Entrepreneur Spotlight: Miss Jaz
Follow Jaz at @justmissjaz on Instagram, Threads and Tiktok.
allow me to reintroduce myself…
Jaz talks all things purpose, pivoting, and productivity. She opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship & being built for this since her youth.
JillianWrites: Hello, Queen! Tell us who you are & exactly what is your main hustle and/or side hustle?
Miss Jaz: Hello beautiful! So I have 2 different businesses. One is called Working Woman Apparel which is an athleisure clothing line for women who work, own a business and/or are making strides to their own goals. My second business is Braids with a Twist, which is a natural hairstyling business.
But, I am going through a transitional period at the moment. I’m closing down my hair business to focus on a new business venture that I’m more passionate about. This new business will be centered around Black women and telling our stories in a way that both empowers us and best reflects Who We Are.
I’ve had several businesses and they all have the same mission: to empower and support women. Specifically, Black women, because of what we go through just to exist and how we still show up in spite of having every reason not to.
My handle is @justmissjaz on Instagram, Threads and Tiktok.
JillianWrites: Who and/or what inspired you to become an entrepreneur? And when did you know *for sure for sure* that you were built for it?
My mom inspired me to become an entrepreneur. She has been a business owner my entire life and most of hers. I’ve never seen my mom work for anyone and as a kid, I didn't fully grasp how much of a boss she was! But when I became an adult and realized what it truly meant to be an entrepreneur, I had a whole new respect for her. Being a business owner with children? Good lord! She is what the kids call “THAT GIRL”!
I knew I was built for this life when I was in high school and college selling candy, braiding hair, doing eyebrows, etc. When I became an adult and realized I could make my own schedule and have that freedom and flexibility, it was a no-brainer for me.
“I knew I was built for this life.”
-Miss Jaz
JillianWrites: What is the hardest part of being a business owner/hardworking woman? The most rewarding?
The most difficult part of being a business owner is riding those waves of entrepreneurship without getting discouraged. Sometimes, business is going to be good and sometimes it's going to be bad, and those bad days make you want to reconsider all your life’s decisions, lol.
The most rewarding part would be seeing what happens when you persevere through those hard times and you can see your hard work pay off. Seeing people enjoy a product you’ve created or to love what you’ve done is so reassuring.
JillianWrites: Complete the following sentence: When I first started out working/being an entrepreneur, I wish someone would have told me…
I wish someone would have told me how hard it was going to be to keep going when you become a mom, and the business is slow, and when bills are past due, and when you feel like you have no support.
JillianWrites: What personal qualities, skills, or attributes make you a phenomenal businesswoman?
“I’m a leader, a visionary and a very independent person.”
-Jaz on what makes her a phenomenal businesswoman
I’m very fair-minded and I care about the vision and about the collective. I’m a leader, a visionary and a very independent person. I’m a great communicator, problem solver and I don't make decisions based on emotion. I know the vision that I have for myself and for my businesses, and though I fall short at times, I work diligently to keep that vision in mind when making any business decisions.
JillianWrites: Have you seen a return on investment? Be it financial, emotional, social, familial, etc. If so, how long did it take to see an ROI?
I can honestly say that I have seen some return on investment financially. It did take me about 5 years for the clothing business and about 1-2 years for the hair business. My goals for the future are to see way more return emotionally and socially. I think launching my next business will help with that a great deal.
JillianWrites: What or who keeps you going? (in the face of adversity, difficulty, doubters, the economy, etc.).
Of course my sun is my biggest cheerleader, along with my biggest critic lol (if you know, you know). Also, my fiancé is the biggest and loudest cheerleader I’ve ever had. I can’t even begin to describe how empowering it is.
“We are very purpose-driven. We stand on that.”
JillianWrites: What makes your business unique and stand out in the market?
I think the mission of each business is what sets us apart. We are very purpose-driven and we stand on that in any environment and I think staying true to that is something that is unique in this day and age.
JillianWrites: If you could have anything in 2025 related to your business goals, what would it be?
It would be to have my newest business venture launch successfully and for my current business to expand. Also, I want to learn to delegate and find a team of people who I can trust with the vision. ∎