Woman-led Stories

World Cup prep is writing KC’s history today, leaders say; here’s what they hope will be remembered after the games

Twelve years later, Graham Zusi still gets choked up talking about the emotions he felt after the U.S. soccer team triumphed over Ghana in the FIFA World Cup, and he saw scenes of hometown fans celebrating in the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City. “For Matt Besler and I — two Kansas City…

Collaboration destination: Showcase reveals who’s arrived (and who’s getting on board), small biz owners say 

Call it a rehearsal for World Cup, said Vicky Kulikov, drawing parallels between Wednesday’s small business showcase at Union Station and the opportunities ahead for Kansas City entrepreneurs hoping to shine a spotlight on their companies when international soccer fans arrive this summer. Timing for this year’s KC Chamber Candidates Showcase — a key starting…

Ship with a smile: How SendBack is giving life in the face of a graveyard for returns

Click “start return.” That’s where SendBack steps in. The new-to-Kansas City startup built technology that catches a return the moment a shopper initiates it, explained founder Shaniqua Jones-Williams. Instead of automatically shipping it back to a warehouse, SendBack pauses the process and asks what actually makes sense — a refund, a discount to keep the…

She’s getting the empanadas ready for World Cup hunger: Here’s why Chef Silvia Miguel isn’t biting off more than she can chew

Silvia Miguel plans to greet this summer’s visitors with a taste of home, the Argentine-born business owner said. As the FIFA World Cup arrives in the metro in the coming months, Miguel and her team at Pan Caliente are crafting new products and partnerships with an international crowd in mind. The moment carries special weight…

French-Inspired Paris Baguette bakery sets timer for downtown KC opening; B&B shutters historic theater down the block

As one high-profile set of doors closes, another is expected to open by year’s end, the Power & Light District announced Monday, teasing the late-2026 arrival of a viral scratch bakery that already has kneaded its way into Johnson County with immediate word-of-mouth success. Paris Baguette, a global franchise-based bakery with more than 4,000 locations…