The 2024 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” celebrates the boundless creativity and perseverance of Black culture. Entrepreneur Marsha Corelien embodies these values through her journey from a high school student launching a hair braiding business with a NFTE grant to a thriving HR professional and small business owner operating across North America.
Originally known as Brady’s Braids, Marsha’s venture enabled her to cover college costs while pursuing studies at Penn State, where she also coordinated the university’s NFTE program. After graduating, Marsha built an HR career with major retailers like Amazon and Century 21. Still, she never abandoned her entrepreneurial roots, continuing to grow her braiding business across eight states and Canada.
Driven by her passion for uplifting others, Marsha has embraced a mentoring role, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs.