Mom: I have the pleasure of conducting this interview, which to me is pretty cool because now I get the chance to ask the questions I would like to know the answers to. So let’s get right to it. Many people know that when you presented your idea about starting a business to help girls dream bigger, I basically said, “This is great Xara. I’m glad you want to do something—but no. This is not the time. We can’t do this right now.” How did you feel, that I basically told you no—me, of all people—to your idea?

Xara: So basically, when you said no to me, I laughed. I was like, “Did this woman just say no to me and my bright idea about starting a nonprofit?” But then I said to myself, “You know what? I’m just going to keep bugging her about it because she will eventually say yes if she sees my passion.” And here we are today. >

Read more on page 48 in the latest issue of Flourish Digital Magazine.