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.

Jaret Roose | Videographer

This is a little long, but I thought I’d give y’all some of my background first so you can better understand my thought process (: I was working a really great full-time videographer job at Kennesaw State University my senior year of college and I thought that it was going to be everything I ever wanted. I was doing what I loved and making a living doing it, what more could I want, right? Read more>>

Joshua Jah-Anayas | Owner

The thought process for us was simple; we started the Jah-Anayas Group from the need to build legacy. The Jah-Anayas Group is a family-ran business with all hands-on-deck. We wanted to highlight our individual talents/passions and bring everything together under one roof. Read more>>

Susana Sanchez-Young | Art Director / Visual Journalist / Illustrator / Designer

I was pregnant with my first child and I couldn’t find artwork for my nursery. I had an epiphany, what if I created artwork that understood who I am and where I came from? I have always created artwork for clients and my work, but not for me. After two kids, The Designing Chica was born. I JUST WENT FOR IT! I simply started with an idea! To capture my crazy central-american upbringing. Read more>>

Rev. Bertram Be’Jay” Major | Host Of Award Winning Podcast & Life Coach”

I’ve been in ministry for 20 years. Of course winning souls for Christ and ministering to God’s people is great! But I wanted to do more to help people. So starting my life coaching business was an absolute must! Helping others in life through life coaching is very needed and important to me. It’s one thing to minister the Word to people but I truly believe that there’s much more that needs to happen with equipping others for life. So becoming a Certified Life Coach and starting a life coaching business was something I definitely needed to do. Read more>>

Eneh Mercy | Founder, Tefem network

As a young woman who has seen many women live beneath their potential, she imagined how empowered more women would feel if they had additional skills that brought them significant financial returns. Getting into the digital space was quite daunting for Eneh. The stereotypical view of women participants in the Nigerian tech scene was far from encouraging but she navigated these challenges by seeking guidance from mentors. She was also able to grow a core support team of 7 individuals who have contributed to building TEFEM over the years. Read more>>

Eugena Talley | Herbalist-Chef-

My thought process was to change how people in the South viewed food. I believe(d) that we can still enjoy “soul-food” without consuming “souls”. Read more>>

PJ Hall | Vegan Chef & Software Engineer

I went with my gut and followed my heart to open a business that was my passion and that would also help people become healthier by eating more plants. It hasn’t been easy and I would make some decisions differently if I could go back but that’s part of the process of deciding to become an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Marquise Glasco | Artist & Blogger

Being a leader and pushing my own narrative for multimedia/independent entrepreneurs to get their brands recognized. Read more>>

Nicole Golson | Certified Professional Life and Femininity Coach

I never dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but I have always known that my calling was to help people become the best versions of themselves. Over the past few years, I have been tasked with helping friends and trusting strangers alike, navigate their everyday lives. In 2020, I started hosting Instagram live sessions and sharing my thoughts on the subjects of self-confidence, modern dating, and co-parenting, these efforts were graciously received by my online social media audience. Read more>>

Larry Witherspoon Jr | Executive Director – Automotive Training Center

I was inspired to start the Automotive Training Center because I saw young men in my neighborhood going down the same path I was headed. In my early twenties, I got into legal trouble because I was making bad decisions. I was very close to going to prison for a significant period of time, but at the last minute my charges were dropped. I was grateful to have a loving and supportive family that helped me come back from that stressful time in my life. However, I know that many people aren’t afforded the opportunities I was given. When they are faced with the same decisions they may not make a choice to leave that life behind because of their life circumstances. Read more>>

China Lewis | CEO

I wanted to be my own boss, I couldn’t take people bossing me around and telling what to do anymore, it felt like slavery. Now I feel free. Read more>>

Deborah Gonzalez | District Attorney

Why did I want to run and become the District Attorney? After working with a number of criminal system reform activists, organizations, and others, it became evident that the community wanted a different approach to justice. They wanted change in the DA’s office, which they felt was where a lot of power was situated in terms of gatekeeping into the incarceral system. When I looked at the DAs in Georgia, I did not see representation (I am the first LatinX DA in our state’s history). Read more>>

Deniece Spencer | CEO of cleaning company

Creating generational wealth and flexibility for my life . Read more>>

Shannon Dixon | Hair replacement artist.

I felt like I could offer the clients a better product, better result and a more personal touch than the big company I was working for. Read more>>

TYRESE LITTLE | BARBER & ENTREPRENEUR

Before starting my own business I started out in Corporate America shortly after graduating college. During my time I started off extremely successful, but I wasn’t sure if working a traditional job was for me. At the time I lived in Dayton, OH and I wanted start trying things that I was actually interested in. Being that I always had a passion and interest in Barbering I decided to sign up for barber school. I wasn’t originally planning to pursue barbering as full time career but as I attending school I fell in love with the craft even more. Read more>>

Melanie Grandoit | Brand Designer and Photographer

My business was birthed out of my own story and experience and being in corporate America for 15+ years. I came to a season where I had lost my identity in my career, job title, and salary. My dreams were to climb the corporate ladder and make a lot of money, however I felt like my soul was dying in the dark gray cubicle I spent 40 hours a week in. My personal dreams, purpose, and vision were non-existent. I left corporate and took time to rest my mind, body and soul. My husband encouraged me to start my own business, which I did. Read more>>

Terry & Aaron Washington | Real Estate Investors

The business started from a desire to build a family business and provide an income and opportunity for generations. Read more>>

Moesha Tafari | Fashion Designer & Sempstress

I always love looking different, people would always walk up to me and ask “who are you wearing” I would say “me” and it felt good. I thought about how women would complain about getting clothes to fit the right, I thought about how many women I would notice wearing ill fitting clothing or styles not suited for their body type. Read more>>

Kole Saunders | Photographer/Cinematographer/Editor

My thought process in starting my own business is a very simple one. If you’re good at something, passionate about it, and and the people want it, why not start a business. Read more>>

Olugbenga Akhuemonkhan | 360 video booth owner & photographer

Being an artist, creating a space for people to experience my work is priority. My business stems out of an idea, that people would pay for a valued experience. So the deal became what can I do to add value. Read more>>

Kala Lewis | Designer

I’ve always have a strong passion for the arts and decided my Freshmen year of high school that I wanted to pursue a career in Interior Design. From there, I went on to receive my B.F.A. in Interior Design from Savannah College of Art and Design with a minor in Architectural history. Graduating in Spring 2020 in the midst COVID-19 served its fair share of challenges that I’m sure everyone can relate to. Read more>>

Ryann Beasley | Aromatherapist, Wife, & Mother

Initially, I had no intentions of starting a business. Ignite Intentions began as a form of therapy and self care after suffering a devastating loss. I had no idea how to make a candle, let alone run a business! But I enjoyed it more and more and found that I really had a knack for pairing essential oils. As for hobbies go, I don’t dabble in anything for more than a few months at most, but candle making grew into a passion of mine. Read more>>

Michael Hamilton | Visual Artist

My business was always meant to show the world the way life’s events inspire my artwork. Read more>>

Igor Lekue | Youtuber Video Maker

It all started during the pandemic, in my country we were confined and I was also convalescing from a hip operation, which left me with a lot of free time. I started watching relaxing videos on YouTube about people walking through cities or nature and car rides, train rides… and I liked the format. Read more>>

Monifa Fletcher | Business Executive & Esthetician

My name is Moe and I’m a licensed waxer and esthetician. After earning a degree in Criminal Justice from college, I made the decision to start my own business to indulge my passion for waxing and feminine intimate care. I discovered that waxing had an increasingly high demand combined with a wide open-growth potential in untapped markets so I leveraged on that and the need to empower women whilst educating them to make intimate and personal care a priority, became my core motive. I solely made the decision to launch this business because of the personal issues that I experienced and solutions given by doctors only helped me for a while, Read more>>

Deondre Holloman | Photography

My business actually started itself. Photography started off as something fun for me to do in my free time, which is why I never created a booking site. People seen my work on social media and started asking me for my prices and I had to make something up and after a while, it just turned itself into a business Read more>>

Martika Cheeseboro | Event Stylist

At any event there can be great food, excellent music and tons of people. Yet, the event can still be lack luster if, the mood is not right.Ambiance sets the mood. It transports the mind to the intended destination and ties your soul to the experience. To see joy and wonder ignite in a person when every detail sets their senses in motion. I live to create this ambiance. My very existence to to engrave a happy memory into every heart I come into contact with through my designs. Read more>>

Jalisa Jones | Cosmetic line owner & Nurse

I have always loved makeup but I had never owned a business before. I started going to business shops that were just about makeup. I started my journey just as a trial run with only lipstick and lipgloss. When I started to sell out I thought wow I should just create an entire cosmetic line, so that’s what I did. Read more>>

Rebecca Sims | Creative Baker

My thought process behind starting my own business was based off of many questions like, Is this really for me? How can I build my clientele? Is marketing going to be hard? How long will it take to see a profit? Once I realize things will come if you do the work the process became easier. Read more>>

Rose Coppin | Podcaster

I am a podcaster! My thought process behind starting the podcast was that I wanted other mothers to know that they were not alone in this motherhood journey! Read more>>