As a professional in the Healthcare/IT space in corporate management who holds a master’s degree in informatics, Jasmine Davis was advised by her doctor that the high stress of her commanding job was likely affecting her maternal fertility and that she may want to consider a career change if starting a family was in her future. Two weeks later, Jasmine made the decision to transition from the office to the kitchen to find her professional sweet spot. As a talented artist who also enjoyed baking, Ms. Davis decided to indulge her creative passions by developing Sweet Jazz Treats in her hometown ..read more

Photo credit: Maryellen Baker Photography It takes a lot to start a business, especially when it means leaving behind an established career in an entirely different field. Doubly so when your new venture has only ever been a hobby. But that shouldn’t stop anyone from trying, and it didn’t stop Daphne Subarz, the founder of Subarzsweets, LLC. After 26 years as an attorney, Subarz was inspired to open her own bakery by her daughter’s response to an elementary school project. Related Business Ideas Bakery Candy Store Cookies Cupcakes Dog Treats E-Commerce See the full library of business ideas ..read more

Decades of marketing experience combined with a solid business idea is a great start for any entrepreneur. But you’ve still got to get consumers to not only recognize your brand, but support it as well. Kim Turner, the owner of the fitness studio Fitness Snob said that’s been the unexpected challenge of launching an apparel line under the same name. “Our studio in Washington, D.C. has resonated deeply with our community. However, upon launching our sock line nationally under the same trademark, we realized that the name could be misinterpreted as being judgmental by those unfamiliar with our ..read more

Credit: Bloomers Intimates A commonly touted piece of advice for people starting their own business is not to mix family or friends with work. There’s always the exception that proves the rule, though. Such is the case with Shaula Yemini and Noa Arias, the mother-daughter pair that founded Bloomers Intimates in 2021. “It was a little difficult at the beginning because I had 300 employees and was the one telling people what to do. Over 30 years you accumulate a lot of experience, and I was sure I knew so much more than Noa in business, and she assumed that she knew much more than me in digital ..read more

“It’s easier to read a textbook than [it is] to know how to be creative,” Winston explained. “Creativity is a weapon that can be utilized when paired with traditional [analytical] thought processes. You’re in a [stronger] position than other people [without creativity] would be.” I arrived on time for my interview with the CEO of Danae 3D Industrial Printing, and within those few moments I was waiting to be let in, the young man who’d been parking his car joined me at the door and introduced himself: “Hello I’m Winston, chief executive, you must be Regi.” Mr. Frazer was warm and congenial, we ..read more

Many of us of a certain age, before pharmaceutical companies began to routinely mask harsh-tasting medicines with sugary flavorings, will recall our moms giving us sweetened lemon or some other ‘chaser’ to wash down harsh chemical-concocted medications in our youth. Washington DC-based Donna Marie Teas offers a selection of traditional natural Arabic-inspired teas and herbal brews. It was developed by a young man who encompasses the combination of inspiration and dedication typically associated with successful entrepreneurship. In the case of Adam Butler, his journey demonstrates qualities of ..read more

Even if you have a decades-long career behind you, including a stint as the CEO of a major advertising agency, there’s always time to take on a new challenge and more to learn. After nearly 30 years working in the advertising industry, Lynn Power decided to take on a new challenge. She’s the co-founder of MASAMI, a premium haircare brand that sells vegan, cruelty-free products. “I wasn’t having fun at my job anymore. I got into the business to use creativity as a business tool. I liked the combination of left and right brain thinking, but as you get more senior, your job becomes more about o ..read more

It sounds cool to say you’re an entrepreneur. There’s a mystique to the word, a mystery that suggests a daring, someone trying to spin gold from the air. That appeal can seduce the person saying it as easily as the person they’re talking to. Anyone can say they’re their own boss, but the harsh realities of running a business – making sales, dealing with clients, filing papers, and paying taxes – are deeply unsexy. That commitment is what weeds out the ‘wannabe’ from the ‘will be,’ and it comes from belief. Not just a belief in themselves, but a belief in what they’re doing, and why they’re doi ..read more

Sometimes, your career offers everything you want: steady hours, good benefits, and good pay. But good isn’t always good enough, especially in a challenging field like engineering. That was the case for Danielle Stepien, the founder of Igniter Engineering, a consulting firm that provides technical experience to the aerospace, defense, and tech industries. Stepien’s resume includes stints at big-name companies, including Boeing, SpaceX, Meta, and Google, but she said she was tired of having a cap on her salary, and more importantly, because she wanted to work at a company that “respected women ..read more

Are you ready to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality? There are a number of resources that are available to help, and one such resource is SCORE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting small businesses and startups. In this article, we’ll explore how SCORE’s resources can help you get your startup off the ground. What is SCORE? SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a nonprofit organization and resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Its mission is to provide mentoring and resources to people starting and growing small businesses. SCORE offers on ..read more