What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Ericka Golden Jennings & Samantha Golden | Herbalists/ Co-Founders

Our journey to founding our business began when co-founder Ericka and her husband embarked on family planning. After facing challenges and being diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis, Ericka, a self-proclaimed nerd, delved into research. Read more>> 

Daniel Dorfman | Co-Founder & CEO of Roots Investment Community

I had the fortunate experience of growing up in a house of entrepreneurs. My father and mother started their own company in 1984, three years before I was born. I spent a lot of my childhood in a crowded office playing with whatever I could find and watching my parents build a company from scratch that is still around today. A lot of what I experienced, I’ve tried to replicate in our own business. Read more>>

Rene Castro | Automotive Locksmith

Originally, the ability to say “I want to take a vacation” and not rely on upper management to approve it. My vacations have always worked around my 9-5 mainly because of the relationship I have with the client that I manage. Read more>>

Niloo Aliabadi | Floral & Botanical Designer

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, for as long as I could remember I had a feeling that owning my own business would be the only path for me. I just wasn’t sure what that would look like until recently! I started in the corporate world working for big slow-moving companies while trying my hand at a few side hustles, but never had the time to truly commit to make any of them work. Read more>>

Ayrreona & Adrionna Clayborn | A.R.T Entertainment Photobooths

Our parents have always been big on teaching us about entrepreneurship, managing & saving money, credit and stuff like that. Mom’s a Realtor and Therapist, and Dad’s a Realtor, a Certified Wealth Educator, and Retired Military. Read more>>

Jonathan ( C. Bear) Adams | Entrepreneur/ Entertainer

To be my own boss. To be able to work and live life on my own time. Not punching a clock, not asking some to take my shift.. not missing my kids events nor growing up.. Read more>>

Stacy Ross | Professional Organizer & Experience Planner

I was not happy with my current job. There didn’t seem to be anywhere for me to go coupled with bad leadership and I wanted out! It took about a year of working after work to get my business plan in a good place and talk myself into leaving my job without having “another job” but the planning was well worth it! Read more>>

Amy Armour | Printmaker and Surface Designer

My thought process behind starting Fastsoft Press was that I wanted a way to reconnect with my printmaking practice and to be a part of the excitement around the growing handmade movement. Read more>>

Malon Mahotiere | Master Cosmetologist & Entrepreneur

My thought process when I decided to start my own business was about how I can create and provide services in a comfortable atmosphere. When I first started, my relationships with people were very personal. However, things changed once I started doing things professionally. I wanted to start something that makes people feel comfortable to be personal. Read more>>

Nikkita Davis | A Mother 1st & Contouring artist & educator with #1 quality products sold on WALMART, QVC & HSN

My decision to start my own business stemmed from a lifelong entrepreneurial spirit. I’ve always been driven to carve out a unique identity and establish a brand that reflects my values and vision. This drive only intensified when the pandemic struck, forcing a reevaluation of priorities and opportunities. Read more>>

Chase Mays | Chase Mays | CEO & Founder and Tasheira Parker-Mays | CFO

There were many factors that fueled my decision to create our business. I wanted to embrace more of my culture and I wanted to share that prestige. Expression can be shown in a variety of different ways – and my thought was, what is understood does not have to be said. Read more>>

Ebehi Osahon | Entrepreneur

My thought behind starting my own business was why am I working so hard expanding and building someone else’s company when I can be doing it for myself and building my own brand. Read more>>

Dariell Simmons | Founder & CEO of A Princess In Me Foundation, Inc.

At eight years old, my mother kept me involved in various activities. I was a Jr. Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader for eight years. I was a member of Donate Love Foundation, Inc., which truly helped me see the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. Read more>>

Lena Maxfield Edwards | Business Owner |Business Management | Creative Development

Women inspire me, particularly my mother, grandmother, and other influential women in my life. Both my coffee and cosmetics companies are centered around women’s empowerment. I aim to create brands that promote confidence, self-care investment, and the importance of taking breaks. Read more>>

Darling Ngoh | Founder of VVG & H.O.G

As an art lover myself, I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of technology to expand the reach of art and connect artists with a wider audience. Virtual Vista Gallery was born from this very passion. The traditional art world can be quite limited geographically and financially. Read more>> 

Alexis Mason | Realtor | Keller WIlliams North Atlanta

I wanted to have more control over my time and, of course, make more money. Entrepreneurship has been a constant presence in my life; both my parents were business owners—my mother a hairstylist and my father a barber. I understand that the road ahead won’t be easy, but it will definitely be rewarding when the money starts rolling, okay! Read more>> 

Sadie Burbank | Founder & CEO

I would summarize the process behind starting Space By Sadie with one word: passion. Upon learning that my grandfather ran his own interior design firm and then watching my father run his own interior design firm, I knew I wanted to carry on the family legacy. Read more>> 

Kelsey Briggs | Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist

I wanted the opportunity to give woman a natural way to express themselves through fitness. I want them to feel confident in their bodies and understand that you CAN achieve the body that you want and feel better without having to alter yourself with surgeries or quick fixes that aren’t sustainable. Read more>>

Chantae Lewis | Allaroundchantae Hair Salon

When contemplating the inception of my own company, I embraced a philosophy centered on faith and the belief that success often favors those willing to take calculated risks. This conviction guided my entrepreneurial journey, anchoring me in the determination to forge ahead despite uncertainties. Read more>>

Jawon Chisholm | CEO of Struggle to Succeed Fitness and Ex-NFL Player

Honestly, I just wanted to help people. I knew a lot about training and sports just through my own experience and felt like people needed help building confidence to stay in shape and train their bodies. Read more>>

I founded Perspectives out of my own experiences with financial challenges. You see, I learned about money through a lot of trial and error. At 17, I became a single mother and faced some tough obstacles right off the bat. Read more>>

Ramon Cruz | Co-owner/teacher of R&R Dance company and Owner of Vanities & Virtues

The decision to start my own business was driven by multiple factors. Like many entrepreneurs, I sought the autonomy of managing a business according to my vision, rather than working as an employee for someone else’s company. Read more>>

Sita Smith | Designer & Real Estate Investor

Starting my own business was something I always wanted to do, I knew at some point I’ll take the plunge, not sure when. Working in Banking for over 10 years became something I didn’t enjoy anymore, the job that I was once dedicated to and succeeded in, No longer fulfilled me. Read more>>

Christine Thomas | Black Truck Company Owner

The impetus for embarking on my entrepreneurial journey was a series of setbacks, including four terminations within a year, which prompted a reevaluation of my career trajectory. Dissatisfied with the prospects of returning to the dental industry, I transitioned to full-time employment with Uber, driven by the aspiration to ascend to the prestigious Uber Black service tier and augment my earning potential. Read more>>

Cheri Banks | Public health professional by day and stylist & style content creator by night

I started CB2 Styles LLC in 2019 with the thought that I wanted to help people feel their best with what they wear. There were lots of people that I came across that told me they didn’t understand how to dress for their body type, they didn’t know how to put outfits together, they wanted help with their style, but could never find someone who was affordable to assist them. Read more>>

Mitshell Torres | Real Estate Agent.

What led me to start my own business was mainly the desire to grow, to be someone successful in this country and to be able to share my knowledge, in the same way having more time with my family was what drove me as well. Because for many years, I had jobs with long hours that prevented me from spending time with my family. Read more>>

Courtney Stroud | Bar Owner & Mixologist

Originally from Atlanta, in my career I have worked for myself as well as worked in corporateAmerica. I’ve always enjoyed the idea of being an entrepreneur, but mostly existed in the Quality Assurance/ Management roles in manufacturing. Read more>>

Whitney Thompkins | Your Family’s Life Insurance Advisor

Wow, the financial/insurance world is so much more than I could ever comprehend. I can’t believe there are people living within miles of me who are living lives of total financial freedom. How can I take the information I have learned and make it easy for someone like me to understand? Read more>>

Meryl Clark | Gesso Arts Founder & Instructor

I have always been passionate about the arts and how valuable they are in any community. I began working in community arts 14 years ago and have always dreamed of starting my own arts business. I served as Arts Manager with Cobb County PARKS Department and left in 2019 when our first child was born. Read more>>

Angel Mackey | Licensed Stylist/ Educator

I moved here to Atlanta 4 years ago from Texas, I knew that Atlanta is often seen as a trendsetter in fashion, Music, & style. Atlanta celebrates individuality and self expression. I felt like there was a gap in the market for a salon that specifically specializes in both Trendy Cuts and personalized colors. Read more>>

Muhammad Azhar | CEO and Founder

There are several reasons behind starting my own business. First of all I’ll introduce myself. My name is Muhammad Azhar Founder of Volant Garments Pakistan. Read more>>

McKenzie Bunn | BBQ pitmaster/enthusiast

I’ve always had a passion and a love for cooking. As a kid, watching my grandmother do her thing in the kitchen, I was always intrigued by the process and the love that went into cooking a great meal. As I got older, I learned by watching my Dad who had always had a love for BBQ. Read more>>

Rawley A. Harris | CEO/Founder

For me, starting my own business stemmed from a desire for independence, the opportunity to pursue my passion, and of course the potential for financial gain. I saw a gap in the market that I believed I could can fill by creating an inclusive Caribbean Clothing Brand which encompasses the true aspects of Caribbean Pride. Read more>>

Tori Alexander | Mother. Professional Winner. Business Owner. Leader

Let me start by first saying, I am a country girl from Alabama. I hadnt seen or experienced much prior to me relocating to Atlanta in my early twenties. While I was here for college initially, I was immediately motivated by the hustle and drive I wintnessed. Read more>>

Gabrielle Williams | Interior Designer

I went to school to become a Surgical Technologist and did this for about 10 years but I lost my passion for it. Many factors contributed to my loss of passion, 1) I always was a creative person but my parents encouraged me to pursue a profession that I was guaranteed to have employment. Read more>>

Grace Johnson | Photographer

When starting my business, I wanted to focus on not only growing as a person, but as an artist. I am constantly working to find new lighting techniques and ways to work with each subject to create successful images. I love working with people, and being a freelance photographer has allowed me to meet people from all different walks of life. Read more>>