Meet Kamilah “Kay” Riley of Duluth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamilah “Kay” Riley.

Hi Kamilah “Kay”, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Collective Beauty & Wellness Suites was inspired out of the love to inspire women, business owners and the like to follow their dreams and touch the lives of others for the better. After 7 years of a small idea and vision I took the leap to create a space where beauty creative and entrepreneurs could elevate their business and thrive.

I came upon my first location by chance. When I saw the street name “Savannah Place” which was the same name of my daughter Marlie Savannah, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.
Our mission is to provide a supportive, purpose-driven coworking hub for independent beauty and wellness professionals to grow sustainable businesses while prioritizing balance, self-care, and community. The Collective provides a space to empower our members to thrive from the inside out—personally and professionally—so they can positively impact their clients and the community.

We don’t just lease salon & business suites—we provide a holistic business and wellness ecosystem. Our unique model offers health benefits, vacation leave, and financial/business development workshops. We’re committed to the whole entrepreneur, not just the business they run.

The Collective Suites is important to me because it creates space for holistic and professional growth for beauty and wellness entrepreneurs. This project is rooted in the belief that independent professionals deserve more than just a place to work—they need a supportive, empowering ecosystem.

At The Collective, we provide private, thoughtfully designed suites that nurture both client care and personal well-being. But beyond the physical space, we offer access to business development workshops, marketing education, financial wellness resources, and discounted healthcare options. Our goal is to remove the barriers that often limit growth for artisans, especially women and professionals of color.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While my vision was clear, there were some challenges along the way. The first and most impactful, was the challenge of access to capital. Its no secret that as a double minority (woman & African American), our demographic is the most overlooked when it comes ot funding and acccess to capital/resources for our business. In order to get this dream off the ground, I saved and pooled my personal resources together. Secondly, I would say the having strong, trusted partners & a team was the most challenging. While I am a one woman show in terms of ownership and investment, I did take my time to vet trust partners such as contractors and design team for the project.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Collective was born from a deeply personal journey—one that blends motherhood, resilience, entrepreneurship, and purpose.

I am a NICU warrior mom, an entrepreneur, and a former corporate employee who, like many women, wore multiple hats while navigating the unknown. During the height of the COVID pandemic, while adjusting to life as a new mother, I found renewed purpose and confidence through self-care—specifically, through the beauty and wellness professionals who helped me feel seen, valued, and whole again.

That season of life gave me a new appreciation for the impact that beauty and wellness professionals have—not just on appearance, but on the mind and spirit. It inspired me to create The Collective—a space where independent creatives, artisans, and entrepreneurs like myself, can elevate, thrive, and build a supportive community rooted in purpose and transformation.

Not only am I a mom, but I take pride in the product & purpose for the space. With over 17 years of. combined experience in real estate, hospitality and Third Party Risk & Governance provided with me with the experience and fortitude to create a space that is purposeful, inspiring and supportive.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
If I had any advise for future business owners who want to be in similar arena is to First, research, research, research. Secondly, write down your vision and plan so you have a roadmap to follow, third, is to not be afraid to outsource and build your team. Not everything is going to require your time nor does it match your skillset. Don’t be too prideful in this journey that you loose sight of the goal. And lastly, Know your “Why” & be very clear on what that is. Knowing your “Why” provides the clarity, motivation and the key element to building a thriving & purpose-driven business

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thecollectivesuites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollective_suites/