Meet Khayla McCoy | Founder, Ed. Opal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Khayla McCoy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Khayla, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I started Ed. Opal, I was trying to create something in the world that I wish I’d had when I first began my personal finance journey. Back in 2013, after graduating from college, I was looking for personal finance advice that was approachable and digestible and took into consideration my unique experiences and challenges as a Black woman navigating money and career. Unfortunately, it was really hard to find that. I built Ed. Opal with the purpose of creating a safe space that centers the Black woman experience and builds that context into the education around personal finances.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Ed. Opal delivers culturally relevant personal finance education to Black women with the goal of helping women redefine their relationship with money. Founded in 2024, we’re committed to helping Black women answer some of the most pressing questions about their personal finances by ensuring that our guidance and tools take into consideration the unique nuances of the Black woman experience.

Building Ed. Opal has truly taken a village. From friends and family support to those in my network being willing to offer their expertise, Ed. Opal wouldn’t be where it is today without community.

Ed. Opal is still new, but I’ve already learned some incredible lessons about being a founder. The first is how important it is to be focused and not get too caught up in the next ‘shiny’ thing. As a founder, you always have these really fun ideas and projects you want to work on, but at the end of the day it’s always critical to focus on your customer and ensure the work you’re putting in is toward meeting their core needs.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Any time friends visit, I always take them to Eclipse de Luna in Miami Circle. The restaurant has a really cute atmosphere, and sharing tapas together creates just enough intimacy to help facilitate connection, no matter how large or small the group.

From there, one of my favorite places in Atlanta is the Botanical Gardens. I’d sign us up for one of the many courses offered by the gardens so we could get our hands a little dirty, while having fun in the beautiful atmosphere of the gardens.

Finally, we’d grab King of Pops in Piedmont Park and have a leisurely stroll while taking in the city skylines.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my mother, who taught me how to be fearless and not accept no for an answer. She created in me a determination and curiosity about life, and she’s been such a huge motivation behind the success I’ve had so far.

Website: https://edopal.com/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/edopal

Image Credits
Ladibug Studios