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.

Lily Thrope | Licensed Clinical Social Worker

I started my own business in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. I had been working as a therapist for 3 years under the supervision of other amazing therapists before starting my own private practice. The main reason I wanted to start my own business was to make my own mark in the therapist space in a way that I did not see others doing. I wanted to be a mentor to other aspiring therapists. I wanted to bring authenticity to my role as a therapist and business owner. I found my passion for working with women while working at a family homeless shelter in NYC. Read more>>

Georgina Quinn | Life & Weight Loss Coach

I started my own business because I struggled for many years with my weight. I finally decoded the simple ways to lose weight and keep it off and keeping that information to myself felt very selfish. Read more>>

Ely Honore | Boxing studio owner and boxing coach

Having true autonomy and independence has always been something that appealed to me. I’ve been fortunate to have great bosses and working relationships in the past, however I’m really independent and enjoy doing things “my way” starting my own business allowed me certain creative and operational freedoms I would never have while working for someone else. Read more>>

James (Ameen) Dixon | Artist/designer

I was working in retail for about 12 years, but the most constant thing in my life was always art. Eventually, the passions kind of took over, and the regular job didn’t seem as appealing. If I can make money by just throwing my time and energy into myself, my work/life is through the roof! The idea of owning some thing, being my own boss, that was the most appealing thing about starting my own business. Read more>>

Dr. Relindis Mbah | Pharmacist & Wellness Coach

I don’t know about you, but I truly believe that traditional healthcare and pharmaceutical services are just not enough when it comes to approaching our health. We have become so accustomed to accepting the status quo when it comes to healthcare while ignoring the many benefits provided by alternative medicine and integrative healthcare. I am a traditional pharmacist who believes in the healing power of natural remedies and functional medicine. Read more>>

Yorman Sanchez | Chef/Entrepreneur

When I started my career, my path was always to start my own business. I’ve worked in many restaurants and catering companies for the sole purpose of learning the food business. Not just learning how to cook but knowing the operations behind the business. Over the years that was always my goal and when Covid hit I had to put those skills to use, I was living in D.C at the time and my friend/fellow Chef Ish Mendez and I started selling meals from my house. Read more>>

Aisha Ndiaye | Owner of BagshopNYC

When we learned of the New York City plastic bag ban taking effect in March of 2020 we were excited that such a large and influential city was taking an important step in becoming more sustainable and environmentally conscious. While we fully supported the plastic bag ban we realized that this would also mean the end of seeing the iconic plastic bag designs that have become synonymous with NYC culture and imagery. Read more>>

Isaiah Dumercy | A.K.A Focal. Photographer, Videographer, & Graphic Designer

My thought process behind starting my own business was quite simple actually since I was young I always wanted to be creative so I tried a lot of mediums to get there but unexpectedly I found Photography as that medium. I was always able to come up with creative ideas but struggled with executing them until I started creating digital content. so then at the age of 17, I made the decision to create my business called “Focal Productions” which at the time it was supposed to be a photography company until I discover videography and graphic design which influenced me to change my company into a production company. Read more>>

Gilian Martina | Coach

I had no intention of having my own business, ever. “Why do people need to have their own business? Can’t they just work retire, and die?” Those were my own words many years ago. The trigger that made me start a sole proprietorship was a request from my very first employer, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, to interpret during a criminal trial in Bonaire, a neighboring island in the Dutch Caribbean. Read more>>

Daniel Guerrero | Street Photographer

I was thinking about a way to express my emotions and also is a nice way to visibilize realities that most of the times we ignore when we are walking in the streets, so why not to start shooting with my camera, to wander around the cities I visit, to show the part that nobody talks, that everyone ignores but they know is there. “Not all those who wander are lost” – Gandalf. Read more>>

Adaeze (Ada) Ojeh-Teme | Event Designer & Planner

Honestly, the business started itself before I really embraced owning a business. My family and friends have only known me to be Type A plus and when I really get going they add an additional plus to it. The later proved to be valuable, as family and friends will reach out to help with different activities. From planning school concerts to baby showers, I became the go to person for all things that required story telling, detail, precision, and organization. Read more>>

Caroline Ramos | CEO of Host and Keep – Vacation Rental Investment Firm

My thought process behind starting my business was that if I can marry things I love and enjoy into a solution to people’s problems, I may be onto something. I learned quickly through my own travels that staying in Airbnb’s around the world is a risk and can be a hit or a (big) miss. I experienced it first hand; from the 4 story walk up apartment in Cinque Terre with no AC that we rented in June (None of this was disclosed in the listing, of course). Read more>>

Amanda Benavente | Founder & Social Media Manager

After graduating in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic I was suppressed by the low job market, industries minimizing their employee pool, and companies going remote. I had always dreamed of being in the marketing department for an athletic/sports brand since I was a collegiate soccer player and had a passion in athletics and marketing- but I realized I didn’t need to search for an opportunity, I could make it myself. I decided to open By Benavente, LLC. because I wanted to put my creative, business-minded talents to work in Social Media. Read more>>

Pamela Edda Galleguillos Schiappacasse | Sculptor and foundry

MY THOUGHT WAS THAT WHEN I WAS STARTING MY CAREER AS A SCULPTOR I HAD NO WHERE TO CAST MY WORKS. THAT GENERATED THE IDEA TO TAIZ OF THE NEED TO MAKE MY SCULPTURES TO CREATE AN ARTISTIC FOUNDRY TO ALSO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHER ARTISTS TO EMERGE AND MAKE THEIR DREAMS OF SEEING THEIR CREATION COME TRUE Read more>>

Aaron Villalobos | Youtuber & Graphic Designer

I look at my Youtube channel like a business. Deep down I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Although I have worked at least 7 different jobs “9-5” jobs in my life with a boss giving orders, I was never a fan of it. I’ve always wanted to have multiple sources of income, whether it was creating my own clothing band, writing and publishing my own book, or freelancing. A day without being productive in any type of way always felt like a waste to me. Read more>>

Olamide Abimbola | Entrepreneur & Creative

Starting my business I knew that it was going to be challenge leaving my corporate 9 to 5 to becoming my own boss. I convinced myself not to care what people would think and fulfilled my true passion creating financial freedom. I was ready to learn and just do it no matter what. Read more>>

CEO KEISHA | Business owner and mother

STARTING DRIPPIN CHOCOLATE WAS ONE TO ACKNOWLEDGED ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY…. AND THAT WAS TO ENCOURAGE WOMAN WITH SKIN TONE AS MELANIN AS MINE THAT WE ARE ATILL BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER HOW DARK YOUR TONE MAY BE. THEN AS TIME EVOLVED SO DID MY THOUGHT PROCESS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE ALL WOMAN FEEL AS GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL AS THEY SHOULD Read more>>

Amanda Madison | Pastry Chef, Cookie Business Owner, Published Author and Minister

I was working in a warehouse in 2020 and I worked Friday Saturday and Sunday 14hr days. My parents would watch my daughter Anastasia for me since I am a single mom. I hated my job but wasn’t sure how quickly my life was about to change when my mom passed away in April 2020. Read more>>

Mary Anna Ossa | Owner of Partners & Grapes

Partners and Grapes started as an idea between two friends sharing a bottle of wine in a bar in Barcelona, Spain. I hadn’t considered starting my own business before this, but the idea of working with my best friend and bringing organic wine to the United States got me really excited. Since wine is very well regulated in the US, I knew I had a lot of work to do, but I was determined to see the project through. Read more>>

Hannah Koschak | Registered Dietitian & Nutrition Coach

I spent 10 years building my career as a Registered Dietitian. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge, but more importantly, incredible skills. I started my career in a clinical setting (inpatient and dialysis) and helped patients manage their disease. Truthfully, when patients are in the midst of disease and striving for a better quality of life – their jean size suddenly became less important. After a long day of educating with compassion and encouragement, Read more>>

Casey Corey | Handmade Quilter

Casey Sheila Quilts began as a way to connect with my firstborn while pregnant. I was a litigation attorney for almost a decade but also yearned to create something more than legal documents. When I was expecting my first baby girl, I decided to make her a quilt to try and connect more with her and my pregnancy. The whole process was pure magic- from selecting the colors and fabrics to cutting up those fabrics into smaller pieces and putting them back together again. Read more>>

Jaya Kandasamy | Proprietor & Designer

Our mission at Maha Vintage is to uplift rural communities by giving disadvantaged crafts(wo)men a global platform to showcase their works of art. We develop long lasting relationships with village artists, creators and innovators to support artisanal symbiosis in traditional communities. Past and future lines have been consciously designed in North Carolina, taking inspiration from the semi-tropical environment and commissioned in the southern most providence of India where rural artisans translate these designs into wearable pieces of art. Read more>>

Alexandra Lazares | Founder & CEO, Glendi

elegance of the Mediterranean lifestyle. I would go back to Greece once a year and buy unique, handcrafted jewelry products and resort wear that I couldn’t find in the United States. When I returned from my vacations in the Med, I was uninspired by the large department stores and didn’t want to wear what everyone else was wearing. Read more>>