Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs

In this episode, I talk to Amir Mostafavi, founder of South Block. Amir shares how his family’s entrepreneurial roots and early ventures like Campus Fresh shaped his journey, and what it took to grow South Block from a single juice shop into 20+ locations. He highlights the role of community, culture, and a people-first mindset in scaling a mission-driven business.

In this episode, I talk with sisters Haley and Dakota Jackson, co-founders of District Heroines, a D.C.-inspired candle brand launched during COVID. They share how a playful idea grew into a fast-rising business and reflect on the lessons of balancing full-time jobs, scaling without outside capital, and celebrating women’s strength through their brand.

In this episode, I talk to JC Smith, founder of Bailiwick Clothing. JC shares how he built a brand that celebrates Washington, DC through design, culture, and purpose. He talks about the risks of starting a creative business, the lessons learned from setbacks, and why staying rooted in community and storytelling has been key to Bailiwick’s growth and impact.

In this episode, I talk with Patrick Garrigan, founder of Ignition Platforms. Patrick shares how he left a successful career to launch a company built on authentic storytelling and experiential marketing. He opens up about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, the vision behind Ignition, and the importance of creating genuine human connection in a noisy world.

In this episode, I talk with Andrea and Matt Collazo, the husband-and-wife team behind Chase Systems. Named after their son, the company has grown largely through word-of-mouth into a business that helps families create fully connected smart homes. Andrea and Matt share their journey, the lessons learned, and why keeping people and relationships at the center has been key to their success.