How She’s Supporting Nashville Small Business Owners

The pursuit of entrepreneurship began early for Danielle McGee, who started a dog-walking business in her Chicago neighborhood at 12. It was love at first business. These days, she mentors fledgling entrepreneurs and grows companies throughout Nashville as the CEO of Black Business Boom, offering everything from workshops and training programs to networking and mentorship. Through support and resources, she’s helping to build community in Nashville, one small business at a time. Meet Danielle McGee!

Give us a snapshot of your career path up until now.

I was fortunate to be raised by my mother, who worked tirelessly to provide for me as an only child on the south side of Chicago. Despite our modest lifestyle, I never lacked for anything and was surrounded by the love of close friends and cousins who were like sisters to me.

From a young age, I had a passion for business and began my entrepreneurial journey at the age of 12 with my late best friend, Antonia. Together, we started a dog-walking business in our neighborhood. After completing my undergraduate degree in marketing and management at Central State University in Ohio, I worked as a personal banker for several years before deciding to pursue my MBA.

During my MBA studies, I was inspired by childhood friends, Taliah and Antonia, who had launched their own successful businesses. This led me to start my own business, Spatique Spa Lounge, which offered group spa parties. While being a full-time entrepreneur was my ideal, I eventually returned to corporate America and worked as a senior manager for a Medicare health plan until 2020.

What inspired Black Business Boom?

The motivation behind creating Black Business Boom stemmed from personal experiences that taught me tough lessons in the first five years of my entrepreneurial journey. Witnessing other entrepreneurs undergo similar hardships and financial difficulties inspired me to found the company to provide support and prevent others from experiencing the heartache I endured.

My entrepreneurial pursuits led me to declare bankruptcy, and I wanted to create a platform to help Black-owned businesses thrive. Initially, Black Business Boom was conceptualized as a “Groupon for Black-owned businesses,” drawing inspiration from the success of Spatique’s traffic through Groupon. However, while onboarding businesses on the coupon platform, we identified gaps and pivoted toward being a Black Business Support System.

Can you tell us about the scope of your work, including Boomin University and Black Owned Nashville?

As the founder of Black Business Boom, Boomin University, and Black Owned Nashville, I serve as the visionary for all three brands, working towards the growth and success of Black-owned businesses. Our primary objective at Black Business Boom is to provide opportunities to Black-owned businesses by partnering with corporations and helping them meet their supplier diversity goals. As a non-profit, Boomin University offers free training, coaching, and mentorship to Black-owned small businesses.

Finally, under the Black Owned Nashville brand, we have established a directory of over 1,500 Black-owned businesses that we promote to increase spending within the community. My daily work involves connecting Black-owned businesses with corporate contracts, providing essential training and development, and promoting them to help facilitate growth and success.

You do a lot of mentoring. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges for fledgling entrepreneurs?

One of their most significant challenges is understanding the many foundational components of running and growing a successful business. Many of these entrepreneurs are solopreneurs and, as such, must be well-versed in a diverse range of business practices. It can be overwhelming to understand all the things that need to be done, how to do them, and how to prioritize them. This can lead to a lack of clarity and direction, making it difficult to achieve their goals. Helping [them] navigate these challenges and providing them with the knowledge and tools to build a strong foundation is crucial to their success.

If you could snap your fingers and accomplish one thing professionally, what would it be?

It would be to have a fully functioning and thriving team to enable us to help more people. As we scale and expand our operations, building a reliable team has been one of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner. I am committed to ensuring that each team member has the support they need to succeed not just within our companies but also in their individual pursuits. With a strong, cohesive team in place, we can effectively work toward our mission of supporting and empowering Black-owned businesses.

Who are some of your mentors and biggest influences?

My greatest mentor and influence is my grandmother. She was the president of a bank on the west side of Chicago and dedicated much of her career to supporting and providing capital to small business owners. Her commitment to empowering Black communities and fostering economic growth through entrepreneurship inspired me greatly. I aspire to follow in her footsteps and similarly impact Black-owned businesses. I continue to seek her advice and support, especially when it comes to helping Black-owned businesses access the capital they need to thrive.

If you have guests in town, where do you take them?

I typically take guests to Slim & Husky’s, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), and the Nearest Green Distillery. I love to show guests what I consider some of the Black business highlights in the area. My mother and stepfather love spending time on Broadway, so we usually spend time walking up and down Broadway and checking out the live music venues.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

When it comes to the best piece of advice I’ve received, it’s been to pursue my dreams and not worry about the financial aspect, as the money will eventually come. This advice has been particularly valuable to me as an entrepreneur, where taking risks and following my passion can sometimes mean uncertainty and financial instability. Focusing on my goals and staying dedicated to my vision instead of being consumed by monetary concerns has allowed me to remain resilient in the face of obstacles and, ultimately, achieve success in my endeavors.

Outside of faith, family, and friends, what three things can’t you live without?

Rest, travel, and peace of mind.

What’s the most memorable meal you had recently?

The last best meal I had was a steak and shrimp dish from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the North Shore in Honolulu last month.

What’s your bucket-list travel destination?

Bora Bora

What books are on your bedside table?

The Color of Money: Black Banks and The Racial Wealth Gap by Mehrsa Baradaran

Thanks for sharing your story, Danielle! And thanks to photographer Ashley Callahan-Payne for the images.

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Nashville women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them in our FACES archives!