Today we’d like to introduce you to Vikiana Herrera.
Hi Vikiana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey started with a dream to create a space where women could collaborate, share resources, and help each other rise. What began as an app in 2020 slowly evolved into a website., and the road there was anything but straight. I went through countless developers, failed more times than I can count, and gave up on myself and the vision more times than I’d like to admit. Eventually I decided to stop waiting for someone to bring it to life and just do it myself.
I wanted to build something I personally needed; a place where women could ask questions, find real resources, network with like-minded vendors through our built-in chat feature, and even trade services without any money changing hands. The last piece, the bartering, became one of the things I’m most proud of. I understand what it feels like to do everything alone as a mother, a homeowner and a corporate professional, and I wanted to create a space where women like me feel seen and supported.
The gap was obvious to me. Local women-owned businesses are virtually invisible online unless they can afford to pay for top search placement or are affiliated with a large organization. If you aren’t, you get buried, as most people don’t scroll past the first page of results. And social media isn’t much better. It rewards popularity over substance and rarely translates into real leads or sales. On top of that, none of it tells you anything about the woman behind the business. I want to change that.
In March 2026, intentionally during Women’s Month, I launched HerDirecStory, an online directory and marketplace for women owned businesses where owners can share their stories, sell products, host events, schedule bookings, and network with both peers and customers all in one place. We also have a HerFuture page dedicated to young entrepreneurs between the ages of 13-17, giving them access to the same tools and resources as a seasoned business owner so they can start with an advantage I didn’t have.
We are still growing but the mission has never been clearer.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth journey. When I started in 2020, I tried collaborating with other women in business and it failed miserably. We worked together on the logo, the name, hosting events, and running social media, but despite the many reassurances I was left to do it all and fund it alone. I eventually parted ways and built something entirely of my own.
From there the technical challenges were relentless. I purchased a theme I loved but could never get it to align with my vision. Every developer I brought on tried to reshape it into what they thought would sell rather than honoring what I was actually trying to build. I went through developer after developer, each one taking time, money and energy I didn’t have to spare.
I was personally funding it all of it while working full time, raising my daughter, and caring for my mother who had fallen ill. It took a tremendous toll on me physically, mentally, and emotionally. There were stretches where the idea came to a complete halt because I was pouring everything into everyone else and had nothing left for myself or my dream. I had no support system cheering me on or celebrating my progress.
And even after launching, the challenges did not stop. I have given vendors free access to tools that would genuinely benefit their business, provided resources, and highlighted them on our social media platform expecting nothing in return. Still, getting people to engage with and use the platform has been one of the hardest battles yet. You can build something with everything you have and still have to fight for people to see its value. That part stings.
And yet I keep going. There is a quote that stuck with me through all of it: “Take the risk. Worst case, you learn. Best case, it changes your whole f**king life.” So here I am, risking it all to learn, to grow, and to build something that outlasts every setback that tried to stop me.
We’ve been impressed with HerDirecStory, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
HerDirecStory is an online directory and marketplace built exclusively for women-owned businesses. We are not just a listing site. We are a platform where women can show up fully, tell their story, sell their products, offer their services, host events, schedule bookings, and connect with both customers and fellow vendors all in one place.
What sets us apart is HerTrade, our vendor-to-vendor barter and collaboration exchange. Women can trade their skills and services without any money changing hands, but it goes beyond bartering. HerTrade is a tool to build real connections, promote your business, and create profit in ways that money alone cannot. For example, a DJ can connect with a venue host and exchange services for event space. From there they can package their offerings together and market to clients who need both, creating a win for everyone involved. The possibilities are endless and the connections are real.
We also believe in the next generation. Our HerFuture page is dedicated to young women entrepreneurs between the ages of 13 and 17, giving them access to the same resources, forums, and tools as seasoned business owners so they can enter the entrepreneurial space with a head start. And unlike platforms that limit you to one market, HerDirecStory connects women both locally and across state lines. Customers can discover and shop women-owned businesses in their own area or find vendors from anywhere in the country. Women can build community in their own backyard and grow their reach far beyond it at the same time.
What I am most proud of is that every feature on this platform was built with intention. Every single one exists because I personally felt the absence of it. I am a woman-owned business owner myself and I built HerDirecStory to be the platform I always needed but could never find. We are for the woman who is just starting out, the one who has been grinding for years, and the one who simply wants to be found.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I would not say risk-taking comes naturally to me. As a single mother and a homeowner with no financial safety net, every decision carries weight. The stakes are real and they are personal. And yet here I am.
The biggest risk I face every day is doing this while still depending on a paycheck. I have used my savings and a portion of every check to fund this platform from the beginning. No investors, no business partners, no safety net. Just me betting on myself one expense at a time. And the truth is I do it because I am chasing something bigger than a steady income. I want financial freedom. Not just the kind that pays the bills, but the kind that lets me move freely, spend unlimited time with my daughter, and wake up on my own terms rather than someone else’s schedule.
I have also taken risks that did not pay off. I lost money to developers who promised they could bring my vision to life and delivered nothing close to it. And I still hire help when I need it knowing that same risk exists every single time. Every time I give someone access to my site I am trusting them with years of work, knowing there is a chance it could be compromised, incomplete, or simply wrong. That never gets easier. But stopping is not an option.
The rat race was never my destination. It was just where I started. Every risk I take is a step toward moving my own mountains.
Pricing:
- 29.99
- 59.99
- 99.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://herdirecstory.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herdirecstory/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HerDirecstory
- Twitter: https://x.com/HerDirecStory
