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

Links mentioned in this episode

Keewa Nurullah Instagram:@kiwimercury
Keewa’s website: https://www.keewanurullah.com/
Side Hustle Pro: https://sidehustlepro.co

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Guest Social Media Info

Instagram: @kiwimercury

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E180 Retire in Pontivy, Brittany, France