5 Tips to Become a Successful Business Owner [Video]

Dr. Cameka Smith is a leader, a teacher, an ordained minister, and a certified BOSS. And she believes that it’s time for more Black women to step into their era of success, connect with each other, and start businesses of their own.

“I had always been an entrepreneur. Since high school, [I was] selling candy, doing hair and nails when I was in college, anything I could to make extra money. I was always very entrepreneurial,” Smith tells ELV8. “I was so good at bringing people together naturally, I saw myself as a successful woman and I wanted to build a community of women to support me so that we can learn together and build together.”

The Chicago native began her career in education and event planning and that’s where she thought she’d retire. Then, in 2009, like so many other professionals during the Great Recession, she was laid off. But instead of …