Profiles in Black Entrepreneurship: Letitia Hanke, CEO of ARS Roofing

To celebrate Black History Month, we want to highlight and celebrate a few of our amazing entrepreneurial contributors to Self-Made Boss and share more of their insightful advice and journeys. Letitia Hanke owns ARS Roofing, Gutters and Solar in Santa Rosa, CA. Her first job was answering phones at a roofing company and now she’s the owner of her very own successful company. Below, Letitia shares some insights and keys to success:

Has your background influenced your decision to become an entrepreneur? How so?

When I had the opportunity to become a business owner, it was exciting as only a little over 1% of women in the US are roofers. But as an African American, female roofer, the percentage is even lower and it’s very rare. When I was in elementary school, some kids bullied me and would regularly tell me I’d never amount to anything because I’m black. Now I’m the CEO of a multi-million dollar, internationally known roofing company. It brings me great joy to be able to show women and especially women of color that we can achieve anything that we set our minds to.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone contemplating entrepreneurship?

I would say my biggest piece of advice would be to just believe in yourself. Take that leap of faith. What do you have to lose? I was 23 years old when I was given the opportunity to learn how to roof and then got my own license at 27 to start my own company. Had I not said yes to that opportunity, I wouldn’t have all that I have today like my nonprofit, which is changing lives every day. That’s all because I just took the leap of faith. So just go for it!