I grew up in a trailer and was embarrassed to use food stamps. Now I own a $13 million company.

Erika Sinner was born into poverty and struggled to make ends meet. She lived in a trailer with her mother and learned to hide her struggles, even at the grocery store, by going late at night to avoid using food stamps. This experience left her feeling unworthy and a people pleaser. She turned this coping mechanism into a strength, realizing that bringing value to others helped her succeed.

Sinner began her career as a hotel receptionist at 18 and later worked at a pharmaceutical company, where she juggled school and work. To gain the skills needed for advancement, she faked a school project, which impressed her boss and led to a promotion. Though she avoided college due to the demanding job schedule, she leveraged her newfound knowledge to start her own pharmaceutical marketing company, which now generates $13 million in revenue.

Despite her challenging past, Sinner is now focused on creating a meaningful life for herself, including running a charity for children undergoing complex medical treatments.