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.

Everret Maxine | Podcaster, Author and Founder of The AOH Community

On June 19th, 2018, I was confronted with an image I will never forget—the decomposing body of my mother. In that heart-wrenching moment, I became a motherless daughter. At the time, I was already in therapy, navigating personal struggles and dealing with the separation from my husband. The weight of grief added another layer of complexity to my healing journey. Read more>>

Bill Woods | Owner

Passion for Gaming and Aspiration to Be an Entrepreneur: From a young age, I always aspired to be an entrepreneur. The idea of creating something from the ground up has always excited me. I’ve been inspired by stories of successful business owners who not only followed their passions but also made a positive impact in their communities. Gaming, particularly bingo, has always been a beloved pastime of mine. It fosters connections and brings people together, and I wanted to channel my entrepreneurial spirit into a venture that celebrates that. Read more>>

Michael Davis | Open format DJ

I always wanted to start my own brand around music and I always wanted to DJ. I was actually dj’ing for fun and making cds and playlists years before I became an actual dj back in 2019. It was the best decision I ever made. Read more>>

Toya T | All things Media and Entertainment

I’ve been doing media production since I was a teenager so it’s always been a passion for me. I went to Texas Southern University and graduated with my bachelor’s in radio, television and film also received my Masters in digital media and professional communications where I gained extensive knowledge. The college experience is what made me move forward in the industry. It’s been instilled in me as a child to be an entrepreneur. I’d never thought I could do it until I gained the knowledge and later the experience to find my passion to starting my own business. Read more>>

Nancy Shepherd, Ph.d | Author, Professor, entrepreneur

I had reached a point in my career that I was thinking about next steps. Many of my friends and colleagues were retiring. I knew that wasn’t in my plan. I had lots of things I still wanted to do. My kids, and friends would often say you should open a bakery, but I didn’t want a retail outlet again- I had been down that road. I was mulling over different directions. How could I use my talent and experiences for the next stage in my life? I could continue my work as a Professor and do some writing on the side; continue selling my spices rubs and dipping oils and/or maybe go back to my creative works with sewing and crafts. Or maybe just keep teaching and baking. Ummm, what to do? Read more>>