In our view, far too many ideas die at the imagination stage. It’s not because people are lazy, we think the primary reason is because many people don’t know where or how to start. So, we connected with some sharp and generous entrepreneurs who’ve agreed to share their stories of how they went from idea to execution.

Steven Sneed

Oftentimes, discovering one’s purpose isn’t immediate. It may take a series of events to gradually reveal new insights and opportunities. S Claz Productions originally began as my music production and studio business. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, I lost my studio that my closest friends helped me build. At first, my primary goal was to rebuild another creative music space. Little did I know, another venture would soon capture my interest. I embarked on creating a documentary titled Pasadena: Exploring Solutions to Reduce Gang Violence, inspired by my work mentoring and teaching youth. The first person I contacted to collaborate on the project was my good friend, Jason Hardin. As we discussed funding strategies for the film, Jason had the brilliant idea to relaunch the Made In Dena clothing brand. Read more>>

Najma Abdurahman

Experiencing a sense of disconnection in the workplace can be profoundly disheartening, and my journey as a human resource manager in a corporate environment served as a reminder. The mistreatment I encountered illuminated the systemic inequalities within the work structure, making me acutely aware of my untapped potential that often goes unrecognized. There were subtle, racially charged comments that lingered in the air that were difficult to directly address. My own timidity and discomfort with confrontation made it challenging to speak up about these issues too. I quickly realized hurt people, hurt people. As the youngest member of my team, I found it heartbreaking to witness the dedication and commitment of my colleagues—individuals who poured their heart and soul into a company that didn’t think twice about replacing them at a moment’s notice. A pivotal moment came when I requested the vacation time I was entitled to, only to have my request denied. It struck me then: was this what life had become? A relentless cycle of clocking in and clocking out, with no room for personal errands, family time, or the simple joys of life. Read more>>

Brioné Lathrop

Empowering black female entrepreneurs and women of color in business is not just a mission—it’s a movement. Together, we can create a future where every woman has the tools and support she needs to turn her dreams into reality Read more>>

Imani Christine

During my first year of college, I felt completely invisible at my HBCU. While most people saw me thriving as an honors student, White House Scholar, and advocate, I felt less encouraged to share my voice because of the exhaustion that I was experiencing as a result of leading throughout my high school years. Most people would imagine college to be the best time of their lives, but my introduction to college was met with lots of rejection and redirection. I was sitting in my dorm with my roommate expressing my desire to lead, but there was an absence of space that I needed to uplift myself. My roommate told me to start a YouTube channel. I responded, “Girl, bye! I’m not doing that”.  Months later the words “Black Girls Lead Too” came to me. I instantly wrote those words down and use them as affirmation for myself. When I looked at the student and faculty leadership on my campus I realized that the issues I face on my campus reflect the larger issues of the world. In attempt to develop a leadership pipeline and help other Black girls on my campus feel like they too can lead I decided to turn Black Girls Lead Too into an initiative focused on leadership, social justice, and Black girlhood. I truly believe this program will help to close opportunity gaps for Black women and girls and we will see a drastic positive spark in research and data.  Read more>>

Kristen Terrell

I had the idea to go into my own studio about a year before I actually did it. I wanted to make sure I could still offer an inviting environment, luxury services, and the best products. Over that year I researched top luxury brands & haircolor. I checked ingredient lists, location of distribution, eco friendly, scent and many other check points. It was important that my salon esthetics were welcoming but also easy to maintain. When it came to locations I knew I wanted to stay where my general clientele was. When I found my salon studio & it featured full length windows I knew it was my new hair home! Read more>>

Nancy Mclean

My business partner, Nadine Wolfe and I decided in August of 2015 to open an Upscale Consignment store. We opened Olde Town Exchange 2 months later in Olde Town Arvada on November 1, 2015. It was a crazy 2 months as we started with nothing but an idea. In that 2 month time frame, we put together a business plan, did research to confirm our idea was viable, secured a location, filed for all necessary business paperwork, created our name, set up the structure of the business (which we still use today), decorated the store, which is also still in play. We each put in an initial investment of $7,000. The rest was long hours, a lot of garage sales, building displays, finding inventory and grit! Read more>> 

Bella Rose

When I first starting Bella rose Passion, I was all over the place with no business strategy, no plan, and no focus. I just knew I wanted my own business and that’s what I did but had no idea how I was going to scale and grow, I believe that is 80% of small business owners. But I started with Bella rose Passion Women’s Boutique which was unsuccessful because I knew nothing about fashion or marketing in 2011, I scaled back and closed my retail store to open a online beauty store selling lip gloss and lipstick, again with no direction just promoting yellow, white, blue lip gloss not knowing those are not colors that represent our skin well and I was not focused on what my audience would be pleased with. Read more>>

Sarah Odiavbara

After the idea for Craftmerce came to life, I dove into research. I knew the potential of African artisans but needed to understand how to bridge them with global buyers through technology. The next step was assembling a team of like-minded individuals passionate about creating a fair-trade marketplace. We spent countless hours analyzing existing platforms, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and brainstorming how Craftmerce could fill the gaps. Then came the technical side—building a user-friendly platform, integrating payment solutions, and solving logistical issues, such as shipping and delivery. Once we figured out the core framework, I focused on developing the tech infrastructure, from selecting the right tools for scalability to ensuring secure transactions and user privacy. Partnering with artisans was the next challenge; we traveled, built trust, and explained the platform’s benefits. It was a year filled with late nights, trial and error, and endless problem-solving, but finally, we launched Craftmerce, and seeing it come to life was worth every moment. Read more>>

Andrew Rittler

The Birth of Ravenstreet: A Journey from Idea to Reality It was the spring of 2020, and the world was grappling with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many others, I found myself facing an unexpected layoff. The uncertainty was daunting, but it also sparked a fire within me. I knew I had to pivot and create something new, something that could not only sustain my family but also bring value to others during these trying times. And so, the idea of Ravenstreet was born. The Spark of an Idea The initial idea for Ravenstreet came to me during one of those long, reflective walks that became a part of my daily routine. I realized there was a growing need for digital solutions as businesses were forced to adapt to a new, remote way of operating. Having always dabbled in digital marketing and content marketing, I felt there was a significant void in secondary, smaller markets. These businesses needed guidance to navigate the digital landscape, and I saw an opportunity to fill that gap. Read more>>

Sherlene Jeanbaptiste

When I first started it was just a routine for me to just post my outfits as inspiration. Which then after posting for many years. People started to encourage me to get into content creation. They would always say that they can see me as an influencer because I’m doing it anyway. So a simple act of just showing my outfits turned into me getting brand deals with top names in the business. Such as Walmart,Target and Amazon to name a few. I started to look into how I can scale my business and get in front of different brands. Do I started trying different methods such as ;try on hauls, GRWM. I have even took pieces of clothing as is and turned them into other pieces. Like taking a shirt and turning it into a skirt. Which is yet fashionable and functional all at the same time. There is and will always be a lot to figure out. Read more>>

Izabel Cortéz

I grew up in the era of America’s Next Top Model. I fell in love with creative shoots, especially during cycle 7- (the vaseline and black eyeliner shoot is iconic!) So I did what any other myspace-raged teenager did and begged my dad for a digital camera and photographed anything and everything. In 2014 I bought my very first canon dslr and kept practicing. It was the summer of 2017 that I picked a camera up again and had a friend model for me. By fall of 2019 I wanted to start family photography as a side hustle but the pandemic came and those plans were put on hold for a while. At the end of 2021 I turned to wedding photography by second shooting and eventually leading photography as well. Since then I have hosted my own styled shoots and have been able to add a more creative spin to my own sessions using some of the ANTM influence. I am primarily a wedding photographer and I offer lifestyle sessions as well. Read more>>

Allen Dearie

**Panel Discussion Topic: Going from Idea to Execution** As we were moving forward with the idea of fermentation, we knew we had to get the business side of things sorted out—branding, packaging, and getting the necessary permits to start selling our products. Around this time, I already had a name in mind: Güero & Maria. It wasn’t just a random choice; it had a special meaning that resonated with our culture and our story. In Mexican families, there’s this humor where we often call people by their nicknames, or “apodos,” so much so that sometimes we don’t even know their real names. That’s what “Güero & Maria” embodies—it’s a nod to those everyday characters we all know, the ones who bring humor and warmth into our lives. But the name also symbolizes something deeper: the blend of cultures in Mexico. “Güero” often refers to someone with lighter skin, hinting at European ancestry, while “Maria” represents the indigenous roots that are so integral to Mexican culture. Read more>>

Ruby Steenkamp

It all birthed from the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. I had lost my job, as an Accountant in March 2020, because the corporate office moved some of the financial positions to their Virginia head-office. My position and role was one of them. During that year I had personally experienced a huge shift within myself. It was a time of healing and rediscovery. One of the major recoveries was my spiritual gift of Trance Channeling – it’s connecting with energies and relating their messages like a radio signal. Being raised in an evangelical church, I was taught to connect spiritually, and I started to show my gifts at the age of 12 – I was known as a “young prophet.” During the pandemic that gift resurfaced, and it hit me that I the prophecies I shared when I was young was actually channeling. Some call it psychic abilities. Read more>>