Nagela Duperval on OU LA, a $3 Million Build, and Faith in the Struggle

How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield Guest: Nagela Duperval, Founder of OU LA Restaurant In this episode, Dreena sits down with Nagela Duperval , the Haitian-born entrepreneur behind OU LA — the stunning Caribbean restaurant in Carteret, New Jersey that’s redefining what it means to build something from faith and fire. With no restaurant experience, Nagela spent three years building a $3-million space from the ground up while juggling a full-time job and family.

She opens up about betting everything on herself, trusting God through the struggle, and finding her footing in an industry she had to teach herself in real time. From real estate flips to restaurant ownership, from burnout to breakthroughs, this conversation is a story of courage, culture, and conviction — a reminder that even when the path gets hard, purpose always finds a way.

This is Nagela Duperval , and this is how she got here. ⏱️ Episode Chapters [00:00] Introduction – Dreena welcomes Nagela Duperval and sets up her journey from real estate to restaurants. [01:26] From Port-au-Prince to New Jersey – Carrying Haitian language, culture, and community into a new life. [03:11] The Birth of OU LA – Partnering with Chef Duke and creating a space that celebrates Caribbean flavors. [05:28] The Opportunity – Finding the perfect location and learning commercial real estate the hard way. [06:47] The Financing Battle – Building a $3-million restaurant without investors or SBA loans. [10:06] Faith in the Struggle – How prayer, persistence, and strangers’ belief kept her going. [12:31] Lessons from Real Estate – Partnership, ownership, and being a Black woman in business. [15:00] The Highs and Lows of Flipping – From first wins to costly mistakes that became lessons. [17:47] Risk and Reward – Selling everything to make the dream real. [18:50] Life Inside OU LA – Managing 30 employees, long hours, and weekly payroll pressure [20:11] Food and Story – Haitian dishes, black rice, and how heritage shows up on the plate. [22:06] The Cost of the Dream – Burnout, balance, and learning to trust new leadership. [24:07] Black Women in Food – Speaking at the summit and finding strength through sisterhood. [26:15] Why She Can’t Quit – Faith, debt, and a promise to finish what she started. [27:21] The Impact Moments – When other Black women walk in and say, “Sis, we’re proud of you.” [28:19] Building Legacy – Hopes for her family, future OU LA locations, and believing it will turn around [29:30] Quick Fire – Red snapper, morning flow, and the song that takes her home. Listen and follow How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield for more stories of purpose, resilience, and the pivots that shape who we become. (00:00) - Meet Nagela and Oula (01:37) - Roots in Haiti and Culture (02:37) - What Oula Means (03:07) - Why Carteret and The Chef (05:32) - Lease Deal and Reality Check (06:56) - Financing Basics and Credit (08:52) - Three Million Build Stress (12:14) - Real Estate Lessons and Partners (14:11) - First Flip and Hard Money (15:56) - Costly Mistakes and Risk (17:48) - Selling Properties Fast (18:33) - All In On Oulan (18:54) - Staffing And Payroll Reality (19:28) - Learning Restaurant Ops (20:02) - Haitian Dishes Spotlight (22:01) - Work Life Balance Struggle (22:19) - Hiring Support Lessons (24:07) - Black Women In Food Summit (26:25) - Why She Cant Quit (27:10) - Proud Customer Moments (28:12) - Legacy And Expansion Dreams (29:28) - Quick Fire And Farewell