Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Whitley White | CEO of She Hustles by Avrils Creations LLC

I was inspired to start my own hair business because as a kid I was insecure about my own hair. I’ve always wanted long and curly hair but due to relaxers my hair was straight and sustained heat damage causing my hair to break off. Later on as an teenager to an adult I have been wearing hair extensions or wigs. It was then I began to realize I wasting hundreds of dollars getting bad batches of hair from AliExpress and Alibaba hair vendors. Read more>>

Ariana Greene | Hairstylist, Artist, Creative

Great Question! My original thought process for Ariana’s Canvas was to be a art business but things took a turn and my new focus was to provide quality but affordable hairstyles for college students. I started my business in my freshman year of college (2017) at Hampton University. Read more>>

Adesola Badon | President & CEO

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and ambition. Although I’m the consummate team player, I’ve never been content with being at a level beneath anyone and am just a leader at heart. I had a plan of action from day 1 that I entered into real estate and that plan incorporated owning my own business – so here we are. Read more>>

Megan Grant | Founder & Memory Creator

I think I approached starting my own business in a different way than most entrepreneurs. What I’ve been made familiar with in the entrepreneurial world is that most entrepreneurs start with a big idea first. This big idea leads them to start a business centered around the idea and go to work for themselves. Read more>>

Keyundra Davis | CEO of Touch of Grace Senior Care

My initial thought process behind starting my own business was to create an empire that would carry out the legacy of my great grandmother Florence Davis. I was the sole caregiver for my great grandmother for over 15yrs until she transitioned to heaven. Read more>>

Eli Warren | Photographer

I played an active roll but a lot of things just fell together when I started my business. I’d been doing photography as a hobby for a couple years while working a warehouse job, and on my free time I was helping out at a local darkroom. The owner, Kim Sholly, was mentoring me and pushed me to consider commercial photography. Read more>>

LaLa Walton | Cake Artist & Pastry Chef

I have been baking and decorating cakes and cupcakes for almost 10 years now. My inspiration and hard work came from my grandmother, Martha Craine-Young. Martha baked for plenty of people in Mississippi, just because. She still visits from time to time. Unfortunately, in 2013, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and began to forget what to put in her cake recipes. Read more>>

Jessica Santos | Interior Designer & Visual 3D Artist

2020 was a year I will never forget, and it still pains me when I think about it. I lost my most precious gift, my mother, graduated college and lost my job due to Covid-19, in that order. My mother passed away two months before completing my degree, so it was a struggle just making it to the end, but I did! Read more>>

Charity Gingerich | Owner, Spice & Spreads Connoisseur, Mother

Growing up many of the adults in my life were business owners. My father was a multi generation farmer who taught me to be passionate about working and enjoying God’s creation. My mother sold a lot of crafts she sewed. I also married into a farm family and we were privileged to become owners of the farm. While farming is my husbands passion it was never mine even thought I love being a part of it. Read more>>

Chazmyane Griffin | Business Owner & Creative

Well I had the idea at 19. I wasn’t completely sure of what it would be fully or even how it would come together. At 24, I finally decided that if I didn’t pursue it that it would just be something that I dreamed of that I never gave a chance to flourish. Read more>>

Sarah Ruiz | Owner & Creator, Sweet Tea Yoga

When we moved to the area (Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta) the town did not have a yoga studio. I was pregnant with my fourth and had practiced yoga with each previous pregnancy. I knew that I needed a space to practice, to connect with my growing baby, and take some time to breathe and find centering in my day. Read more>>

Valia Lind | USA Today Bestselling Author

When it was time to make a decision for myself, whether I would go traditional publishing or start my own business, I had to sit down and make a list of what I wanted out of my career. In the end, having full control over what I publish, how I publish, and when was very important to me. I love being the final word when it comes to my career. While I hire individuals, like cover artists and editors, everything rises and falls on me. There’s a great sense of accomplishment in that. Read more>>

Nathon Brooks | Creator of Rebel Bred

The thought process when creating Rebel Bred was to design a brand that could impact the youth and people of all ages in positive manner. I wanted the brand to not only be fashionable but to carry principles behind the brand that could elevate and challenge ones mindset. Read more>>

Stephanie Rackard | Minister | Chef | CEO & Founder of Divinely Inspired Resources

I have always been a corporate-minded person, having worked for a major Fortune 100 company – Tyson Foods World Headquarters – for approximately 16 years as a Director of Human Resources. While I was a co-founder of a nonprofit Food Program in Springdale, AR, it was not my idea to initiate it, though it fed so heavily into my love of cooking and helping the community. Read more>>

Thad Dean | Founder & CEO

Thaddeus Thomas Dean Jr. created Cubano Cigars as a legacy tribute to his Cuban Cigar Heritage for generations to come. Thaddeus’ main focus is to deliver an exceptional selection of vintage Cuban and New World cigars. Each Cubano Cigar has its own unique blend aroma that will carry you subliminally back into Cuban Cigar history on the island of Key West. Read more>>

B. Jones | Actor, Event host, and Stand up comedian

My thought process behind my business was, what could I do that involves entertainment that I’m starting to be known for. At this time I Had already unknowingly hosted my first wedding reception, starred in my first stage play, opened for a comedian, and did my first stand up comedy show. Read more>>

Comacell Brown Jr. | Artist / Muralist

I’ve always just had a hustling mentality growing up and when I got into the craft of designing clothes and or graphics to make money it was hard for me to focus on working for someone else when I was starting to build my own clientele. Read more>>

Akilyah Carpenter | Professional Resume and Cover Letter Writer

I can genuinely say I didn’t have a real thought process originally. It wasn’t in my plans to own a business, let alone a business focusing on resumes and cover letters. When I realized that I was meant to follow this path, I immediately started working on budgeting, figuring out how to manage my time between my primary job and jump starting my business and practicing my craft before promoting the service. It all moved so fast and took life of its own eventually, it’s crazy lol. Read more>>

AARON ARCHIE | 2D Animator/ Digital illustrator

My thought process was that there was an alarmingly small amount of representation within the animation industry (as far as studios are concerned). And having a pretty good understanding of what it takes (and knowing others that probably have an even greater knowledge), I decided to jump out there and see just how high my company could soar. Read more>>

Stacey Thompson | Stacey The Realtor

Well I’ve been an entrepreneur since high school. I use to do paperwork for my mom, so I could afford hair supplies to do clients at school. I always had a hustle about myself and I always loved to learn, I believe that those 2 things are the core of every great entrepreneur. Read more>>

Alisha Brown | Career Development Consultant

My initial thoughts of starting my own business were to simply serve and help people obtain successful careers in the federal government. I was nervous, yes, but I knew there was a need for my knowledge – especially within the military veteran community – so I set out to educate and train others to identify their accomplishments in writing while communicating their worth. Read more>>

Donna Morris | Brand Image Architect & Mompreneur

My twin sister and I started TGND Consulting as a passion project, which is now both of our full-time careers. TGND Consulting stands for “The Girls Next Door ”, previously known as Thee Girls Next Door a fashion blog created to provide women with fashion inspiration and trends within fashion. Read more>>

Kyla White | Company Creator

All I remember thinking was “I can’t do this anymore”. I was so tired of working for the company I was with and it became obvious they didn’t care about me or the other employees. I decided it was time to venture out on my own and start something I could be proud of. Read more>>

Kobe Goodall | Business Owner & Operator

The process behind starting my business was simple. I knew I had a skill of building connections and maintaining a network. That led me to start a business that would thrive off me meeting and helping people smile. I chose the 360 booth because of the effect I saw it give people. Read more>>

Amilea Mitchell | Purveyor of Fine Pie

Village Hand Pies started when the founders both lost jobs at the beginning of the pandemic. What else can an unemployed chef and baker do but feed people? We walked around the neighbourhood passing our delicious pies to our friends. It was a way to say, ‘We care. Read more>>

LaToya Tekoa | Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Specialist & Brain Injury Specialist, Founder of Behaviorgenics

Whenever there is an issue or a crisis, people want to know, “Who has the authority to make things happen?, How can things be fixed?,,” They generally want to know who is in charge. I always knew from when I was a little girl, I had the ability to solve problems. That’s just one of the many gifts that God has given me. I’m a great listener… I listen for the things that people don’t say. Read more>>

Marion Pugh | Professional Speaker/Consultant/Ent

There were many men, women, and children who looked for assistance with daily life goals, obstacles, success, and trauma. I wanted to create something where I can serve the community and my family simultaneously. The education field chose me and I wanted to honor the people that determined their worth by the grades that were associated with their performance. Read more>>

Aimee Bennett and Lauren Paradiso | Doctors of Physical Therapy

We created Empower Postpartum Physical Therapy because, as mothers, we learned firsthand what little support and guidance our current healthcare model provides to pregnant and postpartum women. After becoming mothers, we felt compelled to try and help change the standard of care provided to women in the fourth trimester. Read more>>

Haylie Montgomery | Director, Producer, and Comedian

Back Hand Comedy Festival all started with our team, at HandUp-StandUp.com. We produce monthly Comedy Shows all around Atlanta. We partner with venues, we partner with nonprofits, and we bring them together to have some fun! We call ourselves “Middle Women”, because we love bringing people together. We partner with 5 nonprofits, in Atlanta, and around the world: Read more>>