Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Altineka Golphin | Teacher and Entrepreneur

Starting my own business was a natural progression driven by the necessity for a supplementary income. With over two decades dedicated to being a full-time teacher and cheerleader coach, I recognized the potential to create a family legacy for my daughters, Haven and Harlee. This led to the birth of Have Hart Designs. Contemplating entrepreneurship initially brought about some hesitation, but the idea of additional income and the prospect of sustaining myself during retirement motivated me to take the plunge. The name “Have Hart Designs” itself is a reflection of my daughters’ names and embodies the heart and soul I put into this venture. Read more>>

Teshauna Nicole | Entrepreneur & Artist

The inception of Wholethyme Kitchen was a product of my experiences as a vegan professional dancer touring the world. Constantly on the move, I recognized the crucial need to nourish my body adequately, leading me to delve deeper into the realm of nutrition during my travels. Through my studies, I uncovered the prevalence of lifestyle diseases, particularly impacting the black/melanated community, prompting me to think about creating a solution. In response, I started sharing my recipes, recommended books, and nutrition tips on social media, eager to address the nutritional gaps within my community. As I connected with my audience, I realized the profound impact a plant-based lifestyle could have on health. Read more>>

Mary Grace King | Executive Director

When starting Frontline Housing, Inc., my thought process was to expand my abilities and tools to support my community. Growing up, both of my parents were social workers, working at the Cobb Department of Family and Children Services for 30 years. I was very aware of the support I had from my family, and that family support was special and one of my greatest strengths. I went to the University of Georgia to pursue my Master’s in Social Work, knowing that I wanted to make a difference and help others in my community. Through my relationships in the nonprofit community, I had to opportunity to start Frontline Housing in January of 2020, and I knew I needed to take advantage of the opportunity in front of me to support families experiencing homelessness. Read more>>

Michelle Gibson-Morgan | Learning, Change & Career Consultant | Speaker & Author

I was mostly thinking about the type of impact I wanted to make. I was thinking about serving professionals at a local level or audiences in the Greater Toronto area only. Then my vision grew. I realized that my message of a thriving career was relevant to a wider audience since many people across North America and around the world struggle with career decisions, challenges advancing their career and confidence to communicate their value. In the context of organization, I impact employee retention when I provide advice and solutions to develop their talent or implement change strategies using inclusive approaches. Based on the bigger vision, I realized it was essential to have an organized approach to serving clients (professionals and organizations) in multiple ways under one clear unified message. Read more>>

Tina F. Foy | Host/Entrepreneur/ Pageant Queen

I started my own business because I wanted to be able to provide quality skin care products. I wanted to be an entrepreneur and ultimately create jobs for my community. Starting my own business has always been a dream of mine. I am so excited that I finally took the leap and as scary as it was, I know its worth it. Read more>>

Sharelle Lawson | NYS Licensed Esthetician and Professional Makeup Artist and Owner of Phenomenal Beauty Cosmetics.

When I first started to do my makeup I never thought that I would be doing it as a business, my closest friends always told me that I should do others peoples makeup but at that time I was doing it as a form of therapy for myself. When I decided to do my makeup I remembered how it made me feel, it made me feel beautiful so when I decided that I wanted to take on becoming a professional makeup artist seriously I didn’t want to just do it as a means of income or to become the next famous celebrity makeup artist I wanted to do it to make other women like myself a busy mom, student, business woman, and employee feel beautiful also. I base my business around people who just want to take that 45 minutes to a hour out of their day to do something for themselves to feel like them again. Read more>>

DOROTHEA Muhammad | Modest Wear Designer

Belle “D” Kouture was formed out of frustration that turned into inspiration. As it is all too common of a battle for those who shop; it’s liken to finding a hidden treasure. Women have become frustrated with having to wear so many layers from different stores in order to find the one outfit that works! After speaking with several women; I realized that this task has become more difficult in today’s fashion mainstream. All of the clothing are carefully designed with Godly consideration from the eyes of a woman as, Islam holds women in very high esteem and the Islamic rules of covering are intended to protect and guard our dignity and honor. Read more>>

Rammyasheiny Rajentheran | CEO of ET Boost, Manager & Publicist (SEA, US & UK) | PhD Student in Professional Communication

I never imagined that I would run my own business when I was younger. Like most people, I always thought I would work a 9 to 5 job in an organization. However, when I was 21, I met my mentor, the founder of ET Ideas Business Incubator, who opened my mind to entrepreneurship and its many possibilities. ET Ideas had already developed 30 businesses, some million-dollar companies, while others were starting out, so this was a perfect place for me to build my career. They groomed me to be more confident and truthful, guided me to manage myself and my emotions better, and ensured I had the right foundations before I built my business. This process of working on myself while simultaneously workshopping potential business ideas led me to discover my passion for the media world. Read more>>

Charmeka Love | Actress, Womanist, Counselor, Coach, & Motivational Speaker

I truly wanted to create the space I never had as a wife. I went through so much being a young wife. I wanted to ensure safety so that healing could take place for so many. From there grew love for the heart of women in general. I seen so many hurting and I knew it wasn’t just me after that. I knew then my purpose was to use the all the pain I endured to help the next. My company’s name is The Virtuous Woman and Exhale is our event we take worldwide to help women Heal. Read more>>

Charita Mariner | President & CEO

My thought process was getting paid while doing something I love and consider myself a subject matter expert in. This will allow me to be consistent and creative in developing the framework for success. Read more>>

Eniola Dipeolu | Licensed Professional Counselor

I was not satisfied with the 9-5 job schedule. I wanted to create life in my terms and work for myself. I also wanted freedom. Read more>>

Stacia Crawford | Media and Publicity Strategist

I started my business, Stay Ready Media after experiencing the challenges of a demanding career in TV news. By venturing out on your own, I created the opportunity to have more work/life balance. I can now set my own hours and have more control over my work schedule, allowing me to spend more quality time with your family and attend important events when necessary. No more working nights, weekends, and holidays. Being my own boss also means I have the potential to earn according to my skills and efforts, without being limited by a fixed salary. I can set my rates, negotiate contracts, and grow my business on my own terms, giving me more financial security and independence. Read more>>

Titus Zeigler | Owner & Entrepreneur

I was inspired to start my business by a friend of mine in Missouri. He started a Junk Removal business about 3 years ago and offered me some advice on getting started. When I started the business, I was in the process of being hired at another company. But the process took almost 2 months. I had to take it upon myself to make something happen for my family. I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and junk removal seemed like a business that I could latch on to quickly due to its simplicity. Not only that, but I really did and still enjoy working for myself while being able to provide for my family. That’s what keeps me going. Read more>>

Merry Green | CEO, MGPG Events and Founder/Executive Producer of Black Women’s Expo

After working on the Expo for Today’s Black Woman through V103, the opportunity to oversee/own this project was extended, which I immediately accepted. This led to me creating an event planning firm (MGPG Events) with the Black Women’s Expo becoming out signature event. Creating unforgettable experiences is what I do. It only made sense to step out on my own and bring the visions of clients to life. Read more>>

Jozaida Morris | Makeup Artist & Hair stylist

I always knew since i was 13 what my purpose in life was. I’ve always loved glam and I knew I wanted to be in control of my life instead of somebody else being over me. I wanted to build something for myself that would give me freedom. Read more>>

Armel Thierry Konguep | CEO & Founder

I was guided by my mom when she retired as a World Bank Group Officer to be involved in Africa socioeconomic development issues and during a trip to Sierra Leone, I felt the desire to do something in Africa to curb and have my print in development matters in this very rich but apparently poor continent. I decided to start an international consulting firm named TAK Enterprises Group, LLC. that deals with most important things lacking in Africa or very poorly exploited due to the lack of financial resources and know-how: trade and investment forums. Read more>>

Meghan Guenther | Brand Designer

I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and while I was pregnant with my oldest son, it was the push I needed to start a business that I could grow and eventually stay home with him. I have a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, where I studied printmaking and graphic design. I decided to marry those two studies into an invitation business. I started with letterpress wedding invitations and that grew into digital invitations and stationery for all occasions. Soon I started to get asked to help other business owners with their marketing materials and that grew into a love of brand design, which is my main focus in my business today. Read more>>

Jared Humphries | Chief Marketing Officer, HUM Creative Co.

The central insight of HUM is that people only care about what they care about, and losing sight of that is what costs your business money. Humans are too busy trying to survive and thrive to care about us, you, this magazine, or so-and-so’s new venture unless it solves a problem or makes the future better. Everyone is so exhausted by the non-stop onslaught of content from businesses shouting about “exceptional customer service” or their storied family history because it just adds to the noise. After spending 20 years as full-time creative consultants, my wife and I finally put all our skills together under one roof to provide exhausted business owners and non-profits with automatic, done-for-you marketing that generates buzz and converts potential customers into raving fans. Read more>>

Laura Wilson | Photographer and Content Creator

Photography, social media and content creation is something I’ve been doing for quite a while, and in a beginning, I could only work for others ever since I couldn’t afford my own equipment, but working for others means two things; giving them your ideas so you watch their business grow or not being able to develop your ideas because they feel like they don’t match their concept so I decided I had enough of the “I can’t afford” and changed to “I’ll do what I can with whatever I have” and ever since I’ve been photoshooting and creating content Read more>>