5 Game-Changing Lessons Every First-Time Black Woman Entrepreneur Should Know
When I launched Roots to Press, I wasn’t chasing a trend, I was chasing purpose. After nearly a decade in HR helping others build their careers, I found myself rebuilding my own after a layoff. What began as discipline and fasting during my personal health journey turned into a brand rooted in community, wellness, and faith. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been transformative.
Here are five lessons that shaped my first year as a Black woman founder, lessons that may support you, too, if you’re taking that brave first step.
1. Start With Purpose, Not Pressure
Your “why” keeps you steady when results don’t come fast.
Throughout my HR career, I saw how easy it was to confuse busyness with progress. Entrepreneurship taught me to slow down and build with intention. When I started Roots to Press, I didn’t have a business plan or fancy equipment , just a deep conviction to help people feel good from the inside out, the same way I learned to help myself. Purpose became my anchor during late nights and slow sales. When you lead with why, the how will follow. I am constantly reinventing my brand, networking, and finding new ways to let Roots to Press evolve and connect across different spaces.
2. Build Systems That Protect Your Peace
Burnout isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a warning light.
Between bottling juices, attending markets, trying to re-enter corporate America, and raising a puppy, I learned quickly that discipline creates freedom. Simple systems like batching production, setting boundaries around orders, and scheduling rest as a non-negotiable keep me grounded and sustainable. Protecting your peace isn’t selfish; it’s strategy. When your business is built on balance, everything flows better. And lean on your support system. My mom, sister, niece, and friends took turns showing up at markets and events, bringing love and energy with them. They made slow days meaningful and pushed me in ways they’ll never fully understand.
3. Community Over Competition
Your network can open doors you didn’t know existed.
I’ve met some incredible people on this journey: mentors, collaborators, and fellow founders who genuinely want to see me win. One connection with Salimah, founder of Urban GLŌ, began at my first farmers market and grew into collaborations that introduced Roots to Press to new audiences and partnerships. Partnership expands your reach. Comparison limits it. Supporting other Black women entrepreneurs doesn’t dim your light, it amplifies our collective brilliance.
4. Let Your Story Be Your Strategy
Authenticity is the strongest marketing plan there is.
I used to overthink social media until I realized that people connect with people, not perfection. Every post, caption, and conversation became an invitation into my journey and brand. The early mornings, the markets, the faith behind the work, it all mattered to my customers because it was real. Your transparency can turn followers into community and community into legacy. I loved it when customers asked, “What made you start your business?” Sharing my story not only connected us, it reminded me why I started.
5. Give Yourself Permission to Evolve
Every version of you adds value.
When I left corporate America, I feared I was “starting over.” But entrepreneurship and faith taught me that nothing is wasted, it is all repurposed. My HR background helps me build structure. My creativity fuels my brand vision. As Black women, we often feel pressure to get it right the first time. The truth is: growth is iterative. Give yourself the grace to pivot, pause, rebuild, and redefine success as many times as you need to. —--- Being a first-time entrepreneur is equal parts faith and fear but it’s also freedom. Freedom to create, to serve, and to lead on your own terms. To every Black woman stepping into her journey, your vision is valid, your voice matters, and you are already becoming the success story you once prayed for. Thank you to MyBrownBox and the Amplify Us community for creating space where our stories and strength can shine.
As Black women, we often feel pressure to get it right the first time. The truth is: growth is iterative. Give yourself the grace to pivot, pause, rebuild, and redefine success as many times as you need to.
Being a first-time entrepreneur is equal parts faith and fear but it’s also freedom. Freedom to create, to serve, and to lead on your own terms. To every Black woman stepping into her journey, your vision is valid, your voice matters, and you are already becoming the success story you once prayed for. Thank you to MyBrownBox and the Amplify Us community for creating space where our stories and strength can shine.
To every Black woman stepping into her journey, your vision is valid, your voice matters, and you are already becoming the success story you once prayed for.
Thank you to MyBrownBox and the Amplify Us community for creating space where our stories and strength can shine.
