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.

Aisha Williams | Licensed Esthetician

Starting Love Your Skin Esthetics was a decision driven by both passion and a clear sense of purpose. As a licensed esthetician, I’ve always had a deep love for skincare, especially helping people achieve healthy, glowing skin. But my vision went beyond just providing treatments- I wanted to create a space where I could educate and uplift women, particularly women of color who were often underrepresented in the skincare industry. Read more>>

Melana Pecura

The idea behind starting my own business was/is to give people options, to empower people to take responsibility for their own wellbeing and lifestyle. I knew about this amazing modalities for a while and I had to share it with everyone. I had the vision for a while and in 2022 came to life. Read more>>

Valsala Krishnan | S-I-E-P Embracing Change Specialist and PhD candidate on building an entrepreneurial mindset

I discovered something worth sharing with others! I was a Finance Director in a British Multi-National Company (MNC) when the company was acquired by an American MNC. There was sudden change in expectations, rewards, recognitions, opportunities with new leaders and managers coming into regional positions. After the initial excitement of the launch and welcome meetings, as time went by, I started noticing that many of the old timers were not happy. They were not feeling appreciated and reminiscing the good old days. The subtle emotional build up was causing resistance, unhappiness and friction between colleagues and departments. I set forth to find a solution to address this. Read more>>

Terrica Thomas | The Professional Travelista

So let me tell you about my journey into the world of travel entrepreneurship! It’s been quite the ride, and I’m so excited to share it with you. You know how they say, “We plan, God laughs”? Well, that’s pretty much how my business story unfolded. I’ve always been head over heels in love with travel – it’s been my thing since forever. I was that friend who everyone turned to for trip planning, whether it was a quick weekend getaway or a month-long adventure across continents. Read more>>

Ashley Wright | Wedding Planner for Day of Enchantment Events

Starting my own business was a journey fueled by passion and a desire for creativity. I wanted to create a space where couples could feel supported and understood throughout their wedding planning process. After gaining experience in the industry, I realized that many couples were looking for personalized guidance while still wanting to be hands-on in their planning. I saw an opportunity to blend my organizational skills with a heartfelt approach, allowing me to help bring their unique visions to life. Ultimately, it’s about creating unforgettable moments and making the planning experience enjoyable and stress-free for everyone involved. Read more>>

Chef Joseph Collins Sr | French trained Chef and BBQ PIT DOCTOR

My thought process is and has always been with starting business is ,if you want anything different, better ,or greater you have to do and become different better and greater. Most of the time the only thing standing in between that is us getting and applying knowledge. And if I can work for and be decicated to another person’s dream I can be dedicated and work for my own as well. Being a business owner is what I saw both of my parents do. It was always a dream of mine. Read more>>

Keisha Spencer | Media & Marketing Strategist, Event Host, Author, Coach, & Rising Actress

I started Hype Me Up K Marie LLC to combine my passion for uplifting others with my expertise in media and marketing. Having spent years helping people as a coach, teacher, and mentor, I wanted to create a business that empowered small businesses and entertainers to grow and succeed. My goal was to provide solution-based strategies to help brands achieve visibility and impact, drawing from my own experiences as a mother, a leader in women’s organizations, and my journey with my nonprofit, “Fit for a Purpose.” At the heart of Hype Me Up K Marie LLC is my desire to help others unlock their true potential and thrive in their personal and professional lives. Read more>>

Sarah-anne Wildgoose | Visual Story Teller, accelerating business through visibility

My Atlanta-based business is my second design studio. I ran my first in New England for 20 years. Starting both businesses, I was fortunate to have worked for corporate and mid-sized companies, acquiring a foundation of business knowledge and experience which has kept me grounded and focused. I learned how to tell good business processes from bad. The reason for starting my own business was none of those experiences offered long-term security due
to their circumstances, so my motivation was to gain that. I value my design and business foundation. Read more>>

Dr. Jital Pancholi | Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Absolutely! I’ve always been deeply passionate about healthcare, but I wanted to focus on an area that is often overlooked—pelvic health. As a physical therapist, I specialize in providing long-lasting relief from issues that many people are hesitant to talk about. These problems, while common, are often hidden under layers of shame or fear, yet they deeply affect an individual’s quality of life. My goal was to create a space where patients could feel safe, heard, and, most importantly, helped in a meaningful and sustainable way. Read more>>

Dania Denise | Indie Filmmaker

When it comes to my indie production company, Runaway Mill Productions LLC, I was inspired based on my experience co-founding other indie production companies with fellow filmmakers. It was truly trial and error but with each short film project we did, I came away learning so much. What I loved most is that every takeaway got applied almost automatically to the next film and that, in turn, made each project more successful than the one before. Read more>>

Ms Sharline Cordner | Founder/President

The thought process behind starting my own business was actually based on my position of being thrown into the deep ocean without a life vest. I was unceremoniously overnight retrenched from my secure job after thirty three (33) years of commitment in the Corporate Sector.
Based on my survival of domestic violence, my son’s tragic experience of on the job injury and PTSD diagnosis in commitment of service to country and loss of my job. Read more>>