Boss Stories

Boujee Boss Lady

Angela James

Angela James grew up one of seven children in a middle-class family. Her parents worked hard to provide for her and her siblings, and she credits those humble beginnings with producing a work ethic that has been instrumental in her success. However, Angela had a clear vision of wanting something different for her own family; she wanted to provide them with financial stability and be able to pass down generational wealth.

Boujee Boss Lady

Angela James

Angela James grew up one of seven children in a middle-class family. Her parents worked hard to provide for her and her siblings, and she credits those humble beginnings with producing a work ethic that has been instrumental in her success. However, Angela had a clear vision of wanting something different for her own family; she wanted to provide them with financial stability and be able to pass down generational wealth.

Learn more about Angela’s road From Beginner to Boss:

Angela moved to Atlanta more than a decade ago and started a rewarding road to entrepreneurship. The support of her husband, who worked from home and was able to take on more household and childcare responsibilities, gave her the opportunity to explore her passion in the beauty industry. She invested in quality training and took a leap of faith to bet on herself.

As permanent makeup began a resurgence in popularity, Angela was one of the first to open a studio in Atlanta: Expressions Brow Studio. Unlike many first-time entrepreneurs, she experienced success after only a few months and understood that it would quickly be a profitable business.

Since then, she has hired more people, expanded the business and relocated the studio to a complex where she’s surrounded by beauty professionals at the top of their game. When scaling the business became more complicated, she hired professionals whose expertise complemented her own, allowing her to focus on artistry and creating an exceptional experience for her clients. After years of sacrifice, Angela is now reaping the rewards of her hard work, enjoying the flexibility, freedom and financial success she deserves, and providing the lifestyle she envisioned for her own family.

A Chat with Angela:

Question: To what do you attribute your success?

"You must really love what you’re doing and never give up, even when it’s hard. If you’re approaching it as a side hustle and it’s not a passion, that’s not a recipe for success. I didn’t have a plan B, so it was never an option for me to fail."

Question: What lessons shaped the boss you’ve become?

"Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. You must be comfortable giving up 9-to-5 for a 24/7 job. You will have to make sacrifices while you’re building the business, but success will all circle back to you. As hard as you work, it will come back to you as rewards. You are creating long-term work/life balance, and you don’t have it until you give it to yourself."

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