Starting a business can be terrifying. Weighing the pros and cons, the risks, and other considerations can be so overwhelming that often promising entrepreneurs stop before they even start. We asked some phenomenal entrepreneurs about their thought process behind starting their own businesses. Our hope is that by making the thought-process less intimidating we can help more folks think through whether they should take an entrepreneurial leap.

Shelli Margheritis | Business Owner & Industry Executive

Working within the entertainment business for over 30+ years as an artist, educator, and employee, I wanted a company that would represent artists authentically and diversely and create opportunities professionally. Along with my business partners, Independent Artist Entertainment is a management company for directors, writers, actors, musicians, creative directors, and choreographers. The thought process was to create a company that would understand the goals of our artists and guide them in obtaining their goals. Read more>>

Joseph Tompkins | CEO & Founder of Black Success Association

Black Success Association was started while I was homeless and bouncing around from job to job. I had nothing to my name but I knew I wanted to help people. I started writing daily motivational messages on Facebook and began to build up a huge following of people who were just like me. People who needed some motivation to get through the day. I wanted to do more to change lives so after finally getting a steady job I started giving money out of my pocket to provide coats for kids in need but it wasn’t enough funding so I thought of creating a t-shirt brand just to help with the out-of-pocket cost. Little did I know how popular Black Success would grow. Read more>>

Evie P. Jeang | Founder, Entrepreneur, Mother

My previous venture, Surrogacy Concierge, specialized in guiding intended parents through every stage of their fertility journey. This comprehensive service involved tasks such as donor matching, agency agreement reviews, surrogate screening, the drafting of gestational carrier agreements, establishing parent-child relationships, and overseeing hospital deliveries. Acting as agents for the intended parents, Surrogacy Concierge served as the crucial liaison between them, and all other entities involved in the surrogacy process. Read more>>

Ms Johnnie Walker | Music Executive and nonprofit leader

Being in an industry that I loved, yet I saw very few people who looked like me; and when trying to learn more about the industry and develop my career, there were few female mentors that I could turn to. I also recognized the lack of female voices on panels at music conferences… I felt it was time for a change… time for women to be more visible and to be heard, so we created the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment. At the time, many of us were not referred to as executives so I decided we didn’t need anyone to tell us we were executives… we knew our value and the importance of what we brought to the table, therefore “executives” played a prominent role in defining the organization’s mission and its name. Read more>>

Pablo Bogdan | Modern & Contemporary Art

I was looking for an art gallery location and I traveled the world before deciding. I thought LA is a good start because of the strategic location as the door of Australasia and a trampolin to other markets such as NYC and Mexico. The scarcity of Latin American Art and the need for new art languages made it a good opportunity. Read more>>

Morgan Swank | Producer, Writer, Author

When my partner and I created Moonscar Productions, it initially was to make us more credible in producing our own work. Eventually, Moonscar grew to fill the gap where we were seeing a real imbalance with minority content creators and those production crew behind the scenes sharing truly amazing stories but not understanding the machine of Hollywood and how to maneuver. We wanted to be a facilitator between the two worlds and cut the bullshit so to speak. If we could not only provide the resources but also lend a hand to get something made for these underrepresented voices, we were doing our job. Eventually that became Moonscar’s mission and is to this day. Read more>>

Lesley Diana | Entertainment Publicist

I have been an entrepreneur starting in my twenties. My first business came unexpectedly as I was a high school physical education teacher. I attended a conference on the lack of physical fitness in women. I was asked what would be beneficial to help women I suggested a TV show for women at home. A gentleman at the conference said, “I think that I can get you a fitness show on TV if you are serious”. I was, auditioned, and got the job. My TV show led to me opening a fitness studio with aerobic classes. I then leased a 5,000-square-foot downtown location and expanded the services offered with a ladieswear boutique, massage therapist, jewelry designer, seamstress, and esthetician to offer a spa-like atmosphere and services for all the women attending. After a decade I sold the fitness studio and opened 4 ladieswear boutiques across Western Canada. I garnered so much press for my shops in newspapers, TV, and magazines. After selling and closing the boutiques I didn’t know what was next for me. I sent a package of my press clippings and marketing materials to designers I worked with and some of my competition and within a month I had one of Canada’s top fashion designers, Timberland stores, and shopping malls as clients. Read more>>

Patty Godoy-Travieso | Co-Founder, ELLA Sports Foundation

Starting ELLA Sports Foundation was the brainchild of my daughter Lilly Travieso, after she faced obstacles and misconceptions seeking a sports scholarship to college. She was finally recruited by Cornell on a Sports Award. She and I wanted to pay it forward and provide guidance and resources for other Latina and girl athletes also seeking to play sports at a college or university on scholarship or award. Read more>>

Ashley Ratcliff Lundy | Owner & Chief Pin Curator, Poppy + Monarch

In short, my decision to start Poppy + Monarch stemmed from a blend of my personal experience as a multiple sclerosis (MS) thriver, a desire to make a positive impact by building a supportive community for chronically ill people, and a resilient mindset in facing life’s challenges. Read more>>

Joyce Oh | Artist & Entrepreneur

I wanted to be an entity which serves and provide value to other businesses. Before this I had always thought that being an artist only meant building up your name to provide entertainment. However, there are so many ways to make money from an artistic career, and we’ve only seen more proof of that since the pandemic. I wish to use my talent and skills as a way to serve the world. Read more>>

Emily Schickli | Spiritual Mentor & Burnout Coach

Like most coaching businesses, my business was born out of a problem I personally experienced – and the desire to share the hard-earned solution I discovered during my own healing journey in the hopes that it would be supportive for other folks going through it too. Read more>>

Per Sjofors aka The Price Whisperer | Though-leader in everything pricing of products or services.

In the various companies I’ve run, in Europe and here in the US, we did pricing experiments. Some worked very well, others were disasters. What I learned about pricing in business schools was too academic, and too theoretical and did not help us understanding why some experiments work and other did not. Read more>>

Stephanie Cordova | Owner and chief

We wanted to do something for our two kids and work for ourselves. We loved to cook for our friends and family and they loved our food so when my husband showed me a video on Trudys underground bbq that was it! I was like let’s try this! We went up to the Shadow hills area where there had been big fires and found our propane tank that he would fabric for us and that was it! We did not want to get in to debt, taking out loans to open a brick and mortar, and have to get a client base. That would have been so stressful. Read more>>

Suemur Bezabeh | Sales Executive

Starting The Horn Ethiopian Hot Sauce was a deeply personal journey for me, one that was driven by a profound desire to honor my family’s heritage and legacy. From a young age, I knew I wanted to collaborate with my family in Ethiopia, who have been involved in import and export for generations. However, I wasn’t entirely certain how this dream would manifest. Read more>>

Kayla Lofaro | Founder & Stylist

I opened up Discotheque with the intention of creating a safe space for all walks of life to come in and get their hair done and feel good about themselves. Its a fun, positive energy that could only be understood when you walk in the salon. Read more>>

Que Alicea | IH, CHST …………….. meaning IH (industry Hygienist), CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician)

I embarked on the journey of starting my own business driven by my unwavering passion for environmental issues and the stark reality that there is only a mere 3% representation of African Americans in this space. With an ardent desire to make a positive impact and contribute to the betterment of society, I felt compelled to channel my energy and expertise into something that aligned with my personal values and goals. Having gained valuable experience as a consultant, I recognized that the time had come to create opportunities for my community and create a lasting legacy. Read more>>

Candace Walls | Self Care Advocate and Marriage & Family Therapist

Careful Heart Company was rooted in the desire to establish an intentional self and wellness brand. Our focus on crafting all-natural, handmade body care products is driven by a dedication to elevating the self-care routine of individuals. Recognizing the time constraints that characterize today’s world, our mission is to empower the everyday working woman to prioritize her well-being. We empathize with the challenges of a busy lifestyle and aspire to offer natural and safe products that seamlessly integrate into daily self-care practices. Our unwavering commitment is to provide a moment of indulgence amid the hustle, enabling individuals to maximize the precious, albeit limited, time they have for themselves. Read more>>

Anthony D. Mays | Founder & Career Coach, Morgan Latimer Consulting

When I became a software engineer at Google, I had underestimated just how meaningful an accomplishment that actually was. I learned six months later when Google released their first annual diversity report that I had become one of the 1% of employees who were Black and in a technical role. That’s when I realized that I needed to do something to help move the needle for individuals and companies like Google. Read more>>

Fancy Acholonu | Entrepreneur & Perfumer

My journey into the world of perfumery business began with a profound love for scents and a deep-seated desire to craft fragrances that not only smell exquisite but also uplift the spirit and leave lasting, beautiful memories. Perfume, for me, is more than just a fragrance; it’s a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, tell stories, and create a unique connection between individuals. Read more>>

Susan Gallagher | Actress and Producer

In 2014, I decided to form my own production company, Her Little Red Productions. I was tired of waiting around for my agent to call as I watched my auditions and opportunities decline, I wanted to have some control over my career and future and since my kids were older, I wanted to focus and pursue my dreams. Even though I didn’t have the formal training as a filmmaker, I was at a point where I wasn’t afraid to fail and was open to learning. My goal was and still is to grow as a producer and actor and continue to face fears by challenging myself. Read more>>

Ian Peterman | Founder, CEO, Author, & Conscious Design Expert

For me, it was a very natural next step. I had been contracting on the side for most of my career and had been a managing partner at a design firm for 3-4 years. When that company closed, I decided I really enjoyed having an agency and decided to strike out on my own, launching my own firm, the Peterman Design Firm, offering product development, and then shortly after branding and web design as well. Read more>>

Damia AKA Sassy Gordon | Intl. Model, Author, Modeling Coach & Mentor

Everyone carries a unique story, a narrative that propels them toward their chosen path. My story, the tapestry of my journey, unfolded long before I stepped into the world of modeling. In the formative years of my life, the dream to be a model took root, nurtured by hours spent engrossed in episodes of the Tyra Banks show, “America’s Next Top Model.” As a fervent believer in my aspirations, I vocalized my ambitions to friends and acquaintances. However, the response was not always one of encouragement. Some, shackled by discontent with their own lives, projected their negativity onto my dreams. Read more>>

Rebecca Hernandez | Owner of LA Fright Club

My thought process in starting my own business was my love for horror and anything Halloween as well as my passion for fitness. I loved wearing my horror t-shirts when I would go to the gym. Then quarantine happened during my last semester of my Psychology degree, all gyms closed, and I begin doing at home workouts and even hosting fitness classes with my college club Hermanas Unidas, Inc. I had searched for brands that would combine my love of fitness and horror and realized there was none that would market as spooky fitness all year round. So, I decided to make one. I I began researching what would entail in creating my own clothing line. I want people of the spooky, horror and unusual like me to feel comfortable stepping into the fitness world feeling seen and before I knew it, we had our own little club, LA Fright Club. Read more>>

Samuel Hagai | Artist

All my life I was independent but I never worked in art that I loved so much, I decided to leave everything 9 years ago and focus only on art, I am very happy about this decision Read more>>

Andorian DJ Beatific” Ramsey | Owner of Beatific Entertainment”

Starting ‘Beatific Entertainment’ was a natural evolution of my passion for music and a desire to create unique experiences. My journey as a DJ in LA and SF, engaging with diverse crowds and flipping genres effortlessly, revealed a gap in the market for a DJ service that wasn’t just about playing music, but about creating an atmosphere. I realized that there was a demand for a DJ who could blend different styles and vibes to cater to a sophisticated, upper-middle-class audience, particularly among African American socialites in the LA area. Read more>>