Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, D'Shawn Russell was no stranger to racial tensions and prejudices. Her great-grandmother and grandmother were huge influences on her life, and she still applies their values to her business today. After a 22-year stint as a math teacher, Russell realized it wasn't the path she was meant to embrace. So she did what many of us wish we could do: She turned her hobby into her full-time job.

Russell founded Southern Elegance Candle Company — where candles throwback to a simpler time and are made using locally sourced products — and hasn't looked back since. Each candle represents a place that has meaning to her in the South. Find out how she dealt with racism and sexism on a regular basis as she grew her company from the ground up. You'll get it all on this episode of SheVentures.