Meet Neka Smith

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Neka Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Neka, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

My generosity comes from my faith, my experiences, and the people who believed in me before I believed in myself. I’ve faced moments where I had nothing — losing my first investment property, facing homelessness, and rebuilding from scratch more times than I can count — and I remember the support, guidance, and encouragement that carried me through. Because of that, I know firsthand the power of giving someone the tools, resources, and confidence they need to rise.

Faith has always been at the center of my life. I believe God calls us to steward what we’ve been given and to share it with others. Generosity isn’t just an act — it’s a way to honor Him and live according to His preferred way of life. It’s also a responsibility: when you see injustice or barriers holding someone back, giving back becomes a mandate, not a choice. That’s why I pour everything I’ve learned, experienced, and built into the women we serve at Launch That Business, Sis. To me, generosity is about creating opportunities, restoring hope, and helping others step fully into the life and legacy God intended for them.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

When I finally reached the pinnacle of my first year — making over $400,000 — I was faced with a situation I never thought I would be in. Next thing I knew, I had to start over all over again — homeless, with not much to my name, but with faith that God would allow me to rise yet again. Today, I am thankful to be a testament to the women I serve: no matter what it looks like, with faith, vision, and perseverance, you can rebuild.

When I was 22, I started saving every dollar I could from my full-time job, Ubering, DoorDashing, and picking up every side hustle I could find to fuel my dreams. I didn’t have a large donor, mentor, or anyone financially backing me — I just believed that if I stayed faithful long enough, God would bring me the harvest I deserved. I knew I wanted to be a real estate investor, but the path wasn’t easy. When I went to the bank, they told me I needed $15,000 in assets to get started. Most people might have been discouraged, but I decided to work backwards. I set a goal, broke it into actionable steps, and poured everything I had into making it happen.

At the same time, I was working full-time analyzing corporations — diving deep into financials, meeting founders, and learning what truly makes a business thrive. God was already giving me insight to be successful in what I do today. That knowledge, paired with my faith and determination, allowed me to understand what works and what doesn’t — and most importantly, how to pass that insight on to the people who need it most.

It was during those seasons of struggle that I realized the insights I had gained had to reach those who need them most. So many women are working tirelessly to start over, break cycles, and build legacies, but they lack access to the resources, mentorship, and guidance that can make success possible. That realization gave birth to Launch That Business, Sis — a movement to empower women to overcome barriers and build sustainable businesses.

Through our programs, women gain access to licensed therapists, financial education, professional branding, and other resources they wouldn’t normally have. We also provide support for business formation, retail opportunities, and we’re even working on opening a kitchen. My goal is to help women step fully into the purpose God created them for — not with surface-level knowledge, but with real, hands-on experience. I’ve built companies from the ground up, prayed ideas into thriving businesses, and learned firsthand that even after losing everything, faith and vision allow you to rebuild stronger and it was all apart of God’s plan for my life.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Growing up in Alabama, you develop a unique sense of humility — you learn to lean on God, respect the work it takes to build, and trust that the bigger plan is always in motion. Faith has been the anchor of everything I’ve built. It’s what kept me going when I had nothing but a vision and a prayer. Coupled with a positive outlook, faith taught me to trust that God is always working a situation out, even when the path isn’t clear.

I’ve learned that success doesn’t come without hard work — you have to put in the effort, seek out the information you need, and never count yourself out. When I ran out of income to continue my first real estate flip — which eventually burned down and was paid off with the insurance check — it was faith, perseverance, and relentless effort that allowed me to keep going. This mindset continues to guide my decisions, my leadership, and the heart behind Launch That Business, Sis.

Faith, positivity, hard work, and the determination to seek knowledge are what carry me through every challenge

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We believe we need to pull together as a community to fight the alarming poverty statistics and create real opportunities for women who have been overlooked. That’s why we welcome partnerships and collaborations with anyone who has skills, expertise, or resources they can share with our founders. Whether you’re a mentor, business consultant, financial advisor, branding expert, or simply someone with knowledge to empower, we encourage you to reach out. By coming together, we can help these women overcome barriers, grow their businesses, and build legacies that not only transform their lives but strengthen our entire community. You can connect with us through our website at www.launchthatbusinesssis.org
or via email at [email protected]
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Contact Info:

• Website: https://launchthatbusinesssis.org/
• Instagram: launchthatbusinesssis
• Linkedin: Launch That Business, Sis