Readers often email us asking us for advice about new businesses they are thinking about starting and we often find that many of them don’t have a framework for thinking about a more fundamental question: why should or shouldn’t you start a business?

Below, you’ll find how successful entrepreneurs from across the city thought about this very question when they were considering whether to start their businesses.

Joselynne Boschen

The thought process behind starting Empowered Pilates, was the same as the other studios that I have opened in the past. To create a space, a service and an environment that was missing in that area. I feel that there are MANY boutique studios these days. The quality of the programing and instruction is something that can be lost. The participants that may not notice, but this is something that I have always been passionate about. If you are going to do it, do it well and better than the rest. I believe when people come to our studio they can feel the difference. The Empowered Pilates style is the way I prefer to workout, a little bit of everything! Our space is warm and inviting with knowledgable instructors and good vibes. Read More>>

Daphnée Renae

I worked for the government for about 9 years, and I grew bored with it. I realized I didn’t want to work for someone else anymore, so I moved to Atlanta and started modeling & social media influencing full time. Read More>>

Lorena Harden

I started DLS because I saw how financial literacy could change lives. As a single parent, I needed stability and flexibility, but I also wanted to help others—especially those struggling to find work due to a record. DLS provides financial education, tax services, and business guidance to empower people and small businesses. Read More>>

Niyah Russell

I’ve always been passionate about skin care and making people feel confident in their own skin. As a licensed esthetician, I saw a gap in the industry where luxury skincare services weren’t always accessible or tailored to individual needs. I wanted to create a space where people felt pampered, educated, and truly cared for. Plus, becoming a mother gave me the extra push to further my knowledge in skincare. I wanted to have more than just a skincare product line. I am so grateful for the freedom to create my own schedule and set an example for my daughter about chasing her dreams. Read More>>

Jalecca Mcnack

In early childhood I was fascinated with barbies and doll heads and would comb their hair. That in result turned into me doing my friends and family hair throughout middle and high school in braids and different natural hair styles.

In 2009 my senior year in high school I attended Kansas City, Kansas Community College Technical School for Cosmetology. After graduation I went on to take the state board test to become a Licensed Cosmetologist. After doing so I worked at Great Clips and Super Cuts to expand my knowledge of hair and the different textures. At that time I was working in the banking industry full time but was making little money and constantly depressed because I didn’t like the work I was doing. One day I decided that I would rather spend my life pursing my passions and living life on my terms. I quit my job in 2017 and put everything I had into pursing my business. Read More>>

Gabrielle Rogers

Starting Visionary Vanguard Solutions was an intentional and purpose-driven decision rooted in my passion for transformative leadership and strategic impact. Throughout my career, I’ve led organizations, developed leaders, and built sustainable programs that empower communities. However, I recognized that many businesses, nonprofits, and executives struggle to bridge the gap between vision and execution. I saw a need for expert guidance that is not just strategic but also innovative, results-driven, and deeply aligned with purpose. Read More>>

Naseer Haider Siddiqui

I have been working as a visual effects artist for over two decades, contributing to major film productions in the Middle East. In 2005, I worked with MTV Arabia as senior animator, but I always felt that true creative freedom comes from being your own boss. The ability to choose my own projects, manage my team, and bring my creative vision to life without limitations inspired me to start my own business. As a content creator, having control over the direction of my work is a privilege, and turning my passion into a business has been a truly rewarding journey. Read More>>

Jennifer Perri

When I went through a divorce from my abusive first husband over 25 years ago, I felt completely isolated and alone. There was no guide, no mentor, no one to show me how to rebuild my life. I was drowning in fear and uncertainty, trying to pick up the pieces of a life I didn’t break.

In the beginning, it was all about survival. I was struggling with severe PTSD, shame, and my ex husband was in prison. I had two little boys depending on me, and failure wasn’t an option. I worked three jobs just to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. There was no safety net, no backup plan, just sheer determination to create a better life for them. Read More>>

Lauren Dike

My journey to founding Harmonna Inclusive Wellbeing was very kismet—every step of my career has led me here.

I started in real estate finance and spent 12 years in corporate America, often as the only Black woman in the room. I experienced what’s known as attributional ambiguity—the stress of never knowing whether the way I was treated was due to my work performance, unconscious bias, or both. This triple consciousness was exhausting, and I even had physical reactions to predominantly white spaces that I couldn’t articulate at the time. Read More>>