Side Hustle Pro: Women Entrepreneurs | Black Women Business Owners | Solopreneurs

Today in the guest chair we have Zakia Blain, the Founder of FCKbeingFAT (FBF Fitness). With no background in fitness, but plenty of background in every fad diet and weight loss trick around, Zakia simply wanted to inspire others, while helping them lose weight the right way. Through the creation of her international FBF Weight loss Challenge and FBF Fitness apparel, she has managed to do just that. While on the journey to expand FBF Fitness, Zakia discovered that her audience was interested in shapewear. So rather than promote another company’s brand, she decided to create her own and, with that, FBF Fitness evolved into FBF Body. The highly sought after shapewear has taken on a cult following of its own, largely in part due to Zakia’s open and honest method of sharing herself actually wearing it and looking amazing while doing so. In today’s episode, we will learn how she got started, how she works through having a brain disorder to grow her business, and the hard lessons she’s learned along the way about h

You guys let me know that once-a-quarter Entrepreneur Diaries weren’t enough, so I’m going to try and do them once a month. Here are just a few of the updates I share: Side Hustle Pro podcast crossed 2 Million downloads. Thank you so much! Muoyo and I launched an app called Color Noir and I’m taking you behind-the-scenes. The three year anniversary of Side Hustle Pro is around the corner, so I’m thinking about ways on how to keep the podcast fresh. Let me know what you think about the ideas I share in this episode. You guys, I had an AMAZING time at the My Taught You Retreat (#MTYRetreat). I share why I loved it so much and why I left feeling so refreshed, motivated, and inspired. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Color Noir You have never seen a coloring book app like this—it celebrates black girl magic in all of its glory. To get it, open up your iOS app store app, search for “Color Noir” and enjoy! And make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE in the app so you can get al

Today in the guest chair, we have Mrs. Taffi Ayodele the co-founder of Thando’s, a Lagos and NY based fashion company. Thando’s shoes are foldable ballerina flats, giving women a compact and comfortable shoe option that they can easily take with them on the go. Thando's is the brainchild of Taffi and her husband J.G. They met while pursuing their MBAs at the NYU Stern School of Business. Their love for each other, love for Africa and love for art, inspired the couple to create an innovative footwear line that facilitates a modern woman’s busy lifestyle while supporting African artists. Thando’s provides a platform for creative talent on the African continent by crowd-sourcing designs from African men and women who would otherwise have limited opportunities to design for a global audience. How amazing is that? That said, it was a lot of work to bring the brand to life. As Taffi shares in this episode, it wasn’t easy picking up and moving to a continent that she’d never lived on, plus learn to navigate the busi

Today’s spotlight is Dr. Danita Nikki Brooks, the Founder of Zen in a Jar, a zen-focused home and body care line. Dr. Nikki is an entrepreneur from Washington, DC. As you’ll hear in this episode, while working full time in government, and pursuing her Doctor of Science in Information Systems & Communication, she startled hustling. Side hustling that is. She started Zen in a Jar on the side, and it actually supplemented her income and helped pay her tuition. Upon completing her doctorate, Dr. Nikki realized her passion is self-care. Through Zen in a Jar, she creates ways for women to access luxury experiences for the mind, body, and space with an emphasis on the power of aromatherapy. “Respect your magic” is the mantra she lives by and her goal is to pour into other women and create experiences for them to tap into their very best lives. On today’s episode, we hear how she does it. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Gusto Gusto offers modern, easy payroll,

Today in the guest chair: Sevetri Wilson. Sevetri is the Founder and CEO of New Orleans based technology startup Resilia (formerly ExemptMeNow) that she founded in 2015 to revolutionize how nonprofits are created and maintained, and how enterprises (who deploy billions annually) scale impact. Whether you’re looking to start a nonprofit, manage an existing one, or deploy capital, the Resilia platform guides customers seamlessly through the entire process. She’s raised over $2M for her startup to date, making her the first Black woman in New Orleans to raise over $1M in venture capital, and one of only 11 black women to raise over $3M. She is also the founder of Solid Ground Innovations, LLC (SGI), a strategic communications and management firm that she founded in 2009. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Gusto Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/shp. Trill MBA If you

Today in the guest chair is Courtney Caldwell. Courtney is the Cofounder & COO of beauty-tech startup, ShearShare, the first on-demand salon and barbershop space rental app. With ShearShare, licensed stylists can rent workspace by the day in cities all over the world, while salon and barbershop owners make money on unused space.  Prior to co-founding ShearShare, Courtney managed an award-winning salon with her husband and co-founder, which was the genesis behind ShearShare. Before that, Courtney spent two decades building winning teams in tech marketing and ran a boutique consulting firm where she fast-tracked international sales and marketing success for brands such as Zendesk, Zenefits, and Qualtrics. ShearShare is a 2018 Google Demo Day winner, 2016 Tech.Co’s Startup of the Year, and a YC Fellowship and 500 Startups alum. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Color Noir You have never seen a coloring book app like this—it celebrates black girl magic in all o

Today in the guest chair, we have Katonya Breaux, the founder and President of Unsun Cosmetics, Inc., a Los Angeles-based skin care company specializing in natural sun protection and beauty products for all skin shades and tones. Katonya herself has worn sunscreen diligently since her twenties. In this episode, she shares why she initially became so diligent with her sunscreen, and how as she matured, she became more health conscious. She realized that even someone with her complexion could get skin cancer. As a result, the idea of sunscreen was no longer just about vanity for her. Protecting her skin meant protecting her life. On today’s episode, she talks about the tedious process of creating a product that met her own personal high standards and is a natural SPF 30 sunscreen that doesn’t leave the white “residue” that us women with lots of melanin often experience with other SPF brands. As Katonya says, “Everyone should be able to look their best while protecting themselves from the harmful effects of the

Today in the guest chair we have Anika Hobbs, the Founder of Nubian Hueman, a Washington DC boutique featuring a curated selection of African-inspired apparel, accessories, art, and unique goods. Not simply a boutique, Nubian Hueman is a social enterprise that specializes in sourcing unique goods, fashion, and art by designers representing the global Diaspora. It has become a catalyst for culture, community, and the development of the creative economy by connecting the consumer to independent artists from across the world and serving as a means to promote collective interaction, community development, and global responsibility through a fresh and artistic brick-and-mortar platform. Nubian Hueman has worked with over 400 artists, in 30 countries, and across 6 different continents and has received recognition from former President Barack Obama, the Washington Post, NPR, and Forbes. On today’s episode, Anika shares how her unlikely career path in retail served as a catalyst for Nubian Hueman. Listen on Apple Pod

Today in the guest chair, we have Jamila Souffrant. Jamila is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), podcaster, writer, and the founder of JourneytoLaunch.com where she shares her journey to reach Financial Independence while helping others do the same. Jamila and her husband saved $169,000 in two years and are debt free besides their mortgage. She is also a mother of three small children and lives in NYC! Her quitting her job to work for herself was made possible, not by monetizing her side hustle, but by SAVING. On today’s episode, Jamila shares: How she and her husband were able to save $169,000 in two years Her approach to the financial independence (FI) movement How she developed and stuck to a budget (without being super frugal) How optimizing her finances helped her to take her leap into entrepreneurship And more! Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher Thank you to our amazing sponsors:Get two months of unlimited access to Skillshare for FREE. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/sid

On today’s episode, I’m jumping into the guest chair with an update on what I’ve been working on behind the scenes of the podcast. Find out what went well for me in Q1 2019, what didn’t go so well, and what I’m focused on for Q2. As evidenced by the title, this quote attributed to the late Nipsey Hussle has affected me deeply, and I'm determined to do my part. Rest in Power Nipsey. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher Thank you to our amazing sponsor: Check out Grammarly so you too can type with confidence. Go to Grammarly.com/sidehustle to get 20% off your Grammarly premium account today. Links mentioned in this episode Podcast Moguls (NEXT MASTERCLASS is APRIL 18—DON’T MISS IT!! REGISTER HERE) Goal Getter Action Plan Some of my Podcast Moguls students: Trill MBA Show Game of Grow The Glow Up Podcast by Lene Hypolite Stacks and the City She’s Got Drive Sisters in Loss Coin Gamma The Research Her My 2019 Speaking Engagements Caribbean Startup Summit (May 24-25, Barbados) Summit 21 C

On today’s episode, I’m jumping into the guest chair along with my husband Muoyo Okome and we are talking about The Okome Family Hustle! Hear how we both went from being side hustlers to full-time entrepreneurs (him as an app developer and me as a full-time podcaster). Plus, hear how we met, about our experiences getting our MBA (him at Wharton and me at Michigan) and working in corporate, how we juggled love and life, and how we supported each other through the ups and downs on the path to entrepreneurship. Then find out what we talk about the most and what we at preparing for next! If you want to hear more from Muoyo, subscribe to the Game of Grow Podcast (“the most dangerous business podcast in the world”). Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher Thank you to our amazing sponsors:Get two months of unlimited access to Skillshare for FREE. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/sidehustlepro Check out Grammarly so you too can type with confidence. Go to Grammarly.com/sidehustle to get 20% off your Gramma

Today in the guest chair we have Kendra Barnes. At the time of this recording, Kendra was an Economist by day and Real Estate Investor by night. Kendra is now a full-time Real Estate Investor and Founder of The Key Resource. Her real estate investments afforded her the ability to retire from the 9-5 life at the age of 32! She created The Key Resource to inspire, empower and educate people about the power of home ownership and Real Estate investment. She currently owns and manages 4 properties (8 rental units total). Her key message to anyone looking to buy a home or a rental property is: “You don’t have hit the lottery or be left an inheritance to buy property. You can start with what you have right now. You are worthy of wealth.” On today’s episode, we get into: What inspired her to get into real estate The mistakes she and her husband made when purchasing their first property The risky move they took to make their down payment The “house hacking” technique that allows you to save a huge amount on your down

Today in the guest chair we have Denise Woodard, the Founder of Partake Foods. Partake Foods provides meals and snacks that are delicious, safe and nutritious for conscious eaters. They are free of gluten, the top 8 allergens, and artificial ingredients. Made with real foods like sprouted grains, fruits, and vegetables, Partake products give peace-of-mind to those with dietary restrictions and simple enjoyment to those without. In June 2017, Partake debuted three flavors of mini cookies to independent, natural food stores in the Northeast. Distribution has now grown to include Whole Foods, Wegmans, and over 150 other retailers, as well as Amazon and the Partake Foods website. Partake Foods has even been featured by People, Reader’s Digest, and Babble. Denise was a member of the 2017 Cohort of Project Entrepreneur and Fall 2018 class of the Chobani Incubator, as well as the winner of the 2018 SheKnows Media BlogHer pitch competition and the 2017 Google “Black Founders” program. Prior to launching Partake Foods

Today we have another Side Hustle Spotlight episode and in the guest chair, we have Danielle Mull, a soon to be graduate of Emory University School of Law and the Founder of Marked By Mull. Marked by Mull provides beautiful, high-quality jewelry that is as versatile as the women who wear it. Danielle founded Marked by Mull in June 2018 (yes, while in law school!), to give the everyday woman access to jewelry at affordable prices. To her, Marked By Mull is for women who are doing the inner work and still showing up with confidence and style. In today’s edition of Side Hustle Diaries, we will find out: How the heck Danielle is juggling law school with starting a business How she manages marketing, shipping, and customer service while being a student and a small business owner And how she plans to juggle her side hustle once she graduates law school Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher Thank you to our amazing sponsor: Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the

Today in the guest chair we have Khadijah "Kay" Polly, the owner and POPrietor of Kay’s Kettle Corn, a gourmet popcorn company based out of Houston, TX. In 2012, Khadijah started Kay’s Kettle Corn while working as a full-time corporate recruiter. She set the plan in motion to leave her job and take Kay’s Kettle corn to the next level. In October of 2014 she quit her job and it’s been POPPIN ever since. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Try FreshBooks FREE for 30 days. Go to FreshBooks.com/sidehustlepro and enter SIDE HUSTLE PRO in the how did you hear about us section to get started. Skillshare is offering Side Hustle Pro listeners a limited time New Years offer of 2 months of Skillshare FREE. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/sidehustlepro Links mentioned on this episode Kay’s Kettle Corn Rich Dad Poor Dad Small Business Administrations (search in your city) Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Announceme

Today in the guest chair we have Crystal Etienne, the CEO & Founder of PantyProp.After years of testing hundreds of prototypes, tweaking designs and being her own guinea pig, Crystal has perfected the exact equation of design, fit and most importantly, security behind each PantyProp underwear and swimsuit. Today, we’ll get into how she came up with the concept, how she produces PantyProp, and the lessons she’s learned as an entrepreneur thus far. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Try FreshBooks FREE for 30 days. Go to FreshBooks.com/sidehustlepro and enter SIDE HUSTLE PRO in the how did you hear about us section to get started. Skillshare is offering Side Hustle Pro listeners a limited time New Years offer of 2 months of Skillshare FREE. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/sidehustlepro Links mentioned on this episode PantyProp Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss Announcements If you’re looking for a c

Today in the guest chair we have a new edition of Side Hustle Pro—Side Hustle Spotlights! We are talking to a certified side hustler who is still a side hustler and we are going to find out how and why she got started, how she’s making it work, and squeeze all types of advice out of her. Her name is Timika Downes, she is a Nurse, who is pursuing financial independence by saving over 50% of her income with a family in tow, and she started a 6 figure side hustle when she opened her Lice Treatment Clinic in Boston.  She treats all races, all textures of hair, in this clinic. She also fun fact, has a blog and Podcast about the FIRE movement (which we will talk about in this episode) and she is one of my Podcast Moguls students. So excited to have you Timika in the guest chair. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: Gusto. Gusto offers modern, easy payroll, benefits, and HR to small businesses across the country. Sign up and give it a try at Gusto.com/shp. Zola. To start

Today in the guest chair we have Adesola Olutola, better known as Addie, the Founder of D’IYANU, a ready-to-wear, African print clothing brand that is taking fashion by storm. Fun fact: If you have seen any of my recent appearances, you have probably seen me in an outfit from D’IYANU. Whether it’s the skirts or dresses, I love the stretch of the fabric and the vibrancy of the prints. On today’s episode, we will hear how Addie got started, how she differentiates her brand in a sea of competitors online, and how she is scaling her company. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by: ZipRecruiter. Side Hustle Pro listeners can try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE at ZipRecruiter.com/hustle. Skillshare. Get 2 months of Skillshare FREE. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/sidehustlepro Links mentioned on this episode D’IYANU Master the Gram The E-Myth Revisited book Courtney Adeleye, The Mane Choice Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/

Today in the guest chair we have Rochelle Graham-Campbell. Coined a “beauty pioneer” by Essence Magazine, Rochelle is the CEO & Co- Founder of Alikay Naturals. From struggling college student to YouTube sensation with over 16 million views, Rochelle is a Millennial Beauty Boss who made “getting to the root of you” her mission when she took an $100 initial investment that she earned waiting tables to convert her kitchen into her first laboratory. Composed of the richest natural & organic ingredients, Alikay Naturals is one of the fastest growing beauty brands. The award-winning products are currently available at select Target, Rite Aid, Walmart, JC Penney and CVS stores. On today’s episode we get into: Her early entrepreneurial endeavors How waiting tables at Olive Garden and throwing newspapers funded the early stages of her business How she grew Alikay Naturals into one of the fastest growing beauty brands   Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by:  HoneyBo

Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Certified Diabetes Educators and co-founders of Food Heaven Made Easy (@foodheavenshow), a one-stop shop for delicious and nutritious living with over 145,000 followers from around the globe. What started as a healthy cooking web series has expanded into a full-fledged business. On today’s episode, hear how they create a living from their passion for nutrition. Find out how they structure their nutrition career to support their burgeoning business, all while building the brand on opposite coasts. Plus, how they continue to make healthy living principles accessible and culturally relevant. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher This episode is brought to you by:  Try FreshBooks FREE for 30 days. Go to FreshBooks.com/sidehustlepro and enter SIDE HUSTLE PRO in the how did you hear about us section to get started. Skillshare is offering Side Hustle Pro listeners a limited time New Years offer of 2 months of Skillshare FREE. To sign up,