Have you ever wondered why it seems as if men are the only big business owners? It comes from a lack of support, unfortunately, and a lack of representation for women within our society. Don’t get me wrong, all businesses are great, and much luck to all who own a business, but when it comes to female entrepreneurs, it’s either that they are rarely recognized for what they do, or are having a hard time climbing up the business ladder. Despite the odds, girls can too. In this double standard society we live in, I want everyone to remember the song “anything you can do, I can do better… I can do anything better than you!”, which is sung by a woman. Because we can do anything we set our minds too, anything boys can do, girls can too.
Meet: Kelcy Hercules.
Kelcy is a young business woman who hails from Brooklyn, New York. She is currently a Junior at Stony Brook University majoring in Psychology with a minor Business. Kelcy developed her own business, entitled ‘The Blossom Be You Project’. The Blossom Be You Project is a women empowerment program aimed to holistically support young women of color. The Blossom Be You Project, however, is not exclusive only to such aforementioned. It aims to shape these young women into leaders of tomorrow. The program is led by collegiate aged women during the summer through workshops, seminars, civic engagements, and much more.
Tell me more about you & Blossom Be You…
K: About a year ago when I created The Blossom Be You Project, I honestly started it because I genuinely love helping people and giving back to my community whether it be knowledge, resources, services etc. That is something I truly enjoy. In addition, I targeted young women in high school because I considered high school to be a tough chapter for me. Drama, friends/relationships, new beginnings, it was an extremely vulnerable point in my life where I just began to find myself. I knew I had a purpose but I wasn’t sure exactly what that purpose was. Thanks to the higher power that I believe in, my family, and very close friends I was able to find that internal force. My passion was empowering. I wanted to influence and inspire everyone around me to reach their full potential and allow everyone to know that the only person that determines their destiny and place in life is YOU! The most important factor in your life is yourself, being able to love yourself, find yourself, and accept yourself for who you are is extremely vital. Our life is a continuous project. We are always looking for ways develop and become a better version of ourselves which is the reason why I gave it the name ‘The Blossom Be You Project’. I am still finding my true self, and on the road to doing so, I want to push people to continue to do the same.
Do you have any advice for people who want to start their own business?
K: My advice for anyone starting their own business is to GO FOR IT! Always remember that comparison is a thief of joy. If one person is at a different point in their journey don’t compare yourself to them because we all move at a different pace. Stay focused and consistent, and keep your eye on what really matters. If you believe in a higher power (which I do) remember to talk to him! Lastly, don’t be afraid to revamp, recharge, or even restart.
Meet: Tierra Davis.
Tierra is another young business woman, who is from the Bronx, New York. She has been very innovative and filled with ideas since she was 10 years old. From setting up a candy stand in her middle school to now with the rise of her brand ‘The Goode Butter Shop’. She loves making her ideas come to life so she lets nothing hold her back from trying to make them a reality.
Tell me more about you & The Goode Butter Shop…
T: Goode Butter is an all natural hair and skin care line made with minimal ingredients. Products with minimal ingredients are the future of the beauty industry because consumers have become more knowledgeable about the ingredients they rub onto their skin which eventually seeps into their bloodstream. They provide trust before the customer decides to make the purchase because our ingredients are easy to understand and our packaging represents pure cleanliness. We provide quality products so that we ensure that our customers are not polluting their body with harmful toxins.
Being as that I am a 21-year-old college student, I have stood behind a pledge I’ve made with New York Cares to help the younger generation get into college and create an environment where a student’s hard work never goes unnoticed. I volunteer regularly with the nonprofit organization to help students in grade school with reading, learning, and contributing to the annual coat drive.
Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?
T: Yes, be very persistent. If not you can throw away a very good idea. And don’t be afraid to change it if you can’t write out an entire business plan. Without a well-developed plan it can fail.
Meet: Arnelle Bonsu.
Arnelle is a 22 year old young business woman from Elmont, New York. She has been interested in becoming an entrepreneur since the seventh grade with her first hair business venture “Stylez By Nellz”. I have always had a passion for hair. I am a self-taught hair stylist. Overtime I realized that I wanted to branch out so I started selling my own extensions.
Tell me more about you & Arnelle’s Hair Collection…
A: Blossoming, to me, is growth. When I first started my business, I used to get about one order a week. Now, I get about ten a day. It’s most definitely humbling, yes. But my customers keep me going. After years of trying to execute my vision, it finally came to fruition. My dreams of becoming an entrepreneur were only just beginning. Starting in the seventh grade, I couldn’t have imagined being where I am today. The dreams I had back of having my own business seemed too far from being a reality, but over time, the vision of what I wanted to bring forward grew stronger and stronger. After much trial and error, the dreams of a young girl have become the reality of a young woman, as I am now able to provide luxury hair needs with my hair company, Arnelle’s Hair Collection. Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?
A: My piece of advice is don’t ever stop. Keep going. Brand yourself. Network. Continue to think of ways to branch out. Collaborate with people. And although it may get tiring, overwhelming, and you may feel like giving up, never stop! Always keep going. And remember your initial goal.
“The most effective way to do it, is to do it” – Amelia Earhart