In 2021, Chisom Okwulehie, who was adjusting to life as a new mom, sought extra income to support her family in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.
Despite having a well-paying job as an architect with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where she contributed to major infrastructure projects, Chisom yearned for a creative outlet that could also serve as an additional source of income.
Together with her husband Ikenna, a cybersecurity expert, she co-founded Juntero, a design firm focusing on home interiors and space planning.
Their first year in business saw a modest income of $55,000, but as their client base expanded, their revenue surged to $206,000 the following year.
Surprised by the rapid growth, Chisom began hiring freelance designers to help with the workload, essentially operating Juntero as a design agency.
By 2023, catering to around 60 clients helped push their earnings to $414,000, all while Chisom maintained her day job.
