The Heart of It All: What Love Looks Like in Business Ownership

It’s love month! So let’s talk about love, but not the chocolate and dinner reservations kind.

Let’s talk about what love looks like in business ownership.

Love Shows Up in How We Build

This season on BlkBld Live, I’ve had the honor of sitting with founders who are building with heart. And when I look at their stories, I see love everywhere:

      • Dede is creating community instead of just clients

      • Bryan is honoring the dignity of the men he served

      • Lauren is opening doors for Black business owners to learn what’s possible in tech

      • Yanna is holding the pen and rewriting her story

    That’s love in action.

    And love can look like you, watching these episodes, sharing them with other business owners, pouring into someone who needs to hear these stories so they can build, grow, and scale.

    Love Looks Like Supporting Small

    Here’s a thought for Love Month:

    Instead of buying flowers from a huge conglomerate, support a local flower shop. Instead of a generic gift, find something handmade on Etsy or from a small business owner in your city.

    When you buy from a small business, someone in the back is smiling, jumping, celebrating that you chose them.

    That’s lift as we climb in action. That’s pouring back into our communities. That’s keeping the dollar circulating within our ecosystem, women-owned, Black-owned, minority-owned, local businesses building something we actually need.

    Yes, we want all of our businesses to grow into conglomerates. But until we’re there, let’s support the small ones so that dollar keeps flowing where it matters.

    Meet the Brands Powering This Season

    You’ve probably noticed some product placement throughout BlkBld Live this season. That was intentional.

    Product placement is a real marketing strategy, you see it in movies all the time. (If you’ve seen Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Miller High Life is literally everywhere. Rewatch it with marketer eyes. It’s wild.)

    This season, I got to spotlight three Black-owned brands that are doing beautiful work:

    Ikokomi (Kemi Pottery)

    Kemi creates absolutely beautiful, handmade pottery, cups, plates, bowls, all of it. Every piece is crafted by hand, and somehow they’re all identical, which blows my mind because I went to her studio and tried to make something myself. It’s hard.

    My goal in life is to have all of her pieces in my home as I grow. They’re that stunning.

    🔗 @_ikokomi | kemischleicher.com

    Pretty Precise Step Team (Sisterhood Lemonade)

    This is a step team right here in Phoenix, and if you’ve ever done dance, you know, it’s expensive. The costumes, the travel, all of it.

    So they sell lemonade to help fundraise for the girls. And these girls are talented. They’ve performed at the Super Bowl. They’ve gone viral multiple times.

    And the lemonade? To die for. Not too sweet. Just right. And it supports a great cause.

    🔗 @_.prettyprecisestepteam | prettysteppin.org

    BLK & Bold Coffee

    I’m not just saying this because they’re supporting BlkBld Live, this coffee is so good. The one I’ve been drinking has notes of lemon, bell pepper, full body. It sounds crazy, but trust me. Divine.

    I remember seeing BLK & Bold years ago and thinking, “This is just like BlkBld, literally Black and Bold.” The fact that I get to work with them now feels like a dream.

    But here’s what I love most: 5% of all profits go back to youth initiatives.

    Their mission is to assist disadvantaged domestic youth in defying the odds and living their best lives. They’re a certified B Corp. You can find them at Walmart, Target, and other retailers.

    I hope one day I get to have them on this couch and hear how they built this.

    🔗 @blkandbold | blkandbold.com

    What’s Next?

    We’ve got a few more episodes coming your way this season. I can’t wait to hear what gems you’re taking and running with.

    And I’m already getting inquiries for Season 3.

    If you’re interested in being a guest or doing product placement next season, DM me or reach out. I want to love on y’all as much as you’ve been loving on me.

    Watch the full episode below:

    My Love Month Ask

    This Love Month, I really implore you: go support a Black-owned business. A small, local business. If you can.

    Let’s pour into the communities that have poured into us.

    Have a beautiful love month. I’ll catch you in the next episode.

    Let’s build. 🖤