Kara Sparks | 33

Occupation: Owner of Larue Kay Salon and CEO of Central Florida Roof Rescue.

Love for your profession: I love to be able to make women feel better about themselves and showing them their true beauty inside.

Transitioning from the beauty industry to roofing industry: When my husband was faced with deployment overseas, I scaled back from my salon to take full control of our roofing business. The hardest part was being taken seriously as a female leader and being respected by our employees.

How do you feel about being a woman in a male-dominated industry: I feel great about it. Men have great respect for a woman who multi-tasks and who possesses construction knowledge.

Greatest career accomplishments: Opening my salon eight years ago as a single mom with $23 in hand.

Advice to your younger self: The best is yet to come. Just pray.

Leader I admire: Ivanka Trump.

Desired superpower: Work without sleep.

Guilty pleasure: Reading a book on vacation.

Describe yourself: Reliable, committed, determined, and creative.

Philosophy of life: “Fake it until you make it.”

If I had $5 million: I’d invest in my kids’ futures and help people in need.