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.

Kali Lamarine | Owner, LA Lux Property Management

I’ve been working in the real estate industry since 2013, first on the management side for a real estate firm, then with sales and began getting more involved with real estate development. My experience in sales and development had me involved in several income property transactions where the process was far from seamless with so many different moving parts, companies and people involved. Property management companies have a reputation for being awful and I was seeing why, unfolding right in front of me on every deal. Read more>> 

Yasmin Morris | Manager, Producer and include Ashley Cooper – Writer, Producer

We conceived the idea for Black Creatives In Focus in the summer of 2022. Before it even had a name, the concept began as a smaller initiative—just a gathering of a few of our favorite Black women, whom we had grown close to during our careers as a writer and producer/manager in the film and television industry. As the strikes ended and the industry contraction hit us hard, impacting our main sources of income, we both felt a loss of confidence, inspiration, and hope. We realized we needed our community more than ever. Read more>>

Athina Danilo | Licensed Therapist, Author, and Etsy Shop Owner

I’ve always had a deep passion for creativity—whether it’s painting, writing, or poetry. While I’ve been fully immersed in my role as a therapist, I’ve always wondered how I could merge that creativity with my clinical knowledge and experience in the mental health field. Last summer, as I experimented with Procreate and Canva on my Ipad, my creative ideas started to flow. That’s when I had the inspiration to start my own Etsy shop for printables and digital downloads! Read more>>