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.

Erica Paul

I wanted to create an online store that would appeal to both women and men nice, attractive, and affordable clothes. Read More>>

Sade Ferrier

So many of our relationships are broken: not because we want it that way, but because we haven’t experienced a full, healthy version of intimacy. I have worked for group practices over the past eight years, always within my niche of couples and sex therapy. I started my Instagram @myintimacy therapist way back during the pandemic, and my podcast (also My Intimacy Therapist) shortly thereafter. Read More>>

Eldar Karen

If you know me, you know that owning a brick-and-mortar clothing store has been my lifelong dream! After soaking up eight incredible years in the Atlanta apparel scene, I finally hit that point where I was just bursting at the seams. I was ready to find my own retail home! Read More>>

Lori Rourk

I have always had a very strong creative vision and independent spirit. From early on in my career, I realized that to fully express my design ideas and work directly with clients in a personal and meaningful way, I needed the freedom to build my own brand. Read More>>

Jennifer Walker Laura Hunter

Laura and I were two pediatric nurses who took call for a busy pediatric practice during the daytime hours, as well as nights and weekends. We really never intended to become entrepreneurs or create a business. We sought to solve a problem. Read More>>

NA NA

City Rollers Skate Club was born from the heart and from a deep desire to create a space where people could feel supported, motivated, and free while discovering the best version of themselves on wheels. Read More>>

Prince Uzebu

The Royal Touch wasn’t born from a business plan. It was born from legacy, healing, and a moment in my own life where everything I thought I wanted was taken away. Before I ever became an entrepreneur, I was an athlete. Football shaped me for years. Read More>>

Sahar Michaelle

My business grew out of a desire to positively impact my community by sharing the healing that I discovered. I spent many years in a process of self-discovery, healing and development. And during that journey, as I grew in knowledge and acceptance of self, I came across many different energy healing modalities that transformed my life in amazing ways. Read More>>

Anne – Marie Coleman

My thought process behind starting my own business was rooted in faith, purpose, and a desire to build something meaningful for families. I reached a point where I wanted to take a risk and try something different—something that aligned with both my heart and my skill set. Read More>>

Carmen Utley

My daughter is a tattoo artis and I wanted to get involved in her career and when I found out the owners of Cloak and Draugr didn’t mind selling the business to me, I jumped at the opportunity. Now that I am the owner, I can see my daughter grow in her career. Read More>>

Yussif Muksina suhuyini

Before starting my business, I was thinking about purpose and growth. I wanted to create art that represents me, my culture, and my creativity. I also wanted the freedom of building something that truly belongs to me. Read More>>

Andrew Mcdowell

I was working at a factory on the 12 hour night shift. After a few years I realized that it was killing me. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I started to feel a burn in my gut. It was multiple things pull me, yelling at me “Andrew you have a gift, use it!”.  Read More>>

Nicole Tillery

A few years ago I was having a conversation with a very good friend and we were talking about things we wish we could do even as we got older. Growing up I wanted to be a trauma surgeon, but life got in the way and I never pursued my medical career. Read More>>

 Dr. Sharalyn Martin

Smart Care Clinic & Wellness Spa was born from both experience and heart. As a migrant from Jamaica, I’ve walked a journey defined by hard work, perseverance, and faith — a journey that taught me the value of compassion and the power of possibility. Read More>>