Jacqueline entered Meraki Art Institute in March 2025 with a deep love for Ikebana floristry and a desire to share its beauty with others. Ikebana is the ancient Japanese art of floral arrangement, a meditative practice that honors balance, simplicity, and the harmony between nature and humanity. Jacqueline dreamed of creating spaces where people could experience this sacred art form, but she wasn’t sure how to begin or how to structure it as a real business.

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Coming from a background in finance, entrepreneurship was unfamiliar territory for her. She knew how to work hard, but she didn’t yet have the strategy, confidence, or tools to translate her passion into something sustainable.

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Inside Meraki, Jacqueline began laying the foundation for her vision. She learned how to price her offerings with intention, how to lead experiences instead of simply hosting them, and how to communicate her value with clarity and reverence. Step by step, she moved through self doubt, executed her ideas, and stepped fully into her role as both an artist and a teacher.

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Fast forward to today, Jacqueline is teaching Ikebana workshops all across San Diego. She has hosted countless gatherings, sharing her artistry and wisdom while charging upwards of one hundred dollars per ticket. The San Diego community has embraced her work with open arms and full hearts.

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It has been an honor to mentor Jacqueline through this journey, guiding her from her first idea to her thriving practice. We are so proud of everything she has built and cannot wait to see where this next season of her creative path leads.