Candy Valentino’s story is one of grit, resilience, and a commitment to empowering others. Valentino started from humble beginnings in a trailer park in small-town Pennsylvania. Her journey from welfare to self-made millionaire shows that success isn’t just about financial gain—it’s often about lifting others along the way. She’s redefining what it means to be a successful entrepreneur by mentoring and investing in other business owners.
While traditional investing is notoriously cutthroat, Valentino does more than obsess with her profit: she helps entrepreneurs thrive.
Early Business Lessons
Valentino’s entrepreneurial roots run deep. She grew up working in her father’s auto mechanic shop, which he started as a small business with just $200. The experience shaped her understanding of business operations and customer relationships.
“From [that] time until I was 16, I got dropped off at that little auto mechanic shop every day while my dad fixed cars,” Valentino recalls. “Instead of learning dance or soccer, I learned about small business.”
At 19, Valentino started her first business, a spa inspired by her first trip to New York. She had no college degree but saw an underrepresented industry in her small town: “I didn’t want to be poor. I wanted to have a different environment. I wanted to have nice things.”
Valentino secured a loan from the Small Business Administration and opened the spa. It quickly became a success.
The Power of Perseverance
Valentino’s success was fueled by a desire to escape financial hardship. “Even when you don’t have all the right answers, even if you don’t know what to do in the beginning, to be successful at anything, we have to have the courage to commit and the fortitude to continue,” Valentino explains.
But while determination helped her get started, Valentino’s financial expertise became crucial in her journey.
“Grit is what got me started, but financial acumen is what got me to continue,” she insists.
Valentino loved learning about finance, including accounting, taxes, and P&Ls. This allowed her to scale and eventually sell two companies.
Leadership With Kindness and Expectation
Valentino’s leadership philosophy blends kindness with high expectations. She learned how to balance both. “Being kind, understanding, and expecting greatness” became her guiding principle. Valentino’s leadership helps her team reach their potential, and in return, the business grows.
Her leadership style evolved as she took on more prominent roles in male-dominated industries. “I knew exactly what I was talking about, so nobody could rattle me,” she says.
Valentino transformed the assumption that women couldn’t be leaders into a “superpower” by being prepared and setting the tone in every room.
Empowering Women in Business
Valentino recognizes that women still face challenges in business—especially in finance and venture capital. She encourages women to claim their own space: “We have to know we’ve done some of the hardest things in our lives. Figuring out finances in your business is nothing compared to having a baby and raising it.”
She wants women to know they have the power to lead and succeed in any industry.
A Legacy of Mentorship and Giving Back
Personal wealth is nice, but Valentino believes helping others succeed is more rewarding. “My main aim is to invest in more businesses and help them grow into something substantial,” she adds.
Valentino provides free advisory services and has built a network of mentors to support up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Her goal is clear: to create a legacy that empowers others to achieve their success.
Redefining Success for a New Generation
Candy Valentino embodies determination, financial literacy, and a desire to empower others. By offering mentorship and investing in businesses with purpose, she proves that true success transcends profits—it’s about creating a sustainable, ethical business environment where everyone can thrive.
