Endia Evans
Endia Evans
Booked, Busy and Building: How Spelman Entrepreneurs are shaping their own success
Booked, Busy and Building: How Spelman Entrepreneurs are shaping their own success
The phrase, “standing on business”, takes on a new meaning for dedicated entrepreneurs at Spelman College. Between lectures, part-time jobs and leadership roles, Spelmanites are proving that their ambition extends beyond academics. From hairstyling to fashion tech, students are proving that being a scholar and a CEO can go hand in hand, harnessing unique passions to create brands that reflect authenticity, intention and purpose.
For many, the spirit of entrepreneurship encompasses not only a side hustle but also the development of platforms that serve, inspire and sustain their communities. Across campus, student-run businesses are blossoming, blending academic excellence with innovation. Three Spelmanites, Janiyah McLaughlin (C’28), Mariama Barry (C'28) and Haley Simons (C'26), are redefining what it means to be a student entrepreneur, proving that ambition and artistry can coexist.
For second-year health science major Janiyah McLaughlin, her brand, Jayy Loced It, which began as a summer hobby, has prospered into a thriving business centered on empowerment and self-expression.
“For me, it’s about more than styling, it’s about confidence. I want people to leave my chair feeling seen, valued, and beautiful in their natural state,” McLaughlin said.
Jayy Loced It began when McLaughlin started doing her own hair during her senior year of high school.
“All my friends had locs, and they were tired of paying people. I was like, well, I do my own hair all the time, so I’ll try it. It actually came out really good for my first time, and once I started, people just kept coming back,” McLaughlin said.
When she arrived at Spelman, her clientele expanded rapidly across the Atlanta University Center.
“A lot of my clients are from Morehouse and Clark. Spelman’s sisterhood and the AUC community helped my business grow because people recommended me to their friends,” McLaughlin said.
Through her work, McLaughlin hopes to bridge communities within the AUC. Balancing business, classes and her service as a Bonner Scholar has been one of McLaughlin’s biggest challenges. Her booking site now automates appointments and payments, saving her time and keeping her business organized.
McLaughlin defines her success not by numbers, but by growth.
“It’s never about the accomplishments, it’s about the journey. Seeing how much I’ve improved from my first style to now shows how far I’ve come. Growth is the biggest lesson my business has taught me,” McLaughlin said.
Mariama Barry, a second-year computer science major, took a different path to business ownership. After experimenting with graphic design and custom apparel in high school, she launched House of Sticky during her sophomore year. The brand fuses technology, design and HBCU pride to create AUC-inspired clothing and accessories.
“I realized there was a demand for the things I made. When people wanted to wear my designs, I knew this could be more than a hobby,” Barry said.
Barry’s business also bridges her academic background in tech and her creative drive.
“I’ve been able to code interactive elements into my website and even use the Innovation Lab for embroidery. It’s a beautiful mix of STEM and art,” Barry said.
Running a business as a full-time student, though, requires balance. Barry admits that time management is one of her biggest challenges, especially during peak seasons like Homecoming.
“There was a Friday when I had two quizzes and multiple pickup orders. It was hectic, but everything got done,” Barry said.
Through it all, she has learned that success means more than profit.
“For me, success is about impact. Seeing people on campus wearing my designs and feeling proud of their HBCU, that’s the most rewarding part,” Barry said.
For Haley Simons, a senior photography major and founder of Halz S.’ Enterprises LLC, entrepreneurship has become a means to find confidence and creative freedom.
“Growing up, I didn’t like being in front of the camera. Photography gave me a voice without having to be seen,” Simons said.
Her business began as a childhood passion and evolved into a professional venture after she showcased her work at a community expo in Baltimore. Five years later, Simons now manages photoshoots, directs creative projects, and serves as director of photography and videography for campus organizations, all while balancing her coursework.
“Time management has been my biggest challenge, but also my biggest teacher. My business is my baby, something I’ve grown and learned from,” Simons said.
She hopes to one day open her own photography studio, a creative hub where other photographers can collaborate and rent space
“My goal is to build a space where creativity feels free and accessible,” Simons said.
Different hustles, same energy. McLaughlin, Barry and Simons are making their mark and demonstrating what Spelman entrepreneurship looks like in real time. Their work proves that with creativity and courage, a simple idea can grow into something powerful.
“The AUC is full of self-motivated people who just get up and do it. That energy keeps me going,” Barry said.
These ventures are reflections of the creativity, confidence and leadership that define and thrive within AUC communities. These entrepreneurs are not just preparing for the future, they are creating it.
The phrase, “standing on business”, takes on a new meaning for dedicated entrepreneurs at Spelman College. Between lectures, part-time jobs and leadership roles, Spelmanites are proving that their ambition extends beyond academics. From hairstyling to fashion tech, students are proving that being a scholar and a CEO can go hand in hand, harnessing unique passions to create brands that reflect authenticity, intention and purpose.
For many, the spirit of entrepreneurship encompasses not only a side hustle but also the development of platforms that serve, inspire and sustain their communities. Across campus, student-run businesses are blossoming, blending academic excellence with innovation. Three Spelmanites, Janiyah McLaughlin (C’28), Mariama Barry (C'28) and Haley Simons (C'26), are redefining what it means to be a student entrepreneur, proving that ambition and artistry can coexist.
For second-year health science major Janiyah McLaughlin, her brand, Jayy Loced It, which began as a summer hobby, has prospered into a thriving business centered on empowerment and self-expression.
“For me, it’s about more than styling, it’s about confidence. I want people to leave my chair feeling seen, valued, and beautiful in their natural state,” McLaughlin said.
Jayy Loced It began when McLaughlin started doing her own hair during her senior year of high school.
“All my friends had locs, and they were tired of paying people. I was like, well, I do my own hair all the time, so I’ll try it. It actually came out really good for my first time, and once I started, people just kept coming back,” McLaughlin said.
When she arrived at Spelman, her clientele expanded rapidly across the Atlanta University Center.
“A lot of my clients are from Morehouse and Clark. Spelman’s sisterhood and the AUC community helped my business grow because people recommended me to their friends,” McLaughlin said.
Through her work, McLaughlin hopes to bridge communities within the AUC. Balancing business, classes and her service as a Bonner Scholar has been one of McLaughlin’s biggest challenges. Her booking site now automates appointments and payments, saving her time and keeping her business organized.
McLaughlin defines her success not by numbers, but by growth.
“It’s never about the accomplishments, it’s about the journey. Seeing how much I’ve improved from my first style to now shows how far I’ve come. Growth is the biggest lesson my business has taught me,” McLaughlin said.
Mariama Barry, a second-year computer science major, took a different path to business ownership. After experimenting with graphic design and custom apparel in high school, she launched House of Sticky during her sophomore year. The brand fuses technology, design and HBCU pride to create AUC-inspired clothing and accessories.
“I realized there was a demand for the things I made. When people wanted to wear my designs, I knew this could be more than a hobby,” Barry said.
Barry’s business also bridges her academic background in tech and her creative drive.
“I’ve been able to code interactive elements into my website and even use the Innovation Lab for embroidery. It’s a beautiful mix of STEM and art,” Barry said.
Running a business as a full-time student, though, requires balance. Barry admits that time management is one of her biggest challenges, especially during peak seasons like Homecoming.
“There was a Friday when I had two quizzes and multiple pickup orders. It was hectic, but everything got done,” Barry said.
Through it all, she has learned that success means more than profit.
“For me, success is about impact. Seeing people on campus wearing my designs and feeling proud of their HBCU, that’s the most rewarding part,” Barry said.
For Haley Simons, a senior photography major and founder of Halz S.’ Enterprises LLC, entrepreneurship has become a means to find confidence and creative freedom.
“Growing up, I didn’t like being in front of the camera. Photography gave me a voice without having to be seen,” Simons said.
Her business began as a childhood passion and evolved into a professional venture after she showcased her work at a community expo in Baltimore. Five years later, Simons now manages photoshoots, directs creative projects, and serves as director of photography and videography for campus organizations, all while balancing her coursework.
“Time management has been my biggest challenge, but also my biggest teacher. My business is my baby, something I’ve grown and learned from,” Simons said.
She hopes to one day open her own photography studio, a creative hub where other photographers can collaborate and rent space
“My goal is to build a space where creativity feels free and accessible,” Simons said.
Different hustles, same energy. McLaughlin, Barry and Simons are making their mark and demonstrating what Spelman entrepreneurship looks like in real time. Their work proves that with creativity and courage, a simple idea can grow into something powerful.
“The AUC is full of self-motivated people who just get up and do it. That energy keeps me going,” Barry said.
These ventures are reflections of the creativity, confidence and leadership that define and thrive within AUC communities. These entrepreneurs are not just preparing for the future, they are creating it.