Meet Sophia Strother, a 43-year-old single mother and survivor from Austin, Texas, who turned a $10,000 investment into a developing delivery empire, raking in over $3 million annually in under three years.

Strother’s journey to success was no easy feat, as she faced and overcame personal challenges, including teen pregnancy and the trauma of sex trafficking. Undeterred by adversity, she remained committed to her education and focused on creating a better future.

When Amazon announced its search for partners to handle local shipments, Strother, without any prior transportation experience, decided to take a chance and applied.

“This time, I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t let things play out. I went to Las Vegas for the Amazon event and there were over 200 people in the room,” Strother told Business Insider. “Each candidate had to be interviewed by an Amazon executive.”

This leap of faith led to the birth of L2E Industries, which now coordinates a fleet of 38 prime-branded sprinter vans manned by a dedicated team of almost 80 employees, servicing routes across Central Texas. Since 2020, the team has successfully transported over four million packages.

“We’re given 25 to 35 daily routes, and I have to make sure the vans are in place and my staff is dressed and ready to go,” Strother told Business Insider. “On the backend, I lead the operational duties for my company and plan ahead for the various routes my associates need to take—whether the route is rural, urban, or underdeveloped.”

Despite the promising start, Strother faced a significant setback in 2021 when a severe Texas winter storm hit. Determined to keep her business afloat, she used her retirement savings to weather the storm. With resilience and guidance from an Amazon-provided coach, she managed to stabilize operations and return to success.

Having recently cleared the $3 million revenue mark, Strother said she is passionate about fostering a supportive work culture within L2E Industries and continuing growth.

"When I was an employee, I sometimes hoped that someone cared about my feelings. I now try to mirror what I wish I had during my years in corporate jobs. I'm passionate and determined to succeed because of the families that are connected with my company," she told Business Insider.