Entrepreneurs Herald's Top 20 Entrepreneurs of 2021
When it's entrepreneurship, the pressure of generating good ideas is an uphill climb. We have often come across various entrepreneurs who have fueled up the business world with bold innovations and successful ideas. However, getting to the grips of the entrepreneurial world has never been a cakewalk. It has taken intense hard work, genius approaches and a relentless mindset. With countless hours of research, problem-solving and insightful failures, there are some "everyday innovators" who have been disrupting the entrepreneurial world with their exceptional ideas. This list is penned down by Entrepreneurs Herald while keeping all those top innovators in mind who are creating a difference every day. Check them out.
XiXi Yang
XiXi Yang is an award-winning entertainment journalist, co-founder & CEO of XYZ Media - a leading digital media company that aims to empower through amplifying diverse stories. Named Yahoo! Finance’s Top Entrepreneur and a “millennial media trailblazer” by Forbes, XiXi Yang has over 28 million+ views digitally across her show "Pop News Edition" and her women entrepreneurship blog XiXiYang.com.
XiXi Yang gained national recognition as the first American female journalist to anchor “Live From the Red Carpet” solo for the Associated Press, bringing millions of viewers live coverage from the Oscars and Grammys. As a media entrepreneur and speaker, XiXi has served as a Global Ambassador for Fortune 500 brands like Verizon, Macy’s, Condé Nast, and more. XiXi has been invited as an honorary speaker at various universities and schools, including Yale.
Tera Carissa Hodges
A faith influenced empowerment speaker, media professional, life coach and entrepreneur, Tera has traveled the globe extensively for faith-based outreach, charitable giving and empowerment speaking, as well as appeared in over 100 media markets and outlets to include: Yahoo Finance, TBN, Essence Magazine and more.
A women’s empowerment coach, to date she has coached over 10,000 women in over 25 countries, headlined conferences as the featured faith-based empowerment speaker in international markets such as Johannesburg, London, Paris, Barbados, Canada, Bahamas, and more with sponsorships from brands such as Mercedes Benz.
She has built a 7 figure coaching business helping people, primarily women, including celebrities, politicians, and other faith based speakers transform their lives with faith based principles. A degreed and licensed professional in her craft, she strongly believes in the importance of education, and is currently completing additional certifications and licensing this year to help her further impact the lives of millions across the globe.
Dr. Cheryl Wood
Dr. Cheryl Wood is an International Empowerment Speaker, TEDx Speaker, 14x Best-Selling Author, and Master Speaker Development Coach. She specializes in equipping women to unleash the power of their voice, transform lives with their story, and monetize their subject matter expertise. Dr. Wood has trained countless women leaders across the United States and abroad including South Africa, India, France, United Kingdom, Canada and the Bahamas. She empowers women to get out of their comfort zone, take risks, pursue their dreams, and become the best version of themselves.
Dr. Wood has been featured on ABC, Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Sheen, Fox 5 News and Fox 45 News. She has delivered riveting keynotes for NASA, Verizon, Capital One, The United Nations and United States Department of Defense, to name a few. Dr. Wood is committed to empowering women globally to make their fingerprint count and create legacy starting today!
Kimberly Livingstone
By creating jewelry & apparel for women of all ages, she inspires and serves her #goldheartarmy community with simple, timeless reminders that life is beautiful. She started her journey of Sand & Stone 9 years ago at her kitchen table with a toddler and a baby on the way.
She is living her passion as a creative and change maker. It was an inspiration to watch her at the Oscar Gifting Suite in LA in 2017. Since then she has been featured numerous times in GQ, Vanity Fair and LA Fashion magazine.
Through custom pieces, quotes, and inspirational posts, her designs are modern & classic, creating pieces so that women can find daily inspiration, see their kids names, or look back on a memory when they look at their beautifully crafted custom piece.
On a mission to make sure no kid is hungry, she has donated over $40k to her community. Every time you purchase Sand & Stone Jewelry, a small amount is kept separate to donate to food programs.
A wife, a mother, an entrepreneur, she hopes to inspire women in all walks of life reminding them that they can balance every person they want to be. That they can own a company, raise babies, and make a difference in people’s lives.
Arlene Treisman
Arlene Treisman is the founder of The Beauty Concierge International in Los Angeles 2010. Hailing from South Africa, Arlene was working in the Marketing, Branding, and PR capacity for Warner Brothers in Grey Phillips.
She was driven by her entrepreneurial spirit when she moved to the USA as a young woman. She established herself in the fashion industry as a trendsetter by founding Universal Levi Denim.
After taking the fashion world by storm, she met Dr. Jason who taught her about every aspect of ageless beauty enhancements.
Her extensive experience and eye for aesthetics help her in preparing tailor-made solutions for her clients according to their individual requirements. She has collaborated with countless surgeons, and beauty experts to create a vision and guide each person to the completion of their goals in all areas of beauty and helped them achieve their realistic beauty expectations.
Her passion reflects her true desire for bringing out the best in every person by integrating beauty and style. Her impressive clientele and successful journey are a true testament to her passion and dedication that she uses to help her customers achieve their own idea of beauty.
Amy Carnahan & Noelle Harvey
Amy Carnahan & Noelle Harvey are the design duo behind Sunday House Design. These Portland, Oregon natives believe in beautiful design for all. Their work focuses on creating approachable, elevated spaces that are light, fresh, and never too serious.
Sunday House was born during the early days of the pandemic, when the whole world quickly realized the importance of loving where they live!
With a light and bright design style that strongly reflects the modern vibes of the Northwest, their spaces are filled with muted tones and tons of texture.
Amy and Noelle's strength comes from their varied design backgrounds. Their portfolio ranges from small space refreshes to large-scale renovations and new builds. With a keen eye for untapped potential, they combine simplicity, form, and function to create beautifully designed spaces that work with your style, budget, and lifestyle. These two powerhouses are the ones to watch in Portland.
Christina DiArcangelo
An entrepreneur and CEO with more than two decades of experience in the medical cannabis CBD industry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and device companies, Christina’s dedication to revolutionizing patient care is unprecedented. Through her roles as CEO, Spectral Analytics Precision Tele-Monitoring, Founder and CEO of Affinity Bio Partners, Board President and CEO of Affinity Patient Advocacy, and CEO & Co-Founder of AI Health Outcomes and CEO, Christina DiArcangelo brand, Christina has been involved with revolutionary projects and global clinical studies that positively impact patients.
As a clinical research pioneer, contract negotiator, and woman business owner, she has utilized the tools at her disposal to champion patient care and provide best-in-class patient advocacy services. For Christina, patient care comes first.
As an active Bahai’ and mother to her one son, Christian, she believes that listening, learning, and growing are everyday values that can change the world by impacting our own hearts, homes, and communities.
Ash Da Kash
Ash Da Kash (Born Ashton King) is Chicago’s female hip hop wave right now. Ashton was born in a small south suburb of Chicago to a home that raised a family of 7. Raised by her Granny, Ash took on all the conflicts that an environment of poverty, gangs, drugs, and a disenfranchised community had to offer - she took these stories and worded them up into songs.
Early struggles with the Illinois court systems did all but derail this young inspiring hip hop artist. The many obstacles she faced as annotated in her music, makes her songs all the more personable.
While covid pressed the pause button on performing career - AK has expanded her talent portfolio to the fashion industry and is prepped to commission her first clothing line and accessories in late 2021.
Ash da Kash proficiencies lay in her ability to translate real-life experiences to an acoustic phenomenon where people listen and draw parallels from their own experiences. This success has led to a rise in notoriety in the midwest and title to one of the hottest up and growing independent artists to date.
Nury Gomez
Nury Gomez, MBA is the founder of Accounting Breeze and a part-time Accounting Professor at Pepperdine University Business School of Management. Through a combination of her dedication for entrepreneurs and successful businesses, her own eagerness to succeed, and educational background, she has a proven track record in providing businesses with strategic operational and financial management so they can provide top-notch quality service to their customers. With 20 years of career business experience, Nury helps shed clarity on the business objectives from both a business and financial perspective. She creates strategic alliances with organization leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives. Over the course of the years she was able to develop professionally by earning a Bachelor’s degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2001, an Accounting Certificate in 2006, and a Masters Degree from Pepperdine University, The George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management in 2012.
Nury and her husband Hector, have been married for 19+ years, and have two children Daniel age 17, and Esther age 12. When she is not at the business, she volunteers, on the Pepperdine Alumni Leadership Council, is a Board Member of National Latina Business Women Association, runs a fall session, Jr. Entrepreneur class (4th and 5th graders) at Richmond Street Elementary, and she also enjoys supporting her client’s events.
Alandria Lloyd
Alandria Lloyd is an award-winning, 15X best-selling author and serial entrepreneur. She is the founder and creator of The Writer’s Block LLC, which is a consulting company that helps aspiring authors gain the resources they need to complete their non-fiction books within 24-hours and become best-selling authors within 30 days. Published authors also come to her when they want to learn how to use their books to build lucrative brands and create multiple income streams. Alandria is also an award-winning philanthropist who is passionate about giving back and serving her community. She founded “Change Agent Outreach Ministries” to help and provide financial support for single mothers. Most recently, Alandria created a scholarship for teenage single mothers to assist them with college tuition and entrepreneur mentorship. She wears many hats and titles, but her favorite title is “mom.”
Rana Sabra
Rana Sabra, the founder of RS Business Advisory and Positive Creative Minds is a transformative business advisor, mother, and university professor dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs to start, grow, and scale their dreams.
Earned Doctorate in Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing from Grenoble Ecole de Management, a world renowned European business school.
Completed Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business offered jointly by Columbia Business School and MIT Sloan.
Instructs MBA students in both the United States and the Middle East.
Experience with hands-on marketing in myriad industries, including higher education, NGOs, microfinancing, health and beauty, franchising, advertising/media, food and beverage, and hospitality.
Created Ready, Set, Grow! to share years of global marketing success and proven strategies and empower women entrepreneurs
"I’m Rana, and I believe you can, should, and will have it all. That begins with developing confidence and backing it with a plan to move toward your dreams".
Vanita Lee-Tatum
Photo credit: Katja Bresch
Vanita Lee-Tatum is a visual artist, entrepreneurship educator and small business developer. For more than ten years, Vanita advanced banking initiatives for small businesses. Now she uses the skills she honed during her time as a VP of Banking, to help organizations create their own financial growth. Her efforts have already helped top financial institutions, multinational entrepreneurs, and various performing arts organizations achieve sustainable growth.
Her pedagogy optimizes business growth and teaches people better business development skills. Leveraging a unique combination of logical and creative insights she helps people develop rewarding partnerships. Through consulting, her clients develop the skills to build community, execute strategies, and grow their businesses. In addition to being a business development expert that empowers women of color and encourages entrepreneurs of all types, she is a wife and mother to two incredible daughters. Vanita is a positive force of nature! Clients and partners enjoy collaborating with her.
Queen Malka David
Queen Malka David is the founder of QUEENCAPELLA WELLNESS EMPIRE WORLDWIDE. The company was incorporated in 2018 as FCA, Ltd., a New York corporation, and registered the name QUEENCAPELLA Wellness Empire under the USA Government in 2016.
Queen graduate from Mandl Medical Jewish College, Manhattan New York, and also pursued her BSc. in Human Behavioral at Grand Cayan University. She also graduated from the American Academy Of Personal Training in New York where she studied all the Fitness & Wellness she's practising today and currently studying at the World Institute For Integrative Health & Nutrition in New York where she’s pursuing her World Coaching License as a World Health Coach. Queen devoted her life in providing Wellness for herself and for other people, and have vowed that with God, anyone that comes to her will be happy with their health. Queen was Also featured on Herald Newspaper, a popular Newspaper in New York where she was blessed by her Rabbi, Rabbi Bruce.
Queen, is said to be the first Black Girl to open a Wellness Center in New York City that specializes in all! Kids Fitness, Adults Fitness, Seniors Fitness and Athletes Body Builders. According to her, Health is Wealth and only those that are Healthy can make Wealth.
She continued, I wanted more for the people and the only way to go about it is to provide a lifestyle change that will shape them forever. A functional and innovative, experience of uncompromising quality that meets the health and fitness needs of the entire family. Today Queen becomes the number one talked about in her community as she began changing the lives of everyone in her Health Clubs.
During Pandemic, she used her Quarantine to customize a Waist And Back Support belt called “The CAPELLA WAIST SNATCH BELT” as she’s currently wrapping up her book on Health & Wellness.
Jackie Sharon Tamblyn
Jackie Sharon Tamblyn is the founder and creator of ALL IN ACADEMY ®️, which helps visionary online coaches and course creators to build up a profitable, sustainable and successful online business and thrive. The social psychologist, social scientist and business coach with a master’s degree has already helped many entrepreneurs to multiply their income by transforming first and foremost their beliefs around money and identity.
Within four months she has built a multiple 6-figure business and has been featured on publications such as "Business Insider" and "Stern". Moreover she has already reached hundreds of clients with her exceptional coachings and courses and is empowering especially women to make an impact while making an income. She has entered the business scene with the brilliant vision that creating a successful business primarily is a choice and begins with the willingness to go ALL IN no matter where you come from.
Dr. Leigh De Bruin, Owner of Dragon Taming Coaching
Leigh specializes in employee experience and the transformation of individuals and groups, believing that when individuals are the best version of themselves they augment organizational success. This led to the development of a unique and powerful success coaching program called Dragon Taming aimed at the expansion of the mind, heart and energy, empowering individuals to step into limitless potential. Passionate about sharing this unique experience with a broader global audience. Leigh is the final stages of developing an app for this epic transformational quest due to launch in August. She has a mastermind group with 9 highly converted seats at her legendary round table and is about to begin a second one focused on empowering women in leadership. She works privately with a select handful of highly successful individuals offering a very exclusive quest. The results of this magical experience include abundance in all areas of life, freedom, fulfillment, inner peace and joy.
Yeshi Choedon
Yeshi Choedon is the founder of Living Magnificence. Her heart’s desire is for people to become positive creators of their own life and give their unique gifts wholeheartedly. She has been guiding women into their deepest, wildest, and most loving potential for more than 20 years. With her profound experience in the fields of personal development, mindfulness, awakening, feminine embodiment and conscious business, Yeshi inspires deep transformation for the women who get to work with her. She empowers entrepreneurs to develop purposeful and prosperous businesses, and be the authentic leaders they feel called to be.
When Yeshi is not working with her international clients you’ll find her on long walks in nature, painting in her art studio, or playing music on her cello. Her home-made delicious raw chocolates are one of her secrets in maintaining energy and passion for her creative projects.
Her powerful programs will take your life and business to the next level.
Petra Rickman
Petra Rickman is a New York City based businesswoman who started her career as a restaurateur in 2016. She is the founder and owner of Vietnamese fusion restaurant Ginger and Lemongrass, taqueria Taco Azul and newly Central European street food inspired Langos Bar which planned to be open in May 2021.
Ginger and Lemongrass was originally created to be a small local take out spot but after featuring on the show Neighborhood Eats the restaurant got famous overnight and was immediately packed which gave Petra confidence to grow further. Ginger and Lemongrass opened up 2nd location in Manhattan a year later.
Petra is the chef and menu creator in all her restaurants and is known for her original twists and bold flavors.
Her plans in the near future are to stabilize the post-pandemic management situation and create her own hospitality group to extend her restaurant network and increase restaurants sales which are already generating 3 million dollars a year in revenue. Petra is also a big supporter of women empowerment and is open to become a mentor and help ambitious young entrepreneurs on their journey.
Jenna Bayuk
Jenna Bayuk is the Founder of Kinship Consulting. Created in 2019, Kinship is built around partnering with entrepreneurs in three areas: People, Operations, and Community. We chose these specific areas, because they are crucial to the foundation of every company. More often than not, there is a lack of leadership, ability, or opportunity in a fast-paced growth focused organization in one or all of these areas. Entrepreneurs need a high degree of trust, values alignment, quick execution with minimal time required from them in order to produce results.
Jenna capitalizes on her passion, keen eye for details, and drive to create genuine, authentic relationships, to recognize business opportunities, and shape programs that increase growth, build culture, and most importantly - make things happen!
Known for her charismatic approach to connecting with clients, Jenna’s successful track record is a result of her pragmatic and driven approach to achieving successful and fulfilling projects.
Lorraine Hardy
Lorraine Hardy is a No.1 selling author, “You are the Phoenix” is the story of trauma and recovery. It is her story. Lorraine has used her experiences and two decades of training to help women from difficult backgrounds reframe their mindset allowing them to live a life by design. During the pandemic her coaching business went from strength to strength given the online nature of her practice, her healing retreats have taken a knock, but nothing keeps Lorraine down, and she is happy to announce her retreats will be back up and running this summer.
Lorraine can often be seen and heard talking about child abuse, the effects, and how to concur it against the odds on multiple platforms.
Lorraine is now on a journey of creating her own TV channel with her partners all about business and next year she will be hosting an event for entrepreneurs that she hopes will change the world.
Keiontaye Tolbert
Keiontaye Tolbert is setting a new standard for entrepreneurs. Raised by a single mother of three she’s experienced many struggles that have turned into life lessons. While being grateful for these lessons, it has motivated her to become a serial entrepreneur at the young age of 25. Furthermore, Keiontaye is a mother of two amazing children and has made a promise to her own family to create generational wealth. Currently, owner of Homecare Entrepreneurship alongside other businesses her commitment is to motivate individuals and shift mindsets. She’s stated multiple times that she wants everyone to win. Here’s to why she is the Author of eBook Rags to Riches. Although her seminars are taking her state to state, she is proud to call Florida her home. She is widely known for her generosity and perseverance. While giving back to the community it’s no secret she is making a statement. Whatever you put into the universe is what you’ll get in return.
Realizing the challenges are inevitable and perseverance is the real king in building businesses, these entrepreneurs have creatively managed to embrace this journey. While it's common to make mistakes, flipping them over to create breakthroughs is what makes you an unstoppable entrepreneur! The entrepreneurs from the above list have clearly inspired various people through their stories, and now it's your chance to create that difference!