Akilah

I grew up in Alabama, in a household where learning was part of everyday life. Both of my parents were teachers, so reading, asking questions, and creating were always encouraged. Education to me meant learning how to understand things and solve problems, and that lesson has stayed with me.

I was also introduced to entrepreneurship at an early age. My grandmother owned the local corner store in our community, and I watched her build relationships, serve her neighbors, and run a business people depended on. Her store was more than a place to shop, it was a trusted space and local hub. Seeing her ownership, independence, and commitment to community showed me the power of building something meaningful.

Years later, My Favorite Fixer began as a response to frustration, embarrassment, and fear I experienced as a homeowner. I hired handymen for basic repairs and repeatedly ran into the same issues: no-shows, unfinished work, or being charged more than quoted. The moment that truly changed everything happened during one visit when a handyman made inappropriate comments that left me feeling uncomfortable in my own home. I remember standing there feeling frustrated and disrespected, thinking I should not have to deal with this and I don’t want another woman to ever feel this way.

I trusted my instincts, ended the job, and made sure someone was on the phone with me until he left. That moment stuck with me, I realized how quickly situations like that can turn into something much more dangerous had I not spoken up. And I knew I wasn’t alone so many other women I spoke to talked about feeling intimidated, unsure who to trust, going as far talking to fake relatives, husbands or boyfriends on the phone while the handyman was there, or just hesitant to ask questions. Instead of accepting that this was “just how it is,” I decided to do something about it.

I started learning home repair skills myself watching tutorials (YouTube is your friend), taking classes at the hardware store, asking questions, and practicing hands-on. The more I learned, the more I felt empowered and would share what I learned with other women. Once I begin to understand that home repair and maintenance is not all that intimidating, I knew other women could do the same and feel accomplished repair things around the home

What started as a personal response has grown into My Favorite Fixer a mission-driven business rooted in education, trust, and empowerment, created so women can feel confident, capable, and safe in their own homes.