Episode #134: The Power of Integrating Your Culture Into Your Toy Dreams with Keewa Nurullah
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Becoming an entrepreneur looks different for each person who chooses this path. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to it! However, one thing that can help any entrepreneurial project is putting yourself, including your background and your history, into the story and finding a meaningful motivation for your ideas. That meaning may drive your mission in interesting and new directions, like it did for today’s podcast guest.
Keewa Nurullah, today’s podcast guest, is the founder of Kido Chicago, a brick-and-mortar kids’ store that also has an online shop. Keewa started the business because she wasn’t finding the things that a “cool Chicago mom” would want to buy, so she created them! It started as a store for kids clothing that Keewa designed herself, and then branched out into books and toys.
Keewa talks about how her family’s entrepreneurial background going back to Black Wall Street and her history as a Black performance artist shaped her vision. Learn about how she designed her store, the frustrations she has encountered with the photos on product packaging, and the number one piece of advice she received when starting her business.
EPISODE CLIFF NOTES
Learn how Keewa made the jump from performing artist to entrepreneur and found what she believes to be her true calling. [00:03:40]
Find out which celebrities Keewa rubbed shoulders with during her time as a performing artist. [00:05:22]
Learn how Keewa designed her store with Black and brown kids in the area in mind. [00:10:53]
Find out the hidden inspiration behind the name Kido. [00:12:19]
Learn about the important history of Black Wall Street and how it affected Keewa’s family history with entrepreneurship. [00:15:05]
Find out the effects integration had on Black businesses and communities that still affect them today. [00:18:39]
Learn the experiences that led Keewa to want to create a store that centers Black peoples’ experiences. [00:26:27]
Find out the frustrations Keewa has with the lack of diversity in photos on product packaging. [00:29:00]
Learn the best piece of advice Keewa received when creating her business. [00:32:44]
Find out how Keewa’s favorite toy as a kid inspired the direction for Kido. [00:34:40]