Reema Bhatia, 37

There were a lot of things that could have intimidated Reema Bhatia when she started Stickboy Creative in 2007.

For one, Fort Myers, her launching post, is a far cry from Silicon Valley. Also, the technology industry was and remains a male-dominated field.

But Bhatia’s naturally positive outlook and resilient spirit — plus the support of her husband, mother and other mentors — gave her the confidence and drive to succeed.

“A differentiator is always good, and I’ve just held on to that,” says Bhatia, who originally hails from India. “Frankly, that’s what I love about this community and this country: Everybody’s given a chance. It doesn’t matter where you come from. Once you have a seat at the table, if you have the mental chops to prove that you’re worth the time, everybody gives you a chance.”

She also acknowledges the importance of the team she’s put together to assist clients with custom software and apps, digital marketing and other technology-based services. She trusts them enough to let them grow and develop their skills — even if that means an occasional failure along the way.

“I’m not afraid to let them make mistakes,” says Bhatia. “Coddling people or admonishing them at every step doesn’t allow for the empowerment of people. My mom used to always say don’t cry over spilled milk; just move on onward and upward."

Bhatia has relied on advice and guidance from people who are farther along on their entrepreneurial journeys than she. And she believes approaching business highs and lows with the right attitude helps her tackle whatever comes her way. “It’s always two steps forward, one step back,” she says. “That’s the rhythm of things. You can’t be down on yourself. You just have to move on, and if something didn’t work out, that’s fine. You’ve got to brush it off. There are tons of other opportunities.”