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In May 2019, Dia took a leap that would quietly—but profoundly—reshape her life. At just 19 years old, she was married with a young family. Like many women in her situation, she carried the weight of expectations—of motherhood, of marriage, and of tradition. And dreaming beyond her boundaries of that reality felt out of reach.

Then Dia found the Starting Point program, an initiative of the Women’s Fund aimed at helping young women gain confidence, set goals, and explore their potential. She didn’t expect the program to change everything. But it did.

“Starting Point made me realize no matter where you are in life, you can create a new story,” Dia said.

Those words became her truth.

With a spark of possibility ignited in her, Dia began to imagine a different future—one where she could build something of her own. She had long dreamed of starting her own business, and after Starting Point, she no longer saw that as a dream—it became a goal.

Diia’s Beatuy LLC—a salon suite now open inside Sola Salon—was born out of that dream. But her path wasn’t easy. Like many first-time entrepreneurs, Dia faced challenges, especially in managing the business side of things. That’s when another connection from the Women’s Fund made a difference.

Through WWBIC (Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation), a grant partner of the Women’s Fund, Dia received one of the Women’s Fund laptops—a small but critical tool for her growing business. She also enrolled in a 3-part QuickBooks series and participated in accounting training. That class proved to be a turning point: after discovering that a previous bookkeeper had mismanaged her financial records, Dia used what she learned to connect with someone who helped her untangle the mess and build a clear, accurate system.

Now, with her financials in order and her goals in focus, Dia can make confident, strategic decisions for her business—and her family.

Dia’s journey is one of perseverance, purpose, and power. She had every reason to stay where she was, to quiet her ambition. But she didn’t. She chose to believe in herself. She chose to rewrite her story.

Today, she’s not just a small business owner—she’s a role model, especially for other young Hmong women who may not see many stories like theirs reflected in entrepreneurship. Dia shows that with the right support, a strong community, and the courage to believe in new beginnings, real change is possible.

Dia didn’t just dream of a better life for her family—she built one. And she’s just getting started.