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.

Ashley Reid

I made WiseOcean for my sons. It was something that was very personal, made from home for us. I didn’t want them to struggle with learning how to love themselves later on in life. I truly wanted to help them bypass that laboring journey as much as possible WiseOcean never started as any kind of a business. I made songs like most parents do. Mine came from a place inside of me that taught them coping skills and how to love themselves. My love for them ignited a calling that I have been preparing for by my own struggles.  Read More>> 

Leo Fong

My process began with God. I was a 17 -year -old boy, who lived in Cuba, a land with huge shortcomings and needs, and who liked music and being sociable, but still aimlessly defined and without a weight in his pocket. And having a relationship with Jesus defined the path I am walking today. Would you believe me if I told you that everything I am living right now knew that it was going to happen to me 10 years ago? And God told me about all this, that one day I would take me to the United States and get up to sing and preach and would be impact for thousands of people around the world.  Read More>> 

Avia Washington

Personally, I like unique things and finds. It’s like finding a hidden gem. I also enjoy world travel and live experiences. In 2009, I took a sales role in my first “real” city and “Festival Central.” I guess in my unique finds I found myself in one of the most unique places, New Orleans. I had never truly experienced festival culture until New Orleans. Like I said, I love live experiences so I began to go and enjoy festivals. The prep, the fashion, the people, the atmosphere, the energy was all infectious. Read More>>

Tatiana Boyce

I started my business in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. My biggest inspiration came from my two grandmothers, who both had a love for jewelry. Growing up, they would gift me pieces that I cherished, and I always admired how they wore their jewelry with such confidence, femininity, and class. Starting my own business was not only a way to honor them, but also a personal challenge—I wanted to prove to myself that I could build something from the ground up, even through all the trials and errors. More than anything, I wanted to show other minorities that it’s possible to create something of your own and turn your vision into reality. Read More>> 

Markea Goodman

I’ve worked in Corporate America for over a decade, and during that time, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges small businesses face when they don’t have the right systems and processes in place.

Larger corporations have the advantage of resources, tools, and streamlined operations that set them up for success — and I wanted small business owners to have that same level of opportunity by introducing them to the tools available to streamline their systems and processes and allow them to focus on thriving in their services. Read More>> 

Lauren Strine

In 2018, when I returned to work after having my first son, I felt completely overwhelmed trying to balance the demands of new parenthood with the structure of a full-time office job. Before going on maternity leave, I had been told I could have some flexibility in my schedule when I returned, and while I was on maternity leave, I thought a lot about that being an option, and whether I wanted to take advantage of it, even if it would mean less money. But just a few weeks into being back—and white-knuckling it through my days—I asked about that flexible schedule, only to learn the offer was no longer on the table. I felt incredibly unsupported. Read More>> 

Dale Donchey

“I was born in Richmond, Virginia, where I spent most of my childhood. I live in Atlanta, Georgia now, and have for about 20 years. To keep the story short, in my early life, I grew up in a low income household and area, only child raised by a single mother and not many positive examples of opportunities and relationships in general. I’d say that the only real “remarkable” part is that I think my life has turned out to be relatively successful, as an entrepreneur with limited demons. I’ve lost friends and relatives to some of life’s dark spots, have seen what “going through it” can really mean, and fully understand the difference between uncomfortable and unsafe. Read More>> 

Yvonne Jordan

I’ve always been fascinated by color. I love painting and drawing with colored pencils, and I am especially intrigued by how color influences the way we perceive different faces and features. In fact, I often thought of my own face as a kind of blank canvas—perfect for experimenting. From the moment I was allowed to wear makeup, I played with shade combinations, quickly noticing that some tones enhanced my features while others did not. The same was true with clothing. Read More>> 

Kevin Pratt

When I started KPRATTII IMAGES, Inc., my thought process came down to three key things—purpose, passion, and proof of concept.