Megan “Elle” Mason is the founder of The Elle Collective; a strategic creative boutique centered around PR and brand strategy. Her company includes a roster of individual talent and corporate clients that she has helped to open doors for! Working with companies like BET and TV One have helped to shape Megan’s expertise and sharpen her skills. But for Megan, it goes beyond just getting the job done. She cares for the health of her clients and friends, so she created Solace, a talent, wellness management service to help artists, athletes, and other creatives manage their wellbeing. Being in the entertainment industry is not easy and Megan does all this while being a mother and wife. She tells us how her parents emboldened her to be an entrepreneur and gave her a clear perspective on life and the family dynamic.

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Kika Wise is the very first Black female franchisor in the U.S., but that wasn’t something that she necessarily aspired to be. Kika Stretch Studios was created out of necessity. After the birth of her first child, Kika needed a job. So, she used her training as a professional dancer to create a space to assist people with stretching, a form of exercise too often overlooked. Her studio turned into two locations, and soon enough, Kika took a crash course in franchising. Now with 20 locations across America, Kika’s newest venture, Black Box Franchising, gives small business owners the tools they need to become franchisors and expand. Kika discusses success, roadblocks, lessons from other entrepreneurs, and how she went from needing a job to creating an empire.

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Akim Vann, founder and owner of Bakery on Bergen, believes that “math is in everything,” and she is correct! Her bakery offers more than just pastries and sweets. It also doubles as a classroom where she tutors children and instructs baking classes. From acting on Sesame Street and having a hit record with her dad as a child, to owning this creative bakery, and becoming a licensed yogi, Akim says that teaching is her superpower. She is a mathematician who is passionate about education, culture, and being a mom. Her bakery offers a menu that includes recipes inspired by her own mother and their Chinese heritage. This mompreneur details lessons learned about business, navigating life changes, and the challenges she faced after the passing of her late husband. Learning tastes better freshly baked at Bakery on Bergen!

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