Coming up with an idea for a business or creative project can feel exhilarating. Inspiration for a new idea can come from so many places and we’ve asked some great folks from the community to share their stories of how they came up with their ideas.

Lara Gould

I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by entrepreneurs – friends, family members, clients – all building businesses they believed in. Their products and services were always solid, but when it came to branding and marketing, most of them were stuck in trial-and-error mode, trying to do it all themselves or getting burned by expensive support that didn’t really get them. Read more>>

Steph Saffer

My message and teaching is around the idea of being “Impact Ready”. I created the Impact Ready coaching process, and the “Impact Ready” podcast, and now weave this throughout all of my businesses and work. The idea is that to be Impact Ready means you go from having relationships, a life and career that feels stagnant, frustrating, inconsistent and “stuck” to feeling empowered, in control, fulfilled and free. It’s the realization that through radical ownership, being purpose-driven, maintaining high energy and doing it all consistently, you can be the creator of your life and intentionally design a future for yourself that is aligned with what truly matters to you. Read more>>

Tara Gooch

The idea for TEDx coaching came to me on one of the most pivotal days of my life; the day I delivered my TEDx talk.

We had all been preparing for over six months. Long rehearsals, script rewrites, late nights practicing under stage lights. Each of us knew how important this moment was. TEDx is permanent. It lives online. It becomes part of your legacy.

But when the big day arrived, something unexpected happened. Two of the speakers, both incredibly talented with meaningful messages, weren’t fully prepared. They hadn’t memorized their talks, and unfortunately, their delivery suffered. Their talks weren’t published. Read more>>

Sike Li

The idea for RelaXi emerged at the intersection of personal heartbreak, professional burnout, and a profound spiritual awakening—right as I was entering my thirties.

Throughout my twenties, I led product innovation at consumer tech and media companies, launching AI systems that could predict user behavior at massive scale. I had mastered the mechanics of achievement but remained entirely illiterate in the language of my own emotions. Read more>>

Dr. Venus Opal Reese

The name of my business is Bible Business, LLC. The Tagline is: Prosper God’s Way. Impact the World. The idea for this business didn’t come to me as much as it was revealed by God during a healing process that had me want to take my own life.

Let me back up a bit and explain. In 2018, I brought in $1.3 million in my previous business, Defy Impossible, Inc. That was the 5th consecutive year I exceeded the million-dollar mark in my business. I toured nationally, had two best-selling books, and produced live transformational business experiences for purpose-driven Black Women entrepreneurs. Read more>>

Erica Hardesty

After graduating from Auburn University in 2018 with a degree in social work, I began working at a therapeutic foster care agency, where I spent the next three years. It was during this time that I became deeply aware of a heartbreaking gap in the system – specifically, the lack of practical care and support for teenagers and young adults aging out of foster care. My husband and I felt called to respond, and together we launched Make It Matter, a nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside teens in care and equipping them for life beyond the system. Read more>>

Alexandra O’Brien-Roualdes

I came up with the idea for The Chemo Club during the hardest chapter of my life. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and suddenly, our world flipped upside down. I went from living a normal life to living in hospitals, infusion rooms, and late-night Google searches, trying to make sense of how to help her.  Read more>>

Jason Smith

As a child, I used to write and draw comic books, staple the pages together, and share them with my family. In elementary school, I created a book that won a bronze medal in a New York City-wide competition. I knew I loved making things, but at the time, I didn’t yet understand how that passion could grow into a career. Read more>>

Tera Walker

I had spent four years in property management and found myself drawn to the real estate side of things—helping people find homes and navigating the market was something I genuinely enjoyed. But the rental side—fielding angry maintenance calls, posting 3-day notices, and dealing with frustrated parents—just wasn’t where my heart was. I realized I wanted to be part of the process in a more positive, lasting way, and that’s what led me to real estate. Read more>>

Katy Allen

I have always loved paper planners. Brands like Lily Pulitzer made gorgeous ones with fun designs, and other brands like Emily Ley’s Simplified and Erin Condren created planners that were thoughtful, aesthetically pleasing, and focused on empowering users to live their best lives. I wanted to be able to use planners like that, but as life went on, I had more and more of a need for digital. My husband is a musician and was touring all the time, and everything he did was in Google Calendar. I needed to be able to see his calendar, and I needed him to be able to see mine. I tried to make a paper planner work, but it required double entry: write down all of his tour stops in my planner, write down everything I’m doing in my planner, and then enter them into our shared Google Calendar. It was too much to keep up with! Read more>>

Tiara Pullen

For many years, I faced challenges in finding effective products for me that offered nourishment and repair without harsh chemicals or synthetic ingredients.the struggle not only impacted my appearance, but my self-esteem and confidence. Determined to find a solution, I began formulating my own hair and skin products allowing me to reconnect and embrace myself. Upon creating my business, I realized that many mainstream hair and skincare products weren’t truly made with us in mind, black women, women with textured hair, melanated skin and specific generational needs. I wasn’t just solving a problem of dry skin or brittle hair; I was addressing a deeper lack of cultural care and intentionality in beauty products. Read more>>

Samantha Chrzanowski

It was February of 2022, and my then boyfriend and I were almost through our first year living in our new home when I found out I was pregnant with our son. Becoming a mom was something I had always dreamt of. I remember the butterflies, the thrill, and the swirl of emotions that came with it. But almost immediately, I also felt the weight of expectations settle onto me. I struggled with what felt like a loss of control over my life and my timeline. I carried shame and guilt, even though I’ve never felt that way about anyone else in a similar situation.  Read more>>

Emily Allen

My husband and I knew early on that starting our own business was a lifelong goal—even if we didn’t always know what that business would be. It wasn’t about chasing a specific idea at first, but about building something of our own. After years of saving and waiting for the right opportunity, we began exploring franchises and were drawn to Ultimate Ninjas—a small, family-owned system that aligned with our values. What stood out was the mission: creating a space where kids could be active, build confidence, and challenge themselves physically and mentally. That purpose gave our dream a direction and made the decision feel right.  Read more>>

Jessi Cabanin

My path to building This Way to Fabulous was far from straight line – it’s more like a messy collage of heartbreak, reinvention, and a gut‑level refusal to quit.

I graduated college in 2007 with this very clear (and slightly rebellious) gut feeling: I am never going to work for a corporate firm. So, instead of climbing someone else’s ladder, I jumped in and started my first company—a tiny design and stationery studio that I ran out of a spare bedroom. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I loved creating. Within a year, I’d added wedding photography to the mix. I became known for my eye for emotion and the way I could tell a story through imagery. Read more>>

Shane Feldman-Scarr

It started with us simply wanting to go to the beach, set up some equipment, and play. No lineup, no promotion, just us and our friends vibing to good music under the sun. But something about it felt different. There was this raw energy and effortless connection. It didn’t feel like a party. It felt like a moment. Read more>>

Jessie Shaw

When I first started considering becoming a virtual assistant, I was already knee-deep in my own photography business. I had just had my first child and could already tell how difficult it was to keep up with the admin side of the photography world. All my friends were struggling with their emails & backend of the business too. While I loved shooting & editing, I kept finding myself drawn to the systems and efficiency that would allow us photographers to ENJOY the work again. On one hand, our clients deserve the best *experience* possible. And on the other hand, photographers don’t need to be burned out in order to be successful. Thus: becoming a VA to bridge that gap. Read more>>

Leigh Robbie Gaymon-Jones

I launched The Nest as a home for creativity, possibility, and belonging. I wanted a place to experiment with building a work culture that nurtured its team as much as it uplifted its community. I wanted to feel good about coming to work, for my team to feel great about coming to work, and for the leaders I admired to feel excited to work with us! Really I launched The Nest seeking a feeling, or a vibe. Read more>>

Stevie Laney

I got my bachelors degree in fine art in 2010 from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. I majored in illustration and fashion illustration. In 2015, I went back to school for my post baccalaureate degree through PAFA in Philadelphia, PA. It was there that I leaned into my body/sex positive artwork. Since 2017, I have sold and show my work in Philadelphia. In 2021 I started an erotic art magazine called Very. Very is submission based and over the past few years built a community of artists that inspired us to open up PEG. The Philadelphia Erotic Gallery and Sex Museum. Read more>>

Rhea SHARMA

The narrative was clear when more than 5 talented, educated, well over qualified women were not get call backs from interviewers, When they had everything to offer but are only getting rejected or not given the opportunity because of the 1% I know it all attitude. Its not about just color or race here anymore, its about a bugger diaspora here. My act only started with a targeted audience of women in Clinical research because of the ease of access I could get a hold on to instantly- But my fight is bigger than an ethnic race or creed and color here, its about the stigmatization Asian women go through all their lives behind the closed doors, hidden tears, scars and the fights they put up with on a daily basis – sexual abuse as a child, girl rape, rape in a marriage, dowry, emotional backlash and more that they early on are asked to not speak about and just stay quiet. Because of what society may think of them. Read more>>

Andrea Garcia Fry

Two months after Shireen had her first baby and three months after I had my second, we were catching up—in the thick of postpartum life—venting about how hard it was to find baby clothes that actually felt like us.

We were craving something different. Clothes that were soft and high quality for our babies, yes—but also elevated, playful, and thoughtfully designed.

That’s when Shireen said it: “What if we made it ourselves?” Read more>>

Ty Lewis

I started Perfect Peace Puzzles in 2022 after losing both of my parents. It was one of the hardest times in my life. In the middle of all the grief and uncertainty, I found myself turning to puzzles, not just to pass time, but because they gave me a sense of calm and focus when everything else felt out of control. Sitting down with a puzzle helped me breathe, reset, and process what I was feeling in a quiet, manageable way. Read more>>

Christine & Rio Schad

Caller I Do started pretty simply—with a wedding, a lot of love, and a feeling that something was missing.

When we were planning our own big day, we knew we wanted a way to capture the voices and energy of our guests. Something more personal than a traditional guestbook. We started looking into audio guestbooks, but the options we found felt kind of generic. They didn’t match the vibe we were going for, and honestly, they just didn’t feel special. Read more>>

Tess Kent

The idea for TK Strings grew from my passion for creating unforgettable live string music experiences. There’s something truly magical about how live string music can transform an event—whether it’s a wedding, a corporate gathering, or an intimate celebration—by filling the space with emotion, elegance, and connection. Read more>>

Heidi Scott Giusto, PhD

When I was in graduate school at Duke University, I worked at the Writing Studio as a Writing Consultant. This was a job most graduate students had for a semester, maybe two, because they needed money. Usually, they went on to take other assignments more aligned with becoming a scholar and professor—things like becoming a Teaching, Grading, or Research Assistant. I also had those types of roles before starting at the Writing Studio, but I started declining them … semester after semester. Read more>>

Katherine Parker

I was standing in my kitchen—frustrated, crying, and broke. I had just been laid off from yet another job, one of several that couldn’t keep up with my bills or match my experience. I held a journalism degree, a solid GPA, and had worked for a mayor, a car dealership, and a creative agency. Still, doors kept closing. Read more>>

Andy Mason

ABSS.llc is a Barber-SPA. This is a place where you can leave the worries of the day and stress outside for forty five minutes to an hour and a half, so you can enjoy an experience that is unmatched in Memphis Tennessee. The idea for the business derived from a place of unprofessionalism. I never wanted to be a barber. It’s a skill that came naturally to me and as time progressed I realized it’s my gift from God. I never took barbering seriously and because of that, there wasn’t any passion or love for the craft. The absence of these attributes made room for unprofessionalism. Let’s go back to where it all started. Read more>>

BRANDON MICHAEL

After the loss of my grandfather, I found myself reflecting on legacy—what we leave behind, what actually matters. One evening, my wife surprised me with a curated date: cigars, chocolates, cheeses, and conversation. That night became more than a date—it became a space. A space to breathe. A space to process grief, to slow down, to think and contemplate to trajectory of my life, to plan the next moves forward. It was in that pause that something clicked. For the first time, cigars were paired with a purpose. Read more>>

Wendy Perdomo

Coaching Women of Color, LLC is more than just a business—it’s a healing journey and a labor of love that evolved over time. The story behind it is deeply personal. In many ways, it was born out of my divorce, which marked one of the darkest periods of my life. At the time of my separation, I was also in a senior role at the New York State Education Department as an Innovation Fellow. I was leading a large-scale professional development institute for the state and co-leading the rollout of a new tool I had developed for district and school leaders across New York. It was a high-stakes, fast-paced, time-sensitive environment, with little to no room for error. We were a two-person team, and the expectations were high. Read more>>

Lynnette Price

In one word…burnout is why I decided to start Hope+Wellth Media. I started my corporate career over two decades ago as a marketing and advertising executive. I had the chance to work with some of the biggest brands in the industry. I had so much fun. For me, being creative is like breathing the freshest of air. However, I worked super long hours, was in problem solving mode 24/7, and my anxiety started to kick in full force. At one point, I was pregnant on bedrest, taking conference calls, creating proposals and executing marketing plans. It was insane and though I really loved what I did, it began to take such a toll on my mental health. Read more>>

Ashley Moseberry

I’ve always been the glue—connecting people came naturally to me. Whether it was family and friends, business owners and customers, or artists and opportunities, I had a way of bringing folks together and making things feel intentional. I was also known for throwing a great party—joyful, Read more>>

Rachel Spekman

A few years ago, I was in a role that looked great on paper—big title, big responsibility—but I was exhausted, disconnected, and questioning who I had become. I had done everything “right” by traditional standards, but I couldn’t ignore the quiet voice telling me, this isn’t it.

I vividly remember the moment I knew something had to change. I was sitting in my office, staring at my computer screen, feeling completely numb. The work I was doing didn’t reflect who I was anymore—and I realized I wasn’t alone in that. So many high-performing, purpose-driven professionals—especially parents and professionals at a transition- were coming to me feeling stuck, burned out, or unsure how to pivot without losing everything they’d worked for. Read more>>

Corina Comfort

Ive always been into makeup since i was young. I started practicing back in highschool and learned on my own and thru YouTube. As ive gotten older it was always on the back of my mind to become a content creator. I finally jumped too it i would say about a year ago or so and honestly it changed everything it got me out of my comfort zone, It showed my absolute love for makeup to get it out there to the world. Help people who want to start out, Show new products test & reviews all of it. I hope to grow more & more in the future and hopefully full time. Read more>>

Hassina Elhouri

My story started in Massachusetts where my grandmother was residing and I was located in Buffalo, NY. My grandmother started to experience a lot of health problems but I wanted her to live a clean and healthy lifestyle. Every 2 months I found myself driving 6 hours just to help her out with her needs. For example Cleaning up her house, running errands, and always scheduled a dinner date with her of course. I just wanted to be in her presence because I always wanted her to feel loved, appreciated and seen. Eventually she was wheelchair bound and really couldn’t do much. Read more>>

Kadeisha Placide

The idea for my businesses came from a real need I saw in my own life and community. Classic Beauty Studio is part of my family’s legacy — I helped shape it into NYC’s #1 clean beauty and wellness salon because I knew people of color deserved luxury, ethical beauty services designed with us in mind. Read more>>

Dwight Thomas

Thomas For Them Inc has being around since 2020. Our mission of not just providing hot meals, clothing, shoes, hygiene products and providing resources but to reunite the homeless community with their families.
Being a state licensed private investigator and agency owner with experience in human trafficking and missing children I decided to start another program called “Operation my Child” teaching parents and kids the importance of human trafficking awareness, missing children, benign episodes, runaways and amber alerts. Read more>>

Nancy Janes

I started Romania Animal Rescue following a devastating visit to the country. Animal suffering, abandonment, neglect was everywhere. The government was poisoning the dogs for animal control. Read more>>

Tiffinique Gadsden

I started SUSC in May of 2023 and to be honest I was just looking for community for myself. I started thinking about things that I liked to do and it hit me. It’s very hard to find women in their thirties that are genuine, like-minded, like to dress up, find different hobbies or things to do in the city of Pittsburgh. I started to look for groups via social media and found a social club but it was located in Atlanta. Shortly after that I started doing more research on how to start a social club in my city and turn it into a business. It took me a few weeks to figure out my mission, ideas, a name and what I wanted to do long term and She’s Unique Social Club was born. Read more>>

Michael Morris

Dory has always had an underlying feeling she had a purpose – to help people. She originally thought it was through working in the medical field, but as time went by and the country’s administration changed, her ideas began to shift. She did pursue her doctorate degree, but not in medicine. Read more>>

Sandy

The idea about to start an art business was after a few years I graduate from a collage, there were not much jobs relater about my career back in 2018. I live in a small town and could not find any job, my daughter introduced me with the idea about making paper flowers, we started to see different artist tutorials and practice just like a hobby. After a few months we like the idea about making paper flowers and she asked me to try to make prickly paper flowers and I did. I loved to make this kind of flowers that I started to study them in the desert and take all kind of pictures to get the exact approach. I discover paper mache would be a great idea to start making my very first piece. As soon as master it I decided it to find more about how to get a business license permits etc. and I decided to start an event business in 2018. Read more>>