to create a positive space where young dancers could grow in both skill and confidence. After years of dancing and teaching, I decided to take a leap of faith and open Erika Kay Star Dance Academy in Miramar, Florida. Read more>>
Hurrem Kahraman
I started my journey in the beauty industry years ago with a passion for helping people feel confident and beautiful. After gaining experience and building my skills, I re-owned White Space Salon in Miami Beach, taking it over from the previous owner and giving it a fresh new direction. Read more>>
Michelle Fletcher
As the Founder and CEO of the Holistic Business Network (HBN), I lead an international community dedicated to increasing the visibility, profitability, and credibility of wellness professionals. Since launching in 2022, HBN has expanded from a South Florida initiative to a global ecosystem of collaboration — connecting practitioners, doctors, entrepreneurs, and wellness brands around one powerful mission: to scale the $9 trillion global wellness economy and equip those called to heal with the tools to build thriving, sustainable businesses. Read more>>
icon303
My name is icon303. I am a poet, an artist, and an entrepreneur. I grew up rough in upstate New York, surrounded by chaos and struggle, where creativity became both my shield and my sword. I endured abuse, instability, and uncertainty, but through all of that I found an outlet in words and art. Read more>>
Vivian Arthur
I started with photography when I realized that I was spending most of my free time watching tutorials on how to retouch. I figured I’d give taking my own photos a try so that I could create the images I wanted to retouch. Read more>>
Cansu Ozgul
Meet Cansu Ozgul: Bridging Design, Wellness, and the Future of Health Cansu Ozgul is a health innovation leader, creative brand strategist, and founder of Contempco, a creative agency shaping brands at the intersection of wellness, hospitality, and technology. A Parsons School of Design alumna, she has spent her career translating human insight and emotional intelligence into design systems that inspire transformation. Read more>>
Bobbie Weiner
I’ve been rich and I have been poor. ‘RICH IS BETTER’ I started my business after I had gone to makeup school in Los Angeles, CA I was happily married (I thought) and after my husband and I came back from a great vacation skiing for a week in Colorado we came home to an empty house. Read more>>
Mariana Monteagudo
I’m a south Florida based multidisciplinary visual artist and sculptor. My artistic practice is a testament to my vision and consistent artistic evolution, and I’ve been deeply focused on a series of doll sculptures since late 90’s. My figures, which I affectionately call Muñecas (Dolls), are crafted from a blend of ceramics, latex, and mixed media. . Read more>>
Pastor Donald and Ethel Rucker
We started our organization 26 years ago with just three reluctant members, our children, Daniel, David, and Erikka. What began as a small family effort has since grown into a thriving ministry deeply rooted in our community. Read more>>
Daniel (and Laz) (The Brothers) Nunez
We were born to and raised in Miami, Florida by Cuban immigrants. Since we were very young, we have had a love for storytelling. Our mother, a teacher, instilled in us an appreciation for literature, while our father, a blue-collar worker turned entrepreneur, bonded with us primarily with trips to the movies. Read more>>
Yesica Glikman
My story is deeply connected to art, reinvention, and the pursuit of opportunity in the United States. I came here as a dreamer, determined to build a creative career, but I quickly learned how challenging it can be to navigate the immigration process — especially for artists. When I first arrived, I had big hopes but very little clarity. Read more>>
Suzanne Jewell
As Chief Experience Officer for the award-winning Patch of Heaven Sanctuary in the Redland Agricultural Area of Miami, I found my path to leadership through difficulty and the dark night of the soul. Read more>>
Doralice Dolabany
Like many others, I came to Miami in search of a better future — and by the grace of God, doors have always opened for me. From the very first day I set foot in this city, I knew Miami was where I belonged. My journey began humbly. Read more>>
Janeen Talbott
For as long as I can remember, I have been a writer and visual artist. I started reading at the age of 3, and my fascination with art began around that time, too. Like most children at that age, I loved to use my imagination, but instead of growing out of it as I got older, I leaned in close. Read more>>
LaVerne Daley
Visionary Strategist| Global Speaker| Social Impact Leader I consider myself a global citizen, shaped by a life that began across three countries and a curiosity that’s taken me to many more. My love of travel started in childhood and, over the years, evolved into one of my greatest professional strengths-building partnerships, cultural bridges, and purpose-driven collaborations around the world. Read more>>
Kyla Kahian
I started in the mortgage industry in 2005, long before it was glamorous and right before the world fell apart in 2008. I was an 18-year-old single mother—I had my son in 2003—and failure was never an option for me. I didn’t have a safety net, so I built one. For almost 15 years I stayed behind the scenes in operations. Read more>>
Alexa Paulson
Elevate Marketing Team started with nothing more than a shared vision and a lot of determination. We were fresh out of high school — no experience, no roadmap, just an obsession with creativity and the belief that we could build something of our own. Every skill we have today came from figuring things out the hard way. Read more>>
Dimitrios Kentis
I started with humble beginnings and a deep belief in smart work and family values. When I came to Miami with my family almost 20 years ago, everything changed I felt the city’s luxury, energy, and opportunity, and I knew this was where I was meant to build my future. I began in real estate with determination and a vision. Read more>>
renzo lopez
I grew up in Miami—surrounded by humidity, sunlight, and the sense that everything around me could be redesigned or rebuilt. Like every future architect cliché, I started with LEGO. I know—every architect says that. But it’s true. I’d spend hours building tiny cities, airports, and towers, only to tear them apart and start again. Eventually, though, I got bored of the bricks. Read more>>
Julia LeBlanc
I knew at 14 years old that I wanted to be a physical therapist. By 24, I had earned my Doctorate in Physical Therapy and was ready to get out there and help people. Fifteen years later, I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training because I felt called to do even more—and in 2024, I became a Reiki Master. Read more>>
EZRA WARRINGTON
I started Nuezra Health Services after seeing how many people in our community struggled just to get to their medical appointments. Whether it was seniors, people in wheelchairs, or families without reliable transportation — the need was clear. In 2021, I took a leap of faith, bought one van, and started driving myself. Read more>>
Leighton Campbell
During the hardest time of COVID, my kids struggled emotionally. I wanted to help them feel happier, but I didn’t want to give a big lecture. So I said, “Let’s make an equation to measure happiness.” I wanted them to think about what makes people happy. Even though they were little, they had great ideas. That talk made me want to learn more. Read more>>
Nicole Jacobsen
My journey has been anything but linear, but every step has been deeply rooted in service, education, and the desire to help others thrive. I was born and raised in Staten Island, New York, and early in my career I found my way into healthcare—first as a radiation therapist, trained at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Working at MSK shaped me profoundly. Read more>>
Joshua Rojas
I picked up a camera about 13 years ago while working with my father in NYC. A friend who promoted nightclubs invited me out one night, and I noticed they didn’t have a photographer—so I offered to shoot. That turned into three years of nightclub photography until someone asked me to film a music video. Read more>>
Alana Reina
I knew I wanted to be a therapist as soon as I declared my psychology major in college. As I was graduating, I came up with the initial idea for a holistic center. After finishing my master of social work, I worked several jobs in macro social work before eventually getting licensed and becoming a full time therapist. Read more>>
Victoria Shahbaz
I was first introduced to SEED Miami – SoFl first and only tuition free boarding school serving children who most need a 24-hour learning environment – through Nancy Hector, one of the school’s most generous supporters and a fellow board member. Read more>>
Oscar Zapata
Bargean was born out of love. The idea came to life during our honeymoon in Santorini, where the beauty of the Aegean Sea inspired us deeply — not just visually, but emotionally. We fell in love with the freshness of the food, the warmth of the people, and the way every meal felt like a celebration. Read more>>
Alison Stell
Hi Hidden Gems! I actually acquired this business through speaking with the original owner and crafter of Mythical Herbs ~ Jojo. He had moved to Ecuador, and was having a difficult time running his business from out of the country, so we made a deal and I recently became the new owner of Mythical Herbs!! Read more>>
Pablo Pinheiro
Pablo Pinheiro was born in 1968 in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a family where art and aesthetics were integral to daily life: his father, a tango musician, and his mother, a dedicated hairdresser. This blend of music and style profoundly influenced his sensibilities from an early age. Read more>>
Erika Soza Mejia
I began my career nearly 20 years ago in New York City after graduating from Parsons. My first role was at a high-end residential interior design firm in Manhattan, where I gained invaluable experience. In 2008, my husband and I relocated back to Miami—my hometown—after several years in the NY-NJ area. Read more>>
Ekaterina Novak
Three years ago, when I moved to the United States, I was surprised to see how empty and impersonal the floral market here felt. Coming from Europe, where flowers are an essential part of daily aesthetics and emotional expression, I wanted to bring that sense of effortless elegance and refinement to the U.S. That’s how BLÜM was born — in the heart of Brickell, Miami. Read more>>
Deborah Saada
Valerie, whose heart is shared between France and the United States, has always been captivated by French fashion and lifestyle. Surrounded by beautiful objects, she cultivated a love for fine materials, delicate details, and timeless elegance. With the dream of sharing this passion beyond borders, she created Bébé Sweeny — a brand dedicated to bringing French beauty and refinement into the magical world of childhood. Read more>>
Stefanie Benaim
I’ve been passionate about nutrition and fitness for the last 15 plus years, but in a controversial market like the one we are in, I’ve worked really hard to educate myself and not follow “trends” that could become extreme or cause more harm than healing. Read more>>
