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- Built to Feed Ambition: Inside Hudson Kitchen with Djenaba Johnson-Jones
Djenaba Johnson-Jones | Photo Credit Legndzonly Photography In a bright commercial kitchen in New Jersey, stainless steel counters stretch wide under clean overhead lights. The air carries the warm scent of spice and flour, and the steady hum of mixers sounds like work getting done. This is Hudson Kitchen, an 8,000-square-foot home for food entrepreneurs turning recipes into real products, ready to meet the market. But Hudson Kitchen was not born from a perfect plan. Djenaba Johnson-Jones, the founder of Hudson Kitchen had been in a corporate role and was actively planning her exit. She knew she was ready for a change and was exploring what the next chapter could look like. At the time, she thought it might be a fitness business, so she started studying for her personal trainer certification. Then she was laid off. “It was unexpected, but it didn’t feel like a derailment,” she says. “It felt like an acceleration.” Emotionally, it was both exciting and scary, but she was ready for something different, even if the timing was not entirely on her terms. As she began training clients and thinking more seriously about wellness, a friend asked a practical question that shifted everything: “You’re helping us work out, but what do we eat?” Djenaba did what women who build always do. She started solving. She found a chef. She tested recipes. She explored a meal prep concept. And then she hit a wall that changed everything. She could not find a licensed commercial kitchen to work in. As she started asking around, she realized she was not alone. Other local food founders were running into the same problem, again and again. What these founders needed was not just a kitchen. They needed a way through licensing, health departments, compliance, and the confusing early steps that can cost time and money when nobody explains the rules clearly. So Djenaba let go of her original idea and began building the ecosystem she wished had existed when she needed it most. The Kitchen Behind the Brands “For those just discovering Hudson Kitchen,” Djenaba explains, “it’s a commercial kitchen and food-business incubator designed to give packaged food founders room to start and room to grow.” Hudson Kitchen is fully licensed and FDA-registered, with shared production space, storage, and co-working options. Members can choose full- or part-time plans with flat-fee pricing and short-term commitments, which makes the financial side feel less like a gamble and more like a plan. Founders have 24/7 access and do not need to book time blocks, which means they can work around day jobs, childcare, and the real-life constraints that often shape women’s entrepreneurship. The infrastructure is designed for serious production: high electrical capacity, flexible setup, and room for founders to bring in the equipment they need. And then there is the part that is harder to describe on paper, but instantly felt in the space: relief. “Beyond space, Hudson Kitchen offers peace of mind and support,” she says. “We handle facility management, maintenance, utilities, and waste disposal so founders can stay focused on building their businesses.” That support extends into training and guidance: workshops, access to experts, and a community that understands how vulnerable it can feel to bet on something you made with your own hands. “Hudson Kitchen is built to remove friction,” Djenaba adds. “So founders can focus on producing, learning, and growing sustainable packaged food businesses.” What Founders Walk In With and What They Walk Out With The people who come through Hudson Kitchen’s doors tend to arrive in one of two places. Some are just beginning, holding a recipe, an early product, or an idea that has not been tested outside their home kitchen. They walk in with uncertainty and the kinds of questions that rarely have clear answers when you are building something for the first time. “For them, Hudson Kitchen provides a structured on-ramp: education, guided experimentation, and early production that helps them validate their idea and build a solid foundation,” Djenaba says. Others come in already moving, with products on shelves, demand increasing, and pressure building. They need systems, consistency, and professional access so growth does not turn into chaos. Inside Hudson Kitchen, they refine processes, improve operations, and make more strategic decisions about scaling responsibly. Across both paths, Djenaba says the transformation is bigger than what gets produced. “Members walk out with progress that’s grounded in reality,” she explains. “The goal is not just what gets made in the kitchen, but how founders think and operate when they leave.” From Scattered Information to Real Execution Before Hudson Kitchen became a physical facility, it became a mission: make the path clearer. Djenaba remembers chasing basic answers: calling health departments and not getting responses, showing up in person to understand licensing, trying to piece together what was required at the county and state level, and figuring out how to set up a legitimate food business without wasting months on conflicting guidance. “Founders were hungry for clarity and a starting point,” she says. “Not an advanced strategy, just a clear, reliable path.” That frustration is what led to her first course, 10 Steps to Starting a Food Business in New Jersey, launched in 2016. Then, in 2017, Hudson Kitchen introduced the Food Business Bootcamp, created to close the gap between knowing and doing. Since then, over 300 people have gone through the course. A Bootcamp Built for Launch “The Food Business Bootcamp was created to close the gap between information and execution,” Djenaba says. Earlier versions helped founders understand the steps, but many still needed structure, accountability, and hands-on support to build something they could actually take to market. That is what makes the new Winter ’26 cohort different. For the first time, the Bootcamp is being delivered as an eight-week, hands-on sprint designed for early-stage packaged food founders who are ready to move fast and stay focused. Founders with a recipe build one packaged food product from concept to launch, with support that reflects what real CPG requires: recipe refinement and scaling with food scientists, financial modeling with a CFO, brand and marketing development with an expert, and operational planning with a two-time founder focused on efficient production. The work is not theoretical. There are required in-kitchen sessions in New Jersey, because this is about building something legitimate and launch-ready. The program begins February 4 and culminates in a Demo Day on April 7. Along the way, founders receive professional food photography, initial packaging design, a logo, and a mini brand toolkit, assets that help turn a vision into a business you can actually present, pitch, and sell. Applications close January 9. The Myth Djenaba Wants Women to Leave Behind When asked what she wishes more women knew before starting a food business, Djenaba does not hesitate. “I wish more women knew that you don’t need prior food industry experience to start a food business,” she says. “That’s one of the biggest myths I see holding people back.” She has watched women disqualify themselves because they have not worked in restaurants or food manufacturing, even though they already carry the skills entrepreneurship demands: project management, budgeting, leadership, resilience, communication, and problem-solving. “A food business isn’t built on cooking alone,” she says. “It’s built on decision-making, systems, and follow-through.” Momentum, Alignment, and What’s Next After years of building, Djenaba is not searching for direction. She is leading from clarity, and Hudson Kitchen is moving with it. “After years of building, testing, and adjusting, I have real clarity about who we serve and what we do best,” she shares. “We’ve intentionally narrowed our focus to packaged food founders and let go of everything else.” That clarity has changed how she leads, and how Hudson Kitchen moves. “It feels like pulling back a slingshot,” she says. “The foundation is set, and now it’s about moving forward with confidence and purpose.” Looking toward 2026, what she wants is more alignment: between how she spends her time, how the programs run, the strength of her team, and the impact Hudson Kitchen is meant to have. She adds, “I’m ready to step into even greater partnership, collaboration, and resources that allow me to lead at a higher level so the business continues to grows and I grow with it.” At Hudson Kitchen, food is the product, but the deeper work is what happens in the founders they serve: the confidence, the clarity, and the shift from guessing to knowing. And for the woman holding a recipe and wondering if she can really build a brand, Djenaba has built a place that turns uncertainty into a plan. Follow Djenaba’s journey: 🥣 www.TheHudsonKitchen.com 🚀 Apply for the Food Business Bootcamp 💼 LinkedIn
- Unconventional on Purpose: Tianna Joseph Is Shaping a New Era in Cannabis
When Tianna Joseph entered the cannabis industry in 2014, most of the world hadn’t yet caught up to the cultural shift she already saw coming. What others dismissed or disapproved of, Tianna recognized as powerful. Cannabis wasn’t just a product—it was a point of connection, healing, and transformation. “I’ve connected with some of my closest friends and family through smoke sessions,” she reflects. “I’ve found solace in consuming throughout different moods and various points in my life. And ultimately, I’ve always felt that cannabis has been misunderstood. So I’ve always wanted to be a part of changing the narrative.” That clarity of purpose became a compass, even as the path forward remained anything but traditional. Rebuilding and Rising After stepping away from the industry for a time, Tianna found herself at a crossroads. A major life change, including divorce and a move to upstate New York, left her rebuilding both personally and professionally. She accepted a recruiting job, but the call of cannabis never fully left. When an opportunity opened at a dispensary in Troy, she returned to what she knew in her spirit was right. “I humbled myself to work here just to get my foot in the door,” she says. “I knew I had to show and prove.” And she did. Within weeks of taking initiative and designing her own ads for the business’s social media, she was promoted to Marketing Manager. Soon after, she coordinated their grand opening, leveraging skills she'd sharpened through her own blogging, branding work, and even her wedding planning. What she lacked in conventional experience, she more than made up for in self-trust and vision. “Opening a dispensary taught me that leaders don’t know everything. It’s the team that brings knowledge and experience, while the leader creates the structure.” Bold in Her Momentum Today, Tianna says she’s living in a season of bold momentum. It’s not about perfection or predictability, but about movement and clarity. “I’ve had less tolerance for those that don’t align with me moving forward,” she shares. “Any activities that don’t serve happiness I no longer entertain. I’m purely focused on the betterment of myself.” Even on days when the pace is slower, she pays attention. “I’m also more conscious when my momentum is off, and I acknowledge it. Whether that means taking time to rest, stepping away from people or circumstances, or letting go of control. The momentum isn’t always a consistent pace, but it’s always moving forward.” Living Out Her Calling Working in cannabis isn’t just a job for Tianna—it’s a calling. Despite the obstacles she’s faced, she remains committed to reframing how the industry is seen and who belongs in it. Her story is a reminder that success doesn’t require conformity. It requires courage. “ I’d rather be unconventional and happy than status quo and frustrated. If you think you’re different, I guarantee you’re not the only one who feels the passion you feel. You just have to be willing to find them.” As she looks ahead, Tianna knows her current role is only the beginning. “The Greenhouse is just the start for me. I’m discovering so many other fields within the cannabis industry. Who knows what’s next?” Follow Tianna’s journey and connect with her on LinkedIn .
- VISIONARIES & FOUNDERS
Allana Southerland: Beating the Odds, Building the Stage Founder, Party in a Box Band 📍 United States | LinkedIn In an industry often led by men, Allana Southerland has carved out her own space and filled it with purpose. As the founder of Party in a Box Band, she not only excels in music and performance, but channels that momentum into real impact for underserved youth. Her efforts have reached more than 500 children, proving that leadership rooted in service can create lasting change. One of her most defining moments came when she brought her community together to create a student-led Christmas concert. The school was packed with standing room only, filled with music, joy, and connection. Through consistent action and heart-centered leadership, Allana continues to move forward with vision and courage—opening doors for others as she walks through them. Disclaimer: The profiles featured in The Most Unstoppable Women of 2025 are based on information submitted directly by the individuals. Content may have been edited for clarity, grammar, and length. All images are provided by the subjects and are published with the understanding that they have the rights and permissions to share them. Everyday Unstoppable does not independently verify the accuracy of statements or the authenticity of images and is not responsible for errors, omissions, or unauthorized use of third-party content.
- VISIONARIES & FOUNDERS
Nabanita De: Powering Privacy, Purpose, and Possibility Founder, Privacy License 📍 United States | LinkedIn Nabanita De isn’t just building platforms—she’s building trust, momentum, and systems that scale with integrity. As the founder of Privacy License , she’s leading a global mission to redefine how we handle privacy, transparency, and digital ethics. But her journey began much earlier. The first in her community to move to the U.S. for graduate studies—on a full tuition waiver—she quickly proved her instinct for impact. She built Fib , a fake news detection tool for Facebook, which won the Google Moonshot Prize at Princeton and was downloaded across 135 countries in its first week. It went viral, earning attention from CNN, BBC, Wired, and Business Insider, and cemented Nabanita as a visionary voice in ethical tech. Her momentum has never slowed. What started as a personal effort to help a family member return to work became Returnships.org , a global initiative honored by Fast Company and accessed in over 100 countries. She’s formed partnerships with Amazon, UNICEF, the United Nations, and more—bringing strategy, innovation, and human-centered purpose to every collaboration. Nabanita doesn’t move for ego or applause. She moves with clarity, courage, and conviction, because she’s not waiting for permission to lead the future. She’s engineering it. One solution. One story. One bold act at a time.
- VISIONARIES & FOUNDERS
Letisha McFarlane Hadley: Creating Space for Empowered Birth Founder, Yes Doula 📍 United States | LinkedIn Letisha McFarlane Hadley is redefining the experience of birth—one empowered family at a time. A homeschooling mother of three, Letisha is an actress, model, and the founder of Yes Doula , a hybrid virtual and in-person practice that supports mothers-to-be and their partners through informed, connected, and joyful birthing experiences. Her mission was born from a pivotal shift during her own pregnancy. The presence of a fully engaged partner transformed her expectations. What she experienced was not fear, but pleasure, strength, and deep connection—anchored by oxytocin, the hormone of love and bonding. That moment of clarity reshaped her vision of what birth could be. Drawing from her background in fashion and promotional marketing, Letisha began crafting a brand that blends maternal wellness with storytelling and elevated design. Today, Yes Doula offers a full ecosystem of services, from virtual doula support and cinematic education to fashion collections designed for the modern, health-conscious mother. Each offering centers one powerful idea: that birth, when supported and informed, can be a source of joy. Letisha challenges the cultural narrative that birth is something to fear. Her work celebrates the body’s wisdom, the power of partnership, and the transformative potential of motherhood. With Yes Doula , she is inspiring a global community to reclaim birth as a space of love, strength, and sovereignty.
- Resilient Warriors
Charmaine Turner: Choosing Life, Living On Purpose Founder, Exalting Wellness Coaching & Consulting 📍 United States | LinkedIn Charmaine Turner is living proof that purpose rises from the hardest places. As a military veteran and the founder of Exalting Wellness Coaching & Consulting , she understands what it means to fight for life on every level. Her journey shifted when a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis threatened her body, career, and peace while she was a single mother of three boys. Instead of succumbing to fear or depression, she leaned into faith. Just five months after her diagnosis, she embraced life further by getting married and welcoming a daughter to complete her family. Her breakthrough came the moment she decided to take off the superwoman cape and admit she could not do it all alone. In that vulnerability, she found healing. This choice to accept grace sparked a new mission. Now a certified health and wellness coach with a Master’s in Christian Counseling, Charmaine is dedicated to guiding others out of the shadows. She does not just speak on healing because she embodies it, standing as a testament to the power of surrender and the beauty of showing up for yourself.
- In Full Bloom with Erica Dias
Faith, flowers, and fearless moves. Erica Dias invites us into her world of bold beauty and empowered beginnings. In a sun-drenched studio filled with towering palms and the scent of fresh blooms, a long floral-covered table stretches into the distance. At each setting: a name card, a folded napkin, and a promise—that beauty, healing, and sisterhood are on the menu. At the head of that table—often arranging a stem or guiding a guest with a smile—stands Erica Dias. Entrepreneur. Publicist. Stylist. Author. Florist. An unstoppable woman in full bloom. But this didn’t begin in a studio—or even with flowers. “I grew up in Richmond, California,” Erica shares. “People think the Bay is all tech and corporate hustle, but it’s where I got my first real look at entrepreneurship. That spirit stayed with me.” Erica’s early career brought her behind the scenes of television sets as a wardrobe stylist. From there, she stepped boldly into public relations, founding The B Firm PR, a boutique agency that elevates brands with polish and purpose. Headquartered in both San Francisco and Atlanta, her firm has earned a national reputation for delivering “creative breakthroughs.” Whether she’s managing communications for high-profile clients or curating immersive brand experiences, Erica leads with an unmatched ability to blend strategy with soul. Her agency’s mission is clear: to educate, build relationships, extend reach, and increase visibility—for individuals, corporations, and culture-shifting brands alike. It’s this brilliance behind the scenes that makes her public work all the more meaningful. Rooted in Resilience When the world slowed down during the pandemic, Erica—like many of us—went searching for peace. “There were so many horrible, sad things happening during COVID,” she says. “I needed something to bring back joy, peace, and happiness in my life.” That something became flowers. Without telling anyone, she enrolled in floral school—7 AM to 1 PM, Monday through Thursday, for four weeks. After class, she would head straight to work as a full-time publicist. It wasn’t a career change. It was a lifeline. “This creative outlet saved me from depression,” she says. “It saved me from sitting in all the horrible things going on in the world.” Built to Bloom From that season of quiet creativity, Helen Florals was born—a floral design studio named in honor of her grandmother. What began as a personal outlet quickly blossomed into something much bigger—a brand, a movement, and a ministry of sorts. With lush workshop tables, hands-on instruction, and blooms that dare you to smile, Erica’s floral experiences are about more than centerpieces. They’re about coming back to yourself. “Helen Florals is such an amazing gift to my life that it took me a minute to even share this creative side with the world,” she says.And when she finally did, the world responded with awe. Her designs range from simple arrangements for intimate dinner parties to lush tablescapes and creative floral workshops. She’s also made floral history—introducing striking innovations like her signature 5-foot-tall roses, a towering, triumphant symbol of beauty, excellence, and bold innovation. “I see beauty in all florals,” she says. “But I know everyone isn’t necessarily going to see what I see. That’s why I added a workshop component—so people can create their own arrangements with my guidance.” “I want people to see the beauty in their own creations. That same joy I found—I want to pass it on.” A defining moment came when she hosted her first sold-out floral workshop. “I kept thinking, wow. People trust me to guide them with a gift I tried to keep to myself for so long. And now I’m sharing it—and people love it.” Today, Erica defines success in new terms. “Success feels like freedom, joy, and happiness—nonstop. I’ve always focused on impact: changing, growing, moving the needle. I continue to increase my value and not second-guess my price. Success looks and feels beautiful inside and out—and smells really, really good!” Fueled by Faith Faith, too, remains at the heart of everything she does. “My faith is everything,” she says. “Even with a mustard seed of faith—I kept going. And I keep going.” That faith inspired her to write Faith It Until You Make It—a beautiful companion book filled with her favorite motivational quotes and sayings, crafted to offer readers a daily boost of confidence, clarity, and drive. Many describe it as a modern-day affirmation must-have: easy to return to, impossible to forget. When we asked Erica what advice she’d offer the woman still waiting to bet on herself—to bloom later, or smaller, or safer—she leaned in gently and said: “Start by starting. Block out the noise. And go.” What beauty is waiting to bloom in you? Let Erica’s journey remind you: you’re never too late, too small, or too far behind to blossom with boldness. Follow Erica’s journey: 🌸 @Helen.Florals 📣 @TheBFirmPR 📖 Faith It Until You Make It available at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million
- Legacy Builders
Cierra Gross: Designing the Future of Work with Radical Clarity Founder & CEO, Worklution 📍 United States | LinkedIn When Cierra Gross stepped away from her senior HR role at Google, it was not just a career decision. It was a moment of alignment. In under two years, she launched two ventures— Caged Bird HR and Wrk Receipts under the parent company Worklution . Together, they have generated over one million dollars in revenue while providing critical support to clients across 40 states. Her platforms now serve industries from Hollywood to banking, offering data-driven, AI-powered solutions that place the employee at the center of every conversation. Cierra’s mission is not to simply reform HR. It is to reimagine what equity, advocacy, and innovation look like in real time. Her turning point came during a deeply traumatic experience of racial bias in the workplace. Rather than retreat, she built a response. Caged Bird HR became a confidential space where employees could seek protection and support when facing workplace injustice. In its first year, over 500 clients found guidance through her platform. Cierra is a strategist with heart and precision. She is designing a future where transparency and empowerment are not ideals they are the standard. Her work shows what is possible when brilliance is paired with courage.
- Resilient Warriors
Dr. Mildred Muhammad: From Survival to Global Advocacy Author, Speaker, Advocate 📍 United States | LinkedIn Dr. Mildred Muhammad has lived through one of the most public traumas in recent American history—and emerged not only as a survivor but as a voice for millions. As the ex-wife of the DC Sniper, her life was thrust into the spotlight under unimaginable circumstances. But what followed was a transformation that only few could carry. Rather than allow that chapter to define her, she chose to write the next ones herself—boldly, courageously, and with a divine sense of purpose. Today, Dr. Muhammad is a renowned speaker, author, and international advocate for domestic violence awareness, helping survivors reclaim their power and peace. Her journey is not one of erasure but of reclamation. With every talk, interview, and published work, she tells the truth of what it means to survive trauma and still rise. She turned pain into platform, fear into fuel, and isolation into empowerment for others. Her mindset is her testimony—resilient, rooted in faith, and unwavering in its mission to educate, protect, and heal. Dr. Muhammad does not simply speak on trauma; she transforms it. Her life is a living example of what it means to be unstoppable—not despite the trauma, but because she chose to overcome it.
- Faith‑Driven Changemakers
Dr. Giovanna Brasfield: Building Equity Into Every Blueprint CEO, Brasfield & Associates LLC 📍 United States | LinkedIn Dr. Giovanna Brasfield—known to many as Dr. G—is not just an advocate for inclusion; she is an architect of access. As a nationally recognized leader in the construction and infrastructure space, she is redefining how industries integrate equity into every phase of progress. Through her firm, Brasfield & Associates , Dr. G champions the economic advancement of minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses by embedding inclusive practices into billion-dollar transportation and infrastructure projects. Her work has been spotlighted on global platforms, from contributing to RIL Magazine in Finland to being named one of Autodesk’s Top 25 Thought Leaders in the AEC industry. With every keynote, strategic partnership, and policy conversation, Dr. G makes space—real space—for those historically left out of the room. Her journey to this moment was born from bold conviction. During the height of the pandemic, Dr. G left a high-level corporate role to launch her consultancy, refusing to let small, underrepresented firms be sidelined in the rebuilding of America’s economy. What started as a leap of faith in uncertain times became a firm rooted in systemic change, mentorship, and generational impact. Dr. G doesn’t wait for equity to be invited—she builds it into the foundation. Her work is a testament to what it looks like when purpose meets policy, when courage meets construction, and when leadership is lived out loud and on mission.
- Legacy Builders
Tiffany Stewart: Owning Her Healing, Amplifying Her Legacy Founder, BirthWrite Consulting Group 📍 Connecticut | LinkedIn Tiffany Stewart is not just building a business—she’s building a legacy rooted in justice, truth, and transformation. As founder of BirthWrite Consulting Group, she operates with both divine alignment and strategic clarity, blending a poetic sensibility with a powerful command of systems, people, and purpose. Tiffany is the kind of leader who sees possibility in every challenge and brings excellence to every room she enters. She has secured multimillion-dollar grants in boardrooms and poured wisdom into young women with little more than a dream. She leads with conviction, heals through presence, and speaks in ways that shift atmospheres. Her most defining moment began with a choice—to stop shrinking, to stop waiting, and to choose herself for the very first time. That decision became the foundation of No Saving Me for Later , her deeply personal book that sparked a new era of alignment. No longer measuring success by applause, Tiffany began measuring it by peace, purpose, and freedom. That internal shift unlocked her next level—spiritually, professionally, and creatively. What could have broken her instead became the catalyst for her greatest impact. In every sense, Tiffany Stewart is a woman who has mastered her mindset and committed her life to helping others do the same.
- Faith‑Driven Changemakers
Waynetta Punter: Turning Grief Into a Movement of Mentorship and Meaning Founder, Heavenly Loc Tees and Decor LLC . 📍 United States | LinkedIn Waynetta Punter is a visionary whose mission is stitched with purpose, resilience, and love. As the founder of Heavenly Loc Tees and Decor LLC , she transforms custom creations into catalysts for confidence, identity, and inspiration. While working full-time as a Deli Manager and raising four sons, Waynetta continues to build a brand rooted in faith and fueled by legacy. Her business is more than a print studio—it’s a platform where personal expression meets mentorship. Through her “Speak Through Tees” program, she helps youth give voice to their vision, turning printed shirts into wearable affirmations of pride and possibility. The heart of her mission was born from heartbreak. When Waynetta lost her mother, she could have folded under the weight of grief. Instead, she chose to honor that loss by launching a business that uplifts others. That decision became the spark for everything that followed—from mentoring women in entrepreneurship to teaching teens how to lead with creativity and confidence. Waynetta doesn’t just wear strength—she prints it, lives it, and passes it on. Her journey is a testament to what happens when faith and purpose take the lead, even in life’s most painful moments.











