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.

Tonya Holmes | fashion designer and seamstress

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was a young girl, and I always knew that I wanted to do something in fashion and have the ability to help others in some way. I think that once I got into the professional world I felt very undervalued. Especially being the only black girl in those spaces majority of the time. I constantly felt like I had to prove myself. Once they actually saw my true talent and how strong my work ethic was I thought to myself, why am I not doing this for myself? I could be putting this energy into my own business. Read more>>

Kauilani Goodwyn | Co-Founder, Global Artistry Council, TV/Film Hairstylist, Mizani Artist

Our thought process behind starting the Global Artistry Council was to fill in gaps that we saw when it came to curating experiences that provoke change for hair stylists, facilitating textured (waves, coils, and curls) hair education with authenticity, and equal representation in the beauty industry. To build a community of like minded people and brands in the beauty industry that view textured hair as hair. To innovate education platforms that inspire, celebrate, and elevate all artists while partnering with inclusive beauty alliances that align with our vision and offer equitable opportunities. Read more>>

Stacy A. Lawes | Fashion Designer

The thought process behind starting Stacy Lawes International was driven by a combination of passion, creativity, and a desire to make a unique impact in the fashion industry. As the founder, I have always had a deep love for fashion and a strong belief in the power of self-expression through clothing. I recognized a gap in the market for high-quality, stylish garments that were accessible to a diverse range of individuals. This realization ignited a spark within me to create a brand that would not only offer exceptional design and craftsmanship but also celebrate individuality and empower people to feel confident in their own skin. Read more>>

Miss KP | Entrepreneur & Best Selling Author

I have worked in corporate America for over three decades, making huge brands millions of dollars. A lightbulb went off one day, what if I applied my skill set to create my own brand, and then Luxury Guilt was born. My thought process was if I can make other brands millions of dollars, why can’t I goal to do that for myself? Read more>>

Yuriah Beuford | B.ED

I’ve always wanted to own a daycare since I was a kid. I’ve always had a passion and love for working with children as that is what generally makes me happy. I went into college at Georgia State University knowing that teaching in the public school was not my main career focus, I simply wanted to gain more knowledge and information on working with all sorts of different children in order to put that knowledge into my own business. I’ve always worked at daycares, after school programs, and even babysat in my down time. Read more>>

Sherri Shropshire | Certified Colon Therapist, Certified Therapeutic Food and Herb Specialist, Aspiring Certified Juice Therapist

The thought process was that we needed to provide services and education to our community regarding Health and Wellness. Many of us are not aware of the healing powers of fruits, vegetables and herbs and what they can do for our bodies on a more holistic level. I developed Sherri’s Berries so that I may be able to educate my clients on the simple lifestyle changes that will help to assist with certain underlying health concerns and how we have the power to naturally heal and assist the body when it is going through these types of changes. Read more>>

Ebony Latashe | Actress & Producer of EbonyTVShow

My thought process behind starting my own business/brand, was something that I just kinda stumbled across. I always wanted to act and be on TV. I started modeling at an early age and I’d done some background work on even some major films, but I always love to see people laugh and smile. I’m a person of faith and and I pray a lot. I started out as a TikToker doing “I Remember When…” and story times for content and one day God started giving me ideas of different skits I could do. Read more>>

Aaliyah Mcperison | Entrepreneur/Digital Creator

My thought process behind starting my own business was to start a business with a purpose that was unique and helpful to others. My candle brand helps my customers prevent the burning toxic candles that are handmade and highly scented with love and care and a Black owned Candle brand. I also started my We Are The Culture Page to create a safe space to show love to Black The Black Culture through our Artistry, Art, Celebrities, businesses, community, Heritage, and Holidays. The point of both of starting my Business and We Are The Culture page, is to show the strength, Value, and Power of the Black Community. Read more>>

Kelli Lucas | Kelli Lucas is a seasoned design strategist and leader.

I didn’t grow up thinking I wanted to start a business one day. It never crossed my mind a single time until 2020. I was struggling mentally, like a lot of moms during the pandemic. My kids were struggling with virtual school, my husband and I were both working from home, I was leading a design team, and I felt like I was failing all around. I wasn’t getting the support at work that I desperately needed, felt like my voice wasn’t being heard, and like I just couldn’t be effective at my job. I had hit a wall, career-wise. I was extremely burned out, and wondered if I would ever enjoy working as a designer again. Read more>>

Perrine Prieur Gallardo | CEO, Founder & Owner, PERRINE’S WINE

My path to owning and operating a wine shop was not an overnight revelation; it was a culmination of years of experience and a deep-seated passion for the art of hospitality. My journey began at the age of 15 when I immersed myself in the world of restaurants. Working tirelessly in various roles, I developed an unwavering fascination for what the French aptly call “Art de la table” or the art of the table setting. It was during this period that I was first introduced to the world of wine. Simultaneously, my father ventured into viticulture, planting his own vineyard. Read more>>

Sincere Delgado | CEO of mobile phlebotomy company

My thought process behind starting my business was the idea of being properly compensated from my own work and not being taken advantage of by corporate companies that benefit from my hard work. The thought that I can be independent off of something that I enjoy doing is a blessing. Read more>>

Ashlee Stone | Corporate Girlie + Entrepreneur

As the CEO of The Pretty Girl Company, I, Ashlee Stone, am driven by a personal journey that has shaped the essence and uniqueness of our business. Growing up in a small town, I faced the challenge of not having a role model who exemplified what a “pretty and successful” black woman looked like. This absence of representation ignited a passion within me to break barriers, empower others, and redefine societal norms. Read more>>

Krista Thomas | Wedding & Portrait Photographer

Growing up, I had always been a creative person who loved creating things and capturing beauty. I picked up photography for a little while in my early teen years but as life got crazier the older I got, I kind of moved on from it. After I graduated college, I was trying to grapple with my plans not working out the way that I wanted them to and where to go from there. That is when I decided to start Classic City Photography. It was a way to fuel my passion for creativity and generate extra income while getting to serve people and capture their beautiful memories and milestones. Read more>>

Monika Monk | Intimacy and Sensuality Coach

For me, my life drastically changed when I focused on truly understanding how my body worked, how I communicate, and sensual body movement. That’s why I started my business Twisted Intimacy; I wanted to create a safe space for women and couples to be able to understand their bodies, minds, communication skills, and body movement. Our society treats sexual health and sensual body movement techniques as something that is taboo and shouldn’t be discussed or taught. Read more>>

Holly Webb | Shop Owner + Freedom Advocate

Honestly, I kept complaining to my husband that Williamsburg didn’t have a fair trade store – or any space that was telling the stories of life outside of Williamsburg, in an honoring way. I had seen the impact of fair employment in the lives of families in Haiti and had made some changes to my own way of buying – out of this I wanted to invite others to consider the story on the other side of their purchasing choices. Read more>>

Cameron Jo’van | Serial Entrepreneur & Digital Visionary

Starting a business isn’t just about creating a product or service; it’s about manifesting a vision into reality. Each startup—Hoppsy, Payper Plate, Get Slayed, and FeathAR—was born out of a desire to democratize access to resources, whether it’s social connection, quality food, beauty, or augmented reality. I wanted to put power back into the hands of the people, to create ecosystems where everyone can thrive, not just survive. Read more>>

Angelica Talan Talan | Content Creator| Fly Angler|Adventurer

I wanted to bring people together and to share really cool & fun things to do. When I first began, I hadn’t seen many people talk about places to go locally, roadtrips to places closely and also share insider tips about how to get the most bang for your buck! Read more>>

Brey Foster | Influencer/upcoming actress/entrepreneur

Well, I saw that there was a lack of high-quality and cheap cosmetic goods locally so I figured that I would use my social standing to try and hit the ground running on my new cosmetics line which is launching soon by the way. Read more>>

Sacred | Spiritual Waist Bead Goat

When I started Making Waist Beads it started from a place of healing and evolving. My daughter was just diagnosed with Leukemia and I was lost and needed some form of guidance. I took a liking into them and started my research and it was the beginning of the waisted by sacred brand Read more>>

Monica Bolds | Dentist, Tennis Enthusiast (player and fan), traveler, foodie

I know this sounds cliché, but start with something you really love to do and know good deal about. Find a community of peers that can contribute to your growing knowledge base. Understand the major points and how to navigate them. you don’t have to Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know, because there’s someone out here that does know. If your vision is clear to you, don’t be afraid to share it. Not all people will get it, but the one’s that do, can give you the spark or connection you need to flourish. Read more>>

ghazal qadri Qadri | Illustrator and Designer

My goal was to establish a strong presence in the market by using my business as a platform to showcase my work. This strategy successfully garnered the attention of potential clients. Read more>>

Ashley Austin | Minister and Baker

My thought process for starting my own business was to create generational wealth for my family. Read more>>

Zach Wharton | Photographer

It was all about learning as much as possible from others around me who have started businesses and asking lots of questions. I was always a jack of all trades but running a business never seemed possible from where I was at. So, I just asked a lot of questions, researched a lot and still to this day stay humble in my approach to all I do. Read more>>

Lea Hartsfield | North Georgia Photographer

I have always had a love for capturing moments in my life. Whether I was on vacation, capturing the sunset. Or just in my day to day life, capturing the sweet moments among my family. I knew I had a love for photography, and needed a little guidance in my career direction. My mom and my husband helped me with that needed guidance, and I decided to take a jump and go for it. I haven’t looked back since! Read more>>

Joel Tharpe | Organic Mushroom Farmer

I first became interested in mushrooms back in 2017 while working at Atlas Restaurant in Buckhead Atlanta. The chef there sourced almost everything locally and one day one of our servers came in with a basket of orange mushrooms to sell to the chef. I immediately started asking questions about them and where he got them. He told me he got them from the woods and I couldn’t believe it. He told me there was a certification you could take to become a wild mushroom forager and these mushrooms were plentiful in Georgia and sold for quite a bit of money so I signed up to get certified that summer. Read more>>

Jolin Conine | Yoga Instructor & Studio Owner

I was deeply impacted by the way the practice had changed and saved my life and also the ways I had seen it change my students’ lives that I was inspired to want to share that with others. When we moved to Athens there was no hot yoga that offered what I had experienced and what I was teaching and I knew that it the Athens community and surrounding areas had a need for this transformative practice. Read more>>

Jay Henderson | Podcast Host

When I started my podcast I was kind of worried about how we would fit into this huge market. I was so use to talking myself out of things that frightened me, but this time I had made up my mind; I’m gonna give it my all. And here we are one year later, steaming all over the world. Read more>>