We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Micki Washington | Architect, Interior Designer & Skincare Specialist

I created Micole Essentials during the Pandemic initially as a means to maintain my own skincare routine with the ingredients I had available to my and with what I c0uld purchase online. As I would run out of my store-bought products, I looked for ways to create a homemade version, and while doing so, I simultaneously looked for ways to improve or tailor the formulas based on my skin sensitivities and needs. I have always believed in ingredients that not only could I pronounce, but that I could also trace. So simple, natural ingredients have always been what I gravitated towards, both in the foods I ate (or create as I love to cook from scratch) as well as what products I used on my skin. Read more>>

Brittney Norman | Owner of BSALON SUITES, Entrepreneur and Consultant

I distinctly remember the moment the idea of owning a salon suites business first crossed my mind, nearly 10+ years ago in Atlanta. During a beauty appointment near Perimeter Mall at a well-known franchise, I looked around and thought: “I could own this.” Although a brief thought, it left a lasting impact on my mind. Life led me from Atlanta to New York, where I pursued a career in Corporate Finance, and the idea of entrepreneurship took a backseat amid the typical pursuits of a twenty-something-year-old. The salon suites idea lingered, with occasional considerations of investing in a laundromat for passive income. However, the allure of enjoying life’s experiences, traveling, carefree goals, etc. temporarily overshadowed me even considering owning a business. Read more>>

Elizabeth Ortiz | Co-Founder & President

My co-founder and I worked together at the same organization for seven years before starting our business. We worked well together creating systems, workflows and managing the financials to identify areas that could be tweaked to produce greater return on investment. When you work within one organization though, sometimes it becomes easier for management to not embrace new thoughts and you can easily get into a rut. We found ourselves in a rut of working longer hours and not necessarily seeing a positive impact. So we started discussing about ways we can put our skills to good use with small to mid-size business owners looking to build efficiencies and build profitability and unable to afford full time accounting team or CFO and so KEM Business Solutions, Inc. was born. Read more>>

Janel Townsend | Self Care Enthusiast| Certitified Psychiatri Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

To be perfectly honest, the thought process behind starting my business was not that I actually wanted to be a business owner. I wanted to initiate a movement toward motivating people toward optimal health and wellness. At the time, I myself was not optimally taking care of myself which was something new to me but further opened my eyes to how most people were operating from that same space of lack of self care, self love and healthy lifestyle behaviors (proper sleep, nutrition, engagement in healthy relationships, etc). I have never enjoyed public speaking, so I wanted to figure out how to get the message out in a way that was fun and creative, and figured novelty items were the way to go. And that’s where the Self•Ish Company was created. Read more>>

QthaElevated | Emcee, Writer, Journalist

Elevated Media Co. is the foundation for all of my passions and interest. Songwriting, scriptwriting, story writing, journalism, and film.
My goal is to create a network and platform that independent artists and creatives can utilize to plan and execute industry standard media in an ever-evolving world of media. I love being an emcee. I take pride in my own for sure. Been with MC² for over 10 years, an experience I couldn’t be more thankful for. Rapping with Smeazy all those years help me discover that we had a brand all along, it helped me create Elevated Media Co. For us, “Elevated” means there’s a better version of yourself at available at all times. It is within the power of our choices that we can achieve such excellence. As creatives, as Black men, as human beings, there’s always an opportunity to Elevate. Read more>>

Bianca Malveaux | CEO: K. Alexandria Boutique

Hello my name is Bianca Malveaux! When I was a young girl, my mother LOVED going shopping! Weekend after weekend, we would go to San Jacinto Mall, The Underground Tunnels (Downtown) and Deerbrook Mall and it would be a whole day spent from store to store followed by lunch. I can remember her shopping on her lunch break when she worked downtown and sneaking me clothes back home in her workbag, so that my dad wouldn’t know she had been shopping. Over the years when I would go places, people would comment on how they loved my style! Little did I know, this was preparing me for my future journey! In 2015 while pregnant with my daughter Brooklyn, I decided to launch my boutique because years later I could still talk about fashion and would shop alllll day long! Read more>>

Christian Onyemem | Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Absolutely! Starting my own business was a natural progression for me. I had the privilege of being involved in my family’s business from a young age, taking on responsibilities as a bookkeeper under my father’s guidance. This experience instilled in me a deep understanding of the intricacies of running a company. I witnessed firsthand the impact a well-managed business could have, not only for its own growth but also for the larger community. It became my aspiration to extend that level of expertise and support to other small business owners. I strongly believe that when these businesses thrive, they contribute significantly to the prosperity and vitality of our economy, enriching communities and adding value to America as a whole. Read more>>

Christi Brown | Executive Director of Judah Brown Project and Judah’s Momma

Judah Brown Project started because of the drowning death of my 3-year-old son, Judah in 2016. When I was in the hospital with him, while he was on life support, one of the many impossible things running through my mind was that I didn’t know. I didn’t know that drowning is the number one cause of death for children under 5 years old. I didn’t know all of the ways I should have been keeping him safe in the water. I didn’t know that the things I thought were keeping him safe were actually teaching him things that made it more likely that he would try to go to water without me and drown. I felt that if I didn’t know (and I am a mom that consults pediatricians, parenting books and teachers on everything), then it was very likely that many other moms wouldn’t know this information either. I didn’t want this to happen to any other family. That is why Judah Brown Project was born. Read more>>

Neville Diony | Founder CEO of Rlye Technologies, Inc.

Rlye Technologies, Inc. started off the frustration of the complaints from drivers for not making enough money for their time and commitment. I saw the opportunity to challenge the ride-sharing industry, by providing a transparent option for fare negotiations by the people who matter most – the drivers and passengers. Intending to provide a higher earning potential for drivers, I decided to develop the RLYE platform. Read more>>

Mandy | Owner & Stylist

From the moment I embarked on my journey in cosmetology school, I was fueled by a dream to establish my own business. My passion has always been deeply rooted in not just the art of beauty and styling but in the joy of uplifting others. There’s a unique satisfaction in helping people enhance their self-esteem and in supporting them to reach their personal and professional goals. Initially, I embarked on a path of learning and growth, spending over a decade working under experienced mentors for over 10 years. This period was crucial in honing my skills and understanding the nuances of the industry. After gaining substantial experience, I took the leap to open a modern studio adjacent to my home. Read more>>