Ideas aren’t everything, execution matters greatly, but starting often requires an idea and so we asked folks to think back and tell us the story of how they came up with the idea for their businesses. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite stories below.

Lynn Williams | The HR Connect: Workplace conflict/crisis consultant

Logical Lynn LLC stemmed from my beliefs that black professionals have a disadvantage in the workplace. Often, there seems to be a lack of conflict resolution skills displayed by black professionals in the workplace. I’m an HR professional and that affords me the opportunity to work with all departments and levels of the business. We have the skill-set, drive and knowledge but most times I see us get black-balled and passed up for key positions because we lack the ability to navigate conflict in the workplace like the preferred methods of our counterparts. Read more>>

Scarlett Morrison | Birth Doula

My heart and soul are invested in birth work. I felt like for the longest, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life and with each baby that I had myself, I knew that this was it. Being a birth doula means so much to me. It truly is what I am passionate about. Pregnancy, birth, postpartum and everything in between. It’s such a special time in a new parents life, and my goal is to help people embrace birth and not fear it, and to know just how strong and capable their body is! Read more>>

Shari Chryss Alfred | Educator with a passion for Beauty

I am an Educator and although I loved the beauty industry, it just wasn’t something that I saw as a career. I often dismissed the idea of becoming an entrepreneur. I would always say, “I did this for fun.” Growing up, I often found myself styling my hair in the mirror. I enjoyed styling my cousins’ hair and it was something that I continued to perfect through the years. After relocating from the US Virgin Islands to Tampa, FL for graduate school in 2016, it was difficult to find a stylist that fit my needs. Whenever I found someone, they would either be out of my budget, or my hair was never styled to my liking. As a result, I started making wigs for myself. Read more>>

RaFayele O’Banner Bostick | Cake Artist

I’ve always loved cake! Since I was a little girl a cake from one of my favorite elementary teachers, Mrs. Lester, was always on my wish list. When it was time to plan my wedding, I knew who I wanted my baker to be. I thought all wedding cakes were the same…tiered white and basic. Then she asked me one question, “What do you have in mind?” From there I began searching online looking for the right cake but I couldn’t find the one cake that had it all. So I sketched my own cake design and she delivered! She designed my son’s 1st few birthday cakes but moving away from home made it harder to get those delicious cakes. Read more>>