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.

Patricia Barron LaSharon Warren

Back in 2010, we were just a couple of hobby bakers with a wild idea: why not combine two of our favorite things—cocktails and cake? The bakery scene felt like it was missing that extra bit of fun, so we decided to shake things up and Cupcake On The Rocks was born. Our tagline? “You can have your drink and eat it too!” It was all about indulging in something a little different, and it turned out people loved it! Read More>>

Alexia Dubois

Moving from France to Atlanta, I was struck by the lack of high-quality, natural-fiber children’s clothing that combined style and comfort. In France, dressing children is about elegance and ease, using breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. I wanted to bring that philosophy here, leading me to start Shop Amour USA—a boutique that offers French-made, Oeko-Tex certified children’s clothing. Read More>>

Gordon Lucas Jr.

Before I started my business, I was really inspired by the social justice movement in 2020 and 2021. That’s when I began writing poetry to process what was happening and put my thoughts into words. Over time, I wanted to expand and write about other parts of our culture like faith, family, fashion, and everyday life. When I shared some of my poems with friends, their support and feedback made me realize I could turn this passion into something bigger. Read More>>

Aneatrice Wornum

Honestly, I just wanted people to travel better. Travel is a big part of my life. I have visited 13 countries and almost half of the U.S. states so I consider myself pretty well-traveled. I am the “Type-A” friend, so naturally when it came time to plan the girl’s trips I was usually the one organizing everything. Read More>>

Tamika “Mika” Newton

The decision to start my own business wasn’t some perfectly mapped-out plan—it came from hitting a wall. After years in corporate leadership, constantly overextending myself and suppressing what I was feeling, my body finally said, enough. I was dealing with anxiety, burnout, and a kind of quiet exhaustion that I couldn’t shake. Read More>>

Sandy Whitaker

Honestly, it just evolved on its own! I didn’t sit down with a business plan or anything like that. I was doing something I enjoyed, and one thing led to another. I’d run into a problem, and I’d figure out how to solve it. That part actually became something I liked—just learning as I went and making it work. Read More>>

Goldie NotNice

I come from a line of business owners, so I think I always knew that I would have my own business, in some facet. It would just take me some time to learn what that facet was, specifically. Read More>>

Okorie “OkCello” Johnson

Honestly, there wasn’t a thought process.

I have played the cello since I was 6 years old, and along the way, there were moments when I put the cello down with no intention of picking it back up. Thankfully, the cello has always had a mind and agenda of its own and never let me completely stop. It would invariably bring some opportunity into my life – a band, session work, lessons, a concert – to reinvigorate my relationship with and passion for the instrument. Read More>>

Natalie Chemaine

Starting my business was a way to align my passion for wellness, personal growth, and fashion, into meaningful work. After becoming a certified health coach through IIN [Institute for Integrative Nutrition], I realized that true prosperity extends beyond nutrition and exercise. Through my own personal style evolution and countless conversations with women, I began to see that most people don’t realize how the clothing you wear also plays a significant role in your mental and emotional wellbeing. Read More>>

Tim Miller

The process of staring my own business started when I was very young. I was in high school when I started reading books about starting a business. Unfortunately, at this time, about 1969, there weren’t many good books on the subject. But it started a spark of interest that later turned into a flame. Read More>>

Amryn Soldier

Starting my own business wasn’t exactly one clear decision as it just felt like the natural next step at each point in my life. During my childhood I was deeply interested in art and had creative tendencies. While in High School I created an LLC and started to delve into nature, portraiture, events, and senior photography. Read More>>

Stephanie Spencer

As I was graduating with my masters degree, I noticed that many of my peers were struggling with how to construct a resume. I had been working in human resources since 2015 and had plenty of experience with developing resumes and gaining an understanding of how to prepare to enter into the workforce. Read More>>

 Aaron Hilton

Initially I just wanted to have an outlet while working behind the scenes in the sports media industry. Being able to do this with Malik, it became more about connecting with my friend and just having fun talking sports and pop culture. Read More>>

Angela Williams

For me, launching SABLE + SAGE was both personal and intentional. I’d spent years climbing the corporate ladder in tech, leading high-impact operations and privacy teams at companies like Meta and Google. But I reached a point where I wanted to create something of my own—something that reflected not only my values but also the lifestyle I was working so hard to build. Read More>>

Schenita

“Starting my own business wasn’t just a decision—it was a calling. After going through a personal season of loss and growth, I found healing in the kitchen. Cooking, baking, and serving others gave me a voice again, one I had prayed to regain. Read More>>