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.

Netanjea “nikki” Robinson

When I started Just Bead It 627, I knew I wanted it to be more than just a creative business—I wanted it to reflect my time, talent, and faith. Honestly, when God put it on my heart to start a waist bead company, I was hesitant at first. But He reminded me that while plenty of people in this industry have talent, He gave me something special—prayer. Read More>>

Kayla Price

I started my first unofficial business in 5th grade. I would take markers and color the collar/wood part of pencils and sell them to my classmates for .25 cents. I also tried to start a skincare business with my cousin around this time as well but didn’t have the knowledge, resources, or funds to really get started. When I was a junior in high school (17 years old) I was really frustrated with the experience I was having with my curly hair. Read More>>

Shannon Balenciaga

My thought process behind starting AnnAga Luxury Skincare was deeply personal. I realized that we weren’t adequately represented in the global branding and marketing space. For years, I’ve been a vendor at RuPaul’s DragCon in Los Angeles, watching individuals build multi-million-dollar brands. Read More>>

Ashanti Gray

My thought process began with my deep passion for hair art and natural hair care with protective styles. I’ve always believed that hair is more than just a style. It’s a form of self-expression and confidence. I wanted to create a space where people could not only get high-quality styles but also feel empowered by their natural beauty. Read More>>

Shevon Jones

Starting my practice because I wanted to create a space that addressed a gap I personally experienced. As a high-functioning, anxious Black woman myself who has delt with depression silently , I often felt unseen, particularly in spaces where I was expected to mask my struggles while overachieving. I knew that if I felt this way, other women like me probably did too. Read More>>

Tishawn Hunt

My thought process behind starting my own business was “what would describe me as an individual?” That’s when I came up with iof360 (ImOnForever) a brand that which I can tell people how I put myself on. Read More>>

India Starke

When I decided to start my own business as a fashion designer, I was thinking about creativity, individuality, and the power of self-expression. I’ve always had a passion for fashion and a keen eye for unique style, and I wanted to create something that allowed people to stand out and feel confident in what they wear. Read More>>

Wesley Giang

My thought process in starting my own business was driven by a mix of timing, passion, and necessity. I found myself entering the film industry at a time when things weren’t doing too well, and there weren’t many opportunities that truly aligned with what I wanted to be a part of. Read More>>

Ashley & Mark Tutson

We started 1357 Agency because we saw a gap in the industry—something was missing. As believers who also love to have a good time, we noticed there were only two extremes: either content, live entertainment, and music were super ratchet, or they were overly stiff and boring. There was no real space for people like us—people who want to enjoy culture, comedy, and entertainment without compromising their faith and values. Read More>>

Jhalen Daniels

Almost a decade now, when I founded Genius Studios (formerly Xtreme Destiny Studios), I saw a profound need in my community—a void of creative opportunities that stifled potential. I couldn’t ignore it. So I turned to what I knew best: building, creating, and dreaming beyond limits. Read More>>

Dr. Dave Montgomery

The decision to start my own business was deeply rooted in a realization that the traditional approach to cardiology wasn’t solving the problem it set out to address. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death, claiming more lives than the top cancers combined. What’s even more striking is that we know 80% of heart disease is preventable. Read More>>

Tamera Hollis

My Thought Process Behind Starting My Own Business

At 17, while working at Wendy’s, my main goal was simple I just wanted extra money for clothes and shoes. But once I got a taste of making my own money, something clicked. The idea of relying on my own two hands, rather than waiting for a paycheck, gave me a sense of control and independence that I never wanted to let go of. Read More>>

Brittney Gibson

My thought process was how can I share with other moms out there how I keep myself and my children hair healthy and growing. So I decided to start my own hair care brand using natural ingredients that I use to keep my hair healthy and kids. Thats why I call it Mommy and Me Natural Remedy Read More>>

Symone Davis

I’ve always loved event planning! When I was in high school, I was President of the Student Government Association, where we were in charge of planning pep rallies, spirit week, the Homecoming Dance and more. Since then, I’ve always enjoyed bringing people together to have a good time by hosting parties at my house or planning vacations with friends.

Gideon Peters

Growing up I was a very introverted child. My introvertedness reflected in how I related with people or expressed my feelings. I would hardly talk about the things that hurt me or how I was feeling. But music was such an effortless outlet. I would start off just being a lover of good music. Read More>>

Da’shawn Catron

My biggest question, and the thought that always lingered, was: what could I give to the youth? That’s when the idea of creating a children’s book came about. I’ve always been a youth advocate and mentor, but I felt as though I could make a deeper impact by creating something that would resonate with children on a personal level. Read More>>

Ashley Pepitone

I had practiced divorce and family law for the better part of a decade, and after working for other firms for that long, I knew that there was a better way to do it. I wanted to offer flat fee family law services, and the owners of the other firms I had worked for weren’t willing to try that. Read More>>

Andrew Toy

After getting fired two years ago, and unable to secure steady employment, I decided it was time to take my fate into my own hands. I was done being a useless cog in someone else’s machine, to be discarded whenever they saw fit. Read More>>