Posts in Entrepreneurship
Dawn Grady on Statement Jewelry and Solopreneurship

Five years ago, Dawn Grady left her career as a marketing and public relations professional to pursue her passion: jewelry design. The Cincinnati native had been making jewelry as a side hustle, but a pitch competition led to her snagging a storefront on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. She now spends her time crafting one-of-a-kind mixed-metal jewelry pieces, which she sells at Junebug Jewelry Designs.

We met Dawn at her store to discuss the inspiration for her work, being a ‘solopreneur,’ and the joy of making her customers feel special.

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EntrepreneurshipSuzanne Wilderfeatures, Features, Celebrate Black Stories
Alison Rampa: An Improv Life
Alison Rampa: An Improv Life

Alison Rampa knows something about setting a scene. Entering her mid-century modern home with twinkle lights and books lining the shelves in her family room, jazz music playing quietly in the background, and candles lit all over, it felt like a scene in a movie. With Alison’s infectious laugh and the smell of coffee in the air, we felt immediately at home as we sat down for a chat about her life and work as a middle school English teacher, leader of a women’s theater company, and founder of a body-positive summer camp for adult women. 

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Arts + Culture, Entrepreneurship, FeaturesKate DuceyFeatures
Ask UPLIFT: Health Care Resources Plus
Ask UPLIFT: Health Care Resources Plus

Health Care Resources Plus, Inc. (HCRP) is a community-based healthcare company whose mission is to promote the health and safety of individuals, families, and communities through the provision of equitable health and medical services by positively impacting organizational policies that affect health. Everyone deserves access to quality health care. To that end, HCRP makes available diverse healthcare services that improve the quality of life and prevent unhealthy conditions. These services include nursing and medical services, education, training, occupational/worker, health care programming, and management. 

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Entrepreneurship, Ask UpliftAsk UPLIFTCommunity Mix
In the Kitchen with Dora Cheng of Yee Mama
In the Kitchen with Dora Cheng of Yee Mama

Findlay Kitchen on Elm St. is alive with energy and smells. At its core, Findlay Kitchen is a co-working space for those whose business is really good food. In the early hours of the morning, sounds of timers beeping and phones answered with a “Yes, chef?” echo through the halls lined with kitchens – offices for food making. Assistants cart bread through the halls, and cookies bake in an oven nearby as I talked with Dora Cheng. 

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Entrepreneurship, Around TownOlivia TaylorCommunity Mix
Robin Walker: Building Futures in Technology
Robin Walker: Building Futures in Technology

Late last summer, we met up with entrepreneur, former technology manager, and nonprofit leader Robin Walker at her business space in Springdale. In two adjacent storefronts in a shopping plaza, Walker runs a suite of organizations: one a technology support company (Technology Tailor Made) and one a nonprofit that aims to build careers in technology for minority youth (Camp BYOC). That nonprofit started as a short summer program for a handful of teenagers – as “Build Your Own Computer Camp” – and has expanded to become a wider range of programs including coding, multimedia, and robotics. 

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Entrepreneurship, Education, FeaturesSuzanne WilderFeatures, Celebrate Black Stories
Why We’re Shopping Local This Holiday Season – and You Should Too!
Why We’re Shopping Local This Holiday Season – and You Should Too!

Small businesses embody everything we love about our city: their ability to create something out of nothing, operate with passion and attention to detail, foster community, and keep our dollars local is nothing short of amazing. At Women of Cincy, we know firsthand the work, care, and love that goes into these businesses because we’ve spent so many hours telling the stories of the faces behind the counter. So trust us when we say, SHOPPING LOCAL MATTERS. Read on to hear from the folks who make it work every day, and visit womenofcincy.org/uplift to view our directory of women-led products and services!

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November 2022, EntrepreneurshipWomen of Cincy StaffCommunity Mix
Women of Cincy Gift Guide: Winter 2022
Women of Cincy Gift Guide: Winter 2022

As another year comes to a close, we are reminded again of how important it is to support your local small businesses during the holiday season. Where you spend your dollar matters – using your dollar to uplift local businesses strengthens the community and our city. The good news is that we have a wealth of hidden small business treasures all around, ready to be found! The holidays are a time to give to our loved ones – let’s include our city and community on our list this year.

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November 2022, Gift Guide, Entrepreneurship, Arts + CultureOlivia TaylorCommunity Mix
Leslie Mattie Rich: Community Organizer Extraordinaire
Leslie Mattie Rich: Community Organizer Extraordinaire

On one of the few non-muggy days this summer, I walked through the bright and bustling streets of Westwood to my neighborhood arcade, Wondercade. It’s a well-worn path. My kids and I make the trip often to this cherished piece of our community. This time, though, I wouldn’t be trying to beat my high score on Pac-Man or Q*bert. I was there to talk with Leslie Mattie Rich, Wondercade owner, life-long Westwood resident, and incredible creator of community. As the sounds of joy spilled in from outside the party room where we sat, Leslie shared her passion, and gift, for making space and place for the people around her.

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Entrepreneurship, Features, Outreach + AdvocacyMichaela RawsthornFeatures
Elaine Townsend of Cafe Mochiko on Making Connections through Food
Elaine Townsend of Cafe Mochiko on Making Connections through Food

Growing up in Hong Kong, visiting bakeries every day for bread or pastries for breakfast was a big part of my life. It was something I dearly missed when I moved to the United States. I had a hard time finding creative pastries until roughly two years ago when my roommate brought home some ube croissants from Cafe Mochiko. Since then, I witnessed how the business and its reputation grew.

As a pastry lover and cafe explorer, I was over the moon when I found out Mochiko opened up its own brick-and-mortar cafe on Madison Road. I visited the sunlit cafe on a chilly fall morning. As I was sipping my hojicha milk tea, it felt like home. That was the moment I decided to chat with the cafe owners.

From her childhood stories to getting a physical space for Cafe Mochiko during COVID time, co-founder and chef Elaine shared with us her journey of finding herself and her connection with communities through cooking and food.

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May 2022, Entrepreneurship, Resident CapstonesJanet ChuCommunity Mix
Women of Cincy Gift Guide: Spring 2022
Women of Cincy Gift Guide: Spring 2022

Spring has sprung again in the tri-state, and with it, picnics, graduation parties, and family reunions. Whether you’re looking for something special for Mother’s Day, a gift for the hostess, sweet treats to bring to a get-together, or new spring swag, make sure you’re supporting your local businesses and fellow Cincinnatians. With the flowers in bloom, explore your city – and here’s hoping the warm weather stays!

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April 2022, Entrepreneurship, Gift GuideWomen of Cincy StaffCommunity Mix
On Second Thought: Tia Rochelle on Reaching the Next Level and Building Your Own Table
On Second Thought: Tia Rochelle on Reaching the Next Level and Building Your Own Table

When we first met with Tia Rochelle, it was the beginning of 2020, just before all of our worlds upended. On the very last day of 2021, I spoke with Tia and we were at the height of the pandemic, unsure if things would ever return to “normal.”

Tia will tell you herself that when Women of Cincy first interviewed her, she wasn’t exactly sure where her business, JahniSpot, was heading. She was adjusting to being an entrepreneur, balancing work and home, and ensuring her family was secure even though she was taking a risk.

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February 2022, Entrepreneurship, On Second ThoughtOlivia TaylorCommunity Mix, Celebrate Black Stories
Megan Grote: Supporting Women After Mastectomies, One Design at a Time
Megan Grote: Supporting Women After Mastectomies, One Design at a Time

Have you ever met someone with a really big heart who can’t help but spread compassion all around? I recently had the pleasure of interviewing one such woman, who even uses her business platform to keep a life-stream of compassion flowing. Megan Grote is the owner and founder of With Grace B. Bold (W.G.B.B.), a “clothing brand that empowers women to unveil their self-esteem and rebuild their identity after a diagnosis with breast cancer.”

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July 2021, Entrepreneurship, Outreach + AdvocacyAbby FarrCommunity Mix