We’re looking forward to introducing you to Stephanie Carter. Check out our conversation below.
Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Absolutely, I would hire me. I bring a unique blend of creativity, leadership, and resilience to every role I take on. I’m someone who doesn’t just complete tasks—I find ways to elevate them, bring new ideas, and make meaningful impact. I’m dependable, resourceful, and adaptable, especially in fast-paced or changing environments. At the same time, I’m self-aware enough to recognize where I can continue to grow, and I actively seek opportunities to learn and evolve. So yes, I’d hire me—because I know I bring both skill and heart to the table, and that combination consistently drives results.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Stephanie Carter, and I’m the creative force behind Urbanique LLC and the founder and president of Brothers and Sisters Inc. I wear many hats—licensed cosmetologist, mentor, entrepreneur, child loss survivor, and endometriosis warrior—but everything I do connects back to one mission: to create, empower, and uplift through purpose and passion.
Urbanique isn’t just a brand—it’s an experience. It’s beauty, fashion, creativity, and mentorship all woven together with heart. Under the Urbanique umbrella, I’ve built branches like UCRAFT, a hands-on creative club that teaches crafting and self-expression; the Urbanique Mentorship Program, a safe space for young girls to grow in confidence and purpose; and Urban Ice, my flavorful twist on a Philly classic.
Urban Ice actually started from years of me selling Philly water ice. One day I decided—why not make my own? I wanted something authentic, bold, and infused with love. And just like that, my signature Italian ice line was born. But I didn’t stop there.
The idea for Urban Lemonade came one hot summer day when I paid $9 for a lemonade at an event. I remember thinking, “I can do this—and better.” The very next day, I started my own lemonade business. I sent out one text, and within 20 minutes, customers were showing up at my door. It took off instantly. Now, in less than a month, Urban Lemonade is already making waves.
Then there’s Brothers and Sisters Inc., my nonprofit and heart project. It’s where community meets compassion. We host outreach events, give away essentials, and create safe spaces for kids through things like our Scoop Parties, where children get free toys and fidgets that spark creativity and joy.
My journey hasn’t been easy—but it’s been powerful. I’ve turned my pain into purpose, my challenges into change. Everything I build—whether it’s a brand, a business, or a movement—comes from a place of love, resilience, and faith. I’m not just creating products; I’m creating impact, one idea at a time.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds break when truth is silenced and hearts grow guarded.
When ego speaks louder than empathy, and pain is left to fester instead of heal.
We lose each other in the spaces where pride replaces prayer,
where love becomes performance instead of presence.
But bonds can be restored—
through honesty, humility, and healing hands.
When two souls are willing to see each other past the pain,
to listen without defense,
to forgive without forgetting the lesson—
that’s where restoration begins.
I’ve learned that healing is the bridge back to love.
It’s not perfect, it’s not fast, but it’s real.
And when people choose grace over grudges,
truth over comfort, and compassion over control
that’s when the bond becomes stronger than it was before.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could.
It showed me who I was when no one was clapping,
when I had to find strength in silence
and faith in the middle of a storm that wouldn’t let up.
Success can make you feel powerful—
but suffering makes you purposeful.
It stripped me down to my truth,
forced me to see the woman behind the titles,
and reminded me that broken doesn’t mean beaten.
Through loss, through illness, through heartbreak and rebuilding,
I learned how to breathe differently—
how to find beauty in what didn’t go as planned,
and how to stand tall with tears still on my face.
Suffering taught me compassion that no classroom could,
patience that no mentor could explain,
and faith that no sermon could give me—
because I lived it.
I learned that peace isn’t found in perfection;
it’s found in surrender,
in trusting God’s timing when mine ran out.
Success taught me how to shine,
but suffering taught me how to glow—
from the inside,
from grace,
from survival,
and from a heart that still believes in tomorrow.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. The public version of me is absolutely real—what people see is my heart, my passion, my drive, my creativity, and my commitment to serve. I don’t create a persona; I show up as myself. But it’s also true that the public only sees the polished parts—the wins, the projects, the smiles, and the energy. They don’t always see the sleepless nights, the silent battles, or the moments when I have to pour back into myself to keep going.
The difference is in the depth, not the truth. The public version of me is the part that gives, creates, and leads. The private version of me is the one who prays, heals, and rebuilds. Both are real, both are me—just shown at different times.
I’ve learned to protect certain parts of myself because I’ve survived things that shaped me deeply—child loss, health battles, heartbreak, and rebuilding from the ground up. Those private parts are what keep me authentic and grounded, so that the public me can keep showing up with integrity and light.
So yes, the public me is real. But the private me is the reason why she exists.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
⸻
🌿 Legacy of Faith
I didn’t build this from strength alone—
I built it from surrender.
From prayers whispered through pain,
from trusting God’s hand when I couldn’t see His plan.
My legacy isn’t about perfection—
it’s about obedience.
Faith carried me where fear tried to stop me.
⸻
🔥 Legacy of Resilience
Every time life tried to break me,
I rebuilt with softer hands and a stronger heart.
I turned wounds into wisdom,
and silence into stories that could heal others.
My resilience isn’t in how fast I recovered,
but in how deeply I refused to give up.
⸻
✨ Legacy of Purpose
I was never chasing fame—
I was chasing meaning.
My purpose lives in the lives I touch,
the girls I mentor,
the hearts I remind to keep believing.
If you remember me for anything,
remember that I made purpose look like peace,
and service look like love.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbaniqueco?igsh=MXN1cTRxY25oNHFidA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://blinq.me/XG104UC9LBdwJ5Pu3Sfp
