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.

Carol Petredean, Tavia Di Salvio, Brianna Di Salvio, & Trevah Di Salvio.

RafiraEva Studio resides on a 140 acre family compound. The studio and its buildings were owned by George and Betty Petredean. When Carol Petredean inherited the land-she and her three daughters knew they wanted to keep the property in the family and do something special with it. Celebration, travel, and creativity played an important role in the Petredeans’ lives. So it was a natural transition to turn the house and land into an event venue and vacation rental Rafira and Eva were Carol’s grandmothers-and naming the studio RafiraEva was a way to honor their memory. Read more>>

ISSEU FALL.

Thank you for having me. I started off as a home stager in order to become an interior designer. I also had a youtube channel (still do but not active) doing DIY, home decor, baby shower decor etc… By helping friends with their parties I allowed my passion to become my purpose, and now it is my profession. I plan and design my clients’ events which took fast and here I am today. Read more>>

Blessing Agoha.

We started in early fall 2022. As a Lifestyle Content Creator, I am acquainted with the luxury places and experiences in the DMV, and at a larger scale starting Boulevard Concierge and lifestyle management was a perfect pivot. The idea behind Boulevard Concierge was focused on a single-minded goal of providing our clients with the best of luxury living in the DMV – whenever and however. Combining our vast network of vetted partner companies with our unmatched passion for perfection. Read more>>

Al + Lyndsey Johnson

It all started 20+ years ago when we met in college, both studying art education. We have always loved to create and be in environments that push us to think out of the box. After college we took jobs at a summer camp that turned into full-time employment for 9 years. At camp we learned that we loved hosting and meeting people and preparing experiences for kids, families and retreat groups of all types and sizes. Read more>>

Kareemah Moment

The pet bakery started as a hobby. I began baking and and cooking for my dog Ghost( Mister Finley). Although Ghost has never been a picky dog he suffered from skin allergies and a sensitive stomach. It was a chore finding affordable dog treats and food that wouldn’t trigger Ghost allergies or stomach issues. I have always been very creative and had the attitude I could do anything so I did just that. I researched nutritional facts and recipes then began making dog food. Read more>>

Deepa Purushothaman

My book and my company, nFormation, stemmed out of a comment a public company CFO shared with me. She said, I sit in a seat of power and I don’t feel powerful. I was startled and yet it felt so familiar. I wanted to study this concept and understand it since I heard this over and over again from the women I interviewed. Most of the women I interviewed believed erroneously that, once they were a senior leader in their organizations, they could be more of themselves. But once they reached the top, they were more invested in the company, and it was even harder to speak up, stand out, and be different. Read more>>

Christopher Zamora

I founded Sustainable Cleaning in 2020, after having worked in the luxury retail market for over a decade. While managing several luxury boutiques, I realized the shortage of superior yet affordable cleaning services for luxury commercial spaces. As a result, I decided to launch my own business using the knowledge skills and abilities gained from my employment in South Florida. Read more>>

DeeDee Hunt

Ever since I was a little girl, I talked about my future business. It would be called the CoZone: A comfort zone for the energetic spirit and curious soul, I told anybody who would listen. It would be an art gallery for creatives to gather and socialize, network and collaborate on projects, inspire one another and show their work. As I got older, the idea evolved, and when I graduated from college with a BA in Industrial Design and an emphasis in Graphic Design, I set out to make this big dream a reality. Read more>>

Dalmona Reese

FASHION HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE. MY MOTHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FASHIONESTA IN MY EYES. HER PASSION FOR DESIGNING CAME OUT OF NECESSITY. BEING THE YOUNGEST OF 13 CHILDREN. SHE LOVED FASHION AND UNIQUE STYLES BUT HAD TO DO THIS ON A BUDGET. SHE STARTED DESIGNING AND SEWING HER UNIQUE PIECES IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT HER ADULT LIFE. Read more>>

Ilana Green

One of my favorite things to do is cook! I love food, whether it’s eating, preparing, or being a taste tester, I’m all about it. So naturally, I spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. I also love animals, and currently have two lovely pups, Camilla and Mateo. Most of the things that I cook were not dog friendly, and I really wanted to start making things that they also could enjoy. So I began doing research, consulting vets, and speaking with other pet parents about what their pups also like. Read more>>

Kiana Newsom

The idea of starting a Makeup line came from my own personal experience working in the beauty industry. I always loved makeup and I wanted to gain more experience within the industry so I started out as a Beauty Advisor at Macy’s it was a flex position so I would always pick up shifts within the cosmetics department. I would work for different counters like Lancôme cosmetics, Estee launder, Bobby Brown cosmetics, etc. I was able to learn more about complexion, skincare, and product knowledge. Read more>>

Gaya Samarasingha

I decided to start my own business to fulfill my passion to empower women and to find a solution to an unmet need in the skincare industry. After building a successful career in the Direct Selling industry, I’ve found my passion in empowering and supporting other business owners, especially women. So I wanted to create a platform that allows women and men to build successful home-based businesses regardless of their education, experience, and skillset. So I quit my executive position with another company back in 2017 to start Kalaia. Read more>>

Aaliyah Garrett

Miss Garrett’s vegan soul came about in 2017 from the concept of my 1st catering company Miss Garrett’s Place, Miss Garrett’s place was not a vegan catering company, so when became vegan i 2017 i switch my whole business plan to vegan and i converted all my family recipes into vegan, It was a learning experience that took some trill and era. Once i got it down it was off from there. We started taking orders in July 2017 and i went from under booked to over booked and everyone knowing about us in the time of 2 weeks. Read more>>

Darryl Gordon

I’ll admit that I have always embarrassed my kids – no sooner than our food arrives at the table, out comes my camera, and I insist on taking photos before anyone ever gets to enjoy their meal. My passion for cooking, and being a frustrated chef (that will never own a restaurant or create a dish that is restaurant worthy), has me making sure that I capture every delicious meal I eat so that the food looks incredible. Read more>>

William Guiney.

I have been in the Solar Energy industry for more than 40-years for Solar PV and Solar Thermal. I preferred Solar Thermal because it involved many mechanical systems and applications. PV was just electricity nothing exciting about that. Solar Thermal was typically used for hot water, swimming pools in the commercial and residential sectors generating temperatures form 80F to 160F. There were very few solutions for Industrial Process Heat for higher temperature applications requiring 180F to 400F. Read more>>

Michela Parisi

Connected Brain Counseling is a private, group practice that offers both counseling and neurofeedback to clients. We specialize in adult women who have experience trauma, though we see clients age 5 and above and all gender identifications. For those who are not familiar with neurofeedback, it is a modality that is used to retrain the brain that may be holding on to old, stuck patterns associated with symptoms such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, ADHD, insomnia…and more. Read more>>

Cei Lambert

I learned the term “hybrid professional” in 2019, almost five years into a career I did not go to school for and two years after opening my own consulting business. At the time I was working in public health and was beginning my journey as a tattoo artist two days a week. I consulted regularly with a myriad of clients, advising them on how to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. Read more>>

Troy Richardson

I wanted to honor the legacy of my late mother Dorothy Gray Richardson. She loved her beauty products especially having a beautiful glowing skin. She was also a gospel singer and a community caregiver always pouring love into others. INOJ means Inspiring the Name of Jesus and that is what my mother always did. Read more>>

Venishia Morgan

Growing up in Minnesota, I would always look forward to traveling to Mississippi to visit family. I would specifically be excited to spend time with my Grandma Bobbye. She is the baker in our family and as a child I LOVED cake. One summer, I helped her make her famous red velvet cake. I took that recipe and would make it on occasions and soon for friends and acquaintances and would be told “I didn’t like red velvet until I had yours”. Read more>>

Letrice Okai.

My name is Letrice Okai and I am the Co-Owner with God of Okai Fabrics. We are an online boutique that specializes in Afro-centric apparel and accessories. Okai Fabrics was founded in 2016 initially as a way to connect to my Ghanaian husband. At the time, we were married for 2 years yet because of the immigration process, we were still living on 2 separate continents and I wanted to feel connected to him. Read more>>

Duane Greene

Prior to starting the company I actually had another clothing line I was building with one of my friends. The brand was beginning to take off for us but deep inside I knew I wanted a collection that was centered on bringing Glory to God. The brand we had was definitely a positive one because it was focused on inspiring people, but still it wasn’t one that was dedicated to exalting God which is what I really wanted to create. Read more>>

Pierre Dubois

A couple of years ago I was visiting my family in France, and I was sitting with my grand father in his kitchen, he was having his hair cut by his hairdresser. We were talking while he was having his hair done, andhHe was asking me about how was life in the US, how we were adjusting to it. He asked me about hairstylists in the US, inquiring about differences and if we had stylists travelling to people’s houses. I replied I had never heard about it. So when I came back to Atlanta, I asked around … and that’s how DashStylists started. Read more>>

Johanna Gleason.

I always had a great sense of fashion and how clothes are supposed to express the way you feel. I was taught at a very young age of just watching the way my father would dress. I really looked up to him when it came to dressing and I still do. I always knew I wanted to have a business one day from an early age, but the question was for what and how do I make this happen? The greatest invention we hold within ourselves is our eyes and minds, to which we will see the most sadden things around us. I want to create something so deep that any women who can relate to it because we are still within a process of accepting our bodies. Read more>>

Eddie Wyatt

The story behind how I became a FilmMaker and a photographer is something that I can never forget. I was 18 years old and at the time I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do when it came to a career, goals, and life itself. At that time there was a lot of pressure that I put on my self, but I knew that I wanted to be the best at what I did and impact other people. I had gone through so many different jobs researching them to where I could quote them like I was saying the alphabet. Read more>>

Sammy Saladino

Going from high school to college I had no direction in life. I had no idea what I wanted or where I was going. I floundered at a community college for a few years going from one study to the next never finding my true calling. It wasn’t until I took a Humanities class one semester where things started coming together.. We had gotten to the section when photography became recognized as an art form. As I’m sitting in class flipping through the pages of my text book my eyes became fixated on all the imagines in the chapter. At that moment something clicked in my brain; Read more>>

Ketrina Mitchell

I started this organization with my late husband Coach Dwynell Mitchell back in 2009. He had been diagnosed with A.L.L. and could no longer work in corporate America. With his basketball background and my background in the arts and business set up, we Formed iBALL (i beat acute lymphocytic luekemia) We started doing outside basketball camps and eventually rented space to host summer camps and an after school program. In 2011, we took all of our savings and 401k and found our current facility. Read more>>

Janirette Vazquez.

When I think of handmade soap I immediately think of a green or brown bar of soap with herbs on top. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with that! But every time I went to a market all of them looked and smelled the same to me. So I had light bulb moment, what if i create soaps the same way using natural ingredients but making them look different from the rest? What about using colors, fun scents and flowers made of soap on the top. Yes, that was it, I was now thinking of making soaps with soap building bricks on top! If no one else is doing it then you will have the opportunity to stand out. Read more>>

Kevin Strahm

I’ve always been fascinated by the film industry. Growing up I would see productions shooting scenes for a movie or TV show and stare in wonder at all the creative processes taking place. The crew members working, the lights and cameras, and of course it would be exciting to catch a glimpse of a famous actor or actress. There was just something magical about the whole endeavor. I even made a few of my own short films over the years just for fun. Yet for some reason I never thought about a career in the business until my mid-thirties. Read more>>

Natalie Kahn

I came up with the idea of Mina + Pup Pet Accessories when I was 14 years old. It came from heartbreak and loss, and turned into something very beautiful and impactful. In July of 2020, my 34 years old uncle Michael passed away suddenly and my heart broke. He was my biggest supporter and we were incredibly close. Michael loved dogs, especially my French Bulldog Angus. I wanted to turn my pain into a way to honor Michael’s memory. Read more>>

Gilbryonna Shaw

Image this, A mom of a newborn with absolutely no idea what to do next. The dozens of YouTube trainings and books pre-labor become a blur and it’s just you and this new little baby that depends on you for everything. Your hormones are shifting and you don’t even feel like yourself. People are calling and texting left and right ,but not to check on you . They are eager to see the baby. I remember someone saying you are a mother , you aren’t important anymore. It’s no longer about you. Read more>>

Alba Delgado

I first came up with the idea of having my own tours website, when I realized that the previous agency I was working for, was exploiting me, I was earning merely 20-30% of the price they were charging the clients for the service I was actually giving. So I thought: ” why not do it myself? Travelers will have a quality service, for a fair price, and I will earn what my service is worth. “. I knew everyone was giving me 5 star reviews and complimenting my guiding skills, so I quit my job at the agency and went solo.  Read more>>

Brianna Garcia.

As a teen mom who had recently found out about my sons autism diagnosis I was in complete fear of what the future held for my son Mateo. I had two amazing parents growing up but although they did the best they could we still struggled and didn’t have much, because of that I’ve always worked my hardest to break the family cycle. Who would’ve known making cupcakes and cake pop arrangements one holiday season for extra cash would turn into a dream come true. Read more>>

Andrea Thompson

Growing up I watched my mom and my grandmother baking and cooking for various people. They even had a catering business called First Class Events. I admired their hard work and determination. As I became an adult I would always find my way in the kitchen but I never could get cooking right but I could bake for sure. My family always ask me to bake cookies for them for the holidays, birthdays etc so I knew I was good at something. While on maternity leave in 2020 while I should have been resting I found myself baking and I said to myself let me post my craft on social media and see would be interested. Read more>>

Sophia Cox

Growing up, I always felt most at peace and most real when I was around nature. Flowers specifically have always attracted me. each flower has its own unique shade of color and petal shape (this echos human kind-I think!). Weddings, also, were enchanting. The beautiful love story that they painted of the two people vowing to love one another forever, always attracted my romantic heart. Read more>>

Kevin & Caro Rostran.

We’ve always dreamed of owning our own business and knew it would be creative. Creativity and design are built into our DNA. Kevin has always had a passion for graphic design and has worked in the field for about 10 years. Throughout his career, he always took on side projects that would come his way just from people (friends + family), knowing he did design. This was the start of the business. Read more>>

Mariia Tsegelnyk

After I was able to heal myself from chronic Lyme Disease with Reiki and Energy healing, I just wanted to share this gift of healing with as many people as possible. I didn’t have a plan about doing it as business. All I wanted to do was to serve and help people. I started sharing healing tips on my Instagram, and as many people found my page very helpful, my following started to grow. However, I wasn’t monetizing my account for a year. I was giving healing sessions and serving my community for free. Read more>>

G Stone

“Straight”… But Not Narrow Ladies was birthed from my intrigue of the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, along with, my belief that bi and curious women of color lacked spaces where they can feel seen and show up authentically. With a quick Google search, it was fairly easy to find strong and thriving LGBTQ spaces and places but I was unable to find communities or spaces that centered on Black and Brown bisexual women. That gap felt isolating and “Straight” … But Not Narrow Ladies created to fill it. Read more>>

Alicia Richardson.

Black Create Connect initially started as a WhatsApp Group, in July 2020, as a result of Alicia’s frustration with the limited number of black professionals available or being captured by LinkedIn recruiter searches when she was sourcing new roles. Alicia has also had first-hand experience with racism and discrimination in the workplace, as well as experiencing being constantly overlooked for promotional opportunities. Read more>>

Kristen Young

Both businesses were essentially hobbies turned into career opportunities. When I created Elizabeth Maryland Photography, I was fresh out of college and a new mom of a toddler. I was looking to create a flexible job opportunity for myself that allowed me to prioritize being a mom without sacrificing my goal to be an artist. I’d already been shooting for friends and family often, so with all of the equipment and knowledge necessary to start; Read more>>

Glenda Boone

I came up with the idea of becoming a Brand and Digital Marketing Consultant in 2008 after being tasked with raising money to start a new business unit within an organization. Marketing strategies were changing as the internet was beginning to rise in the market, and more and more persons were being driven to the internet to conduct research, Read more>>

Grace Marks

So why Ruby’s Attic you ask? Well, we have to go way way back. From the time I was teeny tiny little girl, I spent my evenings after school and every summer with a very, very special lady, my Great Grandma Ruby. To know Grandma Ruby was to love her. She was kind, strong, loved Jesus fiercely, and her family meant everything to her. Read more>>

Kerri Pine

Two things play a part in this. First, I’ve always loved fashion & personal style. It’s so fun to get dressed and have fun with it. One day you might find yourself in a power-suit, and the next in matching tie dye sweatpants, but can all be exciting. Especially with accessories. People have always taken an interest in things I’m wearing and would ask where I bought something. Eventually I realized this could be more than just “something I liked”. Read more>>

Michele Wilson

I left corporate 6 years ago. The company I worked for at the time downsized. I found myself stepping in as admin support for a plumbing company. I grew that company’s business to 30%. I learned WAY more about the inner workings of a toilet than I ever wanted. I grew up in the trades. My dad is a master electrician and firefighter engineer. He taught me how to recognize quality skilled work within the trades. And my mom taught me, my work ethic. Read more>>

Daniya Shardae’

My father always did charity work when I was growing up so it was just second nature to me honestly , but it really began my 10th grade year at Green StreetAcademy I had just started a new school I felt like there were so many new opportunities. I joined the “Pal Program” a program designed to pair a student with autism with a “Pal” we would be allowed to Start clubs and organizations with them and also provide them with job readiness skills.That had already motivated me to love community service just being able to make other feel good. Read more>>

Kiexiza Rodriquez-Stutts

My family in one way or another has always owned a business. I was 18 when I started my first Mary Kay business and ever since then I have been searching for the business for me. Recently, I began merging the things I love and am passionate about into one business. While also assisting my husband with his management company. My business, Dymond Butterfly Boutique, holds all of my hats in one place. Read more>>