For many Black entrepreneurs, the true path to economic freedom and independence starts with the launch of a business – but entrepreneurship doesn’t have to stop at one venture. Just take it from serial entrepreneur Ryan Fletcher, a former A&R executive juggling multiple thriving business endeavors. Fletcher — a Brooklyn native and graduate of Purdue University — grew up surrounded by music, so naturally he believed his calling was to get involved in the music and entertainment industry. After working at places like Def Jam Recordings and Downtown Records, he started dabbling in his own side hustles that quickly turned into buzzing businesses like Yacht Club Company — a Black-owned yacht experience based in Tulum — and ECOGAVE — a biodegradable straw company. In addition to helming his own businesses, Fletcher is also one of three co-hosts of the Guys Next Door Podcast — a show that details the experiences of millennial Black men today. All of these ventures are a part of Fletcher’s...

Pilotly Founder and CEO James Norman aptly describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur.” From an early age, Norman’s involvement in various projects led him to chart a bold path in the technology space. Already adept at technology in his teens, the Michigan native and a friend founded MJH Sound, one of the first e-commerce sites for home and audio. Norman leveraged that creation to work with car audio and build cars in his hometown, at the heart of the auto industry. Gaining traction in his understanding of engineering and technology prompted a move to southern California, where he built cars for more high-profile clients in the film industry, such as for the “The Fast and the Furious” film franchise. Norman moved from business to business using his tremendous insight, talent, and pioneering work to solve relevant problems with unique solutions. His career arc reflected tremendous versatility; he demonstrated a unique ability to pivot from a chosen path and to be resilient when the...