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Cherie Jones is crafting a community for Women by Women.
Poise & Paper was born from a desire to create a sanctuary for women navigating the delicate balance between nurturing their families and pursuing their aspirations. Meet Cherie Jones, the Mom and Founder behind the stationery brand.
Cherie, share your story behind becoming an entrepreneur.
The challenges of the 2020 pandemic led to moments of me being overwhelmed by the responsibilities of motherhood and a desire to reconnect with my identity and embrace roles beyond being a wife and mother. I felt the woman I knew drifting away, so I began writing during the pandemic. I started writing down my emotions, plans, and goals. Writing became a form of therapy. There is nothing like the feel of pen and paper. Organizing each day and writing became therapeutic. I knew other women I could connect with shared similar experiences. It is challenging starting a business while working a demanding 9 to 5. I navigate the challenges by talking to other small business owners and signing up for any free programs that offer assistance for small business owners. Connecting with other women in the stationery industry and taking a break, while making time for myself.
As a Black Woman Entrepreneur, how has your cultural background and experiences influenced your approach to business?
The grind is different, and noticed that more is expected. I also see that the world expects me as a woman of color business owner to fail. My approach to entrepreneurship is collaboration and working with other black women-owned business owners. Attend networking events to empower women, providing a map of resources for a successful entrepreneur.
What or who inspires you the most?
My inspiration does not come from just one source. My son is my biggest inspiration in becoming an entrepreneur. Every day, I look into his eyes and see unconditional love. He looks at me as if Mommy can do everything. I choose not to let him down, but for him to see that having a career comes in different forms—also, my working mom friends who are entrepreneurs. I stay connected by showing up every day and being my best self.
What does Black Excellence mean to you, and what advice would you give your younger self?
Black Excellence to me means being resilient against all the odds. The advice I would tell the younger me is “Never settle on your dreams and work from your passion and purpose.”
What’s next for you and how/where can we connect with your brand?
I am working on a line of empowerment journals and an undated planner that assists with work-life balance, and I also plan to apply to be a vendor at the Working Mom Conference and The Momference. Connect with me on IG: @poiseandpaper and Facebook: PoiseandPaper.
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