This week in the guest chair we have Keewa Nurullah, artist, entrepreneur, and small-business strategist you may remember as the founder of Kido, the beloved South Loop children’s boutique that brought color, culture, and community to families across Chicago.
After six powerful years in business, and national recognition that included a shout-out from President Barack Obama, Keewa made the bold decision to close her brick-and-mortar store and start over.
In this episode, Keewa opens up about what it truly looks like to evolve as an entrepreneur, navigating economic shifts, changing customer behavior, and the emotional side of letting go of something you built from the ground up. Today she’s channeling those lessons into her work as a strategist and host of Circulate, a monthly community event that “love-bombs” local shops with intentional support and helps other founders build thriving, purpose-driven businesses on their own terms.
In this episode, she shares:
- The courage to walk away from a business
- What retail taught her about leadership, money, and boundaries
- The realities of pivoting after success
- How she’s creating new pathways for community-minded entrepreneurs
Highlights Include
00:00 Intro
03:10 Launching Kido and building community through culture
08:45 Getting national recognition (including Barack Obama’s shout-out)
13:20 The moment she knew it was time to close her storefront
17:15 Navigating shifting customer habits post-pandemic
22:40 Starting over as a strategist and redefining success
27:00 Creating Circulate and supporting small businesses
33:15 Lessons on resilience, rest, and rediscovering your "why"
40:00 Advice for entrepreneurs in transition
Watch episode 488 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps
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Guest Social Media Info
Instagram: @kiwimercury
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