The Big Idea Sketchbook, a Shop Wit & Delight staple, was originally inspired by my ideation process: to throw as many ideas on paper and see what sticks. The Big Idea Challenge, which launched last July, was originally inspired by my interest in learning about what works for you! We invited all Scatterbrains, A-Types, Go-Getters, and Planners to submit their own big ideas in hopes of connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with a community who will cheer on their dreams.

We were overwhelmed by the responses we received and simply blown away by all of the amazing ideas. After carefully reviewing each submission, our team narrowed the list down to four finalists: Lindsay Hirth, Cara Hyde-Basso, Dylan Mierzwinski, Sydney Bell and Breanna Banford. We love what these women are doing and wanted to share their big ideas with you.

Lindsay Hirth – Perfume Maker

After attending a school for perfumery in Paris a year ago, Lindsay Hirth fell in love with the art of mixing fragrances. Since then, she’s been creating candles, perfumes, lotions, and soaps in her spare time. “Every scent tells a story, and I can’t wait to help women tell their stories with this art,” says Lindsay.

In hopes of bringing the joy of mixing fragrances to more people, Lindsay is in the process of launching a perfumery and candle studio in Greensboro, North Carolina (shown above). There, women will have the chance to learn how to create their own signature scent for home and bath goods. In addition, each purchase will provide microloans to female entrepreneurs. Women helping women, I love it!

Follow @bloomanthology on Instagram to keep up with her journey.

Cara Hyde-Basso – Architect

Two years following the loss of her beloved mother and best friend, Cara Hyde-Basso still yearns for the support and safety her mom once gave her. She writes, “Not only do I miss her support, two years of her absence has made it hard to even remember what it was once like to have such a strong, positive safety-net in my life. Stumbling upon the article for the Big Idea Challenge was a welcome reminder of it”.

Cara’s Big Idea extends far beyond her career as an architect, her goal being to have her own architecture firm as well as to discover how to live a life she is proud of. She took her first step towards her goal with the completion of a kitchen remodel in her own home. Cara explains “The process of starting completely from scratch, a gut renovation, and designing a space entirely my own gave me confidence in being my own boss and the potential to start my own business, but it also gave me a glimpse of the woman I want to be.”

For more information on Cara and her architecture work, visit her website at carahydebasso.com.

Dylan Mierzwinski – Children’s Book Illustrator

Dylan describes the ‘real beginning’ of her big idea as a common and disinteresting place, as she was unhappy at her job working as a graphic designer, feeling disenchanted with her life.

That’s when she decided to embark on 100 days of creativity (in the privacy of her own home, of course) to try and get herself drawing every day. Through this process, Dylan was able to uncover her unique sense of style and discovered what she loved doing most: telling stories that delight her heart.

“The biggest thing along this journey so far is breaking through my own beliefs of who I should be and what I can do. “You’re not smart enough to learn x, y, z” or “you’re not small enough to wear a jumpsuit” (it was a powerful moment when I just bought and wore the damn jumpsuit). So when my heart murmured an interest in illustrating timeless children’s books and my brain hammered back with “you don’t want kids, you’re not a literature stud, and you know nothing of that world,” my reaction was to instead declare that I will illustrate at least one (but probably more) children’s books.” writes Dylan.

For more of Dylan’s designs, visit her blog or follow her on Instagram @bydylanm.

Sydney Bell & Breanna Banford – Queen Speaking Podcast

Out of Rochester, New York, Sydney and Breanna created Queen Speaking in hopes of filling a missing gap. They describe the podcast in their own words, “As we navigate our 20s and 30s, we’ve had countless conversations together talking through our everyday challenges, seeking personal growth, overcoming relationship hurdles, and achieving professional goals. We wanted a place where we could share with the rest of the world the resources that helped us along the way — ultimately making the journey easier for you. The goal is to start a conversation and grow a community of kick ass Queens.”

Listen to new episodes every week, as the duo offers updates on their lives and discusses relevant topics from finance to relationships. Available wherever you find your podcasts!

To have your “Big Idea featured” on Wit & Delight, fill out this form, or share an image and caption about your business using the hashtag #BigIdeaChallenge.