DBW

Daniella’s story begins not with a publishing house, but with a dream to be a writer. From as early as age four, she knew she wanted to be an author. That childhood dream eventually produced her first book, Mr. Wrong, a blend of personal narrative, fiction, and reflective storytelling. Yet the road to publication was anything but smooth. Like many authors of color, Daniella encountered systemic barriers in traditional publishing.

Each design starts with a spark of inspiration—whether it’s a scripture, a nature walk, or a conversation with a customer. Tonya prays over her workspace and believes that creative energy flows through spiritual alignment. “God is my creative partner,” she says. “Everything I make starts with intention and ends with purpose.”

She used her project management background to piece together the business infrastructure, combining strategy with divine alignment. Though fear still arises, she centers herself in prayer and continues to show up. “If I’m being honest,” she shares, “I still worry if folks will support. But I pray and keep working.”

Tanisha didn’t always know this would be her path. She worked in other industries before arriving at massage therapy. But once she found it, she realized it had been calling her all along. “I’ve always been a nurturer,” she reflects. “Once I saw how much power there was in intentional touch, I knew this was the work I needed to do.”

The brand name, Seduireirah—which translates to “seduce her”—is layered with meaning. For Breianne, seduction is not about performance or external validation. It’s about inner confidence. “It’s about presence,” she explains. “When a woman feels powerful, she exudes that energy. That’s the spirit behind everything I create.”

Desireé’s vision is steeped in her Caribbean heritage. Born into a family of creatives and educators, she grew up surrounded by vibrant colors, rich textures, and a deep reverence for tradition. “My upbringing taught me that beauty wasn’t optional—it was a form of respect,” she says. “How we show up in the world is a reflection of who we are.”

Renea Boles didn’t set out to start a business—she just wanted to share what she’d made. A few photos of handmade headwraps and soft fabric caps sewn with intention and style. But when a friend posted her work in a Facebook group, everything changed. “It took off from there,” Renea recalls. “That day, I made 12 sales. I was shocked.”

Launching her business came with the challenges many entrepreneurs face—especially women working to redefine themselves. For Sabrina, self-doubt and the fear of failure were the biggest barriers. But rather than stay stuck, she leaned into her faith, mentorship, and the clarity of her vision.

After nearly 30 years in tech sales helping others scale and succeed, DeNise decided it was time to invest in herself. “I realized how much money I was spending on high-end candles and fragrances,” she says. “Then it hit me—this is the business I need to build.” And she did just that.

Her clients come to her for more than visuals. They come for alignment—between who they are, what they offer, and how they show up. Whether through audits, coaching, design, or her growing suite of digital products at The Brand & Beyond, Toni provides comprehensive support for brand development at every level.

Like many designers, Chizoba Nancy Uchechukwu-Elekwa began with custom pieces—measuring, fitting, and tailoring outfits for individual clients. But after relocating from Nigeria to England, she noticed something that changed her business model. “A lot here depends on the weather,” she says. “Weddings are seasonal. Events happen mostly in the summer. I needed something that could work year-round.”

If Tamara has a personal mantra, it’s this: do it scared. She doesn’t wait for fear to disappear before taking action. Instead, she moves through it. “I’m afraid and walking right through it,” she says. “When I’m scared, it’s often a sign I’m heading in the right direction.”

Launching a business in a saturated market during personal turmoil is no small feat. Shalinthia's first challenge was financial. Selling her car gave her just enough capital to get started—but she knew she’d need more than money to succeed. She relied on six years of hands-on experience, communication skills, and a strong foundation in customer service. She began with one client at a time, offering more than tax preparation—she offered trust.

Steele’s life reflects a rhythm familiar to many Black women entrepreneurs: working multiple jobs, juggling family commitments, and creating with limited resources. When she’s not on set or behind the lens, she’s working overnight shifts in retail to sustain herself between projects. But instead of hiding that fact, she includes it in her narrative—because it’s real.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, but doing business nationwide, Shyann manages her enterprises with the precision of a corporate strategist and the heart of a creative. She is deeply involved in every layer of her businesses, from handcrafting skincare formulas to networking at local real estate events to coordinating community food drives.

“I wasn’t just facing a glass ceiling,” she recalls. “It was a box with thorns on the inside.” The same professionalism, directness, and leadership qualities that were celebrated in her white male counterparts were misread as aggression when coming from her—a Black woman. That dissonance sparked the birth of Woman of Wisdom Solutions LLC, where Jackson now helps women—especially women of color—build leadership skills, launch businesses, and reclaim their narrative.

Benedicta’s approach is holistic. She integrates faith, emotional wellness, and personal development into every interaction. A devout Christian, she believes in healing through both spiritual and practical means. Her sessions often include prayer, journaling, and reflection—alongside coaching exercises that challenge limiting beliefs and build emotional strength.

As a registered nurse, she loved helping others, but something felt off. The rigid structure of staff nursing didn’t align with her vision of impact. Meanwhile, she saw a glaring gap in the aesthetics space: there were hardly any practitioners who looked like her, and even fewer options for Black women seeking culturally competent care. “I couldn’t bring a seat to this table,” she recalls. “I had to build my own.”

After her TBI, Alysha had to relearn how to function physically, emotionally, and mentally. She began to understand that trauma lives in the body—not just in the mind. That understanding shaped her personal healing and later, her professional path. She pursued certifications in trauma-informed somatic practices and began developing a body of work that focused on the intersection of trauma, nervous system regulation, and feminine energy.

Named after her late father, Gerard Rene was born from a desire to keep his legacy alive while celebrating her Caribbean-American heritage and creativity. Each piece is a reflection of her life experiences, her sense of resilience, and her belief in beauty as a form of strength.