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.

Lindsey Wall | Realtor and Operational Director & President of June’s Second Chance Ranch

Our Non profit is an animal rescue and an equine therapy facility that provides free therapy sessions to veterans and first responders. I have always had a passion for animals, and have volunteered for other rescues for 15 years in Pennsylvania, but it was always my dream since I was a child to have my own farm and start my own animal rescue. In Pennsylvania I had rescued a dog from Punta Cana that I had found in a trash can with her siblings while on vacation in 2017. We had found a local rescue to help her and we were able to coordinate flying her and her siblings to America, where we found her other two siblings homes, and we adopted June (who we nicknamed Punta June because she was from Punta Cana, DR). Read more>>

Bijay Chudal | Entrepreneur

Starting my own business was a decision fueled by a blend of passion, ambition, and a clear recognition of an unmet need in the market. Initially, the idea sparked from my deep interest in helping people and diversifying our entertainment world. In OG Verse we are working on a few projects, The World of Maya, it’s a project that will unite a fan first time in history, and it’s a project that will diversify our entertainment world. Second Nepali Nest is a tool that is needed for almost a million Nepali people living abroad. I noticed a gap in what was available versus what could be possible, and this realization sparked my curiosity about the unrealized possibilities. Read more>>

Dr.Nikki ZEIGLER | Publisher

The inception of The HBCU magazine was sparked by a thoughtful recognition of the scarcity of positive news surrounding HBCU entrepreneurs. Seeing a void in the media landscape, I embarked on the journey of creating a platform that would spotlight the accomplishments, resilience, and innovations of individuals within the HBCU community. This venture was propelled by a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of storytelling, with the goal of not merely addressing the lack of representation but actively reshaping the narrative to reflect the vibrancy and success inherent in HBCU entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Shannon Thomas | Entrepreneur, Ministry Leader, and Tech Evangelist

The impetus for launching my business stemmed from my confidence in developing a product that addresses my clients’ needs. Leveraging my experience, I aimed to create solutions that enhance my clients’ effectiveness. Read more>>

Delores Thornton | Licensed, Ordained Minister

In 1996 I penned my debut novel, Ida Mae. I discovered how difficult it would be to have it picked up by a traditional publisher, I decided to self publish. Since I knew nothing about self publishing I spent countless hours at the library doing research. In the 1990s there were no role models in Indianapolis so I blazed my own trail. I had to establish my company, Marguerite Press and that entailed getting a logo which I had trademarked, registering my company with state, securing an account with the Indiana Tax Division. I opened a company bank account Additionally, I had to promote endlessly and to that end, I hosted a radio show at a local station. Read more>>

Sebastian Urrea | Director / Producer

The thought process was “If others we look up to can do it, so can we!” The goal was to build a successful brand that would support the life we wanted and not have to work under someone else. There were many directors I admired in college and I felt that if they could succeed and have their own company then so could we. We were next in line, part of that process was getting organized. To be honest it moved rather quickly, we were young college students and didn’t know much about business but knew what we wanted to do! We got a meeting in Atlanta with a well known artist and my business partner’s father who was a lawyer at the time helped us file for the LLC. Read more>>

Heerali Milan Mody | Travel Influencers

To share our love of travel and photography and creativity and that led us into traveling more. As time went on, a small community grew and it kept on growing. This led us to more opportunities, collaborations around the world working with hotels and tourism boards. Milan always had a travel bug and after our trip on our honeymoon we kept on going. In addition, Milan is into photography and as we traveled we took many photos and slowly we started to build up our page and portfolio and it turned into Passport4two! Fast forward now we are at a point where we influence others to travel and also mentoring others when they travel. We now work with hotels, brands and tourism boards by sharing photos and videos. Read more>>

Trenae’ Watson | CEO & Founder of TLW Consulting

I officially launched my business, TLW Consulting, during COVID. After working over ten years in the workforce development field and assisting people on their career journey, I encountered more and more people dissatisfaction with traditional employment and a growing interest in entrepreneurship. Finding out how many were already doing some form of “business” but lacking the structure, really piqued my interest. It was clear, they were happier discussing their vision yet just needed some guidance. So I started doing research and even took a few entrepreneurship courses to better assist. It was through this process my passion grew for bringing others vision to reality. Read more>>

Paola Camacho | Producer and Journalist

Starting my own business was a lifelong dream fueled by a desire for creative and financial independence. As a content creator, I’ve always craved the freedom to express my ideas without constraints. Meeting my husband, Luis, who already had his business, Kaptura el Momento, in event photography and videography, inspired me to expand into the corporate and media realm, leveraging my experience in these areas. Together, we founded Kaptura Media, combining our strengths. This allowed us to maintain Luis’s focus on event capturing while exploring new opportunities in the corporate and media sector. Read more>>

Tiffany Taylor | Therapist & Pleasure Navigator

Starting my own business was a result of recognizing the need for a comprehensive and inclusive platform that caters to sexual health and wellness. I wanted to create a safe space where individuals, especially people of color, can freely explore their desires, seek guidance, and access resources without any shame or fear. My business aims to be the ultimate one-stop destination for all sexual health and wellness needs. Whether it’s information on sexual health, a wide range of sex toys and novelties, trusted sex therapy, energy work through Reiki, or intimacy coaching sessions, we have it all covered. Our goal is to provide a supportive and educational environment where everyone can feel comfortable and empowered to embrace their sexuality Read more>>

Bijoux Augustin-Abellard | Jill of all Trades

Being from Haiti, I’ve seen how the pandemic led to the loss of many influential Haitian women. It was only after their passing that their significant contributions came to light. This experience left me questioning why we hadn’t recognized these women’s efforts earlier. Read more>>

Maurice Wilkinson. JR |

Well first I would like to say thank you for sitting down with me, honestly when we started Take It To The Streets, it wasn’t really a thought process it was more so a promise that I made to God. I was going through such a tough time I wasn’t working, had no money, and my car got repossessed. I was just in such a dark place and when you’re in a dark place that is when you find out who really cares about you and love you. My so-called friends turned their backs on me and most of my family found humor in my suffering. Read more>>

Danisha Rolle | Producer & Publisher

I started Sports & Entertainment Today because I did not see sports presented in a way that I was interested in consuming it. I love sports but wanted to learn more about the athletes and their lifestyles. I felt that fans did too, particularly female fans. There was ESPN and Sports Illustrated but nothing that spoke to the female fan base. Since women made up over 40% of the viewers of the Super Bowl and every professional sporting event I attended I would see women. Why not create something that spoke to women that didn’t only feature female athletes? That was the thought process behind starting Sports & Entertainment Today – SET. Read more>>

Roland McIntyre | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional

With MLK’s last speech serving as inspiration, Mountaintop Wealth was born. The pandemic and George Floyd’s death were stark reminders of systemic inequities, especially in the financial services industry. Witnessing people fall prey to scams and lack access to proper investment opportunities fuelled a burning desire in me to make a difference. Their people who have invested so much into their families, communities, and country. I couldn’t just sit by and watch people get left behind when it comes to their financial freedom and retirement expectations. I thought who is protecting and helping them? Read more>>

Malisha Shields | Head Muse In Charge (HMIC)

I know this might sound cliché, but the seed of styleMbellished was planted way back in my childhood days. As a little girl, I loved playing with Barbie dolls, and I always wanted mine to be the best-dressed on the block. I’d spend hours poring over fashion magazines, sketching designs (I hope etch-a-sketch counts), and even trying my hand at sewing (with often hilarious results!). As I grew older, my passion for fashion only intensified. I dreamed of being a model, and I even went to a modeling agency with my grandmother (bless her heart!). In high school, I took a stab at sewing my own clothes, convinced I was destined to be the next big runway designer. Read more>>

Amber Blake | Actress/Director of Photography

Actors need to have clips to show their types and feature their best acting. Many actors who are new and starting out have not booked any projects so it is a way to get them in front of the camera to show their acting. Demo reels where the thing to have and now casting wants to see clips. It is so much easier to see a clip that is so specific you know exactly what you are going to watch. For example… Drama_Dr. Performs Medical Emergency in Elevator. The people who have really helped me start my business Pix N Clips is my Mentor Wendy Alane Wright, who is a Talent Manager and CEO/Founder of HollyWood Winners Circle Business Academy for Actors and Sean Perez Actor/Agent in Australia. Read more>>

Keara Noy | Planner / Mentor

Planning has always been something I enjoy doing. Being able to execute one’s vision is priceless. I get to have the best of both worlds with planning. Seeing people happy with the work I do is Rewarding. Read more>>

Mavis Poole | Vocal Musician/ Composer/ Educator

Everyone sings. However, everyone isn’t a brand on stage promoting their craft as their business. I wanted to perform and create music as a part of my business, not just a hobby. So, while there is much to learn, I’m doing so not just as a performer, but as Mavis SWAN Poole Music, LLC. Read more>>

Brett McCollum | Real Estate Investor

I started my business out of necessity to some degree. It was 2016. I was married, 2 kids (at the time), and I just lost my job. I did land a job quickly, but it did not pay the same. I stumbled into wholesaling real estate and did a wholesale deal quickly. The money I made from that 1 deal supplemented my family for 3 months . I then asked myself if I could do it again. I did a few deals out of the gate, but it was not until I was able to prove to be able to make money for a full year that I decided to venture out on my own. Read more>>

Courtney Clarke | Founder & CEO of QuickPro Digital Marketing

Starting QuickPro Digital Marketing was a journey deeply rooted in my personal and professional experiences. Growing up as a first-generation American, with my parents from Jamaica and being raised by a strong, single mother, I witnessed firsthand the power of determination and hard work. I saw my mom strive tirelessly to provide for me and my brother, instilling in us the belief that with dedication and resilience, we could achieve our dreams. This upbringing played a pivotal role in shaping my entrepreneurial spirit. I realized early on that I wanted to create something meaningful, something that would not only fulfill my ambitions but also empower others, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to reach their full potential. Read more>>

Zo Okoye | Nightlife Specialist

My thought process on starting my business was indeed an emotional roller coaster. I could barely sleep! One minute I’m nervous, anxious and scared. The other minute I’m excited, passionate, and determined! My mind was constantly going 1000 mph off this one idea. I talked to my friends about it pretty much everyday to the point where I know for a fact they stopped answering my calls. The idea was just an idea at this point that I just could not shut up about. Then one day I call my boy Book and he’s said “when are you going to stop talking about it, and do it? Scared money, doesn’t make any money!” and literally that night I was up til 5 am looking at vendors and negotiating pricing. Read more>>

Brenda Wabomnor | Travel Curator & Marketing Strategist

I’ve always had a passion for travel – my family is from Nigeria and majority of my family still lives there, so I’ve been traveling since I was a baby. Once I was old enough to start traveling on my own, I started branching out to visiting countries in Europe. The more I traveled, the greater my appreciation grew for how big the world is and how beautiful other cultures are. The idea of turning my love for travel into a business stemmed from the fact that I wanted more people of color to experience other cultures on a larger scale. I believe there is often a misconception that traveling across the ocean is too hard or too expensive, but I wanted to use my experiences to show young people that gaining a larger perspective of the world is much more attainable than they think. Read more>>

Ali Wilkins | Window Painter & Personal Trainer

My business actually started by accident. I was working at a restaurant in my town, Clayton, Georgia, and I would always use this chalkboard for each week special. They asked me one Christmas if I would wanted to paint the windows, but I had never done that so I was nervous. I decided to do it and it took off from there. When I was about to graduate college, I realized that I had to quit that job at the restaurant and focus full-time on my path with painting and my other job personal training. That was when I realize I had to make the painting in actual business because of the gross in the last year. Read more>>

Rebekah Sager | Writer and journalist

I began my journey as a writer and journalist just after former President Barack Obama was elected. I was living in San Diego, California, at the time. The economy was taking a downward spiral, and independently-owned businesses in my community were suffering. I wanted to shine a light on these primarily young, women-owned, and people of color and their businesses. Additionally, a ton of exciting things were happening along the U.S.-Mexico border — a new culinary school and school of architecture had opened. Chefs were flooding the area to open restaurants, and wineries were flourishing. There were a lot of things to write about. Read more>>

Suzan Harris, PhD | Mother, Middle School Principal, Educator Advocate, Speaker, Educational Consultant, Realtor, Realtor Investor, Caterer

I made the deliberate choice to become a business owner with the primary goal of establishing multiple streams of income. Growing up, my mother was an entrepreneur, and while I initially resisted following in her footsteps, I now realize the wisdom in her decision. Witnessing her entrepreneurial journey and the flexibility it afforded her in terms of income and lifestyle planted the seed in my mind. By venturing into entrepreneurship, I sought to diversify my income streams, providing a sense of financial security and the freedom to chart my own professional path. Looking back, I see the value in embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, and it has become a fulfilling journey that aligns with my aspirations and values. Read more>>

Derrick Tre | Fashion Stylist

I love fashion and I enjoy putting looks together. I found my confidence through fashion, so I wanted to help others discover their confidence and give them the feeling of how I feel when I dress up. Read more>>

Dr. Vicki L. Otaruyina | Elevation Coach & Publisher

As the Founder & CEO of Divine Purpose Publishing, my vision for starting this business was deeply rooted in the recognition of my God-given talents and the desire to serve others in their journey to birth the books and magazines God has placed in them in them through sharing their stories with the world. With years of experience as an author, coach, and marketer, I understood the transformative power of the written word and the profound impact it can have on both the writer and the reader. The inception of Divine Purpose Publishing was a natural progression of my mission to empower individuals to express their divine purpose. Read more>>

Lauryn Tubbs | Nail technician & entrepreneur

I always wanted to be my own boss. I loved the idea of creating my own schedule and not having to answer to anybody. I also was always creative and I wanted a career that would allow me to express that. I used to do makeup and I came up with the idea of having my own Shop my senior year of high school. I wanted financial freedom and i knew that an average 9-5 would not suffice. Read more>> 

Myles Mitchom | Founder & Principal Automotive Dealer

A painful experience of purchasing my first vehicle after graduating college was the starting point. I paid more than I should have and as a result I owed more on the car than it was worth. For years I was stuck with this vehicle and felt financially handicapped to pursue other opportunities because of the enormous monthly payments. Read more>>

Tori Rose | Consultant. Motivational Speaker. Provider of Business Solutions.

I initially started my training company out of anger. I had a number of poor customer service experiences that costed me a couple grand. I knew I could help prevent others from having a similar experience if I created a plan/ a solution to support business owners and train them to provide better customer service while providing tools to enhance the quality of their employees. I also wanted a for-profit company that had a heart of service for the community and offered assistance to misrepresented populations, minority business, and women-owned businesses. Read more>>

Tyler Falcoa | Entrepreneur & Music Producer

Starting your own business can seem daunting, especially if you haven’t done it before. I was fortunate enough to stumble into it at a young age by doing what I loved: producing music. Over time, I honed my skills, and word of my work spread on social media, leading to opportunities in producing for other artists and brands. Running my own business for five years has transformed my initial knowledge into a passion for creating brands. One thing I’ve learned is the importance of learning itself in business. You’ll never start with all the knowledge you need, and that’s okay. It’s crucial not to let ‘analysis paralysis’ stop you from making decisions and moving forward. Read more>>

Aminta Freeman | Owner + Maker {Moodie Vibes}

I’m Aminta, the founder of Moodie Vibes. I am a proud Guatemalan-American, raised in Brooklyn, New York and I speak fluent Spanglish 😉 I started making candles in 2021 but have been a candle hoarder for years. When my family dynamics changed and I became a single mom of two (my hearts), I turned to candles all the more as a means of self care. Candles helped create a space where I could replenish and fill my cup. I was then able to give others from a place of love and overflow. As a maker, I hand craft in small batches using safe, clean ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. As a mom, I hand pour each candle with the intention of creating a self care experience for all but especially for Mothers, givers and nurturers. Read more>>

Elijah Johnson | Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting my own business was quiet easy actually, I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and business owners. I saw my dad build his clothing business from the ground up which truly inspired me to start my own clothing brand called Gifted Apparel. My father has coached me along the way with my brand, he has showed me how to print and press my own clothing as well. Read more>>

Mariel Pitts | Consultant & Recruiter

Starting my own business wasn’t a complicated decision for me—it just felt right. I’ve always had this inner entrepreneurial drive, but the courage to take the plunge was a bit elusive. It’s like I had the spirit but was waiting to find that extra push of faith to make it happen. Read more>>

Isaiah Gethers | Entrepreneur, Gourmet Chef, Culinary Artist

The first thought was if I’m going to work myself to the bone night after night to make someone else’s dream come alive, I might as well work for my self! It takes a lot to operate any business let alone a restaurant or catering service. From filling out a food requisition sheet to sent do Sysco or US Foods, dealing with unhappy customers, or even making a profit to break even the cost of operating an establishment and paying employees weekly but the skills and knowledge I obtained for the Art Institute of Atlanta assured my motives in pursuing this profession. Read more>>

Chef Wic | Restauranteur

I established my business in response to a recognized demand for improved health options within the community. In contemporary society, prioritizing one’s health is of paramount importance, and providing diverse choices facilitates individuals in maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Read more>>

Noelle Cahoon | makeup artist

I started my career as a retail MUA for MAC Cosmetics. make up came very naturally to me, as well as working with clients . I was introduced to the wedding industry and saw a consistent need for (makeup Artist) for special events and understood that most venues wanted to deal with legitimate businesses so I formed an LLC. Read more>>

Tyler Shuler | Creative

The thought process behind starting my own business was simplified to one sentence. “I want to create impactful work to the world.” From this small statement, I formed a plan on that day and worked on ideas, logos, and a website as well. The one thing I was missing was a name. I couldn’t think of anything valuable, until I looked at the date. “3/22/19”. I took out the one in 19 and the rest was history. Read more>>

Renarda Joy | Real Estate Entrepreneur | Wealth Strategist | Empowering Speaker

I come from a lineage of wealth builders, spanning three generations from my grandfather to my mom, and I inherited and caught the real estate bug. However, the path into this industry wasn’t paved with guidance; I had to learn and navigate through successes and failures simultaneously. Entering a predominantly white male industry, I acknowledged the challenges but believed they were not insurmountable. My motivation stemmed from the realization that my decisions today would shape the future for generations to come. I recognized I had a responsibility that was bigger than me. Read more>>

MaSean | Singer, Songwriter and Producer

When starting the process of creating a song, I draw from my life experiences. I find a track that catches my ear, I then sing along til a storyline comes into place. I think of experiences that have happened throughout my life, the ups and downs of love. Once that’s completed , I began writing the lyrics and come up with a title. I find that drawing from my life, the audience will get it and hopefully relate Read more>>

Ella Stafford | Mom, Potter, Motivational Speaker

There were so many thoughts that went though my head before starting my business. Ultimately, my back was against the wall. At the time I needed help with childcare. Being a transplant to the Charlotte area, I didn’t have a support system and was in a toxic marriage. Leaving my six figured Data Analyst income to make make only a fraction was scary especially with children, but I was out of options. My primary financial goal was to be able to maintain and be available whenever the childcare center was quarantining. I knew my start up costs and had enough savings to last for 6 months. The months prior to opening I spent my nights research all my known “what ifs” and my back up plans. Read more>>

Tremeka Pope | Educator & Event Planner

Before beginning the journey of event planning, my passion has always been with children. Working in the field of special education for the past 23 years, I have had the privilege of decorating for various programs, classrooms, parades, and school social events. Having the responsibility to take a vision and orchestrate it to where the finished décor was simply amazing and motivated me to want more. From the very first time when I collaborated as a team to create a theme and vision, I immediately knew I wanted to pursue my dreams of helping others outside the educational arena. So, the desire to become an event planner started over a decade ago. Read more>>