Member Profiles
Meet the superwomen changing the face of entrepreneurship and elevating their financial futures.
Meet the superwomen changing the face of entrepreneurship and elevating their financial futures.
Member Profiles
Felicia
Daycare Center Owner
Felicia is a lifelong New Yorker whose love for teaching comes from her mother, an educator herself. Felicia’s business started in a two-bedroom apartment and has transformed into a 5,000 square foot three-classroom daycare. Inspired by her first son, Felicia’s daycare business has grown into a multigenerational legacy. Felicia is the proud mother of four children, including a son who teaches at her business, and a grandmother to a granddaughter who is one of her current students.
“I’ve connected with a lot of amazing entrepreneurs who I can call on for help and support. The entrepreneurs in my group make me want to do better as a businesswoman and have supported me to keep going and get a higher education. They saw the potential in me to go further.”
Khadijah
Hair Salon Owner
Khadijah runs a salon business that puts her neighborhood and community first. To her, entrepreneurship has always been about more than her passion for hair—it’s been a way to express her creativity, channel her inner work ethic, and beautify her community. Looking ahead, Khadijah dreams of taking her membership-based salon model global, creating a technology platform to better serve the needs of on-the-go stylists and clients. Ultimately, she hopes to step out from working behind the chair and shift her focus to branding, education, and community leadership.
“The networking has helped connect the dots by introducing me to other business owners in the community who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. We are our own family. Being part of a group of ladies who have my back isn’t always easy to find in the small business world, but we have a camaraderie I’ve been looking for.”
Traneka
Candle Maker & Shop Owner
Several years back, Traneka received a candle-making gift set from a friend, sparking a love for the craft that eventually led her to starting her own business. Her favorite part about entrepreneurship is setting her own hours and providing a high level of customer service. Traneka’s fellow Grameen America members have recognized her strong ability to support new members, communicate effectively, and keep members focused on growing their business.
“I have more confidence in myself because of the other entrepreneurs in my group. They reassure me that I’m not alone.”
Ava
Clothing & Accessories Maker
Ava has had a talent for crafting since she was young. She decided to turn that hobby into a business, making affordable Afro-centric products. All of her accessories and clothing are handmade, created using one-of-a-kind designs made from mixed mediums. As a people person, Ava enjoys the face-to-face experience of selling directly to customers.
“Grameen America has given me a sisterhood. I learn a lot from the ladies in my Center, from sharing stories to exchanging business advice.”
Barbara
Tea Lounge Owner
Since she was young, Barbara has always been a serial entrepreneur. Her business, Enchanted Tea Lounge, offers an authentic British afternoon tea service. It’s popular in the community for special occasions and celebrations, including anniversaries, birthdays, and baby showers. Over the years, Barbara has paid for coaching, courses, and educational materials to become a better business owner. Her biggest advice for other entrepreneurs is to invest in yourself.
“Grameen America is giving women a hand up, especially women who may not be able to get funding in other ways. For me, it’s not just about the money; it’s about the community and the support.”
Mitzie
Hair Salon Owner
Mitzie has been in the hair industry for over 16 years and owns Mitzie’s Hair Boutique, a popular salon in Harlem. When banks denied her a startup loan, Mitzie turned to Grameen America. With her first loan, she transformed a former butcher shop into a full-service salon, investing in chairs, equipment, and products. Today, Mitzie is working toward launching her own haircare line and extension business—with support from future Grameen America loans.
“The women at Grameen America encourage me to be a better entrepreneur. We talk about networking, setting goals and we help each other build our businesses.”
Jay Marie
Creative Studio Owner
Jay Marie is an entrepreneur by trade and a creative at heart. Growing up, she always knew herself to be the “girl with a camera” and has been passionate about the visual arts and graphic design ever since her childhood. Coming of age in the midst of the content creation boom, Jay Marie found an opportunity to market her skills to brands and individuals looking to establish their creative identities in the digital world. However, she would not realize how great the demand for such expertise truly was until she was in need of them herself.
“I was really drawn to the community of women like me who were trying to propel their businesses forward. Beyond the loan capital, I was attracted to the weekly meetings where I could hear from the other entrepreneurs in the program. I feel like there is always something to learn when we bring together business owners from very different backgrounds and industries.”
Shanté
Jewelry Business Owner
Shanté is a loving mother of three who channels her passion for interpersonal connection and design into her Newark-based jewelry business. Since she was young, jewelry-making has always been an important creative outlet for Shanté. From initial sketches to finishing touches, Shanté found it rewarding to, at the end of her creative process, have a unique piece that represented all her hard work. With the onset of COVID-19 and its accompanying lockdowns, Shanté realized she had an opportunity to turn her longtime hobby into a full-fledged business from the safety and convenience of her home.
“I’ve always been very good with my hands. When I’m able to see the things that I create, it motivates me to keep going. It was also a hobby. It was something I enjoyed doing. So when the pandemic hit, I decided to take it seriously.”
Sheila
Mobile Boutique Owner
Sheila started selling jewelry and accessories from a table as a vendor in Harlem. In 2013, during her first winter, Sheila was able to stay warm inside once of the storefront on the block. But when that store was sold and Sheila was no longer able to be inside, she decided that she couldn’t run the stall in the winter time.
“I was really drawn to the community of women like me who were trying to propel their businesses forward. Beyond the loan capital, I was attracted to the weekly meetings where I could hear from the other entrepreneurs in the program. I feel like there is always something to learn when we bring together business owners from very different backgrounds and industries.”
