Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscilla Peete.
Hi Priscilla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I truly believe my story began with the family I was born into because they helped cultivate so much of the woman I am today.
Growing up, I thought I had life figured out—as most of us probably did. At one point I was convinced I was going to become a veterinarian because I LOVED animals…until I found out veterinarians are also the ones who sometimes have to put animals to sleep. That career choice ended pretty quickly. LOL.
I was also very athletic growing up. I played basketball and soccer and ran track and field. Then puberty came, along with what I affectionately call my “humbling/ugly duckling phase.” Apparently, I thought I could stop playing sports while continuing to eat Little Debbie snacks at the same rate. I’ll leave that right there. Haha.
Younger Priscilla also had a timeline for everything. I just knew I would be married by 20, and I even had a baby name picked out for either gender. Boyyyyy, did life and maturity change that plan!
The truth is, even four years after graduating high school, I still wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do with my life, and I could feel the pressure mounting. One day I stopped and asked myself a simple question: “What are you actually good at?”
I knew I was good with people and customer service, and I knew I wanted to travel while I was young. So I asked myself what career would allow me to combine the two, and becoming a flight attendant suddenly became clear.
I went after it. There were rejection letters along the way, but eventually my “yes” came. At 22 years old, I became an international flight attendant with Norwegian Airlines, flying transatlantic routes and experiencing a world much bigger than the one I had always known.
International travel opened my heart and my mind. It taught me that there are so many cultures, people, traditions and ways of life beyond our own. I met some of the most beautiful people—inside and out—and formed friendships and connections that remain today. It also taught me the importance of respecting other countries, cultures, laws and customs when entering someone else’s home.
During my years in aviation, however, I began noticing something else: a lack of diversity among many of the passengers traveling on my international flights. That observation eventually inspired me to create Fearless Black Girl, a seven-episode travel docuseries designed to show people—particularly those who may have been intimidated by international travel—what was possible on the other side of fear. I wanted people to actually see the experience and think, “Maybe I can do this too.”
Then COVID-19 changed everything.
Like so many families, mine experienced the uncertainty and fear of that time firsthand. My mother became extremely ill with COVID-19 and pneumonia and spent 11 days hospitalized. When she returned home, she had to relearn basic things we often take for granted, including walking and breathing without an oxygen tank. By the grace of God, she recovered.
That season changed my perspective in another significant way. I realized how quickly circumstances completely outside of my control could affect my career, income and livelihood. I remember thinking, “I need to create something of my own.” I wanted to build passive income, create generational wealth and establish something that could continue growing beyond a paycheck.
That realization eventually led me to the vending industry.
I researched businesses and business models, and vending machines continued to stand out to me. So I learned everything I could, began saving half of every paycheck I received, and waited for the right opportunity. In 2023, that opportunity came when I was able to purchase an existing vending machine business.
And I took it.
That business became Peete Vending, a woman-owned, minority-owned vending company that has continued to grow its footprint throughout South Florida.
The journey hasn’t always been easy. As a Black woman in an industry where people may not necessarily expect the owner walking through the door to look like me, I’ve experienced being underestimated. I’ve dealt with businesses that didn’t always take me seriously, vandalism, theft, setbacks, and moments when I questioned whether I should keep going.
But I did.
And three years later, I can say the reward has outweighed every stretching season.
When I look at where I am today, though, what I’m most proud of isn’t simply owning a business or reaching a particular milestone. I’m proud that I haven’t lost my faith in God, and I haven’t lost myself.
My faith has carried me through chaos, grief, loss, scarcity, doubt, disappointment and seasons when I couldn’t see how everything would work together. I’ve experienced God’s goodness for myself, and I’ve learned that sometimes you can come through the fire without looking like everything you’ve survived.
I’m proud that I kept going. I’m proud that I’ve continued executing ideas even when I’ve questioned myself. Someone once shared something with me that I’ve never forgotten: some of the greatest ideas in the world never became reality because the people carrying them never acted on them. That has always stuck with me because I don’t want fear to bury something God gave me the ability to build.
And personally, I’m proud that I remain unapologetically myself in a world where authenticity sometimes feels like it’s becoming harder to find.
I’m grateful for my family, my friends, every person who has poured into me, every rejection that redirected me, every opportunity that stretched me, and even the seasons I didn’t understand while I was living through them.
My story certainly isn’t finished.
In many ways, I believe it’s still being written.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all! In fact, sometimes it has felt like every major milestone or accomplishment in my life has been accompanied by something not-so-good happening at the same time.
When I began my career as a flight attendant, my parents—who had been married for nearly 30 years—were going through a divorce. At the time, I convinced myself that because I was an adult, it wouldn’t affect me very much. Looking back, I can admit that it did. Maybe in some ways, it still does.
Later, while working as a flight attendant and simultaneously filming my Fearless Black Girl docuseries, three of my aunts passed away back-to-back. Most people never knew what was happening behind the scenes. I was pursuing something I was passionate about while also watching my father grieve the loss of three of his siblings.
Then came 2021, which was probably one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I lost my grandmother, and as her first grandchild, we shared an incredibly special bond. That loss alone was hard enough. But that same year, my mother became seriously ill with COVID-19 and pneumonia, and for a period of time, we didn’t know if we were going to lose her too.
Imagine grieving your grandmother while simultaneously wondering if you’re about to lose your mother. That level of fear and uncertainty is difficult to put into words.
As the oldest child, though, I felt like I couldn’t completely fall apart. My youngest sibling was preparing to begin her senior year of high school, my family needed one another, and I had to lean heavily on my faith. That season taught me what it really means to trust God when you genuinely don’t know what the outcome will be.
Entrepreneurship brought its own set of challenges.
Building Peete Vending while continuing to work regular jobs has meant learning how to balance long workdays with restocking machines, inventory runs, maintenance, budgeting, administrative work and everything else that comes with operating a business. I’ve dealt with vandalism severe enough that I had to file a police report, and I remember asking myself, “Why would someone even do this?”
And then there was 2024. I had just completed a full restock of my vending machines, and the very next day my vehicle was stolen.
Yep. True story. LOL.
There are moments in entrepreneurship when all you can do is look at the situation and think, “You’ve GOT to be kidding me.” But then you figure out the next move.
I think that’s what the struggles throughout my life have taught me most: resilience isn’t always this big, inspirational moment. Sometimes resilience is grieving and still showing up. Sometimes it’s being disappointed and trying again. Sometimes it’s adjusting the budget, fixing what broke, hearing “no,” working when you’re tired, praying when you’re uncertain, and continuing to believe in what you’re building when the results haven’t caught up to the vision yet.
So no, the road has definitely not been smooth. But I also wouldn’t erase the difficult parts of my story because they have strengthened my faith, matured me, and shown me that I can endure much more than I once thought I could.
I’ve learned that difficult seasons don’t necessarily mean you’re on the wrong road.
Sometimes they’re simply part of becoming the person you’ll need to be when you arrive at the next destination.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today, I am the Founder and CEO of Peete Vending, a woman-owned and minority-owned vending company serving South Florida. We provide convenient snack and beverage solutions to businesses, schools and organizations, but I’ve always been intentional about making Peete Vending about more than simply placing a machine in a building.
Our motto is, “We seek not only to serve, but to satisfy,” and I really mean that.
For me, vending is still customer service. My background in aviation taught me that people remember how you make them feel, and I’ve carried that mentality into entrepreneurship. From the appearance and reliability of our machines to timely maintenance and even creating product surveys so customers can tell us what they actually want, I believe the small details matter.
I’m extremely proud of how Peete Vending has grown since I took that leap in 2023. What began with me learning an industry I had never worked in before has grown into a business serving multiple locations and expanding its presence throughout South Florida. We’ve also achieved small-business certifications across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, making us what I proudly call a tri-county certified small business.
Being able to say that as a Black woman entrepreneur means something to me. I’m operating in an industry where I may not always be who someone expects to walk through the door as the owner, but I’ve learned to let my professionalism, consistency and quality of service speak for themselves.
What sets Peete Vending apart isn’t necessarily the machine itself—there are plenty of companies that can provide a vending machine. It’s the intention behind the service.
I don’t want Peete Vending to only be known for vending machines. I want our name to be associated with service, opportunity and impact. I want to create jobs, build meaningful partnerships throughout South Florida, and hopefully show another young woman that there is room for her in industries where she may not always see herself represented.
The machines may be what we provide, but ultimately, people are who we serve.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about South Florida is the culture and diversity. I was born and raised in Broward County, so I’m definitely a Broward girl at heart! But with some of Peete Vending’s main locations being in Miami, I’ve gotten the opportunity to explore and experience Miami in a way that I honestly never did growing up.
And I’ve grown to really appreciate it! Miami has such a unique energy. The diversity, the food, the music, the different cultures and even the entrepreneurial spirit make it a special place. You can drive a short distance and find yourself experiencing an entirely different culture and atmosphere. I also love seeing so many minority- and women-owned businesses growing and creating opportunities throughout Miami and South Florida.
And of course, we have beautiful beaches and amazing weather…when it doesn’t feel like the sun is sitting directly on top of you. LOL.
What do I like least? Can I say the traffic?! Because Miami traffic has definitely tested my patience AND my faith a few times! LOL.
Beyond the traffic, though, I would say the rising cost of living. South Florida is an amazing place to live, but as Miami and the surrounding communities continue to grow and develop, affordability has become a real concern. I hope that as our cities continue evolving, we don’t lose sight of the people and families who have called these communities home for generations. Growth is exciting, but I believe the best kind of growth creates opportunities for the people who are already here too.
Overall, I’m grateful to call South Florida home. I’ve been blessed to travel and see many different parts of the world, and those experiences have actually made me appreciate home even more. And through Peete Vending, Miami has become an even bigger part of my story—both personally and professionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://peetevending.com/
- Instagram: https://peetevending.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C21S7zHa5/
- Other: https://youtu.be/fkQGSfqh0WU?si=opqxE9qw83BcLycy
