Claima Stories with Bimma

In searching for the thing he could truly call his own, Julian aka JuWorkingOnProjects, found that art was his calling. While working as a brand ambassador for Jordan Brand’s store in Chicago, Ju noticed an opportunity to create custom pieces of apparel that ultimately led to impressing artists like Teyana Taylor with his work. In a lot of Ju’s paintings, he offers his perspective on the experience of Black folks in America. Some experiences are great and others not so good. Inspired by his own racist encounter while sipping a cup of coffee and admiring his own vehicle, Ju went on to create a series of paintings called the Karen’s that would end up on the cover of New York Mag. In our conversation, Ju shares how being an East Sider in Chicago shaped him into the highly sought after artist he is today.
Co-Founder of Claima and Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging creatives and entrepreneurs of color about how they were able to build their own tables by turning their hobbies, side hustles, and ideas into thriving small businesses.
From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers by stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Jeff Staple, James Whitner and more.
Follow Claima Stories and Bimma Williams on Instagram: @claimastories @bimmawilliams
And watch us on Youtube powered by Vista

If you ask today’s guests Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, golf has always been a great game. The two met as teammates on the Morehouse College golf team where they won a National Championship and then remained friends as their lives ran parallel in different career fields. But the game always remained in Olajuwon’s heart and as a lover of design he wanted combine the two. So, he created the infamous swingman logo and put it on a shirt initially for himself which turned into shipping 3,000 orders from his home. As they say, the rest is history. Earl saw the vision and knew he had to join the mission. Today, Olajuwon and Earl are the Founders of Eastside Golf a golf apparel brand for the culture that is rooted in authenticity. They’ve gone to work with some of your favorite brands, including golf enthusiast and GOAT Michael Jordan.
Co-Founder of Claima and Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging creatives and entrepreneurs of color about how they were able to build their own tables by turning their hobbies, side hustles, and ideas into thriving small businesses.
From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers by stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Dapper Dan, Jeff Staple, Karleen Roy and more.
Follow Claima Stories and Bimma Williams on Instagram: @claimastories and @bimmawilliams
And watch us Youtube powered by Vista. Vista is proud to be your go-to design and marketing partner for small business owners across the world. Use code CLAIMASTORIES at check-out on www.vistaprint.com to receive 20% off your next order of $75 or more plus free standard shipping.

Alejandro Rodriguez, founder and creative director of BTFL, who has lived a life that would make most fashion heads envious. Born and raised in LA, the son of an entrepreneur who worked his way from washer to owner. Alejandro grew up watching people running their own businesses, but he wasn’t necessarily interested in the family business.

Baseball and fashion always held his attention, until he quit the sport to study art at his mother’s encouragement. That encouragement to express himself through art developed in the clothes he wears, and while still in high school, he ended up collaborating with the certified diamond singer Usher, leading to a pretty successful sneaker customization business.

After graduating, and the interest in painted sneakers declining, Alejandro moved to New Jersey where he learned more about the business of fashion. After a short stint, he returned home for work and his design jobs would evolve into graphic design. Yep, if you remember Ed Hardy and Affliction, you can blame Alejandro for that. But all he wanted to do was his own thing.

So he decided to start a clothing brand called Beautiful Ful, inspired by a line from the Movie Great Gatsby. The very next year, he would open a brick and mortar location. His vision and creativity would later shift, leading Alejandro to discontinue the first iteration of the brand. He was in need of inspiration. After a reset and decision to be true to himself, Alejandro returned with BTFL, focused on simplicity and not following the hype.

About Claima Stories with Bimma:

Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging BIPOC creatives about how they were able to break into the notoriously guarded creative and sneaker industries. From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Jeff Staple, and James Whitner. Listen and Subscribe now.

Subscribe:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claimastories/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/claimastories

Paris Cole is the co-founder and creative director of Outlihers, an artist management company based in Los Angeles.

A DMV native whose bubbly personality, ambition, and hustle put her right in the center of DC’s nightlife scene and managing two of the leading artists in today’s R&B scene.

Watching her mother wear the premiere fashions of the 90s, Paris was never afraid to be to express herself. She grew up listening to the local GOGO music, Camron, Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige, which unknowingly set on her path. In high school, Paris was able to create her own curriculum that focused on the arts. Where she studied the history of different black artists and culture. But Paris partied just as hard as she studied running the streets and going to different Go-Gos on the weekend.

After deciding college wasn’t the best route for her, Paris eventually moved into the DC nightlife working the doors at clubs and meeting people, including DC legend DJ Alizay, known for breaking DC legend Wale. She became engulfed in the DC music scene, learning music history, and just making sure the city was having a good time. She would eventually find herself helping manage the careers of Ari Lennoz and Lucky Daye.

About Claima Stories with Bimma:

Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging BIPOC creatives about how they were able to break into the notoriously guarded creative and sneaker industries. From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Jeff Staple, and James Whitner. Listen and Subscribe now.

Subscribe:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claimastories/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/claimastories

On today's show, recorded live at Claima Stories: Feast Portland edition, I speak with Megan Sanchez, Chef and Co-Owner of Guero. Megan grew up admiring her grandmother, who was a hustler, moving to the States with 5 kids and working in restaurants. She never had a master plan, but she walked through every door opened for her. Eventually becoming a landlord. Now, this isn't about Megan's grandmother. But let's just say the apple's apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Megan moved to France after college to teach English but soon after gravitated towards food. Especially cheese. When she returned to the states, she'd work at Shelburne Farms in Vermont, where she'd become a cheesemonger.

But it was when she met her business partner Alec, that she would begin to go down a more entrepreneurial path. While selling food out of his apartment, Megan decided to turn his kitchen into a restaurant. They would go on to create a flourishing bicycle taco delivery service. With some naive confidence, Megan and Alec packed up their bags to sell tacos in Portland and eventually sold Tortas. business was booming, and they transitioned from a food truck to a restaurant space called Guero. When recalling how she ended up down this path, Megan shares a story about the impact of her Grandmother on her life today.

About Claima Stories with Bimma:

Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging BIPOC creatives about how they were able to break into the notoriously guarded creative and sneaker industries. From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Jeff Staple, and James Whitner. Listen and Subscribe now.

Subscribe:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claimastories/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/claimastories