Watching Jasmine Star in the front of a virtual classroom as she inspires other business owners, it's easy to imagine that every step of the photographer and business strategist's journey was just as confident as the woman on stage. But if you ask Jasmine, she's quick to share that her career path was filled with wrong steps that eventually led to the right steps.
Astor Place Hairstylists is a lot like other locally-owned, old-school barber shops in New York City, and yet not. The upright piano in the corner with "Barber Shop Idol" painted on the wall is one clue that things are a little different here these days.
Asked what inspired her to start her first business, The T-Shirt Lady's answer is a single word: "Freedom."
What happens when you claim to own a company you don't have? For Ellen Bennett, it sparked the creation of Hedley & Bennett, a million-dollar apron brand built on bold leaps, relentless hustle, and the belief that how you look and feel translates directly to the work you do.
Shota Nakajima is chef and owner of the restaurant Taku in Seattle. A James Beard Award semi-finalist for three years running, Nakajima also competed in the 18th season of Bravo's Top Chef, making it to the final three, and on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet and Beat Bobby Flay (where he beat Bobby Flay in a tempura challenge).